Falling (Harry Styles song)
A piano ballad about heartbreak and self-reflection.
Falling is a song by English singer-songwriter Harry Styles, released on 7 March 2020 as the third single from his second studio album, Fine Line (2019). The ballad was written by Styles and Kid Harpoon, who also produced the track.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Harry Styles
- Album
- Fine Line
- Released
- 7 March 2020
- Studio
- RAK (London); Harpoon House (Los Angeles, California)
- Genre
- Pop-soul
- Label
- Erskine; Columbia
- Writer
- Harry Styles; Thomas Hull
- Producer
- Kid Harpoon
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Styles and Kid Harpoon first collaborated on Styles' self-titled debut album (2017) on the songs 'Carolina' and 'Sweet Creature'. Harpoon later became music director of Styles' first world solo tour. While working on Fine Line, Harpoon encouraged Styles to write about his feelings regarding a breakup that had a significant impact on him. The song was written in about an hour when Harpoon visited Styles' Los Angeles home and began playing piano while Styles sang after getting out of the shower.
The song is a 'hushed' soul piano ballad. Styles described it as being about slipping back into old ways and trying to become a better person. Lyrically, it addresses feeling overwhelmed and drowning, with lines such as 'no one to blame but the drink in my wandering hands' and 'I'm well aware I write too many songs about you.' The song was written about his breakup with ex-girlfriend Camille Rowe.
Reader's Guide
Falling received generally positive critical reception. Critics described it as a 'gorgeous piano ballad' and a 'moody, Moog-y lamentation.' The line 'What am I now? What if I'm someone I don't want around' was noted as one of the album's most moving moments. The New York Times called it 'hymnlike, bitterly self-accusatory.' Rolling Stone was less favorable, calling it a 'forgettable ballad' but praising Styles for nontoxic masculinity in the lyrics.
The song charted at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart and received triple platinum certification from the BPI in 2026. In the US, it was certified platinum by the RIAA. The music video, directed by Dave Meyers, features Styles in an apartment that slowly fills with water until he is fully submerged. The production design won an Art Directors Guild Excellence in Production Design award, the first time the ADG recognized a music video in its 20-year history. The song has been covered by Little Mix, Gabrielle, BTS member Jungkook, and Kelly Clarkson.
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