Slow Down (Selena Gomez song) explained

Slow Down
Cover:Selena Gomez - Slow Down.png
Type:single
Artist:Selena Gomez
Album:Stars Dance
Recorded:2013
Label:Hollywood
Producer:The Cataracs
Prev Title:Come & Get It
Prev Year:2013
Next Title:The Heart Wants What It Wants
Next Year:2014

"Slow Down" is a song recorded by American singer Selena Gomez from her debut solo studio album, Stars Dance (2013). It was made available for instant digital download along with the pre-order of the album on June 3, 2013. Hollywood Records later sent the song to mainstream radio as the second and final single from the album on August 13, 2013. The song was produced by The Cataracs and David Kuncio, and infuses EDM elements in its instrumentation. Gomez has been quoted by saying the song speaks of slowing down time by stopping the sun’s orbit around Earth and living in one magical moment on the dance floor.

Music critics gave a favorable reception to the song, with some praising its catchiness and fun production. Slow Down has achieved moderate success, peaking inside the top 20 in The Czech Republic, Russia, and South Korea. In the United States, the song peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, reached number-one on Billboards Hot Dance Club Songs chart, and it has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 1,000,000 units of the single in the country. On the Mainstream Top 40 airplay chart, it reached the position of number 7.

The accompanying music video for "Slow Down" was directed by Philip Andelman and filmed in Paris, France. It features Gomez singing along to the track inside of a car, partying in a nightclub, and strutting down the streets of the city. Gomez has performed "Slow Down" in a number of live appearances, including on Good Morning America, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, and UK TV show Surprise, Surprise. It was also performed as the encore of her Stars Dance Tour.

Background and composition

On June 3, 2013, during a live chat on her YouTube channel, Gomez revealed that her debut solo studio album would be titled Stars Dance, and also revealed the album's track listing and cover art.[1] During the same chat, the singer announced she would release "Slow Down" as the second single from the album, after "Come & Get It", and that fans would be able to download the song right after pre-ordering the album on iTunes.[1] On August 13, the song was sent to mainstream radio in the United States, while a digital remixes EP was released the following week on Amazon.com. On September 6, a digital EP with "Lover in Me", "I Like It That Way" and the Cosmic Dawn remix of "Come & Get It" as b-sides, was released through iTunes in some countries including Brazil, Norway, and Vietnam. The EP was released in the United Kingdom on December 8.[2]

The song was written by Lindy Robbins, Julia Michaels, Niles Hollowell-Dhar, David Kuncio and Freddy Wexler and was produced by both Hollowell-Dhar, under the production team pseudonym The Cataracs, and Dave Kuncio.[3] "Slow Down" is a high-octane, uptempo dance-pop and EDM song,[4] [5] that has been described as "wobbly club thumper" by Robert Copsey of Digital Spy.[6] It features a dubstep pre-chorus, funk guitars, a four on the floor beat, and a spoken word outro.[4] Lyrically, the song speaks of not wanting a night to end, with Gomez singing, "Can we take it nice and slow, slow / Break it down and drop it low, low / Cause I just wanna party all night in the neon lights 'til you can't let me go."[4] [7] It is written in the key of C♯ minor.[8] Gomez's vocals span from the low note of B3 to the high note of C5.[9]

Critical reception

Andrew Hampp of Billboard called the song "harmless, frothy fun", while complimenting its "pseudo-dubstep pre-chorus breakdown, stretched-out staccato vocal loops and not-too-naughty-for Disney lyrics ("You know I'm good with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation")".[10] Caryn Ganz of Rolling Stone noted that Gomez's producers "finally [gave] her tighter tunes" like "Slow Down", adding that it is "ripe for remixing."[11] Writing for the Los Angeles Times, August Brown thought the production "Slow Down" is "rooted in today's pop-EDM default mode, but as that stuff goes, [the song] is pretty capable."[12] PopDust contributor Christina Drill was critical towards the song, considering it "adequate-but-forgettable", and further stating: "the only thing that separates it from the faceless EDM masses? Selena cooing, 'You know I'm good with mouth to mouth resuscitation' in a way that's almost believable. A total whatever."[5] Matthew Horton of Virgin Media deemed it "charmless".[13] Joseph Atilano of the Philippine Daily Inquirer stated that "some of the lyrics are a bit suggestive but there is nothing in them that would turn off any of her loyal fans."[14]

