Walk on Water (Thirty Seconds to Mars song)

Last updated

"Walk on Water"
Thirty Seconds to Mars - Walk on Water (artwork).jpg
Single by Thirty Seconds to Mars
from the album America
ReleasedAugust 22, 2017 (2017-08-22)
Studio The International Centre for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Sound, Los Angeles, California
Genre Electronic rock
Length3:08
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Jared Leto
Thirty Seconds to Mars singles chronology
"City of Angels"
(2013)		"Walk on Water"
(2017)		"Dangerous Night"
(2018)
Music video
"Walk on Water" on YouTube

"Walk on Water" is a song recorded by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, featured on their fifth studio album America . It was produced by lead vocalist Jared Leto, who wrote the song alongside drummer Shannon Leto, with production contributions from Stevie Aiello, Arkadi Zaslavski and Mike Elizondo, among others.

Contents

It was recorded at the International Centre for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Sound in Los Angeles, California. "Walk on Water" was released on August 22, 2017 through Interscope Records, as the lead single from the album.

Release

On August 14, 2017, Thirty Seconds to Mars announced that "Walk on Water" would be the lead single from their upcoming fifth studio album. Jared Leto told NME that the song required a long period of time to record. [1] "Walk on Water" marks the first work by Thirty Seconds to Mars to be released by Interscope, after the band parted from Virgin due to tumultuous years with the label. [2]

On August 22, "Walk on Water" made its radio debut and became commercially available for downloading. A lyric video for the song was released on YouTube the same day. [3] Music website Genius premiered the lyrics of the song on August 21, 2017, a day prior to the single's official release. [4] "Walk on Water" was used by ESPN as the promotional theme for the network's coverage of the 2017 College Football season. [5]

Composition

"Walk on Water" is an electronic rock song with influences and elements from gospel music and arena rock. [3] [6] It opens with a vocal chanted part followed by the sounds of digital drums and guitars, with a heavy bassline. During the first verse, Leto voices the lines "Can you even see what you're fighting for? / Bloodlust and a holy war / Listen up, hear the patriots shout: / Times are changing". The full-throated chorus then follows, which features heavy use of drums, synthesizers and guitars. The song's bridge is characterized by call-and-response verses performed by a gospel ensemble. [7]

Leto called "Walk on Water" an "ever so subtle and minimalist ode". [8] He described it as "a song for everybody due to its universal message." [9] The track's lyrics deal "with such topics as freedom, persistence, change and fighting for what one believes in." [9] In an interview with Loudwire , Leto depicted the song as a "call to arms but also full of all the optimism and hope that is such an integral part of the American Dream". [3] Jon Blistein from Rolling Stone acknowledged a slight political edge in the song's lyrics. [10] Nick Reilly of NME noted that "Walk on Water" dissects the general condition of the United States and calls for unity in the nation. [11] In her review for Fuse, Bianca Gracie felt that the song serves as a call to arms to fight collectively for change. [12]

Music video

After several weeks of editing, the band premiered the official music video for "Walk on Water" on November 8, 2017. It was directed by Jared Leto and features user-submitted footage from July 4, 2017, depicting Independence Day in the United States. Thirty Seconds to Mars also utilized their own crews to compile additional footage, all of which is part of a documentary film titled A Day in the Life of America , released in 2019. [13]

Critical reception

Michael Christopher from Loudwire gave the song a positive review, calling it an "anthemic, electronically tinged track" which features "sweeping music" and "even grander lyrics" that fit the political climate of the period. [3] Gil Kaufman from Billboard commended the song's "anthemic chorus" and "heart-stirring, propulsive rhythm". [7] Jon Blistein from Rolling Stone called it a "sweeping" song, noticing "marching drums" and "booming synths". [10] Nick Reilly from NME was impressed with the track, labelling it a "rousing call to arms". [11] A Kerrang! writer called the song a "pretty powerful offering" and praised its lyrics, noting that they call for people to "come together rather than building walls". [14] Markos Papadatos, writing for Digital Journal, rated it an "A", labelling it an "empowering song", and commended the band's musicianship and Leto's "rich and captivating" vocals. [9] Bianca Gracie from Fuse noted the track's "commanding chorus" and lauded its political message. [12] Deepa Lakshmin from MTV commended the song's "fiery lyrics" and named "Walk on Water" a "powerful anthem" which is "equal parts inspirational and motivational". [13]

