Falling Down (Oasis song)

"Falling Down" is a song by English rock band Oasis, from their seventh studio album, Dig Out Your Soul (2008). Written and sung by lead guitarist Noel Gallagher, it was released on 9 March 2009 as the third single from the album, with the digital release occurring a day earlier.^[2] It was the final single released by the band before their break-up just over five months later in August 2009.^[1] It remained the band's last newly issued single until the release of the promotional track "Don't Stop..." in 2020.^[5]

According to Oasis' official single page, "Falling Down" was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London and Hillside Manor, and was issued with "Those Swollen Hand Blues" as its only B-side.^[1] Before the song's single release, the album version appeared online in August 2008; MusicRadar described it on first impression as a "moody Noel Gallagher-sung psychedelic number".^[4]

In 2010, Gallagher reflected on the late writing burst behind Dig Out Your Soul, saying: "We were in the studio for five weeks or something. I wrote 'The Shock Of The Lightning' and 'Falling Down' in one weekend just at home sitting at home."^[6] Reviewing the parent album, The Observer wrote that "Falling Down" had been "dubbed 'krautpop' by Noel" and suggested that it replayed the Chemical Brothers' "Setting Sun"—on which Gallagher had sung guest vocals—"only with fewer beats, and more haze".^[7]

"Falling Down" debuted at number 10 in the UK Singles Chart, with the Official Charts Company also recording a peak of number 37 on the downloads chart and number 2 on the physical singles chart.^[8] It was Oasis' sixth single to be sung by Noel rather than Liam.

"Falling Down" posted a subtle improvement from its predecessor, "I'm Outta Time", on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 10 in its chart entry week.^[8] This was something of a return to form for the band, after "I'm Outta Time" charting at number 12 made it the first Oasis single released in the UK to fail to reach the top 10 since "Shakermaker" in 1994.^[9] Between the two releases the band had put out 22 singles which made the top 10. However, it still showed a decline in the band's fortunes; from the release of "Whatever" at the end of 1994 until the release of "I'm Outta Time", the band had only had one single which failed to reach the top four in the charts, and that had been 2007's "Lord Don't Slow Me Down", which was only a minor promotional release and a non-album track and also download only.^[10]

Upon the release of Dig Out Your Soul the previous October, "Falling Down" charted briefly at number 125 on download sales alone.^[11] Due to strong download sales of the track, the B-side "Those Swollen Hand Blues" also entered the UK chart at number 190 on the week "Falling Down" reached the top 10.^[12]

During commentary on the Time Flies... 1994–2009 DVD, Gallagher said that he "loves" the song and regarded it as one of the best he had written in a very long time, adding that it was fitting as the band's final single because it was "the best-sounding of them all".^[13]

Personnel adapted from the single and album credits.^[14][15]

• Noel Gallagher – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
• Andy Bell – bass
• Gem Archer – lead guitar
• Zak Starkey – drums
• Jay Darlington – electronics, mellotron

The song was released as downloadable content for the video game Guitar Hero: World Tour on 29 January 2009.^[16]

The song was used in the opening sequence for the Production I.G anime Eden of the East, which first aired on Fuji TV's noitaminA slot on 9 April 2009.^[17][18] American and Canadian distributor FUNimation Entertainment later announced that it would be able to include the song in its release, but only on the first episode; the remaining episodes use the international theme song "Michael ka Belial" by Saori Hayami.^[19][20]

The video, directed by W.I.Z. in his third and final video with the band, depicts a woman played by actress Natasha O'Keeffe whose secret life of parties, casual sex and drugs is implied to scandalise the establishment around her.^[21][22] When she meets the band in the video, the members refuse to shake her hand because of the way she hides her party lifestyle. When the "Princess" offers her hand to Noel Gallagher, he, standing alongside Liam, declines to bow and turns away in disdain. King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) appears at the conclusion of the video.

An alternate video was created by Production I.G, a lyric-style clip featuring imagery from the Eden of the East opening together with apples and statues of horses and cherubs.^[23]

All songs written by Noel Gallagher.

CD single

1. "Falling Down" (album version with extended intro) – 4:20
2. "Those Swollen Hand Blues" – 3:19
3. "Falling Down" (The Gibb Mix) – 5:12
4. "Falling Down" (The Prodigy version) – 4:20

7" vinyl

1. "Falling Down" (album version with extended intro)
2. "Those Swollen Hand Blues"

12" vinyl

1. "Falling Down" (Amorphous Androgynous A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble remix) – 22:26

Digital bundle 1

1. "Falling Down" (album version with extended intro)
2. "Those Swollen Hand Blues"
3. "Falling Down" (demo)

Digital bundle 2

1. "Falling Down" (The Gibb Mix)
2. "Falling Down" (The Prodigy version)
3. "Falling Down" (Amorphous Androgynous A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble remix)

In Japan^[24]

1. "Falling Down" (album version with extended intro) – 4:20
2. "Those Swollen Hand Blues" – 3:19
3. "Falling Down" (Amorphous Androgynous A Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble remix) – 22:26
4. "Falling Down" (The Gibb Mix) – 5:12
5. "Falling Down" (The Prodigy version) – 4:20

In Japan, limited-edition bonus DVD^[25]

1. "Falling Down" (music video; original version)
2. "Falling Down" (music video; Eden of the East version)