I'm Going Down (Rose Royce song)

"I'm Going Down" is a song written and produced by Norman Whitfield, and performed by American soul and R&B group Rose Royce in 1976. It is from the film Car Wash and is featured on its soundtrack. In 1994, it was covered by American singer Mary J. Blige.

"I'm Going Down"
Side A of US vinyl single
Single by Rose Royce
from the album Car Wash: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
B-side"Yo Yo"
ReleasedSeptember 1976
Recorded1976
Genre
Length3:37
LabelWhitfield/MCA
Songwriter(s)Norman Whitfield
Producer(s)Norman Whitfield
Rose Royce singles chronology
"I Wanna Get Next to You"
(1977)		 "I'm Going Down"
(1976)		 "Do Your Dance"
(1977)

Rose Royce version

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
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[1] 58
France (SNEP) 5
Italy (FIMI) 13
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 70
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[3] 10

Mary J. Blige version
"I'm Goin' Down"
US retail cassette variant of standard artwork
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album My Life
ReleasedJanuary 18, 1995 (1995-01-18)
Genre
Length3:44
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"Be Happy"
(1994)		 "I'm Goin' Down"
(1995)		 "Mary Jane (All Night Long)"
(1995)
Music video
"I'm Goin' Down" on YouTube

In 1994, American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige covered "I'm Going Down", titled "I'm Goin' Down", for her second studio album, My Life (1994). Her version was produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs and Chucky Thompson. Released as the album's second single, Blige's version peaked at number thirteen on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number twenty-two on the US Billboard Hot 100. In mid-1995, Blige released a remix featuring Mr. Cheeks of The Lost Boyz featuring co-production from "Prince" Charles Alexander and Mark "Led" Ledford, and contains portions of "The What" (1994) by American rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Method Man. "I'm Going Down" is frequently performed at many of Blige's concerts and as well as live sets.

Critical reception

Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report felt that "I'm Goin' Down" "offers this awesome vocalist a chance to give one of her most soulful performances. It sounds great anywhere, but it's even more incredible on the air."[4] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton remarked that Blige "sparkles" on "a rather fabulous cover" of the old Rose Royce song.[5] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update described it as an "exceptional ultra soulful sparse dramatic 61.7bpm Rose Royce remake in authentic mid-Sixties slow Stax/Volt type".[6] Jonathan Bernstein from Spin declared it as "a storming slice of down-on-my-knees, stop-start soul originally found on the Car Wash soundtrack, and you realize any previous praise for the record has been barely felt because you know the difference between the proficient material that went before and a great song. And this is a great song."[7]

Music video

The accompanying 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.[8]

Track listings
  • US cassette single[9]
  1. "I'm Goin' Down" (Album version) – 3:43
  2. "I'm Goin' Down" (Remix) – 3:48
  1. "I'm Goin' Down" (album version) – 3:43
  2. "You Bring Me Joy" (Smoove's soul mix) – 5:24
  3. "You Bring Me Joy" (E-Smoove's Joyous club mix) – 10:12
  4. "You Bring Me Joy" (Smoove Funk mix) – 4:38
  • UK cassette single[12]
  1. "I'm Goin' Down" (album version) – 3:43
  2. "You Bring Me Joy" (Smoove's soul mix) – 5:24
  • Australian CD single[13]
  1. "I'm Goin' Down" (album version) – 3:43
  2. "You Bring Me Joy" (E-Smoove's Joyous club mix) – 10:12
  3. "You Bring Me Joy" (Smoove Funk mix) – 4:38

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the My Life liner notes.[14]

  • Mary J. Blige – vocals
  • "Prince" Charles Alexander – tenor saxophone, piccolo flute, additional flute, recording engineer, mixing
  • Mark "Led" Ledford – trumpet
  • Bruce Purse – trumpet
  • Vincent Henry – alto saxophone
  • Paul Pesco – guitar
  • Lenny Underwood – piano
  • Fred McFarlane – additional keyboards
  • Regina Carter – violin
  • Diane Monroe – violin
  • Lesa Terry – violin
  • Eileen Folson – cello
  • Victor Bailey – bass played by
  • Gloria Agostini – harp
  • Kevin "K-Dog" Johnson – drums
  • Frank Colon – percussion

Charts

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 18, 1995 —
United Kingdom April 3, 1995
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [24]

"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)
  • Beyoncé covered this song on her Renaissance World Tour.

References
  1. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5238b." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  2. "Rose Royce Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  3. "Rose Royce Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  4. Sholin, Dave (February 24, 1995). "Gavin Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 54. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  5. Masterton, James (April 9, 1995). "Week Ending April 15th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  6. Hamilton, James (April 1, 1995). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  7. Bernstein, Jonathan (February 1995). "Spins". Spin. p. 76. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  8. "Mary J. Blige – I'm Goin' Down". YouTube. December 25, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  9. I'm Goin' Down (US Cassette single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. Uptown Records. 1995. UPTCS-55008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. I'm Goin' Down (UK CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1995. MCSTD 2053.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. I'm Goin' Down (UK 12-inch single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1995. MCST 2053.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. I'm Goin' Down (UK Cassette single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1995. MCSC 2053.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. I'm Goin' Down (Australia CD single liner notes). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records. 1995. MCD 32545.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Blige, Mary J. (1994). My Life (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records.
  15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. April 29, 1995. p. 16.
  16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 16 April 1995 – 22 April 1995". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  17. "Mary J Blige: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  18. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  19. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  20. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  21. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  22. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  23. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 1995". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  24. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. April 1, 1995. p. 35.
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