"Drowning" is a song recorded by American recording artist Mario for his fifth studio album Dancing Shadows and was released alongside its music video on July 20, 2018, through his own label New Citizen and Empire Distribution as the album's lead single. The song was written and produced by Mario, xSDTRK and Daecolm Holland, with additional songwriting credits from Milton Adams II and Jake Gosling. Lyrically, the song is about a man being torn between two women.

"Drowning"
Single by Mario
from the album Dancing Shadows
ReleasedJuly 20, 2018 (2018-07-20)
StudioFRQNCY Studios
(London, England)
GenreR&B
Length3:38
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Daecolm
  • Mario
  • xSDTRK
Mario singles chronology
"Pain Is the New Pleasure"
(2017)
"Drowning"
(2018)
"Dancing Shadows"
(2018)
Music video
"Drowning" on YouTube

The song garnered favorable reviews from most critics, with praise towards its production and Mario's vocal delivery

Background and release edit

Mario spoke with the FunX radio station during the Oh My! Music Festival in June 2018, he revealed that he would release the lead single off the album.[1]

Critical reception edit

Singersroom said the song, "showcases Mario’s vocal growth and eargasmic falsetto that takes hold and doesn’t let go over a simmering and stark production".[2] The Musical Hype gave the song three and a half stars out of five.[3]

Music video edit

The music video premiered along with the song on July 20, 2018.[4][5]

Live performances edit

Mario performed "Drowning" during the live televised segment of The Wendy Williams Show in October 2018.[6][7][8][9]

Track listing edit

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Drowning"3:38
Digital download – Dance Remix[10]
No.TitleLength
1."Drowning (Nitti Gritti & Shndō Remix)"2:50

Credits and personnel edit

Credits were adapted from Tidal.[11]

  • Mario – songwriting, production
  • Daecolm – songwriting, production
  • xSDTRK – songwriting, production
  • Jake Gosling – songwriting
  • Milton Adams II – songwriting

Charts edit

Weekly chart performance for "Drowning"
Chart (2018) Peak
position
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[12] 28

Release history edit

Release history and formats for "Drowning"
Region Date Format Label Ref
Various July 20, 2018 Digital download
[13]

References edit

  1. ^ FunX Gemist (30 June 2018). "Mario: I would never make a second Let Me Love You". Retrieved 11 July 2018 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ "Mario Returns With New Single & Video For "Drowning"". Singersroom.
  3. ^ Hype, The Musical (July 25, 2018). "Mario, 'Drowning' | Track Review". Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  4. ^ "Mario Premieres New Single and Video for 'Drowning': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  5. ^ "Mario Drops Off New Video For "Drowning"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  6. ^ "WATCH: R&B Singer Mario Performs 'Drowning' On 'Wendy'".
  7. ^ "Watch: Mario Performs "Drowning" On 'Wendy'".
  8. ^ "Did You Miss It? Mario Performs 'Drowning' On 'Wendy' [Video]".
  9. ^ "Mario Performs "Drowning" – The Wendy Williams Show".
  10. ^ "Drowning (Nitti & Shndō Remix) by Mario". iTunes. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  11. ^ "Drowning / Mario". Tidal. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  12. ^ "Mario Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  13. ^ "Drowning by Mario". iTunes. Retrieved December 6, 2018.