You know that feeling when a song just feels like 2016? Not just "oh, I remember this," but a full-blown sensory flashback to the era of white sneakers and neon lights. Honestly, Don't Let Me Down by The Chainsmokers is the definitive anthem of that moment.
But here is the thing: it almost didn't happen.
If a computer had crashed just a few minutes earlier, or if a certain pop star had said "yes," the song we know today would be completely different—or nonexistent.
The Guitar That Started It All
The story begins with a Fender electric guitar.
Most people think EDM is all about clicking buttons on a laptop, but for Drew Taggart and Alex Pall, this track was birthed from actual strings. They were messing around with a "big, echoey guitar sound" heavily inspired by bands like The xx and Explusions in the Sky. They plugged a Fender Telecaster into an Apogee Duet, recorded it into Ableton Live, and slapped on a Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig plugin.
The result? That haunting, atmospheric loop that opens the track.
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Then, disaster struck.
While they were working on the project, the entire session crashed. They lost almost everything. In a frantic, "life-flashing-before-their-eyes" moment, they managed to recover a version of the file, but it was a close call. Imagine being hours into a potential Grammy-winning track and seeing the "unexpectedly quit" window. Scary stuff.
Rihanna Said No (And Why That Matters)
It is a fairly well-documented piece of music trivia, but it’s still wild to think about: Don't Let Me Down was originally intended for Rihanna.
Her team turned it down.
At the time, Rihanna was moving toward the more experimental, moody vibes of ANTI. A high-energy trap-pop hybrid probably didn't fit the "Needed Me" aesthetic she was chasing.
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Because Rihanna passed, the duo had to find someone else. They heard a track called "Hide Away" by a then-17-year-old high schooler named Daya. They were floored by her vocal grit.
Daya was basically an unknown kid from Pittsburgh at the time. She actually recorded the vocals in a marathon session while still balancing her junior year of high school. The key of the song was even lowered a full step just to make sure it hit the sweet spot of her range.
That "Trappy" Drop and the Third-Drop Surprise
The song is famous for its "crashing into a wall" drop.
It’s gritty. It’s aggressive. It’s a hard pivot from the melodic guitar of the verses.
- The First Drop: Pure trap influence. It used a distorted lead that many producers spent months trying to recreate (turns out it was largely a heavily warped sample).
- The Second Drop: Reinforces the energy, keeping the momentum high for radio play.
- The Third Drop: This is the one that catches people off guard. They added a saxophone layer late in the production process to give the finale an extra "oomph" that the first two sections lacked.
By the time the track peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, it was clear that the "EDM-pop" formula had been perfected. It wasn't just a dance track; it was a crossover juggernaut that eventually earned a Diamond certification from the RIAA.
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Awards and Cultural Impact
The industry took notice, too.
The Chainsmokers and Daya ended up winning the Grammy for Best Dance Recording at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. This was a massive pivot point for the duo. Before this, they were often dismissed as the guys who made "#SELFIE." After Don't Let Me Down, they were taken seriously as hitmakers.
Why It Still Works in 2026
Listen to it now. It doesn't sound as "dated" as some other 2016 tracks.
The combination of indie-rock guitar and heavy trap percussion was ahead of its time. It paved the way for the "sad boy EDM" and "melodic trap" waves that dominated the late 2010s.
If you're a producer or a songwriter, there’s a huge lesson here: limitations create character. Using a real guitar instead of a synth preset gave the song a "soul" that helped it cut through the noise of generic festival bangers.
Next Steps for Music Fans:
- Listen to the Illenium Remix: If you want to hear how the song influenced the "Future Bass" movement, his remix is arguably as iconic as the original.
- Check out the "Collage" EP: To understand the full context of this era, listen to "Roses" and "Setting Fires" back-to-back with this track to see how they evolved their sound.
- Watch the "How I Wrote That Song" segment: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon has a great clip of the guys explaining the tech behind the track if you're into the nitty-gritty of music production.