Don't Look Down (Martin Garrix song)

"Don't Look Down" is a song by Dutch DJ and record producer Martin Garrix, featuring vocals from American singer Usher. It was released as a digital download on 17 March 2015 on iTunes.

"Don't Look Down"
Single by Martin Garrix featuring Usher
Released17 March 2015
Recorded
  • 2014
GenreProgressive house
Length
  • 3:43 (radio edit)
  • 5:28 (extended version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Martin Garrix
Martin Garrix singles chronology
"Forbidden Voices"
(2015)
"Don't Look Down"
(2015)
"The Only Way Is Up"
(2015)
Usher singles chronology
"The Matrimony"
(2015)
"Don't Look Down"
(2015)
"Chains"
(2015)

Background

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Talking about his collaboration with Usher, Garrix said: "I had the track and he was at my manager Scooter’s house when I sent it over. Next thing I knew, I was on a FaceTime call with Usher, who said, 'I would love to do the track.' A week later, we were in the studio. It was super quick!" He also said the song is about "focusing on the positive side of everything."[1]

Composition and critical reception

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"Don't Look Down" is written in the key of A minor with a tempo of 130 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of Am – F – C, and Usher's vocals span from G3 to C5.[2]

Billboard's Jason Lipshutz wrote, "Dutch EDM wunderkind Martin Garrix pivots from his standard sinister instrumental bangers and puts on his best David Guetta mask for 'Don't Look Down'. Usher has toed the now-or-never party line many times before, but his spirited vocals and a cheerful xylophone drop make this collabo a pop winner".[3] Another Billboard contributor, Matt Madved, also noted Guetta's influences, with Garrix "ditching harder-edged trappings of festival house for cheery guitar-backed verses and a softer melodic lead".[4] Idolator's Robbie Daw called it "a nice blend of dance beats and radio-friendly pop that should be music to programmers’ ears."[5]

Music video

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A lyric video directed by Rory Kramer showing a man quitting his job and enjoying life was released on 17 March 2015.[5] Two official music videos were released on 23 March 2015 giving a female and male perspective of work at a country club.[6] Usher does not appear in the video.

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[35] Gold 35,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[36] Gold 30,000
Canada (Music Canada)[37] Gold 40,000
Italy (FIMI)[38] Platinum 50,000
Poland (ZPAV)[39] Gold 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Gold 400,000
United States (RIAA)[41] Gold 500,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format Label
Netherlands 17 March 2015[42] Digital download Spinnin'
United States 17 March 2015[43]
United Kingdom 24 May 2015[44]

References

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  1. ^ "Exclusive Interview: Martin Garrix Looks Down With ARTISTdirect". ARTISTdirect. March 27, 2015. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  2. ^ Garritsen, Martijn (7 April 2015). "Don't Look Down". www.musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
  3. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (March 27, 2015). "Single Review: Martin Garrix Featuring Usher, 'Don't Look Down'". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  4. ^ Medved, Matt (March 17, 2015). "Usher Joins Martin Garrix on Soaring New Single 'Don't Look Down': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Daw, Robbie (March 17, 2015). "Martin Garrix And Usher's "Don't Look Down" Lyric Video Will Lift Your Spirit: Watch". Idolator. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  6. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (March 27, 2015). "Martin Garrix Has Two (Equally Charming) Videos for His Usher-Featuring 'Don't Look Down'". Spin. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  7. ^ Ryan, Gavin (11 April 2015). "ARIA Singles: Wiz Khalifa See You Again Is No 1". Noise11. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  9. ^ "Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  10. ^ "Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  11. ^ "Martin Garrix - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-29.
  12. ^ ds. "ČNS IFPI". www.ifpicr.cz.
  13. ^ "Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down" (in French). Les classement single.
  14. ^ "Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  15. ^ "Chart Track: Week 24, 2015". Irish Singles Chart.
  16. ^ "Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down". Top Digital Download.
  17. ^ "Usher". Billboard.
  18. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Martin Garrix" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  19. ^ "Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  20. ^ "All Media Hits – Top Weekly Hits – Tophit Music Charts". Tophit. Archived from the original on 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2015-10-22.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  22. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201533 into search.
  23. ^ "Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down" Canciones Top 50.
  24. ^ "Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down". Singles Top 100.
  25. ^ "Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down". Swiss Singles Chart.
  26. ^ "Martin Garrix - Don't Look Down(listen to the song, watch the music video)". www.tophit.ru. Archived from the original on 2020-08-22. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  28. ^ "Martin Garrix Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  29. ^ "Martin Garrix Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard.
  30. ^ "Martin Garrix Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  31. ^ "Martin Garrix Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  32. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2015". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  33. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2015" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  34. ^ "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  35. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2017 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  36. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  37. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down". Music Canada. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  38. ^ "Italian single certifications – Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.
  39. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2015 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  40. ^ "British single certifications – Martin Garrix feat. Usher – Don't Look Down". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  41. ^ "American single certifications – Martin Garrix – Don't Look Down". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  42. ^ "'Don't Look Down (feat. Usher) – Single' van Martin Garrix op Apple Music". iTunes Store (NL). 17 March 2015.
  43. ^ "Don't Look Down (feat. Usher) – Single by Martin Garrix on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). 17 March 2015.
  44. ^ "Don't Look Down (feat. Usher) – Single by Martin Garrix on Apple Music". iTunes Store (GB). 17 March 2015.