Live performances

The song was performed live for the first time at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards on August 27 with Travis Scott as a special surprise guest, who performed the chorus from his hit song "Butterfly Effect". [1] The band played "Walk on Water" at the Rock in Rio festival on September 24, 2017, featuring Brazilian rapper Projota. They later performed the song at the LOS40 Music Awards 2017 on November 10. An acoustic rendition of the track was performed on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge and during The Ellen DeGeneres Show . [15] The song is also used in the PFL as the intro theme.

Credits and personnel

Recording and management

Personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from Qobuz listing. [16]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Walk on Water"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [45] Gold30,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [46] Gold40,000‡
Germany (BVMI) [47] Gold200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [48] Gold500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thirty Seconds to Mars</span> American rock band from Los Angeles

Thirty Seconds to Mars is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of brothers Jared Leto and Shannon Leto. During the course of its existence, it has undergone various line-up changes with the Leto brothers being the only consistent members.

<i>30 Seconds to Mars</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Thirty Seconds to Mars

30 Seconds to Mars is the debut studio album by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars. It was first released on August 27, 2002, by Immortal Records and distributed by Virgin Records. The album was produced by Bob Ezrin, Brian Virtue, and Thirty Seconds to Mars, and was recorded in rural Wyoming during 2001 and early 2002. It had been in the works for a couple of years, with lead vocalist Jared Leto writing the majority of the songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">From Yesterday</span> 2006 single by 30 Seconds to Mars

"From Yesterday" is a song by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, and the third single released from their second album A Beautiful Lie. The song impacted radio on October 17, 2006. The music video for the song is believed to be the first ever American music video shot in the People's Republic of China in its entirety. The music video is also the last video by the band to feature bass player Matt Wachter. The song won the Kerrang! Award for Best Single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attack (Thirty Seconds to Mars song)</span> 2005 single by Thirty Seconds to Mars

"Attack" is a song by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars. The song was released by Immortal and Virgin on May 3, 2005, as the lead single from the band's second album, A Beautiful Lie. The song was written by Jared Leto and was produced by Josh Abraham and 30 Seconds to Mars. The song is a dynamic expression of rebirth and renewal. 30 Seconds to Mars premiered the song on the American network Fuse on May 25, 2005, during Daily Download.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Kill</span> 2006 single by Thirty Seconds to Mars

"The Kill" (written "The Kill (Bury Me)" on the single and music video) is a song by American band Thirty Seconds to Mars. The song was released on January 24, 2006 as the second single from their second album, A Beautiful Lie. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and peaked at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capricorn (A Brand New Name)</span> 2002 single by Thirty Seconds to Mars

"Capricorn (A Brand New Name)" is the debut song by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars. The song was released by Immortal Records on July 23, 2002, as the lead single from the band's self-titled debut album. The song was written by Jared Leto and was produced by Bob Ezrin, Brian Virtue and 30 Seconds to Mars. According to Jared Leto, the song is about a desire for renewal. "Capricorn (A Brand New Name)" first appearance was on the compilation Rock Tune Up #249 released by The Album Network on April 5, 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Beautiful Lie (song)</span> 2007 single by Thirty Seconds to Mars

"A Beautiful Lie" is a song by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars. The song was released as the fourth single from their second album A Beautiful Lie. It was not released in the United Kingdom as a single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thirty Seconds to Mars discography</span>

American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars has released six studio albums, four extended plays, eighteen singles, four promotional singles, one video album and seventeen music videos. The band was formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1998 by brothers Jared Leto and Shannon Leto, with Tomo Miličević joining the band later. The band's debut album, 30 Seconds to Mars, was released through Immortal and Virgin Records in August 2002 and peaked at number 107 on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the US Top Heatseekers, selling more than two million copies worldwide as of March 2011. The album produced two singles, "Capricorn " and "Edge of the Earth".

