"Follow You Down" is a song by American rock band Gin Blossoms, and the first single released from their album Congratulations I'm Sorry. It was released as a double A-side single with "Til I Hear It from You" in the United States. The song received a fair amount of radio play and has been featured in several films, including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. It reached number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 in a 46-week stay on the chart. It also became the band's second number-one single in Canada, after "Til I Hear It from You", and reached number 30 in the United Kingdom.

"Follow You Down"
Single by Gin Blossoms
from the album Congratulations I'm Sorry
ReleasedJanuary 30, 1996 (1996-01-30)
StudioVintage Recorders (Phoenix)
GenreAlternative rock
Length
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Gin Blossoms singles chronology
"Til I Hear It from You"
(1995)
"Follow You Down"
(1996)
"Day Job"
(1996)
Music video
"Follow You Down" on YouTube

Background

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According to an interview by Songfacts with Gin Blossoms songwriter Jesse Valenzuela, this song was written at the very end of the recording process for the Congratulations I'm Sorry album.[1] Valenzuela recalled:

We were working on the record, and I'd come home at night to my hotel room, and I had those chords and I finished writing by the time we got home. And we'd already finished the record, but I had this great song, so I demoed it up and I sent it to my main A&R man, David Anderle, the great David Anderle, and he said, "Why are you hiding this thing? Let's put it on the record." So we went and recorded it right away.[2]

The song would ultimately become the biggest hit on the album, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception

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Larry Flick of Billboard spoke positively of "Follow You Down", commenting that the song showcases "[the Gin Blossoms'] knack for crafting perfect pop hooks with sing-along lyrics".[3] Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune referred to the song as "easy-listening alterna-rock of the first order".[4]

Track listings and formats

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Credits and personnel

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Credits and personnel are adapted from Congratulations I'm Sorry album liner notes.[14]

Charts

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Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 30, 1996 Contemporary hit radio A&M [37]
Japan February 5, 1996 Mini-CD [38]
United Kingdom April 15, 1996
  • CD
  • cassette
[39]

References

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  1. ^ "Follow You Down". Songfacts.com. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  2. ^ Ortega, Shawna. "Jesse Valenzuela of Gin Blossoms : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  3. ^ Flick, Larry (February 3, 1996), "Singles: Pop". Billboard. 108 (5):70
  4. ^ Kot, Greg (February 15, 1996). "Color the Gin blossom's 'Congratulations I'm Sorry' Lite Grunge". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  5. ^ Follow You Down (Australian CD Single liner notes). Gin Blossoms. A&M Records. 1996. 31458 13812.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Follow You Down (US Maxi CD Single liner notes). Gin Blossoms. A&M Records. 1996. 31458 1381 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Follow You Down (US 7-inch Vinyl Single liner notes). Gin Blossoms. A&M Records. 1996. 31458 1380 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Follow You Down (US Cassette Single liner notes). Gin Blossoms. A&M Records. 1996. 3145813804.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Follow You Down (US CD Single liner notes). Gin Blossoms. A&M Records. 1996. 31458-1380 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Follow You Down (German CD Single liner notes). Gin Blossoms. A&M Records. 1996. 581 507-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Follow You Down (United Kingdom Cassette Single liner notes). Gin Blossoms. A&M Records. 1996. 581 507-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Follow You Down (UK CD Single liner notes). Gin Blossoms. A&M Records. 1996. 581 551-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Follow You Down (Netherlands CD Single liner notes). Gin Blossoms. A&M Records. 1996. 581 506-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Congratulations I'm Sorry (Inlay cover). Gin Blossoms. A&M Records. 1996. 31454 0469 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  16. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2926." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  17. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2912." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  18. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 18. May 4, 1996. p. 28. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  19. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (9.3. – 15.3. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 9, 1996. p. 38. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  21. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  22. ^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  23. ^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  24. ^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  25. ^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  26. ^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  27. ^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  28. ^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  29. ^ "U.S. Cash Box Charts" (PDF). popmusichistory. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  30. ^ "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. December 16, 1996. Retrieved November 25, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  31. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  32. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-86.
  33. ^ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Mainstream Rock Tracks" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 23. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  34. ^ a b "Airplay Monitor Best of '96" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  35. ^ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Mainstream Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 30.
  36. ^ Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  37. ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1130. January 26, 1996. p. 33. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  38. ^ "フォロー・ユー・ダウン | ジン・ブロッサムズ" [Follow You Down | Gin Blossoms] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  39. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. April 13, 1996. p. 27. Retrieved August 12, 2021.