Let Me Down Slowly

"Let Me Down Slowly" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin, originally released as a solo version in 2018 and included on his mixtape Narrated for You before being re-released as a duet with Canadian singer Alessia Cara in early 2019. Billboard called the track Benjamin's "vulnerable breakout hit".^[1]

"Let Me Down Slowly"
Duet version cover
Single by Alec Benjamin
from the album Narrated for You
Released	November 16, 2018 (2018-11-16)
Genre	Pop
Length	2:49
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Alec Benjamin Nolan Lambroza Michael Pollack
Producer(s)	Sir Nolan Aaron Zuckerman
Alec Benjamin singles chronology
"I Built a Friend" (2017) "Let Me Down Slowly" (2018) "Boy in the Bubble" (2018)
Alessia Cara singles chronology
"Trust My Lonely" (2018) "Let Me Down Slowly" (2019) "Out of Love" (2019)
Alternative cover
Single cover for Benjamin's solo version
Music video
"Let Me Down Slowly" (Solo Version) on YouTube "Let Me Down Slowly" (Duet Version) on YouTube

Background

Benjamin wrote the song in 2017 about an experience with an ex-girlfriend.^[1] It was one of the songs that Atlantic Records heard before signing him.^[1] The song was produced by Sir Nolan,^[2] with additional production by Aaron Zuckerman, and co-written by Benjamin with Michael Pollack and Sir Nolan.

Music videos

The music video for the solo version was released on June 4, 2018, and for the duet version on February 6, 2019. Benjamin and Cara then made a video for an acoustic version of the song, which was released two weeks later.^[3]

The first video revolves around a woman falling out with her lover, and later raiding a convenience store. The video ends with them reconciling, just as the police arrive.^[4] Benjamin, who appears as a bystander throughout the video but provided no creative input, denounced the video as he felt it did not reflect the song's theme. The second video features Benjamin and Cara singing their verses alone in different locations, intercut with scenes of couples embracing.^[5]

Track listing

• Digital download^[6]

1. "Let Me Down Slowly" – 2:49

• Digital download^[7]

1. "Let Me Down Slowly" (featuring Alessia Cara) – 2:49

Charts

Weekly charts 2018–2020 Weekly chart performance for "Let Me Down Slowly" Chart (2018–2020) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[8] 56 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] 47 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[11] 7 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 49 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[13] 1 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[14] 2 Denmark (Tracklisten)[15] 6 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[16] 6 France (SNEP)[17] 16 Germany (GfK)[18] 40 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[19] 17 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 17 Italy (FIMI)[21] 54 Latvia (LaIPA)[22] 11 Lithuania (AGATA)[23] 13 Malaysia (RIM)[24] 17 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] 19 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 22 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27] 23 Norway (VG-lista)[28] 6 Portugal (AFP)[29] 12 Romania (Airplay 100)[30] 1 Scotland (OCC)[31] 41 Singapore (RIAS)[32] 30 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[33] 19 Slovenia (SloTop50)[34] 17 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[35] 94 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 38 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 20 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[38] 171 UK Singles (OCC)[39] 31 US Billboard Hot 100[40] 79 2023 Weekly chart performance for "Let Me Down Slowly" Chart (2023) Peak position Moldova Airplay (TopHit)[38] 161 Romania Airplay (TopHit)[41] 68 2024 Weekly chart performance for "Let Me Down Slowly" Chart (2024) Peak position Romania Airplay (TopHit)[42] 78 2025 weekly chart performance for "Let Me Down Slowly" Chart (2025) Peak position Moldova Airplay (TopHit)[43] 64

Monthly charts 2023 Monthly chart performance for "Let Me Down Slowly" Chart (2023) Peak position Romania Airplay (TopHit)[44] 91 2024 Monthly chart performance for "Let Me Down Slowly" Chart (2024) Peak position Romania Airplay (TopHit)[45] 85 2025 Monthly chart performance for "Let Me Down Slowly" Chart (2025) Peak position Romania Airplay (TopHit)[46] 98 Year-end charts 2019 Year-end chart performance for "Let Me Down Slowly" Chart (2019) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[47] 69 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[48] 14 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[49] 23 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[50] 98 Denmark (Tracklisten)[51] 23 France (SNEP)[52] 41 Germany (Official German Charts)[53] 55 Latvia (LAIPA)[54] 25 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[55] 76 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[56] 60 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[57] 48 Portugal (AFP)[58] 29 Romania (Airplay 100)[59] 60 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[60] 83 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[61] 21 2020 Year-end chart performance for "Let Me Down Slowly" Chart (2020) Position Romania (Airplay 100)[62] 9 2023 Year-end chart performance for "Let Me Down Slowly" Chart (2023) Position Romania Airplay (TopHit)[63] 154

Certifications

Certifications for "Let Me Down Slowly"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[64]	2× Platinum	140,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[65]	2× Platinum	60,000‡
Belgium (BRMA)[66]	2× Platinum	80,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[67]	2× Platinum	80,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[68]	4× Platinum	320,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[69]	2× Platinum	180,000‡
France (SNEP)[70]	Diamond	333,333‡
Germany (BVMI)[71]	Platinum	600,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[72]	Platinum	70,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI)[73]	Platinum	80,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[74]	3× Platinum	90,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[75]	2× Platinum	120,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[76]	4× Platinum	200,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[77]	2× Platinum	20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[78]	Platinum	60,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[79]	2× Platinum	40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[80]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[81]	4× Platinum	4,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of Airplay 100 number ones of the 2020s