Waterfalls (TLC song)

"Waterfalls"
Standard artwork (U.S. CD maxi-single pictured)
Single by TLC
from the album CrazySexyCool
Released	May 29, 1995
Format	Cassette CD single CD maxi
Recorded	1994
Genre	R&B pop hip hop soul
Length	4:40
Label	LaFace Arista
Writer(s)	Marqueze Etheridge Lisa Lopes Organized Noize
Producer(s)	Organized Noize
Certification	Platinum (RIAA)
TLC singles chronology
"Red Light Special" (1995) "Waterfalls" (1995) "Diggin' on You" (1995)

"Waterfalls" is a song by American recording group TLC. It was written by band member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes with Marqueze Etheridge and Organized Noize for TLC's second album, CrazySexyCool (1994), featuring production by the latter. The song was released as the third single from the album on May 29, 1995 in the United States, followed by a United Kingdom release on August 5, 1995.

Often considered the group's signature song, "Waterfalls" was an international hit, topping the charts in many different territories. The song spent seven weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the group their second U.S. number one. The song was the number two song of the year on Billboard's 1995 year-end chart. "Waterfalls" also peaked at number one in New Zealand, Switzerland, and Germany, while reaching the top ten in many other countries. "Waterfalls" received critical acclaim, earning two Grammy nominations at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards in 1996 for Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

The song tackled issues of the illegal drug trade, promiscuity and HIV/AIDS. Jarett E. Nolan of BMG noted that "Waterfalls" was the first number one song ever to reference AIDS in one of its verses.^[1] The accompanying music video for the song reflected its socially conscious lyrics. With a million-dollar budget, the video was an MTV staple credited for giving the single much of its success. It stayed atop the MTV Video Monitor chart for over a month, making TLC the first act to ever achieve this feat. The video won four MTV Video Music Awards in 1995, including top honors for Video of the Year. TLC was the first African American group or artist to ever receive the trophy.

Song information

"Waterfalls" is an R&B and hip hop soul ballad written by TLC band member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes with Marqueze Etheridge and Organized Noize, who also produced the song. Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins perform the song with Lopes, who also provides a rap. The background vocals are performed by the members of TLC, as well as Debra Killings and Cee-Lo Green. Of Green's involvement, Watkins noted, "He was in Goodie Mob, we grew up together, we go way back. He (sang on the track) and it was amazing! I love his voice."^[2]

The lyrics of the song reference 1990s issues such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic and violence associated with the illegal drug trade.^[3] Watkins said that it was important for the group to "get the message across without seeming like preaching."^[4]

Music video

The music video was directed by F. Gary Gray and features Ella Joyce, Bokeem Woodbine, Shyheim, Paul J. Alessi and Gabrielle Bramford. TLC had to force Antonio L.A. Reid to get the budget for the music video,^[4] which was filmed at Universal Studios Hollywood from June 8–9, 1995.

Like the song itself, the video tackles issues of illegal drug trade and HIV/AIDS, two crises that plagued the 1990s. A young man (Shyheim) goes against his mother's advice to stop selling drugs and is killed before a drug deal. In other scenes, a woman in a relationship is shown convincing her partner (Alessi) not to use a condom. Afterwards, he looks in the mirror and sees that he has an early symptom of AIDS visible on his face, in the form of Kaposi's sarcoma. He then sees a small photo frame on the dresser, showing all the people she has had sex with previously. The video also intercuts scenes of liquified versions of TLC performing to the song while standing on top of an ocean and performing in front of a real waterfall. At the end of the video, the young man involved with drug gangs appears in ghost form. He tries to hug his mother as she is walking down the streets, every time he tries to hug her she walks right through him. The bedroom of the couple shows the man's face faded from the picture with the woman sitting alone on the bed, she too fades away, as they both die from AIDS.

