"Water" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Tyla | ||||
from the album Tyla | ||||
Released | 28 July 2023 | |||
Recorded | 2023 | |||
Studio | ||||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:20 | |||
Label |
| |||
Composer(s) |
| |||
Lyricist(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Sammy SoSo | |||
Tyla singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Travis Scott singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Marshmello singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Water" on YouTube |
"Water" is a song by South African singer Tyla from her debut studio album, Tyla (2024). It was released on 28 July 2023 by Fax and Epic Records as the album's lead single. An amapiano song with elements of pop,R&B and Afrobeats,it sees Tyla expressing a desire for a passionate,intimate tryst. Remix versions of the song by American rapper Travis Scott and record producer Marshmello were released on 17 November 2023.
"Water" reached number one in New Zealand,Romania,Suriname,and the United Arab Emirates. It peaked in the top ten of over 10 countries,including the United States (where Tyla was the youngest-ever South African and the first South African soloist in 55 years to enter the Billboard Hot 100,following Hugh Masekela's "Grazing in the Grass" in 1968). "Water" was certified multi-platinum in a number of countries,including South Africa and the United States,and was certified diamond in Brazil by Pro-Música Brasil. The song topped Rolling Stone 's list of the 40 best Afropop songs of 2023,and received the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance in 2024. It was nominated for Best International Song at the 2024 BRIT Awards,and for the Viewer's Choice Award at the BET Awards 2024.
"Water" was produced by British record producer Sammy Soso. [1] Production of the song began in London and finished in Los Angeles before it was sent to songwriters in Atlanta,who recorded a vocal demo. [2] Tyla liked the instrumentation and recorded the song in Cape Town,South Africa. [3] [4] She told Interview that after finishing "Water",she was convinced that the song would be successful and dreamed about "watching [her] Spotify streams climb by the second". [5] Before "Water" was released,Tyla successfully performed it as an opening act on the European leg of Chris Brown's Under the Influence Tour in early 2023. [6] [7] [8] She first shared a snippet of the song and its accompanying dance challenge on TikTok in July 2023. [9] Choreographed by South African dancer Lee-ché"Litchi" Janecke and inspired by the Bacardi dance style which originated in Pretoria, [1] [10] the dance involves shaking one's hips before pouring water down one's back in time to the song's chorus. [9] [11] Originally intended for a different song with a more-appropriate musical genre for this dance style,Tyla insisted to Janecke that the choreography would work with "Water" and decided to add the water-pouring to help the song go viral. [8]
Tyla released another teaser and announced the song's release date via social media on 16 July 2023. [12] [13] The song was previewed on 21 July 2023 during an interview with Tyla on Spotify's Mic Check podcast series after she appeared on the streaming platform's Radar program for emerging artists. [14] She posted its cover art on social media on 25 July, [15] before it was released on 28 July 2023. [16] [17] The song gained traction on TikTok in August 2023 after a video of Tyla doing the accompanying dance during a live performance went viral. [9] By mid-September,it began surging in streams and videos on TikTok. [18] In the United States,it impacted rhythmic contemporary radio on 3 October, [19] and contemporary hit radio on 24 October. [20] The song was also played on European radio that month. [21] Originally planned as the lead single from Tyla's debut EP, [3] it was the first single from her debut studio album after her international breakthrough. [22] Released on 17 November 2023,"Water" had remix versions by American rapper and labelmate Travis Scott and American record producer Marshmello. [23] [24]
"Water" blends pop and amapiano (described by Tyla as "popiano"), [1] [3] with elements of R&B and afrobeats music. [25] [9] [26] The song was written in 4
4 time in the key of D♯minor,with a moderately-fast tempo of 117 beats per minute (BPM). [27] Tyla's vocals on the track span between the low note of G♯3 and the high note of C♯5,giving the song one octave and five tones of vocal range. [27] It is characterised by a prominent amapiano log drum,sensuous melodies,and Tyla's "euphonious" [17] vocals. [10]
