Sitting Down Here

"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.

"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

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 Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[27] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 7 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 4 Norway (VG-lista)[31] 2 Scotland (OCC)[32] 4 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[33] 18 UK Singles (OCC)[34] 5

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position Ireland (IRMA)[35] 70 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[36] 37 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 74 New Zealand (RIANZ)[38] 6 UK Singles (OCC)[39] 49

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Norway (IFPI Norway)[40]	3× Platinum
United Kingdom (BPI)[41]	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	[42]
	22 February 1999	CD
Europe	28 June 1999			[31]
United Kingdom	28 February 2000	CD cassette		[43][44]