Falling Behind
| "Falling Behind" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Laufey | ||||
| from the album Everything I Know About Love | ||||
| Released | 11 August 2022 | |||
| Length | 2:53 | |||
| Label | AWAL | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Laufey singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Falling Behind" on YouTube | ||||
"Falling Behind" is a song recorded by Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey, from her first studio album, Everything I Know About Love (2022). It was released on 11 August 2022 through AWAL as a preceding single for the album. She wrote the track with its co-producer, Spencer Stewart. It is a bossa nova-inspired track that features piano and acoustic guitar, with lyrics that talk about the feeling of not finding a romantic partner while others have.
Music critics praised "Falling Behind" due to its bossa nova-inspired tune and relatability amongst listeners. It received certifications in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The track was also included in Laufey's live album A Night at the Symphony (2023) and concert movie A Night at the Symphony: Hollywood Bowl (2024).
Background and release
[edit].png?lang=en)
Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey released her debut single entitled "Street by Street" in 2020, which charted at number one on Icelandic Radio. She then released her debut extended play (EP) the following year entitled Typical of Me, which includes the song and six other songs that follows themes of romance. Neil Yeung of AllMusic described every song on the EP as a "gem, brimming with potential",[1] while Anna D’Amico of American Songwriter described Laufey having a "perfect modern jazz sound and low alto voice", highlighting her distinct sound from other musicians.[2][3]
In June 2022, Laufey announced her debut studio album Everything I Know About Love alongside the release of her third single that year named "Fragile". The album tackles themes about growing, self-described as very "hopeless romantic", drawing in inspiration from personal experiences to make the album. Alongside the announce of the album, she had announced it's track list which included the single "Falling Behind".[4][5] The single was released on 11 August 2022 through AWAL as the album's fourth preceding single. She drew in inspiration to write the song based off of her personal experiences where she had seen people close to her fall in love while she had not, feeling she was left behind.[6] It was released with an accompanying video,[7] and was also included in her live album A Night at the Symphony (2023)[8] and concert movie A Night at the Symphony: Hollywood Bowl (2024).[9]
Composition
[edit]"Falling Behind" is two minutes and 53 seconds long. It was written by Laufey and co-producer Spencer Stewart, mixed by Steve Kaye and Jannick Frampton, and mastered by Joe LaPorta.[10] It is a bossa nova-influenced song that is self-described by Laufey as a "hopeless romantic's summer anthem." Lyrically, the song talks about the anxiety of not finding a romantic partner while those close to you have.[6][7] Alongside Laufey's vocals, it is accompanied with piano and acoustic guitar played by Laufey herself.[10]
Critical reception and commercial performance
[edit]"Falling Behind" was met with positive reviews upon release, mostly due to its bossa nova-inspired tune. In a full review of the single's album, Neil Yeung of AllMusic described that Laufey showed "some bossa nova flair" through the song.[11] Emily Miller of The Honey Pop opined that Laufey had "brought back" bossa nova with the release of the song. Miller praised the song's vocals and lyricism, likening the latter as a shared experience to many of the song's listeners.[7] In a performance of the song during the Manila leg of the Bewitched Tour (2023–2024) in May 2024, Gabriel Saulog of Billboard Philippines called it a fan-favorite, citing a "slight cheekiness" with Laufey's vocal delivery of the song accompanied by the guitar.[12] "Falling Behind" was certified gold in Australia[13] and New Zealand,[14] and platinum in the United States.[15]
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from the liner notes of Everything I Know About Love.[10]
Musicians
Technical
- Laufey – producer and songwriter
- Spencer Stewart – producer and songwriter
- Steve Kaye – mixing engineer
- Jannick Frampton - assistant mixing engineer
- Joe LaPorta – mastering engineer
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[13] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[14] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[15] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ Yeung, Neil. "Laufey – Typical of Me: Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ D’Amico, Anna (17 December 2021). "The 41 Best Albums of 2021". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ "International Artist of the Moment: Laufey". ABS-CBN News. 27 May 2024. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ Ackroyd, Stephen (12 August 2022). "Laufey has shared a new track, 'Falling Behind'". Dork. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (1 June 2022). "Laufey announces debut album with new song "Fragile"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 25 March 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b Kenneally, Cerys (11 August 2022). "Laufey unveils new song 'Falling Behind'". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Miller, Emily (17 August 2022). "Laufey Is Bringing Back Bossa Nova With 'Falling Behind'". The Honey Pop. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ Murray, Robin (14 February 2023). "Laufey Confirms Concert Album 'A Night At The Symphony'". Clash Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ Starkey, Adam (6 December 2024). "Here's every song in 'Laufey's A Night At The Symphony: Hollywood Bowl'". NME. Archived from the original on 7 April 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b c Laufey (10 March 2023). Everything I Know About Love (vinyl liner notes). AWAL. LAULP001R.
- ^ Yeung, Neil. "Laufey – Everything I Know About Love: Album Reviews, Songs & More"". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ Saulog, Gabriel (30 May 2024). "Laufey Leaves A Spellbinding Impression On Manila With 'A Night At The Symphony' – Review". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on 24 March 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ a b "New Zealand single certifications – Laufey – Falling Behind". Radioscope. Retrieved 12 March 2025. Type Falling Behind in the "Search:" field.
- ^ a b "American single certifications – Laufey – Falling Behind". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 4 March 2025.