About the song's lyrics,Tyla described it as "kind of a naughty song" [4] and told Rolling Stone that "the meaning of the song is frisky:it's [her] letting a guy know,'Show me what you got to offer. I'm done with all the talk.'" [3] She was inspired by songs which are indirect and use sexual innuendo,citing "Rock the Boat" by American singer Aaliyah as an example. [3] Tyla uses vivid imagery to express her desire for what Neon Music described as "an all-consuming,soul-stirring connection" involving romance and sex. [28] [29]
After becoming popular on the online video platform TikTok in August 2023, [9] the hashtags #TylaWaterChallenge and #TylaWater had over 446.8 million views with over 600,000 videos in October. [30] [9] "Water" peaked at number 11 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50. [31] It entered the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs chart at number 37 on 9 September 2023, [32] topping it [33] before debuting at number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 14 October 2023. Tyla was the youngest-ever South African and the first South African soloist in over 55 years to enter the Hot 100,following Hugh Masekela's "Grazing in the Grass" in 1968. [34] "Water" peaked at number seven on the chart on 13 January 2024, [35] making Tyla the highest-charting African female soloist on the Hot 100 and surpassing Miriam Makeba's peak with "Pata Pata" (number 12 in 1968). [36] The song reached number four in the Philippines [37] and number 10 in Panama. [38] Luminate reported that during the tracking week of 22–28 March 2024,"Water" had 10.3 million streams in the United States (a 17% increase over the preceding week's 8.8 million). [39] In song sales and radio airplay (the final two measures influencing the Hot R&B Songs chart),"Water" had a 17-percent increase in download sales over that time and a four-percent decrease in airplay audience across all formats with 2,000 downloads sold. [39] It topped the World Digital Song Sales, [40] Rhythmic Airplay and Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts in the United States. [41] "Water" peaked at number 15 in Canada, [42] where it was certified triple platinum by Music Canada, [43] and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States. [44] The song was certified Gold in Mexico by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON). [45]
"Water" made its first-ever chart appearance on the Hot Singles Chart in New Zealand on 21 August 2023 [46] (where it topped the NZ Singles Chart on 30 October), [47] and was certified double platinum by Recorded Music NZ in December. [48] It entered the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart at number 13 on 9 September 2023 before debuting at number 55 on the UK Singles Chart on 21 September 2023,where it peaked at number four five weeks later. [49] The song topped the Afrobeats chart [49] and the UK R&B Chart. [50] "Water"'s music video reached number 2 on the UK Music Video Charts, [51] and the song was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. [52] It peaked at number 5 in South Africa, [53] where it was later certified triple platinum. [54]
The music video for "Water" premiered on YouTube on 6 October 2023,where it had three million views in three days. [55] Filmed in New York City, [56] the video was directed by child. and Kwasi "C&P" Fordjour. [57] [58] In the video,Tyla and friends prepare for a night out at a beachside party. [57] She performs the "Water" choreography at the party before dancing sensually with her love interest near the end of the video. [57] [56] Tyla told Essence that she wanted to create something that felt "hot and steamy",saying that it was the first time she had explored a love story in one of her music videos. [56] By August 2024,the music video had over 220 million views.
The music video for the remix,featuring Travis Scott and directed by Nabil Elderkin,premiered on 18 March 2024. [59] [60] In the video,Tyla sings her verse as Scott stands on the opposite side of a wet,foggy glass in a shadowy place;the rapper then performs his verse standing next to Tyla. [61] [62] [63]
On 11 September 2024,"Water" received the MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats Video at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. [64] [65] In her acceptance speech,Tyla identified as a South African amapiano artist. Nigerian radio personality,Do2tun,took to social media and called her a hypocrite for accepting an Afrobeats accolade. [66]
Don Billiato @casspernyovestNo ways. Tyla won a Grammy for water bro but she don’t get the Sama for record of the year at home ? Haha y’all are playing games.
