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Face Down (The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Face Down
| cover = Face Down Red Jumpsuit.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
| album = Don't You Fake It
| released = July 4, 2006
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:12
| label = Virgin
| writer =
| producer = David Bendeth
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = False Pretense
| next_year = 2007
| misc =
}}
"'Face Down'" is the debut single by the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus from their debut album 'Don't You Fake It', released in 2006. The song peaked at number 24 in the United States and number four in New Zealand. It also tied 30 Seconds to Mars' "The Kill" as the longest running song on the Modern Rock Tracks chart at 52 weeks without hitting number one. Four versions were released, including an acoustic version. "Face Down" remains the band's most successful single. It is featured on 'Saints Row 2's soundtrack. It was also featured on the 'MX vs. ATV Untamed' soundtrack.
Lyrics and video
"Face Down" is notable for lyrics that detail suffering from domestic abuse. Written by lead singer Ronnie Winter, the song is about the domestic abuse that he and his brother lived through as children. He's said the "lyrics are deeply personal" and he wanted to "help kids who are in similar situations cope."
The music video parallels the song in its treatment of violence in a relationship. After arriving home, a young woman examines a bruise on her lower back, and begins to look for and examine items that she associates with her boyfriend (e.g. pictures, a card, letters). As she does so, objects around her start to suddenly move as if thrown or destroyed by the unseen hand of an abuser. The level of damage done escalates throughout the video, though the young woman does not react or acknowledge the growing violence around her. After a chair flies through the living room window, she takes the pictures and letters and throws them into a garbage can outside her house. This unfolding scene is juxtaposed with shots of the band performing the song in a living room with lighting and decor which appear to be the young woman's.
Versions and samples
There are two edits of the 'Don't You Fake It' version, which are the album version and the radio edit. Although both edits are nearly identical, the album version has less screaming than the original, with only brief screaming during the bridge. The radio edit completely removes the screaming in the bridge.
There is also a heavier version of the song that appears on their debut album. The lyrics are unchanged but the chorus is in a different spot. The most notable difference is how the lyrics are screamed, and it sounds very distinctive in comparison to the 'Don't You Fake It' version with less screaming.
An acoustic version of "Face Down" was released after the album version. The lyrics are unchanged, but a previously unheard guitar part supplements the song.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
Category:2006 songs
Category:2006 debut singles
Category:The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus songs
Category:Song recordings produced by David Bendeth
Category:Songs about domestic violence
Category:Virgin Records singles
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