<i>This Is War</i> 2009 studio album by Thirty Seconds to Mars

This Is War is the third studio album by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, released on December 8, 2009 through Virgin Records. It was the band's first studio album in four years, after the breakthrough of their previous work, A Beautiful Lie (2005). The album was recorded over a span of two years while the band was in the midst of a legal dispute with Virgin over an alleged breach-of-contract. The case was later settled in April 2009, and the band signed to EMI later that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings and Queens (Thirty Seconds to Mars song)</span> 2009 single by Thirty Seconds to Mars

"Kings and Queens" is a song by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, featured on their third studio album This Is War (2009). Written by lead vocalist Jared Leto across the United States and South Africa, the track was produced by Flood, Steve Lillywhite and Thirty Seconds to Mars. According to Leto, the lyrics of "Kings and Queens" explore the triumphant feeling of human possibilities. The melody of the song contains several qualities similar to that of 1980s adult contemporary musical works and is imbued with elements of progressive rock. The song was released as the lead single from This Is War on October 13, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Is War (song)</span> 2010 single by Thirty Seconds to Mars

"This Is War" is a song by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, featured on their third studio album This Is War. Written by lead vocalist Jared Leto, the song was released as the second single from the album to American radio on March 8, 2010, and the physical single was released on March 26, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Closer to the Edge</span> 2010 single by Thirty Seconds to Mars

"Closer to the Edge" is a song written by Jared Leto and performed by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars. Produced by the band, co-produced by Flood, the track is the seventh track and the third single from their third studio album This Is War. It was released in the US on August 20, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Up in the Air (song)</span> 2013 single by Thirty Seconds to Mars

"Up in the Air" is a song recorded by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, featured on their fourth studio album, Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams (2013). Written by lead vocalist Jared Leto, who also produced the song with Steve Lillywhite, "Up in the Air" is an introspective and passionate track reflecting upon human consciousness. It marked a departure from much of the band's previous work as it incorporates a more electronic-influenced sound as well as elements from new wave music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Angels (Thirty Seconds to Mars song)</span> 2013 song by Thirty Seconds to Mars

"City of Angels" is a song by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, featured on their fourth studio album Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams (2013). Written by lead vocalist Jared Leto, who co-produced the song with Steve Lillywhite, "City of Angels" was inspired by Leto's experience of living in Los Angeles with his family and was influenced by the city's culture. Imbued with elements of synthrock as well as music from the 1980s, the track was cited as an example of the album's variety and experimentation. It was one of the first songs to be written for Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams, but required a long period of time to record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do or Die (Thirty Seconds to Mars song)</span> 2013 single by Thirty Seconds to Mars

"Do or Die" is a song by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, featured on their fourth studio album Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams (2013). Written and produced by lead vocalist Jared Leto, "Do or Die" explores the feeling of standing up and living one's dreams using ironic undertones. The song is styled in electronic rock and imbued with elements of arena rock. It was serviced to mainstream radio in July 2013 in Europe, and was released as a promotional single in the United States in March 2014. A version of the song remixed by Dutch music producer Afrojack was digitally released in March 2014 and later included on the deluxe edition of Afrojack's debut studio album Forget the World (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dangerous Night</span> 2018 single by Thirty Seconds to Mars

"Dangerous Night" is a song recorded by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, featured on their fifth studio album America. It was written by Stevie Aiello and Jared Leto, who also produced the song with Zedd. "Dangerous Night" was described as a personal and uplifting song characterized by an anthemic and euphoric nature. It marked a strong departure from much of the band's previous work as it incorporates a softer sound as well as elements from electronic dance music. The song is imbued with influences from arena rock and ambient music.

<i>America</i> (Thirty Seconds to Mars album) 2018 studio album by Thirty Seconds to Mars

America is the fifth studio album by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, released on April 6, 2018 through Interscope Records. It is their first album in five years, after Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams (2013), as well as their only release for Interscope, following the band's departure from Virgin Records in 2014. It is also the final album by the band to feature lead guitarist Tomo Miličević, who left the band two months after its release.

"Rescue Me" is a song by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, featured on their fifth studio album America (2018). It was written and produced by Jared Leto and KillaGraham. "Rescue Me" was described as a song exploring themes such as pain, empowerment, faith, and freedom. Critics acknowledged eclectic influences that resonate throughout the track, including elements from dance-rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuck (Thirty Seconds to Mars song)</span> 2023 single by Thirty Seconds to Mars

"Stuck" is a song by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, featured on their sixth studio album It's the End of the World but It's a Beautiful Day (2023).

References

  1. 1 2 Maine, Samantha (August 14, 2017). "Thirty Seconds To Mars have teased their new single". NME . Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  2. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (August 1, 2016). "Thirty Seconds To Mars tease return with new video". Alternative Press . Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Christopher, Michael (August 22, 2017). "Thirty Seconds to Mars Unveil Lyric Video for New Song 'Walk on Water'". Loudwire. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  4. ↑ Mench, Chris (August 21, 2017). "Thirty Seconds To Mars Premiere The Lyrics To Their New Single "Walk On Water"". Genius . Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  5. ↑ Negron, Anna (August 22, 2017). "Thirty Seconds To Marsí Newest Single "Walk on Water" Highlights ESPNís 2017 College Football Music Slate". ESPN MediaZone. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  6. ↑ Li, Vivian (August 23, 2017). "Thirty Seconds To Mars Have Released Their First Song In Four Years". GQ. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  7. 1 2 Kaufman, Gil (August 22, 2017). "Listen to Thirty Seconds To Mars' First New Song in Four Years: 'Walk on Water'". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  8. ↑ Cashmere, Paul (August 15, 2017). "Thirty Seconds To Mars Tease New Music Sampler". Noise11 . Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 Markos, Papadatos (August 22, 2017). "Review: Jared Leto and Thirty Seconds to Mars amazing on 'Walk on Water'". Digital Journal. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  10. 1 2 Blistein, Jon (August 22, 2017). "Hear Thirty Seconds to Mars' Sweeping New Rock Song 'Walk on Water'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  11. 1 2 Reilly, Nick (August 22, 2017). "Listen to 'Walk on Water', the new single from 30 Seconds To Mars". NME. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  12. 1 2 Gracie, Bianca (August 22, 2017). "Hear Thiry Seconds to Mars' 'Walk on Water', Their First New Song in Four Years". Fuse. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  13. 1 2 Lakshmin, Deepa (August 22, 2017). "Get Fired Up With Thirty Seconds To Mars' New Song". MTV. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  14. ↑ "The New 30 Seconds To Mars Single Is A Call To Arms". Kerrang!. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars just performed the most magical mash-up of all time in the Live Lounge". BBC. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Walk on Water / Songinfo" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  17. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Issue 1436 (Week Commencing 4 September 2017)" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars Chart History (Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard . Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Radio Top100 Oficiální – Walk on Water" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars: Walk on Water" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Thirty Seconds To Mars" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Walk on Water by 30 Seconds to Mars". acharts.co. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Radio Top 100 – Walk on Water" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  34. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  35. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  36. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  37. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard . Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  39. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  40. ↑ "Thirty Seconds to Mars Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Rock Songs: 2017 Year-End Charts". Billboard . Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Rock Airplay Songs: 2017 Year-End Charts". Billboard . Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Rock Songs: 2018 Year-End Charts". Billboard . Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Rock Airplay Songs: 2018 Year-End Charts". Billboard . Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  45. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk On Water" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  46. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water". Music Canada.
  47. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Thirty Seconds to Mars; 'Walk on Water')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  48. ↑ "American single certifications – Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 28, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.