{{Short description|1996 single by Gin Blossoms}} {{Use American English|date=August 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox song | name = Follow You Down | cover = Gin Blossoms - Follow You Down.jpg | alt = | border = yes | type = single | artist = Gin Blossoms | album = Congratulations I'm Sorry | released = {{start date|1996|01|30}} | recorded = | studio = Vintage Recorders (Phoenix) | genre = Alternative rock | length = * {{Duration|m=4|s=30}} (album version) * {{Duration|m=3|s=45}} (single version) | label = A&M | writer = * Bill Leen * Jesse Valenzuela * Phillip Rhodes * Robin Wilson * Scott Johnson | producer = * John Hampton * Gin Blossoms | chronology = Gin Blossoms | prev_title = Til I Hear It from You | prev_year = 1995 | next_title = Day Job | next_year = 1996 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|5LuH0ywYVQc|"Follow You Down"}}}} }} "'''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 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.
==Background== 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.<ref name="songfacts">{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=15797|title=Follow You Down|work=Songfacts.com|access-date=June 16, 2009}}</ref> Valenzuela recalled:
{{quote|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.<ref name="songfacts interview">{{cite web |last1=Ortega |first1=Shawna |title=Jesse Valenzuela of Gin Blossoms : Songwriter Interviews |url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/jesse-valenzuela-of-gin-blossoms |website=Songfacts |access-date=10 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>}}
The song would ultimately become the biggest hit on the album, reaching number nine on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.
==Critical reception== 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".<ref>Flick, Larry (February 3, 1996), "Singles: Pop". ''Billboard''. '''108''' (5):70</ref> Greg Kot of the ''Chicago Tribune'' referred to the song as "easy-listening alterna-rock of the first order".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-02-15-9602150282-story.html |title=Color the Gin blossom's 'Congratulations I'm Sorry' Lite Grunge |date=February 15, 1996 |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 8, 2021 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot}}</ref>
==Track listings and formats== {{col begin}} {{col-2}} * '''Australian and US maxi-CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Follow You Down|year=1996|type= Australian CD Single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records|id=31458 13812}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Follow You Down|year=1996|type=US Maxi CD Single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records|id=31458 1381 2}}</ref> # "Follow You Down" (Edit) – 3:45 # "Til I Hear It from You" (LP version) – 3:46 # "Seeing Stars" – 3:44 # "Idiot Summer" – 4:10
* '''US 7-inch vinyl, cassette, and CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Follow You Down|year=1996|type=US 7-inch Vinyl Single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records|id=31458 1380 7}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Follow You Down|year=1996|type=US Cassette Single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records|id=3145813804}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Follow You Down|year=1996|type=US CD Single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records|id=31458-1380 2}}</ref> # "Follow You Down" (edit) – 3:45 # "Til I Hear It from You" (LP version) – 3:46
* '''German CD single and UK cassette single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Follow You Down|year=1996|type=German CD Single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records|id=581 507-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Follow You Down|year=1996|type=United Kingdom Cassette Single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records|id=581 507-4}}</ref> # "Follow You Down" (edit) – 3:45 # "Allison Road" (LP version) – 3:18 # "Until I Fall Away" (LP version) – 3:51 # "Follow You Down" (LP version) – 4:30 {{col-2}} * '''UK CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Follow You Down|year=1996|type=UK CD Single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records|id=581 551-2}}</ref> # "Follow You Down" (edit) – 3:47 # "Not Only Numb" (live) – 3:14 # "My Car" (live) – 4:09 # "Whitewash" (live) – 3:19
* '''Netherlands CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Follow You Down|year=1996|type=Netherlands CD Single liner notes|publisher=A&M Records|id=581 506-2}}</ref> # "Follow You Down" (Edit) – 3:45 # "Allison Road" (LP Version) – 3:18 {{col-end}}
==Credits and personnel== Credits and personnel are adapted from ''Congratulations I'm Sorry'' album liner notes.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Congratulations I'm Sorry|year=1996|type=Inlay cover|publisher=A&M Records|id=31454 0469 2}}</ref> * Robin Wilson – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica * Jesse Valenzuela – guitars, vocals * Phillip Rhodes – drums, percussion, background vocals * Bill Leen – bass, background vocals * Scott Johnson – guitars, background vocals * John Hampton – producer, engineering, mixing * Erick Flettrich – engineering * Billy Moss – assistant engineer at Vintage Recorders (Phoenix) * Billy Siegle – pre-production engineer * David Collins – mastering at A&M Mastering Studios (Hollywood)
