Drowning (Backstreet Boys song)

Written by Andreas Carlsson, Rami and Linda Thompson and produced by Rami and Kristian Lundin, the song "Drowning" was initially recorded for the Backstreet Boys' 2000 Black & Blue album but was excluded due to the limited track listings left.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} Several elements of the song, such as the piano intro and the chorus, are very similar to "Långsamt farväl" released by the Swedish artist Mauro Scocco in 1997. Andreas Carlsson, co-writer of "Drowning," sang backing vocals on Lisa Nilsson's version of "Långsamt farväl," released in 2003.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.groove.se/pdf/groove03-2.pdf|title=Personlig tillbakablick|trans-title=Personal Retrospective|magazine=Groove|language=sv|year=2003|number=2|page=14|access-date=October 14, 2022}} In Finland, "Drowning" was compared to the 1995 song "Älä sano huomisesta" by Hausmylly.{{cite web|url=https://www.findance.com/uutiset/2126/plagioiko-backstreet-boys-hausmyllya/|title=Plagioiko Backstreet Boys Hausmyllyä?|trans-title=Did the Backstreet Boys Plagiarize Hausmylly?|website=Findance.com|language=fi|date=September 28, 2007|access-date=October 14, 2022}}

Country remixes of the song were also recorded, produced by Dann Huff.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2591958-Backstreet-Boys-Drowning-Dann-Huff-Remixes|title=Backstreet Boys – Drowning (Dann Huff Remixes)|website=Discogs|access-date=April 23, 2023}}

The song peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on November 13, 2001. It reached the top ten in several European countries, reaching number three in Sweden, number four in the UK, and number five in Norway.

The official music video was directed by Nigel Dick, who directed their music videos for "As Long as You Love Me" and "All I Have to Give."{{cite web|last=Dick|first=Nigel|url=http://www.nigeldick.com/about-dick/dick-fuq/details-of-backstreet-boys-videos/|title=Details of Backstreet Boys Videos}} Filmed in Los Angeles,{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} it featured the band gathered around monuments and an old building resembling a church.

The video is notable for its frequent use of the contre-jour technique, which puts the subject directly against the light source, thus giving a clear, dark outline of the figure. In the video, the group is often seen as silhouette moving and singing against the background.

Before the final video was produced, a different concept was in production. The concept was eventually abandoned, and the official video was produced instead. One of the preliminary cuts of this original video was leaked to the public. This video was done, then canceled and replaced by the end of the month.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

It features the band members dressed in black outfits, as seen in the photograph on the single cover of the CD.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} The video was shot mainly using green screen to place the band on an arid salt flat. The sun is initially shining, but dark clouds quickly fill the sky in the first chorus, and it begins to rain in the second verse. A flood of water fills the area, and the storm worsens. At the key change and the song's end, the band members are hit with a large wave. They sing at shallow water depth throughout the rest of the video.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

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UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=Drowning|others=Backstreet Boys|year=2001|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Jive Records, Trans Continental Records|id=9252862}}

1. "Drowning" (short radio edit) – 4:10
2. "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" (Sharp London vocal mix) – 7:58
3. "I Want It That Way" (Morales club version) – 7:25

UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=Drowning|others=Backstreet Boys|year=2001|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Jive Records, Trans Continental Records|id=9253082}}

1. "Drowning" (radio edit) – 4:13
2. "Drowning" (Dezrok radio mix) – 4:04
3. "Drowning" (Rizzo & Harris radio mix) – 4:02
4. "Drowning" (video) – 4:32

UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Drowning|others=Backstreet Boys|year=2001|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Jive Records, Trans Continental Records|id=9252864}}

1. "Drowning" (radio edit) – 4:13
2. "As Long as You Love Me" (Jason Nevins radio mix) – 3:38
3. "All I Have to Give" (Soul Solution club mix) – 7:36

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European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Drowning|others=Backstreet Boys|year=2001|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Jive Records, Trans Continental Records|id=9252769}}

1. "Drowning" – 4:25
2. "Back to Your Heart" – 4:21

Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Drowning|others=Backstreet Boys|year=2001|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Jive Records|id=9252762}}

1. "Drowning" – 4:25
2. "Back to Your Heart" – 4:21
3. "Shape of My Heart" (video) – 3:50

Japanese CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Drowning|others=Backstreet Boys|year=2001|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=Jive Records|id=ZJCI-30022}}

1. "Drowning" (album version)
2. "The One" (album version)
3. "Drowning" (TV track)
4. "The One" (instrumental)

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• Kristian Lundin – producer, recording engineer, mix engineer
• Rami – producer, recording engineer, mix engineer
• John Amatiello – assistant recording engineer, Pro Tools engineer
• Thomas Lindberg – bass
• Esbjörn Öhrwall – guitar
• Jonathan Lindström – pedal steel guitar
• Tom Coyne – mastering

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Drowning"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2018|access-date=September 26, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|title=Drowning|artist=Backstreet Boys|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2022|access-date=January 23, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|certref={{cite web|url=http://hitlisterne.dk/lister.asp?w=50&y=2001&list=s20|title=Single Top-20 Uge 50, 2001|publisher=Hitlisten|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009030615/http://hitlisterne.dk/lister.asp?w=50&y=2001&list=s20 |access-date=November 6, 2023|archive-date=October 9, 2010 }}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2002|nosales=true|access-date=November 21, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

"Drowning" and another Backstreet Boys single "The One" were both licensed and used in the 2002–2003 anime television series Hanada Shōnen Shi. "Drowning" was used for the ending theme, while "The One" was the opening theme.[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1823 Anime News Network]

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{{Backstreet Boys singles}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Drowning (Backstreet Boys Song)}}

Category:2001 singles

Category:2001 songs

Category:Backstreet Boys songs

Category:Jive Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Nigel Dick

Category:Song recordings produced by Rami Yacoub

Category:Songs written by Andreas Carlsson

Category:Songs written by Linda Thompson (actress)

Category:Songs written by Rami Yacoub

Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles