Waterfalls (TLC song)

Infobox Single
Name = Waterfalls


Artist = TLC
from Album = CrazySexyCool
Released = May 29, 1995
Format = CD single
Recorded = 1994
Genre = R&B, New Jack Swing
Length = 4:18 (Single Version)
3:46 (Radio Edit w/o Rap)
4:39 (Album Version)
Label = LaFace
Writer = Marqueze Etheridge, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Organized Noize
Producer = Organized Noize
Certification = RIAA: Platinum
Last single = "Red Light Special"
(1995)
This single = "Waterfalls"
(1995)
Next single = "Diggin' On You"
(1995)Extra tracklisting
Album = CrazySexyCool
Type = studio
prev_track = "Red Light Special"
prev_no = 7
this_track = "Waterfalls"
track_no = 8
next_track = "Intermission-lude"
next_no = 9

"Waterfalls" is a 1995 R&B hit single by female trio TLC off of their sophomore album "CrazySexyCool", and the group's signature song. The song was produced by the Organized Noize team and written by Marqueze Etheridge, TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Organized Noize. It was the 2nd biggest Hot 100 Single of 1995, according to Billboard's Year End Charts. TLC performed the record at the 2008 Bet awards along with Alicia Keys.

Details

The music video featured Ella Joyce, Bokeem Woodbine, Shyheim, Paul J. Alessi and Gabrielle Bramford. The song and video tackle the issues of drug dealing and HIV.

The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks from July 8, 1995. The background vocals on the recording were performed by all three of the members of TLC, as well as Debra Killings, and Cee-Lo.

The song shares the title, a possibly similar melody and some similar lyrics with "Waterfalls", a 1980 song by Paul McCartney; the TLC song's chorus begins, "Don't go chasing waterfalls/ Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to", while the McCartney's song's first verse begins, "Don't go jumping waterfalls/ Please keep to the lake", and the second verse begins, "Don't go chasing polar bears". McCartney did not take any legal action whatsoever in regards to the copy of his old song. [ [http://www.avclub.com/content/node/63171/2 Paul McCartney | The A.V. Club ] ]

The song was parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic as "Phony Calls", a reference to prank calls, on the 1996 album "Bad Hair Day".

TLC performed this song on MTV's 20th Anniversary in August 2001.

Critical reception

"Waterfalls" was placed in VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years, charting at #13.

"Waterfalls" ranked #8 on VH1 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s.

Track listings

International CD Single
# "Waterfalls" (Single Version) - 4:18
# "Waterfalls" (ONP Remix) - 4:36
# "Waterfalls" (DARP Remix) - 4:28
# "Waterfalls" (Instrumental) - 4:39

2001 US Re-Release CD Single
# "Waterfalls" (Single Edit) - 4:18
# "Waterfalls" (DARP Remix) - 4:28
# "Waterfalls" (Instrumental) - 4:42
# "Waterfalls" (ONP Remix) - 4:35
# "Waterfalls" (ONP Instrumental) - 4:37
# "Waterfalls" (Album Version) - 4:39

Certifications

Notes

References

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