"Falling Back"
Song by Drake
from the album Honestly, Nevermind
ReleasedJune 17, 2022 (2022-06-17)
GenreHouse
Length4:25
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Aubrey Graham
  • André Boadu
  • Gregor Sütterlin
  • Alexander Lustig
  • Christian Astrop
Producer(s)
  • &ME
  • Rampa
Music video
"Falling Back" on YouTube

"Falling Back" is a song by Canadian rapper and singer Drake. It was released through Republic Records and OVO Sound as the second track from his seventh studio album, Honestly, Nevermind, on June 17, 2022, along with the album.[1][2][3] Drake wrote the song with producers &ME and Rampa and additional producers Alex Lustig and Beau Nox. The song was mixed by 40 and Luca Pretolesi and was recorded by Noel Cadastre.

Composition and lyrics

"Falling Back" was described as "introspective house" by Consequence.[4] The production adds old-school tape hiss.[5]

Critical reception

"Falling Back" received negative reviews from music critics. Writing for Evening Standard, David Smyth felt that "the vocal melody and delivery sound like so many other mid-paced Drake songs, and the lyrics sound dashed off".[6] NME music critic Kyann-Sian Williams described Drake's vocals as "monotonous and droning" and noted that his high-pitched vocals towards the end of the song starts off well but quickly gets worse as he repeatedly sings: "Falling back on me".[7]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Falling Back"
Organization Year Category Result Ref.
MTV Video Music Awards 2023 Best Direction Nominated [8]

Music video

The official music video for "Falling Back", directed by Director X, premiered alongside the release of the song and album on June 17, 2022.[9] It sees Drake marrying 23 different women. Canadian-American professional basketball player Tristan Thompson makes an appearance as his best man and Drake's mother, Sandi Graham, also makes an appearance.[10] The video also features The Dan Band singing a cover version of Drake's popular song Best I Ever Had.

In the video, "Free YSL" is written in green capital letters to show support for American record label YSL Records, as some of their artists, including Drake's previous collaborators, American rappers Young Thug and Gunna, and some other artists and affiliates of the collective were arrested and held in jail without bond at the time of the release of the song and video after being named in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) indictment in May 2022.[11] The marriage scene pays homage to the video for hip hop duo UGK's 2007 single, "International Players Anthem (I Choose You)", featuring fellow hip hop duo Outkast.[12]

Charts

References

  1. ^ Assaly, Richie (June 17, 2022). "Drake marries 23 women in the new video for 'Falling Back': 6 key takeaways from his lead single". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  2. ^ Guy, Zoe (June 17, 2022). "Drake Makes 23 Women His Wives in 'Falling Back'". Vulture. Retrieved June 17, 2022. Drake simultaneously marries 23 women in the nine-minute music video for his new single "Falling Back" off his latest album Honestly, Nevermind.
  3. ^ Aron A. (June 17, 2022). "Drake Marries A Roster Of Women In "Falling Back" Video". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 17, 2022. Upon the album's release, the rapper delivered a new set of visuals for the single, "Falling Back."
  4. ^ Ragusa, Paulo (June 17, 2022). "Song of the Week: Drake Falls Under His Own Hypnotic Spell on "Falling Back"". Consequence. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  5. ^ Petridis, Alexis (June 17, 2022). "Drake: Honestly, Nevermind review – brand new moods, same old moans". The Guardian. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  6. ^ Smyth, David (June 17, 2022). "Drake – Honestly, Nevermind first-listen review: Summery background music and not much more". Evening Standard. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  7. ^ Williams, Kyann-Sian (June 17, 2022). "Drake – 'Honestly, Nevermind' review: rapper's house makeover provides long-overdue career boost". NME. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  8. ^ Grein, Paul (August 8, 2023). "Taylor Swift Is Top Nominee for 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (Complete List)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  9. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (June 17, 2022). "Drake Has 23 Brides & Tristan Thompson as His Best Man in 'Falling Back' Video". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  10. ^ Shifferaw, Abel (June 17, 2022). "Drake Drops Wedding-Themed 'Falling Back' Video Featuring Tristan Thompson Cameo". Complex. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  11. ^ Monroe, Jazz (June 17, 2022). "Drake Marries 23 Women in New "Falling Back" Video: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  12. ^ Bustard, Andy (June 17, 2022). "Drake Marries Multiple Women In UGK & Outkast-Inspired 'Falling Back' Video". HipHopDX. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  13. ^ "Drake – Falling Back" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  14. ^ "Drake Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  15. ^ "Drake – Falling Back". Tracklisten. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  16. ^ "Drake – Falling Back" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  17. ^ "Drake Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  18. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart – Week: 25/2022". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  19. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  20. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  21. ^ "Drake – Falling Back". Top Digital Download. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  22. ^ "2022 25-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. June 27, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  23. ^ "Drake Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  24. ^ "Drake – Falling Back" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  25. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  26. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2022-25". VG-lista. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  27. ^ "Drake – Falling Back". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  28. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 25-2022". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  29. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 25". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  30. ^ "Drake – Falling Back". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  31. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  32. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  33. ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  34. ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  35. ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  36. ^ "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
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