The video won four awards at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards: Video of the Year, Best Group Video, Best R&B Video, and the Viewer's Choice Award. Watkins stated in retrospect that the "video spoke for a whole epidemic."^[2]

Live performances

The song was performed at many awards shows, including the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards and the 1996 Grammy Awards. The group performed "Waterfalls" at the 1995 MTV Movie Awards wearing black tops and silver pants. The performance "was theatrical and kept true to the lyrical story."^[5] They also performed the song at MTV's 20th Anniversary on August 1, 2001, making it Left Eye's final performance with the group before her death. In September 1995, TLC performed "Waterfalls" in a medley with "Creep" and "Diggin' on You" on the British TV chart show Top of the Pops, aired on BBC One in the United Kingdom.

Remaining members T-Boz and Chilli performed the song along with Alicia Keys along with fellow girl groups En Vogue and SWV at the 2008 BET Awards. Thomas and Watkins appeared on Good Morning America on October 15, 2013 to perform the song during promotion for the greatest hits 20 and the VH1 biopic CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story.^[6]

On November 24, 2013, TLC performed at the 2013 American Music Awards with special guest Lil Mama, who performed Left Eye's rap in tribute to her.

Critical reception

"Waterfalls" has received critical acclaim from music critics. Entertainment Weekly described the song as a "Prince-inspired ballad" that "hint[s] at the artistic greatness TLC might achieve if freed from commercial concerns."^[7] Nigel Butler of Sputnikmusic compared the song to esteemed artists such as Sly and the Family Stone, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.^[8] Butler wrote, "The arrangement and instrumentation is absolutely fantastic - if a bunch of great melodies had an orgy, the result would something a little like this - and the lyrics are the best on an album that maintains a shockingly high standard of songwriting. Left-Eye drops the album's best rap on this track too."^[8]

The song was nominated for two Grammys at the 1996 Grammy Awards: Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. It was also ranked 13th in VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years and 8th on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 1990s.^[9] In 2010, Billboard awarded the song the top position of summer songs in 1995.

Legacy

Jeff Benjamin of Fuse wrote that the track was "far more than just another pop hit: The track told a cautionary tale of HIV and AIDS, and its video depicted a man who didn't wear a condom with his girlfriend and later watched his body degenerate in the mirror."^[2] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that "Waterfalls, "with its gently insistent horns and guitar lines and instantly memorable chorus, ... ranks as one of the classic R&B songs of the '90s."^[10] Sputnikmusic's Butler asserted that "any list of the best singles of the 90s that does not include this in the top 15 — at least — is among the worst lists ever written."^[8]

Thomas and Watkins rerecorded "Waterfalls" with Japanese pop singer Namie Amuro in 2013 for the song's twentieth anniversary.^[11] The song peaked at number twelve on Japan's Hot 100 chart. That same year, the song was referenced in the film We're the Millers as Will Poulter performs Lopes's rap.^[12] The song also appears in the film's end credits. In 2015, the horror-comedy show Scream Queens featured the song in the pilot and is referenced numerous times in other episodes.

Track listings

US/International CD single

1. "Waterfalls" (Single Version) – 4:18
2. "Waterfalls" (ONP Remix) – 4:36
3. "Waterfalls" (Dallas Austin Remix) – 4:28
4. "Waterfalls" (Instrumental) – 4:39

European CD Single

1. "Waterfalls" (No Rap Edit) - 3:32
2. "Waterfalls" (Single Version) – 4:18
3. "Waterfalls" (ONP Remix) – 4:36
4. "Waterfalls" (Dallas Austin Remix) – 4:28
5. "Waterfalls" (Instrumental) – 4:39

2001 US re-release CD single

1. "Waterfalls" (Single Edit) – 4:18
2. "Waterfalls" (Dallas Austin Remix) – 4:28
3. "Waterfalls" (Instrumental) – 4:42
4. "Waterfalls" (ONP Remix) – 4:35
5. "Waterfalls" (ONP Instrumental) – 4:37
6. "Waterfalls" (Album Version) – 4:39

Waterfalls (20th Anniversary Edition) Digital Single

1. Waterfalls (20th Anniversary Edition) featuring Namie Amuro– 4:35

Charts and certifications

Chart successions

Stooshe version

"Waterfalls"
Single by Stooshe
B-side	"See Me Like This"
Released	11 November 2012
Format	Digital download
Genre	R&B, hip hop soul
Length	3:29
Label	Warner Music UK
Writer(s)	Marqueze Etheridge, Lisa Lopes, Organized Noize
Producer(s)	Future Cut
Stooshe singles chronology
"Black Heart" (2012) "Waterfalls" (2012) "Slip" (2013)