Chart performance

After being released for instant digital download with the pre-order of Stars Dance, "Slow Down" charted in several countries, including Australia, where it peaked at number 91, and in Austria, staying on the country's chart for two weeks before peaking at number 71. The song has charted for 32 weeks in France, and has so far peaked at number 31. In the Ultratip charts from Belgium, it peaked at number 2 in Flanders and number 13 in Wallonia. On the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, "Slow Down" peaked at number 27, and has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). On the Pop Songs component chart, the song entered the top 10 and reached the position of number 7. As of July 2015, "Slow Down" has sold 1 million copies in the United States.[15]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Slow Down" was directed by Philip Andelman and filmed in Paris, France in May 2013.[16] It leaked online on July 19, and was later uploaded to her official Vevo account.[17] [18] The video features Gomez sitting in the back seat of a Mercedes-Benz 600 (W100) short-wheelbase. The car scenes are combined with her walking the streets of Paris dancing in a club dressed in a two piece outfit with backup dancers in front of pulsating neon lights. Sam Lansky of Idolator commented that the video has "no narrative, but it's Selena being grown-and-sexy, which is more than adequate narrative for me. It's a cherry on top of how fine the Stars Dance era has already been, and it augurs well for what's to come."[19] A blogger for MuchMusic noted similarities on "Slow Down" to early music videos by recording artists Britney Spears, Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez.[20]

When the music video for the song was leaked online, Keith Girard of celebrity gossip site The Improper wrote that the music video for "Slow Down" had elements of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Keith says that "Selena Gomez's new video for song 'Slow Down' contains some eerie parallels to the death of Princess Diana. Selena races through the Paris streets in a vintage Mercedes similar to Diana's on the night she was killed in a car crash."[21] Caroline Bologna of Hollywood.com picked up on the matter on the same day and mentioned how the footage of the vintage car speeding through tunnels is similar to the princess' death.[22]

Live performances

Gomez performed "Slow Down" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 24, 2013,[23] [24] and on Good Morning America and Live with Kelly and Michael on July 26.[25] [26] On October 17, she performed the song on The View and Late Show with David Letterman.[27] [28] Gomez then travelled to the United Kingdom and performed the song on Surprise, Surprise on September 20.[29] Gomez also taped a performance on The X Factor USA to be aired originally on November 7; however, due to voting glitches for the day's episode, it aired the following week, on November 14.[30] On November 28, the singer performed "Slow Down" in a medley with "Like a Champion" and "Come & Get It" during Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Halftime Show.[31] After the performance was announced, Gomez stated, "I'm from Texas, so I'm a little nervous, I'm not going to lie. But I'm very honored and I hope that we come—me, my dancers and my band—and we give Texas a really good show and I make them proud."[31] "Slow Down" was also performed as the encore of her Stars Dance Tour with the music video playing in the background on the screen.[32] The song was also part of the setlist on Gomez's Revival Tour in 2016.

