"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 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 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:49 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Alec Benjamin singles chronology | ||||
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| Alessia Cara singles chronology | ||||
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| 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 | ||||
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 videos
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]
- "Let Me Down Slowly" – 2:49
- Digital download[6]
- "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] | 2× Platinum | 60,000‡ |
| Belgium (BEA)[57] | 2× Platinum | 80,000‡ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[58] | 2× Platinum | 80,000‡ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[59] | 4× Platinum | 320,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[60] | 2× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
| France (SNEP)[61] | Diamond | 333,333‡ |
| Germany (BVMI)[62] | Gold | 200,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[63] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[64] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[65] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| Norway (IFPI Norway)[66] | 2× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
| Poland (ZPAV)[67] | 3× Platinum | 150,000‡ |
| Portugal (AFP)[68] | 2× Platinum | 20,000‡ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[69] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[70] | 2× Platinum | 40,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[71] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[72] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||