Some songs take on a hundred forms before fading from the zeitgeist, and “I’m Going Down” is certainly no exception. From a relatively modest 1976 soundtrack cut to a Mary J. Blige hit, this soul classic has become a favorite of “The Voice” contestants for its ability to show off a singer’s range, agility, and emotion.
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Long before “The Voice” hopefuls like Sofronio Vasquez, Sera Hill, Taylor Beckham, Katie Kadan, and Janice Freeman used “I’m Going Down” as their go-to piece to wow the judges, “I’m Going Down” was a memorable, musical double entendre in the mid-1970s comedy film Car Wash.
How “I’m Going Down” Started Its Rise to Ubiquity
Norman Whitfield, the man behind “I’m Going Down,” is also the creative force behind classic Motown cuts like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me).” In 1975, Whitfield parted ways with Motown and began working on different projects under his own label, Whitfield Records. One of the first major successes was the soundtrack to the 1976 comedy Car Wash.
While the title track is perhaps the most recognizable song from the soundtrack, other notable hits include “I Wanna Get Next to You” and “You Gotta Believe.” Rose Royce, a Los Angeles soul, funk, and R&B group, performed the entire double album, including the emotional ballad “I’m Going Down.” Featuring love-lorn vocals that oscillate between dramatic and bold to soft and intimate, the song serves as an ideal vehicle for a vocalist.
In the context of the film, “I’m Going Down” takes on a whole new meaning. The song appears in tandem with Marleen, a prostitute who falls in love with one of her customers. The title’s double entendre is a tongue-in-cheek representation of Marleen’s profession and her heartache over her unreciprocated love.
Mary J. Blige Turns It Into A Hit
While “I’m Going Down” did moderately well on the U.S. R&B Singles chart, peaking at No. 10, it achieved less success on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching a modest 70th place. However, the song’s luck turned around just under two decades after its first release when R&B singer Mary J. Blige covered the track for her 1994 sophomore release My Life.
Blige’s rendition paid homage to the original 1976 cut in arrangement and instrumentation, but her version undoubtedly breathed new life into the decades-old track. Interestingly, Blige’s 1994 version did considerably worse on the Billboard Hot R&B chart, peaking at a relatively low No. 82 compared to the original’s No. 10 spot. However, Blige’s version did better on the Hot 100 chart, reaching No. 22, nearly 50 spots higher than the original.
“I’m Going Down” has become a mainstay of Blige’s live performances—so much so that many people attribute the song to her instead of the original artist. As new generations of singers dust off this soul classic to give it their spin, we don’t think the popularity of “I’m Going Down” is, well, going down anytime soon.
Photo by Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
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