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Result
2013 PopCrush Awards Best Summer Song [33]
Best Song [34]
Best Video [35]
J-14 Teen Icon Awards Icon Music Video [36]

Formats and track listings

  1. "Slow Down" – 3:30
  2. "Lover In Me" – 3:28
  3. "I Like It That Way" – 4:11
  4. "Come & Get It" (Cosmic Dawn Club Remix) – 6:29
  1. "Slow Down" (Chew Fu Refix) – 5:48
  2. "Slow Down" (Danny Verde Remix) – 6:49
  3. "Slow Down" (DJLW Remix) – 6:56
  4. "Slow Down" (Jason Nevins Remix) – 5:54
  5. "Slow Down" (Smash Mode Remix) – 5:21
  1. "Slow Down" (Sure Shot Rockers Reggae Remix) – 7:15
  2. "Slow Down" (Sure Shot Rockers Reggae Radio Edit) – 3:38
  3. "Slow Down" (Sure Shot Rockers Reggae Dub Remix) – 3:16
  1. "Slow Down" (Chew Fu ReFix) – 5:47
  2. "Slow Down" (Danny Verde Remix) – 6:48
  3. "Slow Down" (DJLW Remix) – 7:10
  4. "Slow Down" (Jason Nevins Remix) – 6:00
  5. "Slow Down" (Smash Mode Remix) – 5:22
  6. "Slow Down" (Paolo Ortelli & Luke Degree Remix) – 6:11
  7. "Slow Down" (Enrry Senna Remix) – 6:37
  8. "Slow Down" (Razor 'N' Guido Remix) – 7:20
  9. "Slow Down" (Mike Cruz Remix) – 6:30
  10. "Slow Down" (Silver A.'s Remix) – 4:35
  11. "Slow Down" (Ryan Kenney Remix) – 6:04
  12. "Slow Down" (Sure Shot Rockers Reggae Remix) – 7:16

Credits and personnel

Recording and management
Personnel

Credits adapted from Stars Dance liner notes.[39]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[40] 93
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[41] 8
Mexican Anglo Chart (Monitor Latino)[42] 16
South Korea (GIC)[43] 15
UK Singles (OCC)[44] 106
Venezuela Pop Rock General (Record Report)[45] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2013)Position
France (SNEP)[46] 148
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[47] 118
Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[48] 185
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[49] 48

Release history

Single release

CountryDateFormatLabel
United StatesAugust 13, 2013[50] Mainstream radioHollywood
August 20, 2013[51] Digital remixes – EP
Brazil[52] September 6, 2013Digital EP
Norway[53]
Vietnam[54]
Italy[55] September 13, 2013Mainstream radioUniversal
United KingdomFebruary 9, 2014Digital EPHollywood

