Windows Down

2012 single by Big Time Rush
"Windows Down"
Single by Big Time Rush
from the album Elevate
ReleasedJune 25, 2012
Recorded2012
Genre
  • Electropop
  • post-dubstep
Length3:11
Label
  • Nickelodeon
  • Columbia[1]
Songwriter(s)
  • Alexander James
  • Bei Maejor
  • Damon Albarn
  • Dave Rowntree
  • Graham Coxon
  • Matt Squire
  • Matthew Musto
  • Mike Posner
Producer(s)
  • Kesha
  • Bei Maejor
  • Matt Squire
Big Time Rush singles chronology
"Music Sounds Better with U"
(2012) 		"Windows Down"
(2012) 		"Call It Like I See It"
(2021)
Music video
"Windows Down" on YouTube

"Windows Down" is a song by American boy band Big Time Rush from the re-release of their second studio album Elevate. The song was released on June 25, 2012, and was released to US radio on July 24.[2] The song's hook is sampled from "Song 2" by English rock band Blur.

Background and release

"Windows Down" was made available for streaming exclusively via Cambio.com on June 11, 2012.[3] The group revealed the album artwork on June 13.[4] The song was officially released as a single on June 25, via iTunes.[3] Kendall Schmidt believed that the track would "appeal to people of all ages," while Carlos PenaVega hoped it "bring in some of the older demo."[5]

Composition

The song was written by Blackbear, Mike Posner, Alexander James, Damon Albarn, Dave Rowntree, Graham Coxon, Bei Maejor, and Matt Squire, with production handled by the latter two while additional by CJ Baran.[6] It features samples from "Song 2" by Blur.[7] American singer/songwriter Kesha originally created an early demo of the track, expected to appear on her second studio album Warrior with the title "Woo Hoo", still using the Blur sample, but later sold the instrumental to Big Time Rush, and the song was re-written to create "Windows Down".[8]

Critical reception

Nick Bassett from UK site The Re-View called "Windows Down" a "surefire summer pop hit", complimenting the use of the "Song 2" sample and wrapping up his article saying that it should "mark Big Time Rush as some hot, home-grown competition for our Transatlantic invading boybands".[citation needed]

Chart performance

"Windows Down" peaked at number 97 on Billboard Hot 100 and lasted one week on chart.[9] The song also peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 and stayed on chart for three weeks.[10]

Music video

The music video was filmed in Maui, Hawaii and was released on Vevo on June 22, three days before the single's iTunes release.[5] It was directed by Marc Klasfeld and was recorded over the course of five days.[11][12] The video features the band doing various activities in Hawaii like surfing, paddle boarding, swimming in the ocean, and standing on top of Jeep Wranglers.[13] Logan Henderson described the song as one that "embodies fun" and wanted to create a video to capture that.[14]

Track listing

  • Digital download[1]
  1. "Windows Down" – 3:12
  1. "Windows Down" – 3:13
  2. "Windows Down" (Instrumental) – 2:59

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Windows Down"
Chart (2012) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[16] 49
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[17] 26
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 97
US Kid Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[18] 1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[10] 35
US Pop Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[19] 24

Year-end charts

Yearly chart performance for "Windows Down"
Chart (2012) Position
Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[20] 195
US Kid Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[21] 2

Certifications

Certifications for "Windows Down"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[22] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Windows Down"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various June 25, 2012 Digital download Columbia [1]
United States July 24, 2012 Contemporary hit radio [23]
Europe July 27, 2012 CD [15]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Windows Down - Single". iTunes Store. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  2. ^ Tim (June 11, 2012). "Big Time Rush's "Windows Down" – Your source for Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush!". Bigtimerushtv.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Linda Friedman (June 11, 2012). "'Windows Down' by Big Time Rush: Exclusive First Listen!". Cambio.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Gabrielle Alvidrez (June 13, 2012). "Big Time Rush Debut New Album Art and 'Windows Down' - News - American Top 40 With Ryan Seacrest". At40.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Lee Hernandez (June 21, 2012). "'Big Time Rush' Star Carlos Pena Dishes On His Breakup And 'Windows Down' Video Premiere (Exclusive)". Huff Post. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  6. ^ Big Time Rush (2011). Elevate (Standard edition liner notes). Columbia Records.
  7. ^ Ross Raihala (July 27, 2012). "Review: Big Time Rush show is everything you'd expect from a boy band". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Al Newstead (June 25, 2012). "US Boy Band Rip Off Blur, With Thanks To Ke$ha". Tone Deaf. The Brag Media. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Big Time Rush Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Big Time Rush Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  11. ^ "Big Time Rush – Windows Down". VEVO. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  12. ^ Taylor Weatherby (August 25, 2022). "Big Time Rush Share Favorite Memories From Their Biggest Hits, New Songs And One Unexpected Fan Favorite". Grammy Awards. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  13. ^ Michael Vulpo (June 22, 2012). "Big Time Rush Go Shirtless in Hawaii for 'Windows Down' [VIDEO] | Ryan Seacrest - The official entertainment news site of American Idol host and American Top 40 on air radio personality!". Ryan Seacrest. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  14. ^ Nicole Eggenberger (June 21, 2012). "See Big Time Rush Go Shirtless in Windows Down Sneak Peek". US Weekly. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Big Time Rush: Windows Down (CD Single)".
  16. ^ "Big Time Rush – Windows Down" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  17. ^ "Big Time Rush – Windows Down" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  18. ^ "Billboard". Billboard.
  19. ^ "Big Time Rush | Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021.
  20. ^ "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart 2013" (in Russian). TopHit. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  21. ^ "Kid Digital Songs : Jun 09, 2013 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. 2012. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013.
  22. ^ "American single certifications – Big Time Rush – Windows Down". Recording Industry Association of America.
  23. ^ FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more! at the Wayback Machine (archived August 6, 2012)
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