I'm Going Down (Rose Royce song)
"I'm Going Down" is a song written and produced by Norman Whitfield, and performed by Rose Royce. The single is from the film Car Wash and is featured on the film's soundtrack.
| "I'm Going Down" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 A-side label of U.S. vinyl single | ||||
| Single by Rose Royce | ||||
| from the album Car Wash: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||
| B-side | "Yo Yo" | |||
| Released | September 1976 | |||
| Format | 7" single | |||
| Recorded | 1976 | |||
| Genre | R&B, soul | |||
| Length | 3:37 | |||
| Label | Whitfield | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Norman Whitfield | |||
| Producer(s) | Norman Whitfield | |||
| Rose Royce singles chronology | ||||
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Background
The Rose Royce (original) version received moderate success. It peaked at number seventy on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number ten on the R&B singles chart. In the film Car Wash, the song serves as a double entendre, as it complements the screen time of Maureen, a forlorn prostitute who desperately seeks a chance at true love with "Joe," even as she turns tricks.
Charts
| Charts (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Singles Chart | 58 |
| Italy Charts | 13 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 70 |
| US Hot Black Singles | 10 |
| US Adult Contemporary | 10 |
| France (SNEP) | 5 |
Mary J. Blige version
| "I'm Goin' Down" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Standard artwork (U.S. commercial cassette single pictured) | ||||
| Single by Mary J. Blige | ||||
| from the album My Life | ||||
| Released | January 18, 1995 | |||
| Format | CD single, maxi single, promo single | |||
| Recorded | 1994 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:44 | |||
| Label | Uptown, MCA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Norman Whitfield | |||
| Producer(s) | Sean "Puffy" Combs and Chucky Thompson for The Hitmen | |||
| Mary J. Blige singles chronology | ||||
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In 1994, the song would gain more exposure and popularity when it was covered by R&B artist Mary J. Blige for her second album, My Life. Due to the heavy airplay that it received, Blige's version peaked at number thirteen on the Hot R&B Songs chart and number twenty-two on the US Billboard Hot 100. It became her fifth consecutive Top 40 hit as a lead artist. This song is also frequently performed at many of her concerts and as well as live sets. In mid-1995, Blige released a remix featuring Mr. Cheeks of The Lost Boyz. This version contained a sample of "The What" by The Notorious B.I.G. and Method Man.
Music video
The music video for Blige's "I'm Goin' Down" was directed from January 14–15, 1995 by Matthew Rolston and was shot in black and white, with Blige as a lounge singer performing the song in a club, and wearing an-all black suit with a matching hat, walking downstairs (being duplicated over and over again). In the end, the bar patrons applaud her as she walks offstage.
Chart
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 12 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[1] | 22 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[2] | 13 |
In popular culture
"Oh Boy" off of Cam'ron's third album Come Home with Me samples the original Rose Royce song. Mariah Carey also sampled the song in her 2002 album Charmbracelet for the song "Boy (I Need You)". Both songs were composed by hip-hop producer Justin "Just Blaze" Smith and are almost identical.
On the episode season 3 finale of Sister, Sister, Tamera (Tamera Mowry) covered the song for a talent show, winning a bet that her sister Tia (Tia Mowry) had with her enemy—and Tamera's opponent, Marva.
- Marcus Canty performed this song on season one of The X Factor (U.S.) during "Movie Week" and the elimination.
- Megan Hilty performs the song in the "Tech" episode of Smash
- Sera Hill performed the song in "Episode 5: The Blind Auditions, Part 5" episode of The Voice (U.S. season 2)
- In the movie Little, Jordan and April perform the Mary J. Blige version of the song inside an upscale restaurant, with (13-year old) Jordan starting the performance while laying on a bar.
- Paige Thomas performed this song as her audition for the second season of The X Factor (U.S.)
- Taylor Beckham performed this song on "Episode 3: The Blind Auditions, Part 3" of The Voice (U.S. season 4)
References
- Billboard. Mary J. Blige Hot 100 Singles chart history
- Billboard. Mary J. Blige R&B Singles chart history