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1996) !Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref> |65 |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|chartid=2926|rowheader=true|access-date=October 20, 2020}} |- {{single chart|Canadarock|19|chartid=2912|rowheader=true|access-date=November 25, 2018}} |- !scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-05-04.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=13|issue=18|page=28|date=May 4, 1996|access-date=September 26, 2020}}</ref> |98 |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2936095#page/n33/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (9.3. – 15.3. '96)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=38|date=March 9, 1996|access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref> |35 |- {{single chart|Scotland|29|date=19960427|rowheader=true|access-date=November 25, 2018}} |- {{single chart|UK|30|date=19960427|rowheader=true|access-date=November 25, 2018}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|9|artist=Gin Blossoms|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019|note=with "Til I Hear It from You"}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultalternativesongs|1|artist=Gin Blossoms|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|22|artist=Gin Blossoms|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|3|artist=Gin Blossoms|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboardalternativesongs|8|artist=Gin Blossoms|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|6|artist=Gin Blossoms|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|5|artist=Gin Blossoms|rowheader=true|access-date=August 11, 2019}} |- !scope="row"|US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmusichistory.co.uk/_files/ugd/b4848d_4f9128176360450ba51be67a0468e9fa.pdf|title=U.S. Cash Box Charts|website=popmusichistory|access-date=December 25, 2022}}</ref> |7 |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1996) !Position |- !scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9730&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9730.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9730|title=RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|date=December 16, 1996|access-date=November 25, 2018}}</ref> |7 |- !scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1996|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121523/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996|archive-date=March 1, 2009|access-date=August 27, 2010}}</ref> |15 |- !scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=108|issue=52|page=YE-86|date=December 28, 1996}}</ref> |11 |- !scope="row"|US Mainstream Rock Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Airplay/1996/BBAM-1996-12-27.pdf|title=Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Mainstream Rock Tracks|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=4|issue=53|page=23|date=December 27, 1996|access-date=December 25, 2023}}</ref> |46 |- !scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (''Billboard'')<ref name="usrockye">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Airplay/1996/BBAM-1996-12-27.pdf|title=Airplay Monitor Best of '96|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=4|issue=53|page=24|date=December 27, 1996|access-date=December 25, 2023}}</ref> |63 |- !scope="row"|US Top 40/Mainstream (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Mainstream Titles|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=4|issue=53|page=30|date=December 27, 1996}}</ref> |17 |- !scope="row"|US Triple-A (''Billboard'')<ref name="usrockye"/> |7 |}
===Decade-end charts=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1990s) !Position |- !scope="row"|Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html|title=Top 100 singles of the 1990s|last=Lwin|first=Nanda|publisher=Jam!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000829070927/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html|archive-date=August 29, 2000|access-date=March 26, 2022}}</ref> |49 |} {{col-end}}
==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|United States |January 30, 1996 |Contemporary hit radio |rowspan="3"|A&M |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-01-26.pdf|title=Selected New Releases|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1130|page=33|date=January 26, 1996|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Japan |February 5, 1996 |Mini-CD |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/91597/products/204597/1/|title=フォロー・ユー・ダウン {{!}} ジン・ブロッサムズ|trans-title=Follow You Down {{!}} Gin Blossoms|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=September 24, 2023}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |April 15, 1996 |{{hlist|CD|cassette}} |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-04-13.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=April 13, 1996|access-date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Gin Blossoms}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1996 songs Category:1996 singles Category:Gin Blossoms songs Category:A&M Records singles Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles Category:Songs written by Bill Leen Category:Songs written by Jesse Valenzuela Category:Songs written by Robin Wilson (musician)