"Let Me Down Slowly" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin, originally released as a solo version in 2018 and included on his mixtape Narrated for You before being re-released as a duet with Canadian singer Alessia Cara in early 2019. Billboard called the track Benjamin's "vulnerable breakout hit".[1]

"Let Me Down Slowly"
Duet version cover
Single by Alec Benjamin
from the album Narrated for You
ReleasedNovember 16, 2018 (2018-11-16)
GenrePop
Length2:49
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Alec Benjamin singles chronology
"I Built a Friend"
(2017)
"Let Me Down Slowly"
(2018)
"Boy in the Bubble"
(2018)
Alessia Cara singles chronology
"Trust My Lonely"
(2018)
"Let Me Down Slowly"
(2019)
"Out of Love"
(2019)
Alternative cover
Single cover for Benjamin's solo version
Music video
"Let Me Down Slowly" (Solo Version) on YouTube
"Let Me Down Slowly" (Duet Version) on YouTube

Background

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Benjamin wrote the song in 2017 about an experience with an ex-girlfriend.[1] It was one of the songs that Atlantic Records heard before signing him.[1] The song was produced by Sir Nolan,[2] with additional production by Aaron Zuckerman, and co-written by Benjamin with Michael Pollack and Sir Nolan.

Music videos

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The music video for the solo version was released on June 4, 2018, and for the duet version on February 6, 2019. Benjamin and Cara then made a video for an acoustic version of the song, which was released two weeks later.[3]

The first video revolves around a woman falling out with her lover, culminating in her raiding a convenience store; Benjamin appears as a bystander throughout the video. The second video features Benjamin and Cara singing their verses alone in different locations, intercut with scenes of couples embracing.[4]

Track listing

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  • Digital download[5]
  1. "Let Me Down Slowly" – 2:49
  • Digital download[6]
  1. "Let Me Down Slowly" (featuring Alessia Cara) – 2:49

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Let Me Down Slowly"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[61] 2× Platinum 140,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[62] 2× Platinum 60,000
Belgium (BEA)[63] 2× Platinum 80,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[64] 2× Platinum 80,000
Canada (Music Canada)[65] 4× Platinum 320,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[66] 2× Platinum 180,000
France (SNEP)[67] Diamond 333,333
Germany (BVMI)[68] Gold 200,000
Italy (FIMI)[69] Platinum 70,000
Netherlands (NVPI)[70] Platinum 80,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[71] Platinum 30,000
Norway (IFPI Norway)[72] 2× Platinum 120,000
Poland (ZPAV)[73] 4× Platinum 200,000
Portugal (AFP)[74] 2× Platinum 20,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[75] Platinum 60,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[76] 2× Platinum 40,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[77] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[78] 4× Platinum 4,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Weatherby, Taylor (February 22, 2019). "How Alec Benjamin's 'Let Me Down Slowly' Took Him From Sidewalk Performances to the Hot 100 (and Beyond)". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  2. ^ "Let Me Down Slowly – Alec Benjamin | Attributes". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  3. ^ Spencer, Tallie (February 20, 2019). "Alec Benjamin & Alessia Cara Release Acoustic Video for 'Let Me Down Slowly': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  4. ^ Hightman, Hannah (February 13, 2019). "Alec Benjamin: Sonic Storyteller". Vman. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  5. ^ "Let Me Down Slowly – Single by Alec Benjamin". iTunes Store. May 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  6. ^ "Let Me Down Slowly (feat. Alessia Cara) – Single by Alec Benjamin". iTunes Store. January 7, 2019. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  7. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #521". auspOp. April 20, 2019. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
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  12. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 12. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
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  51. ^ "Digitālās Mūzikas Tops 2019" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
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  66. ^ "Danish single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  67. ^ "French single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  68. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Alec Benjamin; 'Let Me Down Slowly')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  69. ^ "Italian single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  70. ^ "Dutch single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved October 3, 2021. Enter Let Me Down Slowly in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2019 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  71. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  72. ^ "Norwegian single certifications – Alec Benjamin" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  73. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 19, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Let Me Down Slowly in the search box.
  74. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  75. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  76. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Let Me Down Slowly')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
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  78. ^ "American single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 18, 2024.