# Windows Down

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"**Windows Down**" is a song by American boy band [Big Time Rush](/source/Big_Time_Rush_(group)) from the re-release of their second studio album *[Elevate](/source/Elevate_(Big_Time_Rush_album))*. The song was released on June 25, 2012, and was released to US radio on July 24, 2012.[2] The song's hook is sampled from "[Song 2](/source/Song_2)" by [English](/source/England) rock band [Blur](/source/Blur_(band)).

## Background and release

"Windows Down" was made available for [streaming](/source/Streaming_media) exclusively via Cambio.com on June 11, 2012.[3] The group revealed the album artwork on June 13.[4] The song was officially released as a single on June 25, via [iTunes](/source/ITunes).[3] [Kendall Schmidt](/source/Kendall_Schmidt) believed that the track would "appeal to people of all ages," while [Carlos PenaVega](/source/Carlos_PenaVega) hoped it "bring in some of the older demo."[5]

## Composition

The song was written by [Blackbear](/source/Blackbear_(musician)), [Mike Posner](/source/Mike_Posner), [Alexander James](/source/Alex_James_(musician)), [Damon Albarn](/source/Damon_Albarn), [Dave Rowntree](/source/Dave_Rowntree), [Graham Coxon](/source/Graham_Coxon), [Bei Maejor](/source/Bei_Maejor), and [Matt Squire](/source/Matt_Squire), with production handled by the latter two while additional by [CJ Baran](/source/CJ_Baran).[6] It features samples from "[Song 2](/source/Song_2)" by [Blur](/source/Blur_(band)), but is up-tuned to the key of [B minor](/source/B_minor).[7] American singer/songwriter [Kesha](/source/Kesha) originally created an early demo of the track, expected to appear on her second studio album *[Warrior](/source/Warrior_(Kesha_album))* with the title "Woo Hoo", still using the Blur sample, but later sold the instrumental to Big Time Rush, and the song was re-written to create "Windows Down".[8]

## Critical reception

Nick Bassett from UK site *The Re-View* called "Windows Down" a "surefire summer pop hit", complimenting the use of the "Song 2" sample and wrapping up his article saying that it should "mark Big Time Rush as some hot, home-grown competition for our Transatlantic invading boybands".[citation needed]

## Chart performance

"Windows Down" peaked at number 97 on [*Billboard* Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) and lasted one week on chart.[9] The song also peaked at number 35 on the [*Billboard*](/source/Billboard_(magazine)) [Mainstream Top 40](/source/Mainstream_Top_40) and stayed on chart for three weeks.[10]

## Music video

The music video was filmed in Maui, Hawaii and was released on [Vevo](/source/Vevo) on June 22, three days before the single's iTunes release.[5] It was directed by [Marc Klasfeld](/source/Marc_Klasfeld) and was recorded over the course of five days.[11][12] The video features the band doing various activities in Hawaii like surfing, paddle boarding, swimming in the ocean, and standing on top of Jeep Wranglers.[13] [Logan Henderson](/source/Logan_Henderson) described the song as one that "embodies fun" and wanted to create a video to capture that.[14]

## Track listing

- **Digital download**[1]

1. "Windows Down" – 3:12

- **EU CD single**[15]

1. "Windows Down" – 3:13
1. "Windows Down" (Instrumental) – 2:59

## Charts

### Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Windows Down" Chart (2012) Peak position US Kid Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[16] 1 US Pop Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[17] 24

### Year-end charts

Yearly chart performance for "Windows Down" Chart (2012) Position Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[18] 195 US Kid Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[19] 2

## Release history

Release dates and formats for "Windows Down" Region Date Format Label Ref. Various June 25, 2012 Digital download Columbia [1] United States July 24, 2012 Contemporary hit radio [20] Europe July 27, 2012 CD [15]

## References

1. ["Windows Down - Single"](https://music.apple.com/us/album/windows-down-single/536331831). [iTunes Store](/source/ITunes_Store). Retrieved June 26, 2012.

1. Tim (June 11, 2012). ["Big Time Rush's "Windows Down" – Your source for Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush!"](http://bigtimerushtv.com/?p=10201). *Bigtimerushtv.com*. [Archived](https://archive.today/20130117210320/http://bigtimerushtv.com/?p=10201) January 17, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-06-30.

1. Linda Friedman (June 11, 2012). ["'Windows Down' by Big Time Rush: Exclusive First Listen!"](http://www.cambio.com/2012/06/11/windows-down-by-big-time-rush-exclusive-first-listen/). *Cambio.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120613181906/http://www.cambio.com/2012/06/11/windows-down-by-big-time-rush-exclusive-first-listen/) June 13, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 10, 2024.

