Sitting Down Here

"Sitting Down Here"
UK/France picture sleeve
Single by Lene Marlin
from the album Playing My Game
Released	22 February 1999 (1999-02-22)
Studio	Disclab (Oslo, Norway)
Length	3:55
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Lene Marlin
Producer(s)	Hans G Jorn Dahl
Lene Marlin singles chronology
"Unforgivable Sinner" (1998) "Sitting Down Here" (1999) "Where I'm Headed" (1999)
Music video
"Sitting Down Here" on YouTube

"Sitting Down Here" is a song written by Norwegian singer-songwriter Lene Marlin for her 1999 debut album, Playing My Game. The song is the album's opening track and was released as its second single in February 1999, peaking at number two on the Norwegian Singles Chart. It also peaked within the top 10 in Finland, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The song is certified gold in Norway and the United Kingdom.

Release and composition

The single reached number two in Norway, number three in Italy, number four in Finland, New Zealand and Scotland, and number five in the Netherlands and the UK. The song also peaked at number six in Hungary and Ireland, number 12 in Denmark, and number 18 in Sweden. "Sitting Down Here" is composed in common time and has the standard verse-chorus form. Its instrumentation comes mainly from the guitar.^[1]

Critical reception

Can't Stop the Pop stated that Marlin's "ability to craft a track with so many layers and shades of grey was impressive and Sitting Down Here was the perfect showcase of that, at the very least."^[2] Håkon Moslet from Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet noted the song as "smooth [and] radio-friendly" in his review of Playing My Game.^[3] Geir Rakvaag from Dagsavisen wrote that the song, with "Unforgivable Sinner" and "Where I'm Headed" are the "most earcatching" songs of the album.^[4] Terje Carlsen from Fredrikstad Blad said it is "immaculate".^[5]

Pia M. Isaksen from Moss Dagblad was less enthustiastic, calling it "traditional folk" with a "nice" melody.^[6] Kjell Nordeng from Nordlands Framtid wrote in his review, that "Sitting Down Here" and "Unforgivable Sinner" are the "cream of the crop" of the album.^[7] Pop Rescue noted the song as a "gentle acoustic guitar meandering", adding that "this song is catchy, it feels summery and light. The guitars are delicate, and the bass line gently prods it along."^[8]

Track listings

Norwegian CD single (1999)[9] "Sitting Down Here" – 3:55 "The Way We Are" (live acoustic version) – 4:50 European CD single (1999)[10] "Sitting Down Here" – 3:55 "Playing My Game (acoustic version) – 3:27 Australian CD single (1999)[11] "Sitting Down Here" – 3:55 "Playing My Game (acoustic version) – 3:27 "I Know" – 2:23

UK CD single (2000)[12] "Sitting Down Here" (original version) – 3:55 "Sitting Down Here" (Tin Tin Out Mix) – 3:53 "Playing My Game (acoustic version) – 3:27 "Sitting Down Here" (video) – 3:55 UK cassette single (2000)[13] "Sitting Down Here" (original version) "Sitting Down Here" (Tin Tin Out mix) "Playing My Game" (acoustic version)

Credits and personnel

Lead vocals: Lene Marlin Producers: Hans G, Jorn Dahl Audio mixing: Richard Lowe

Guitar: Bernt Rune Stray Drums, programming: Jorn Dahl Audio mixing assistant: Dab Bierton

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1999–2000) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[14] 54 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 38 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 44 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[17] 31 Denmark (IFPI)[18] 12 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 23 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 4 France (SNEP)[21] 48 Germany (GfK)[22] 57 Hungary (Mahasz)[23] 6 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[24] 29 Ireland (IRMA)[25] 6 Italy (FIMI)[26] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 7 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[29] 4 Norway (VG-lista)[30] 2 Scotland (OCC)[31] 4 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 18 UK Singles (OCC)[33] 5

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position Ireland (IRMA)[34] 70 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 37 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 74 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[37] 6 UK Singles (OCC)[38] 49

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Norway (IFPI Norway)[39]	3× Platinum
United Kingdom (BPI)[40]	Gold	400,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
Norway	10 February 1999	Radio	Virgin	[41]
	22 February 1999	CD
Europe	28 June 1999			[30]
United Kingdom	28 February 2000	CD cassette		[42][43]

References

1. Playing My game (CD liner notes). Virgin Records. April 1999.
2. "Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here". Can't Stop the Pop. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
3. "CD: Lene Marlin". Dagbladet. 20 March 1999. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
4. Rakvaag, Geir (20 March 1999). "Pent og pyntelig fra Lene Marlin". Dagsavisen (in Norwegian). No. 78. p. 15. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
5. Carlsen, Terje (23 March 1999). "Ikke helt ferdig". Fredrikstad Blad (in Norwegian). No. 81. p. 42. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
6. Isaksen, Pia M. (29 March 1999). "Fint, men kjedelig". Moss Dagblad (in Norwegian). No. 87. p. 13. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
7. Nordeng, Kjell (23 March 1999). "Fin debut". Nordlands Framtid (in Norwegian). No. 69. p. 60.
8. "REVIEW: "PLAYING MY GAME" BY LENE MARLIN (CD, 1999)". Pop Rescue. 5 June 1995. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
9. Sitting Down Here (Norwegian CD single liner notes). Lene Marlin. Virgin Records. 1999. 7243 8 95774 2 6.
10. Sitting Down Here (European CD single liner notes). Lene Marlin. Virgin Records. 1999. 7243 8 96049 2 4.
11. Sitting Down Here (Australian CD single liner notes). Lene Marlin. Virgin Records. 1999. 7243 8 96048 2 5.
12. Sitting Down Here (UK CD single liner notes). Lene Marlin. Virgin Records. 2000. DINSD183, 7243 8 96609 0 6.
13. Sitting Down Here (UK cassette single sleeve). Lene Marlin. Virgin Records. 2000. DINSC 183, 7243 8 96609 4 4.
14. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 176.
15. "Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
16. "Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
17. "Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
18. Danish Singles Chart. 22 October 1999.
19. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 13. 25 March 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
20. "Lene Marlin: Sitting Down Here" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
21. "Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
22. "Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
23. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 8. 19 February 2000. p. 11. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
24. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (Vikuna 23.9. – 30.9. 1999 39. Vika)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 24 September 1999. p. 10. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
25. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sitting Down Here". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
26. "Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
27. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 8, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
28. "Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
29. "Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
30. "Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here". VG-lista. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
31. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
32. "Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
33. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
34. "Top 100 of 2000". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
35. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2000". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
36. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2000" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
37. "End of Year Charts 2000". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
38. "Best Sellers of 2000: Singles Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. 20 January 2001. p. 25.
39. "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
40. "British single certifications – Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here". British Phonographic Industry. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
41. Matland, Helge (15 August 2000). "Popdronninga jubilerer: Den uforglemmelige karrieren" [The Pop Queen Celebrates:The Unforgettable Career]. Trosmø (in Norwegian). Retrieved 5 August 2022.
42. "New Releases – For Week Starting 28 February, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 26 February 2000. p. 27. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
43. "Lene Marlin – Sitting Down Here". Can't Stop the Pop. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2022.

External links

• Lene Marlin's Official Website