Let Me Down Slowly

"Let Me Down Slowly" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin, originally released as a solo version in 2018 and included on his mixtape Narrated for You before being re-released as a duet with Canadian singer Alessia Cara and French version with the singer Michaël Morin in early 2019. Billboard called the track Benjamin's "vulnerable breakout hit".[1]

"Let Me Down Slowly"
Single by Alec Benjamin featuring Alessia Cara
from the album Narrated for You
Released	November 16, 2018
Length	2:49
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Alec Benjamin Nolan Lambroza Michael Pollack
Producer(s)	Sir Nolan Aaron Z
Alec Benjamin singles chronology
"I Built a Friend" (2017) "Let Me Down Slowly" (2018) "The Boy in the Bubble" (2018)
Alessia Cara singles chronology
"Trust My Lonely" (2018) "Let Me Down Slowly" (2019) "Out of Love" (2019)
Alternative cover
Single cover for Benjamin's solo version
Music video
"Let Me Down Slowly" (Solo Version) on YouTube "Let Me Down Slowly" (Duet Version) on YouTube "Let Me Down Slowly" (French Version) on YouTube

Background

Benjamin wrote the song in 2017 about an experience with an ex-girlfriend.[1] It was one of the songs that Atlantic Records heard before signing him.[1] The song was produced by Sir Nolan,[2] with additional production by Aaron Z, and co-written by Benjamin with Michael Pollack and Sir Nolan.

Music video

The music video for the solo version was released on June 4, 2018 and for the duet version on February 6, 2019. Benjamin and Cara then made a video for an acoustic version of the song, which was released two weeks later.[3]

The first video revolves around a woman's relationship with her lover failing, culminating in the woman raiding a convenience store; Benjamin appears as a bystander throughout the video. The second video features Benjamin and Cara singing their verses alone in different locations, intercut with scenes of couples embracing.[4]

Track listing

• Digital download[5]

1. "Let Me Down Slowly" – 2:49

• Digital download[6]

1. "Let Me Down Slowly" (featuring Alessia Cara) – 2:49

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018–2020)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[7]	56
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8]	47
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9]	4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[10]	7
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11]	49
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[12]	1
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[13]	2
Denmark (Tracklisten)[14]	6
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[15]	6
France (SNEP)[16]	16
Germany (Official German Charts)[17]	40
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[18]	17
Ireland (IRMA)[19]	17
Italy (FIMI)[20]	54
Latvia (LAIPA)[21]	11
Lithuania (AGATA)[22]	13
Malaysia (RIM)[23]	17
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[24]	19
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[25]	22
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26]	23
Norway (VG-lista)[27]	6
Portugal (AFP)[28]	12
Romania (Airplay 100)[29]	1
Scotland (OCC)[30]	41
Singapore (RIAS)[31]	30
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[32]	19
Slovenia (SloTop50)[33]	17
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[34]	94
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35]	38
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36]	20
UK Singles (OCC)[37]	31
US Billboard Hot 100[38]	79

Year-end charts

Chart (2019)	Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[39]	69
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[40]	14
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[41]	23
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[42]	98
Denmark (Tracklisten)[43]	23
France (SNEP)[44]	41
Germany (Official German Charts)[45]	55
Latvia (LAIPA)[46]	25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[47]	76
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[48]	60
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[49]	48
Portugal (AFP)[50]	29
Romania (Airplay 100)[51]	60
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[52]	83
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[53]	21

Chart (2020)	Position
Romania (Airplay 100)[54]	9

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[55]	2× Platinum	140,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[56]	Gold	15,000
Belgium (BEA)[57]	2× Platinum	80,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[58]	2× Platinum	80,000
Canada (Music Canada)[59]	Platinum	80,000
France (SNEP)[60]	Diamond	333,333
Germany (BVMI)[61]	Gold	200,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[62]	Platinum	30,000
Poland (ZPAV)[63]	2× Platinum	40,000
Portugal (AFP)[64]	Platinum	10,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[65]	2× Platinum	40,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[66]	Gold	400,000
United States (RIAA)[67]	2× Platinum	2,000,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of Airplay 100 number ones of the 2020s

References

1. Weatherby, Taylor (February 22, 2019). "How Alec Benjamin's 'Let Me Down Slowly' Took Him From Sidewalk Performances to the Hot 100 (and Beyond)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
2. https://www.allmusic.com/song/let-me-down-slowly-mt0055545498/attributes
3. Spencer, Tallie (February 20, 2019). "Alec Benjamin & Alessia Cara Release Acoustic Video for 'Let Me Down Slowly': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
4. "Alec Benjamin: Sonic Storyteller". Vman. February 13, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
5. "Let Me Down Slowly – Single by Alec Benjamin". iTunes Store. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
6. "Let Me Down Slowly (feat. Alessia Cara) – Single by Alec Benjamin". iTunes Store. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
7. "ARIA Chart Watch #521". auspOp. April 20, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
8. "Austriancharts.at – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
9. "Ultratop.be – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
10. "Ultratop.be – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
11. "Alec Benjamin Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
12. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201912 into search. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
13. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201912 into search. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
14. "Danishcharts.com – Alec Benjamin feat. Alessia Cara – Let Me Down Slowly". Tracklisten. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
15. "Alec Benjamin: Let Me Down Slowly" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
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18. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
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20. "Italiancharts.com – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". Top Digital Download. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
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22. "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 12, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
23. "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles In Malaysia" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
24. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 13, 2019" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved March 30, 2019.
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26. "Charts.nz – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
27. "Norwegiancharts.com – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". VG-lista. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
28. "Portuguesecharts.com – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
29. "Airplay 100 – 2 februarie 2020" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. February 2, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
30. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
31. "Singapore Top 30 Digital Streaming Chart Week 11" (PDF). Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2019.
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33. "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
34. "Spanishcharts.com – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
35. "Swedishcharts.com – Alec Benjamin feat. Alessia Cara – Let Me Down Slowly". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
36. "Swisscharts.com – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
37. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
38. "Alec Benjamin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
39. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2019". austriancharts.at. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
40. "Jaaroverzichten 2019". Ultratop. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
41. "Rapports Annuels 2019". Ultratop. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
42. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
43. "Track Top-100 2019" (in Danish). Hitlisten. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
44. "Top de l'année Top Singles 2019" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
45. "Top 100 Jahrescharts 2019". GfK Entertainment (in German). mtv.de. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
46. "Digitālās Mūzikas Tops 2019" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
47. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2019". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
48. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2019". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
49. "Top Selling Singles of 2019". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
50. "Top AFP – Audiogest – Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
51. "Airplay 100 – Top of the Year 2019" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
52. "Årslista Singlar, 2019". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
53. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2019". hitparade.ch. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
54. "Airplay 100 Topul Anului 2020" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
55. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
56. "Austrian single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
57. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2020". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
58. "Brazilian single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
59. "Canadian single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". Music Canada. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
60. "French single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
61. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Alec Benjamin; 'Let Me Down Slowly')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
62. "New Zealand single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
63. "Polish single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
64. "Portuguesecharts.com – Singles Top 100 (50/2019)". Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
65. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Alec Benjamin; 'Let Me Down Slowly')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
66. "British single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 10, 2020. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Let Me Down Slowly in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
67. "American single certifications – Alec Benjamin – Let Me Down Slowly". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 9, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.