See also

Notes and References

  1. Selena Gomez Reveals 'Stars Dance' Album Cover and Track List, Premieres 'Slow Down'. Rutherford. Kevin. November 7, 2013. June 3, 2013. Billboard.
  2. Web site: Slow Down – EP by Selena Gomez. iTunes Store. January 2013. United Kingdom. November 7, 2013.
  3. Web site: Selena Gomez Releases 'Slow Down,' Announces Album Tracklisting . RyanSeacrest.com. June 4, 2013. June 6, 2013.
  4. Web site: Selena Gomez Unveils 'Stars Dance' Album Cover & Tracklist, Debuts New Song "Slow Down": Listen . Sam . Lansky . . June 4, 2013 . July 18, 2013.
  5. Web site: Selena Gomez' "Stars Dance" Reviewed: "Slow Down" . Christina . Drill . Popdust . July 16, 2013 . July 18, 2013 .
  6. Web site: Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear . Robert. Copsey. Lewis. Corner . . June 10, 2013 . July 18, 2013 .
  7. Web site: 'Slow Down': Selena Gomez Premieres New Track Off Of 'Stars Dance' Album. June 4, 2013. November 7, 2013. Boardman. Madeline. .
  8. Web site: Julia. Michaels. Lindy. Robbins. Niles. Hollowell-Dhar. Freddy. Wexler. Dave. Kuncio. Selena. Gomez. 2013-08-06. Slow Down. 2021-04-11. Musicnotes.com.
  9. Web site: Selena Gomez "Slow Down" Sheet Music. MusicNotes. August 6, 2013. November 7, 2013.
  10. Selena Gomez, 'Stars Dance': Track-By-Track Review. Hampp. Andrew. Billboard. July 23, 2013. November 8, 2013.
  11. Selena Gomez Enters Adulthood With Her Unfussy Pop Showcase 'Stars Dance'. July 23, 2013. November 8, 2013. Rolling Stone.
  12. Web site: Review: Selena Gomez's 'Stars Dance' a sassy pop-EDM mix. Brown. August. July 22, 2013. November 8, 2013. Los Angeles Times.
  13. Web site: Selena Gomez: Stars Dance Album Review. Horton. Matthew. Virgin Media. July 22, 2013. November 8, 2013.
  14. News: Single Review: "Slow Down" by Selena Gomez. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Atilano. Joseph. August 2, 2013. November 8, 2013.
  15. Ask Billboard: Are There an Unusually High Number of New Acts in the Hot 100's Top 10? . Trust . Gary . . . July 19, 2015 . July 19, 2015.
  16. Web site: Selena Gomez "Slow Down" (Philip Andelman, dir.). Wilson. Ethan. July 22, 2013. November 7, 2013. Videostatic.
  17. Web site: Macatee. Rebecca. Selena Gomez Shows Off Sexy, Vampy Look in Leaked "Slow Down" Music Video. E!. July 19, 2013. July 19, 2013.
  18. Web site: Watch: Selena Gomez's "Slow Down" Music Video!. Cubria. Kaitlin. Teen.com. July 19, 2013. November 7, 2013.
  19. Web site: Selena Gomez's "Slow Down" Video Springs A Leak: Watch The Sexy Clip. July 19, 2013. November 7, 2013. Idolator.
  20. Web site: We break down Selena Gomez's leaked video for Slow Down. July 19, 2013. November 7, 2013. MuchMusic. https://web.archive.org/web/20131209032410/http://blog.muchmusic.com/we-break-down-selena-gomezs-leaked-video-for/. December 9, 2013. dead.
  21. Web site: Selena Gomez "Slow Down" Video Eerily Evokes Princess Diana. July 19, 2013. January 15, 2014. The Improper.
  22. Web site: Selena Gomez Gets Sultry in Leaked "Slow Down" Music Video. July 19, 2013. January 15, 2014. Hollywood.com.
  23. Web site: Selena Gomez Performs Sexy New Single 'Slow Down' On Jay Leno Last Night. Miller. Adam. Entertainment Wise. July 24, 2013. November 8, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131208103240/http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/121680/WATCH-Selena-Gomez-Performs-Sexy-New-Single-Slow-Down-On-Jay-Leno-Last-Night. December 8, 2013. dead.
  24. Web site: Selena Gomez Talks House Hunting & Turning 21 On 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno'. Idolator. Lansky. Sam. July 24, 2013. November 8, 2013.
  25. Web site: Selena Gomez Performs "Slow Down" & More On 'Good Morning America'. Willot. Carl. July 26, 2013. November 8, 2013. Idolator.
  26. Web site: Selena Gomez's Performs 'Slow Down' On 'Live With Kelly & Michael'. Hollywood Life. July 26, 2013. November 8, 2013. July 29, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130729184235/http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/07/26/selena-gomez-slow-down-live-kelly-michael-video/. dead.
  27. Web site: Selena Gomez Performs "Slow Down" On 'The View' (After A Minor Malfunction). Lasnky. Sam. October 17, 2013. November 8, 2013. Idolator.
