"Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)" was the lead single from Aerosmith's 12th studio album, (1997). The track is a high-energy rocker known for its brassy horn section and frontman Steven Tyler’s signature wordplay. Musical Background & Production
: Described by Bay as a mix of the films 12 Monkeys and Brazil , the video was intended as a parody of the dark, "angry" grunge videos popular at the time.
: The track was co-written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Glen Ballard. Ballard was originally hired to produce the full album but was replaced mid-production by Kevin Shirley. aerosmith_falling_in_love_is_hard_on_the_knees_...
: The song features a prominent horn arrangement by David Campbell (father of musician Beck). Lyrical Meaning
Directed by , the music video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video . "Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)"
: It was a major hit, topping the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and the UK Rock Chart. It also reached number one in Spain and number two in Canada.
The title and lyrics are a playful, double-entendre-laden take on the physical and emotional toll of romance. Tyler reflects on the "pain" of falling in love, with lyrics like "You get your ass in a sling" and "Falling in love is so hard on the knees," suggesting both emotional desperation and more provocative physical interpretations. : The track was co-written by Steven Tyler,
: It features a surreal landscape with supermodels (including Angie Everhart) dressed as dominatrices, nurses, and princesses, while Tyler is shown in various bizarre scenarios, including being wheeled down a hallway in a straitjacket. Nine Lives Era Context