1. Gabrielle Alvidrez (2012-06-13). ["Big Time Rush Debut New Album Art and 'Windows Down' - News - American Top 40 With Ryan Seacrest"](http://ryanseacrest.com/2012/06/13/big-time-rush-debut-new-album-art-and-windows-down-audio/). At40.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120618164102/http://ryanseacrest.com/2012/06/13/big-time-rush-debut-new-album-art-and-windows-down-audio/) June 18, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-06-30.

1. Lee Hernandez (June 21, 2012). ["'Big Time Rush' Star Carlos Pena Dishes On His Breakup And 'Windows Down' Video Premiere (Exclusive)"](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/big-time-rush-star-carlos-pena_n_1616289). *[HuffPost](/source/HuffPost)*. Retrieved June 10, 2024.

1. *Elevate* (Standard edition liner notes). [Columbia Records](/source/Columbia_Records). 2011.

1. Ross Raihala (July 27, 2012). ["Review: Big Time Rush show is everything you'd expect from a boy band"](https://www.twincities.com/2012/07/27/review-big-time-rush-show-is-everything-youd-expect-from-a-boy-band/). *[St. Paul Pioneer Press](/source/St._Paul_Pioneer_Press)*. Retrieved June 10, 2024.

1. Al Newstead (June 25, 2012). ["US Boy Band Rip Off Blur, With Thanks To Ke$ha"](https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/boy-band-rip-blur-keha/). *Tone Deaf*. The Brag Media. Retrieved June 10, 2024.

1. The Hot 100

1. Pop Airplay

1. ["Big Time Rush – Windows Down"](http://www.vevo.com/watch/big-time-rush/Windows-Down/USSM21200785). [VEVO](/source/VEVO). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120623202406/http://www.vevo.com/watch/big-time-rush/Windows-Down/USSM21200785) June 23, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 10, 2024.

1. Taylor Weatherby (August 25, 2022). ["Big Time Rush Share Favorite Memories From Their Biggest Hits, New Songs And One Unexpected Fan Favorite"](https://www.grammy.com/news/big-time-rush-songs-memories-stories-dale-pa-ya-spanglish-boyfriend-worldwide-the-turd-song-interview-tour-reunion). [Grammy Awards](/source/Grammy_Awards). Retrieved June 10, 2024.

1. Michael Vulpo (2012-06-22). ["Big Time Rush Go Shirtless in Hawaii for 'Windows Down' \[VIDEO\] | Ryan Seacrest - The official entertainment news site of American Idol host and American Top 40 on air radio personality!"](http://ryanseacrest.com/2012/06/22/big-time-rush-go-shirtless-in-hawaii-for-windows-down-video/). Ryan Seacrest. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120624010312/http://ryanseacrest.com/2012/06/22/big-time-rush-go-shirtless-in-hawaii-for-windows-down-video/) June 24, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-06-30.

1. Nicole Eggenberger (June 21, 2012). ["See Big Time Rush Go Shirtless in Windows Down Sneak Peek"](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/see-big-time-rush-go-shirtless-in-windows-down-sneak-peek-2012216/). *[US Weekly](/source/US_Weekly)*. Retrieved June 10, 2024.

1. ["Big Time Rush: Windows Down (CD Single)"](https://www.amazon.de/dp/B008F65S4O)

1. ["Billboard"](https://www.billboard.com/charts/search/results/?chart-artistname=Big+Time+Rush&chart-charttitle=Windows+Down&chart-label=Nickelodeon&chart-date=2012-07-14&chart-chartcode=KDT). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*

1. ["Big Time Rush | Billboard"](https://www.billboard.com/music/big-time-rush/chart-history/ppd/song/750788). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210728015824/https://www.billboard.com/music/big-time-rush/chart-history/ppd/song/750788) July 28, 2021 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart 2013"](https://tophit.com/ru/chart/top/radio/hits/ukraine/annual/2013-01-01) (in Russian). [TopHit](/source/TopHit). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230329163735/https://tophit.com/ru/chart/top/radio/hits/ukraine/annual/2013-01-01) March 29, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 31, 2023.

1. ["Kid Digital Songs : Jun 09, 2013 | Billboard Chart Archive"](http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/year-end/2012/kid-digital-songs). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. 2012. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130609055843/http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/year-end/2012/kid-digital-songs) June 9, 2013 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!"](http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081220103954/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239) December 20, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 26, 2021.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Windows Down](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Down) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Down?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.