  28. Web site: Selena Gomez Performs 'Slow Down' on 'David Letterman'. Inocencio. Mark. October 18, 2013. November 8, 2013. RyanSeacrest.com.
  29. Web site: Surprise Surprise – Episode 5, Week 43. ITV. October 20, 2013. November 8, 2013.
  30. Web site: Selena Gomez Performs "Slow Down" on X Factor. November 14, 2013. November 16, 2013. Gossip Cop.
  31. Web site: Selena Gomez Performs During Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Halftime Show. Fowler. Brandi. E!. November 28, 2013. November 30, 2013.
  32. Web site: Live review: Selena Gomez Stars Dance tour in London – pictures and set list. Robertson. James. September 9, 2013. November 8, 2013. The Mirror.
  33. Web site: Best of Summer 2013 – Vote Now!. August 1, 2013. November 8, 2013. Maher. Cristin. PopCrush.
  34. Web site: Nomination for worlds best song. World Music Awards. November 8, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140226201404/http://vote.worldmusicawards.com/selectnomination.asp?cat=1. February 26, 2014.
  35. Web site: Nomination for worlds best video. World Music Awards. November 8, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131014154642/http://vote.worldmusicawards.com/selectnomination.asp?cat=3. October 14, 2013.
  36. Web site: Meet Your 2013 Nominees & Vote Now!. Van De Wall. Virginia. October 15, 2013. November 8, 2013. J-14.
  37. Web site: Slow Down (Reggae Remixes) – Single by Selena Gomez. iTunes Store. United States. August 20, 2013. October 8, 2013.
  38. Web site: Selena Gomez – Slow Down (Remixes) (2013, CD). .
  39. Stars Dance liner notes [CD] Hollywood Records (2013).
  40. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 29 July 2013. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20130818140100/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20130819-0001/Issue1222.pdf. dead. 2013-08-18. July 29, 2013. Australian Web Archive. 1222. September 3, 2013.
  41. Selena Gomez Album & Chart History. Billboard Greece Digital Songs for Selena Gomez. November 13, 2014.
  42. Web site: Top 20 Ingles: Del 14 Al 20 de Octubre del 2013. https://archive.today/20131024214354/http://monitorlatino.com.mx//Charts/Ingles1014201310202013.html. dead. October 24, 2013. Monitor Latino. RadioNotas. November 9, 2013.
  43. Web site: South Korea Gaon International Chart. Gaon Chart. August 1, 2013. https://archive.today/20130801210845/http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/download.php?nationGbn=E&current_week=31&current_year=2013&chart_Time=week. August 1, 2013. dead.
  44. Web site: CHART LOG UK: NEW ENTRIES UPDATE . Zobbel . 2013-11-14.
  45. Web site: Pop Rock General. Record Report. R.R. Digital C.A.. Spanish. September 26, 2013. September 26, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060348/http://www.recordreport.com.ve/publico/?i=poprock. September 21, 2013. dead.
  46. Web site: Top de l'année Top Singles 2013. SNEP. fr. July 7, 2020.
  47. Web site: Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart 2013. TopHit. ru. March 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328141748/https://tophit.com/ru/chart/top/radio/hits/russia/annual/2013-01-01. March 28, 2023.
  48. Web site: Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart 2013. TopHit. ru. March 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230329163735/https://tophit.com/ru/chart/top/radio/hits/ukraine/annual/2013-01-01. March 29, 2023.
  49. Dance Club Songs – Year-End 2013. Billboard. July 7, 2020.
  50. Web site: Top 40/Mainstream > Future Releases . All Access . August 1, 2013 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20130727061039/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases . July 27, 2013 .
  51. Web site: Slow Down Remixes: Selena Gomez: MP3 Downloads. Amazon.com. August 20, 2013. November 7, 2013.
  52. Web site: Slow Down – EP by Selena Gomez. iTunes Store. Brazil. September 6, 2013. November 7, 2013.
  53. Web site: Slow Down – EP by Selena Gomez. iTunes Store. Norway. September 6, 2013. November 7, 2013.
  54. Web site: Slow Down – EP by Selena Gomez. iTunes Store. Vietnam. September 6, 2013. November 7, 2013.
  55. Web site: Radio Date: Selena Gomez – Slow Down. September 13, 2013. November 7, 2013. Italian. Radio Airplay. https://archive.today/20130915050834/http://www.radioairplay.fm/RadioDate/PublicDetails/41193. September 15, 2013. dead.