"Waterfalls" was recorded by British girl group Stooshe originally recorded for their self-titled debut album, released through Warner Music UK on 11 November 2012.^[43] Stooshe chose to release a cover of "Waterfalls" after meeting TLC member T-Boz, who had previously congratulated them on their acoustic cover of the song.^[44] The band have turned the track's rap, performed by Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, into a three-part harmony.^[44] It was announced in April 2013 that the group's cover of "Waterfalls" would not be appearing on their debut album, with member Karis Anderson claiming they "are pretending [it] didn't happen".^[45]

Critical reception

4Music's Trent Maynard stated that Stooshe's take on "Waterfalls" has "smooth, layered harmonies and a easy-breezy barbershop feel."^[44] Digital Spy's Lewis Corner gave the song three out of five stars and commented "It must be said that soft flourishes of brass and light guitar strums blend with the girls' on-point vocals smoother than a Starbucks cappuccino. However, after proving themselves as one of 2012's most promising original pop acts, covering a much-loved '90s anthem still feels like a strange move."^[46] Jon Hornbuckle from So So Gay gave the song four stars and stated "Covering a song as famous as TLC's global hit 'Waterfalls' could backfire on a girl group, but Stooshe shouldn't be worried. Their take on the classic 1995 hit is yet another opportunity for them to showcase their fantastic voices and is a sure-fire hit, with its radio friendly vibes and sing-along chorus."^[47] He thought the song sounded "fresh" and Stooshe had managed to put their own stamp on the track.^[47] Hornbuckle added "If only all cover tracks were like this – a re-interpretation, rather than a copy-and-paste cover."^[47]

Music video

Stooshe released an official lyric video for the track on 3 October, before unveiling the official music video on T4 on 7 October.^[43] The video, directed by Matt Stawski, features cameo appearances from fellow TLC members T-Boz and Chilli.^[43][48] Hornbuckle commented "The video is perhaps the most colourful promo from a girl group for years, and we love the choreography the girls pull out on the chorus. Stooshe make being cool, classy and fun all at once look effortless."^[47]

Track listing

• Waterfalls (Remixes) - EP^[49]

1. "Waterfalls" – 3:27
2. "Waterfalls" (Moto Blanco Remix) – 7:07
3. "Waterfalls" (DJ Q Remix) – 5:46
4. "Waterfalls" (Show 'n' Prove Remix) – 3:16
5. "Waterfalls" (Acoustic) – 3:41

• CD single

1. "Waterfalls" - 3:28
2. "See Me Like This" - 3:29

Chart performance

Release history

Other cover versions

• The song was parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic as "Phony Calls", a reference to prank calls, on the 1996 album Bad Hair Day.
• Japanese pop group Cosa Nostra had a song on their album Love the Music (released in March, 1995) called Be Yourself that's exactly the same song but with different title and lyrics.
• The band Eve 6 covered the song and appears on their singles "Here's to the Night" and "Promise".
• A parody of this song, titled "Lavaflows," also appeared at the end of an episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy.^[52]
• Smooth Jazz player Steve Cole made a cover of Waterfalls on his 2000 album Between Us.
• The rap portion of the song is parodied in "Chow Down" by Willam Belli, Detox, and Vicky Vox.^[53]
• Hanson played a cover version of the song on their Anthem World Tour in 2013.
• New Zealand rock band Six60 released a cover of Waterfalls as part of an iTunes session in December 2013.^[54]
• The song was performed by Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts and Will Poulter in the American comedy film We're the Millers, with Poulter's word-for-word cover of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes' rap verse gaining the approval of the two remaining members of TLC.^[55]
• Bette Midler covered the song for her 2014 album It's the Girls!.
• The song also appeared in the pilot and first season finale episodes for the FOX horror-comedy Scream Queens.

Notes

References

• The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits (fifth edition)

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
• "Waterfalls" music video by Stooshe on YouTube