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 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.

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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.^[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

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

Australian and US maxi-CD single^[5]^[6]

"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^[7]^[8]^[9]

"Follow You Down" (edit) – 3:45
"Til I Hear It from You" (LP version) – 3:46

German CD single and UK cassette single^[10]^[11]

"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

UK CD single^[12]

"Follow You Down" (edit) – 3:47
"Not Only Numb" (live) – 3:14
"My Car" (live) – 4:09
"Whitewash" (live) – 3:19

Netherlands CD single^[13]

"Follow You Down" (Edit) – 3:45
"Allison Road" (LP Version) – 3:18

Credits and personnel

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

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

Weekly charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[15]	65
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[16]	1
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)^[17]	19
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[18]	98
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[19]	35
Scotland (OCC)^[20]	29
UK Singles (OCC)^[21]	30
US Billboard Hot 100^[22] with "Til I Hear It from You"	9
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[23]	1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[24]	22
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[25]	3
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)^[26]	8
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[27]	6
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[28]	5
US Cash Box Top 100^[29]	7

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[30]	7
US Billboard Hot 100^[31]	15
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[32]	11
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)^[33]	46
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)^[34]	63
US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)^[35]	17
US Triple-A (Billboard)^[34]	7

Decade-end charts

Chart (1990s)	Position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)^[36]	49

Release history

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

^ "Follow You Down". Songfacts.com. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
^ Ortega, Shawna. "Jesse Valenzuela of Gin Blossoms : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
^ Flick, Larry (February 3, 1996), "Singles: Pop". Billboard. 108 (5):70
^ Kot, Greg (February 15, 1996). "Color the Gin blossom's 'Congratulations I'm Sorry' Lite Grunge". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
^ 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)
^ 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)
^ 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)
^ 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)
^ 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)
^ 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)
^ 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)
^ 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)
^ 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)
^ 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)
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2926." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2912." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 18. May 4, 1996. p. 28. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (9.3. – 15.3. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 9, 1996. p. 38. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
^ "Gin Blossoms Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
^ "U.S. Cash Box Charts" (PDF). popmusichistory. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
^ "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. December 16, 1996. Retrieved November 25, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
^ "The Year in Music: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-86.
^ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Mainstream Rock Tracks" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 23. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Airplay Monitor Best of '96" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
^ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Mainstream Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 30.
^ Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1130. January 26, 1996. p. 33. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
^ "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.
^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. April 13, 1996. p. 27. Retrieved August 12, 2021.

v t e Gin Blossoms
Bill Leen Jesse Valenzuela Robin Wilson Scott "Scotty" Johnson Scott Hessel Doug Hopkins Phillip "Phil" Rhodes John Richardson
Studio albums	Dusted New Miserable Experience Congratulations I'm Sorry Major Lodge Victory No Chocolate Cake Mixed Reality
Live albums	Live in Concert
EPs	Up and Crumbling Shut Up and Smoke
Compilations	Outside Looking In: The Best of the Gin Blossoms Rarities
Singles	"Hey Jealousy" "Until I Fall Away" "Found Out About You" "Allison Road" "Til I Hear It from You" "Follow You Down" "As Long as It Matters" "Learning the Hard Way" "Long Time Gone" "Miss Disarray"
Related articles	Discography Gas Giants From Beyond the Back Burner

This page was last edited on 14 February 2024, at 11:36

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