Let Me Down Gently

"Let Me Down Gently" is a 2014 song by English singer Elly Jackson, known professionally as La Roux, from her second studio album, Trouble in Paradise. It was written and produced by Jackson, Ben Langmaid and Ian Sherwin, and produced by Sherwin and Jackson. The song was released as the album's first promotional single on 12 May 2014. La Roux performed it as the opening track on the Trouble in Paradise tour.

"Let Me Down Gently"
Promotional single by La Roux
from the album Trouble in Paradise
Released12 May 2014 (2014-05-12)
GenreSynth-pop
Length5:40
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
  • Elly Jackson
  • Ben Langmaid
  • Ian Sherwin
Producer(s)
  • Ian Sherwin
  • Elly Jackson
Music video
"Let Me Down Gently" on YouTube

Background

"Let Me Down Gently" was written by Elly Jackson, Ben Langmaid and Ian Sherwin, and produced by Sherwin and Jackson. It is a synth-pop ballad,[1] opening with a "steady electronic beat",[2] which builds up towards a brief moment of silence, followed by a "euphoric, cathartic barnstormer, complete with skyscraping sax solo" at the end of the track.[3] Billboard noted that "the track expertly raises in intensity until abruptly shutting off".[4] The song's lyrics tell about a relationship breakup, and Jackson delivers them in vocals described as "pained and aloof".[5]

"Let Me Down Gently" premiered on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on 12 May 2014 and was made available to stream online on the same day.[6] The track was also available as an instant download with the pre-order of Trouble in Paradise.[7] The song received positive feedback from music critics.[8][9]

Prins Thomas and George FitzGerald produced remixes of the song which were uploaded onto La Roux's official SoundCloud page, but were never released on other platforms.[10][11]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Oliver Hadlee Pearch.[12] It begins with Elly performing the first part of the song sitting in a grey dark room, with a stream of light coming through the only window in the ceiling. The second part of the video pictures the singer running through foggy fields, occasionally interspersed with footage of her dancing in the grey room.

Track listing
  • Download/streaming[13]
  1. "Let Me Down Gently" – 5:40

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Trouble in Paradise.[14]

  • Ian Sherwin – production, engineering, bass guitar, drum programming, mixing
  • Elly Jackson – production, vocals, keyboards, percussion, mixing
  • Ben Langmaid – engineering
  • Steve White – drums
  • Alan Moulder – mixing
  • John Catlin – mixing assistance
  • Caesar Edmunds – mixing assistance
  • John Dent – mastering

Charts
Chart (2014) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[15] 194

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 12 May 2014 Digital download Polydor [6]
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References
  1. Joyce, Colin (12 May 2014). "La Roux Shares Nocturnal 'Let Me Down Gently' From July Album". Spin. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  2. Kaye, Ben (12 May 2014). "La Roux announces new album, Trouble in Paradise, stream "Let Me Down Gently"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  3. Montgomery, Hugh (21 July 2014). "La Roux, Trouble in Paradise, album review: 'supremely self-assured'". The Independent. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  4. Jason Lipshutz (22 July 2014). "La Roux Finds Peace on 'Trouble In Paradise': Track-By-Track Review". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  5. St. Asaph, Katherine (12 May 2014). "La Roux Forges a Comeback With "Let Me Down Gently": Listen". time.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  6. Beauchemin, Molly; Pelly, Jenn (12 May 2014). "La Roux Announces New Album Trouble in Paradise, Shares "Let Me Down Gently"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  7. "Stream: La Roux 'Let Me Down Gently' (George Fitzgerald Remix)". www.harderbloggerfaster.com. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  8. Al Horner (13 May 2014). "Track Review – La Roux's Soul-Purging Comeback Epic 'Let Me Down Gently'". www.nme.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  9. Mark Pursell (15 May 2014). "La Roux - "Let Me Down Gently" (Song Review) - Glide Magazine". glidemagazine.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  10. "Let Me Down Gently (Prins Thomas Diskomiks) by La Roux Official". soundcloud.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  11. "La Roux - Let Me Down Gently (George FitzGerald Remix) by La Roux Official". soundcloud.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  12. John Walker (22 May 2014). "Moody? Brooding? La Roux's 'Let Me Down Gently' Video Feels You - MTV". www.mtv.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  13. "Spotify – Let Me Down Gently". Spotify. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  14. Trouble in Paradise (liner notes). La Roux. Polydor Records. 2014. 2094302.CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. "Chart: CLUK Update 24.05.2014 (wk20)". zobbel.de. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
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