2 November 2024 [67]
"Water" lost the Record of the Year award to Mthandeni SK and Lwah Ndlunkulu's "Paris" at the 30th Annual South African Music Awards. Following the conclusion of the main show on 2 November, Cassper Nyovest posted on Twitter to express his feelings on how Tyla was snubbed of the accolade. [68] In response, Mthandeni SK implied that Nyovest, a hip hop musician, was trying to use maskandi to regain fame. In Nyovest's apology, he suggested a boxing match to address their issues. [69]
"Water" was first performed in Portugal in June 2023 at Afro Nation Portugal, before its release. [a] Tyla then performed "Water" in August 2023 for Vevo's DSCVR program, a video series which spotlights emerging artists. [71] She made her international television debut in early October 2023, performing the song on The Bianca Show in Sweden and being interviewed by the host. [4] Tyla also performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in the United States later that month. [72] She performed a remix of the song with DJ Black Coffee at a Sandton nightclub in December 2023. [73] Tyla performed the song in a medley with her follow-up single, "Truth or Dare", during the finale of season 24 of the American talent-competition show The Voice later that month. [74] Tyla performed a medley of "On and On", "Truth or Dare", and "Water" in Times Square on the 2024 Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve television special. [75] [76] [77]
She then attended the Prelude to the 2024 Olympic Games at the Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris on 25 July 2024, [78] wearing a black-velvet Louis Vuitton tracksuit, [79] where she performed a medley of "Thata Ahh", "Jump" and "Water" in an oversized Louis Vuitton jersey and spandex shorts. [80] Tyla performed most of the tracks from the album, including "Breathe Me" and "Water", and cover songs at the 2024 edition of the Summer Sonic Festival in Osaka on 17 August 2024. [81] [82] In a 45-minute-long Tokyo performance the following day, she opened with "Safer" and by "On My Body" (performed with Becky G). [83] Tyla also performed her non-album singles "Thata Ahh" and "Ke Shy" (the latter by Major Lazer and Major League DJz) before performing a mashup of Aaliyah's "Rock the Boat" and "On and On", followed by "Art", "No.1" and "Truth or Dare"; she performed "Bana Ba" (another non-album single), "Breathe Me" and "Jump" before closing with "Water". [83] From 23 to 25 August 2024, [84] she performed "Water" at the LaLaLa Festival in Jakarta. [85] Tyla opened with the South African national anthem, "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", at the One Universe Festival in Seoul on 28 August 2024 [86] [87] and on 20 September [88] in Brazil at the Rock in Rio festival at the Parque Olimpico. [89] [90] Tyla performed a medley of "Water" and "Push 2 Start" in Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York City on 15 October 2024, at the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, [91] [92] and again in Co-op Live, Manchester, United Kingdom on 10 November, at the 30th Annual MTV Europe Music Awards. [93]
On 10 August 2024, Basadi in Music Awards honoured Tyla with the Highest Airplay accolade for "Water" at the 3rd Annual Basadi In Music Awards. [94] It was awarded the Global Force Award by Billboard on 8 September 2024, at the inaugural Billboard R&B's No. 1s held in New York. [95]
Organization | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
3Music Awards | 2024 | African Song of the Year | Won | [96] |
Basadi in Music Awards | 2024 | Music Video of the Year | Nominated | [97] |
Song of the Year | Won | |||
Pop Artist of the Year | Nominated | |||
BET Awards | 2024 | Viewer's Choice Award | Nominated | [98] |
Billboard Music Awards | 2024 | Top R&B Song | Nominated | [99] |
Top Afrobeats Song | Won | |||
BRIT Awards | 2024 | International Song | Nominated | [100] |
DStv Content Creator Awards | 2024 | Song of the Year | Won | [101] |
Grammy Awards | 2024 | Best African Music Performance | Won | [102] |
iHeartRadio Music Awards | 2024 | Best Lyrics | Nominated | [103] |
TikTok Bop of the Year | Nominated | |||
Ivor Novello Awards | 2024 | Best Contemporary Song | Nominated | [104] |
Metro FM Music Awards | 2024 | Song of the Year | Nominated | [105] |
Best Music Video | Nominated | |||
Best Viral Challenge | Nominated | |||
Best R&B | Nominated | |||
MTV Video Music Awards | 2024 | Best R&B Video | Nominated | [106] |
Best Afrobeats Video | Won | [107] | ||
Myx Music Awards | 2024 | Global Video of the Year | Pending | [108] |
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | 2024 | Favorite Viral Song | Nominated | [109] |
South African Music Awards | 2024 | Music Video of the Year | Nominated | [110] |
Record of the Year | Nominated | |||
African Entertainment Awards USA | 2024 | Song of the Year | Nominated | [111] |
Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
The Africa Report | Top Music Hits of 2023 | 2 | [112] |
BBC | The best songs of 2023 | 10 | [113] |
Billboard | The 100 Best Songs of 2023 | 18 | [114] |
Capital UK | The Best Songs of 2023 | 5 | [115] |
Complex | The 50 Best Songs Of 2023 | 6 | [116] |
Crack | The Top 25 Tracks of the Year | 25 | [117] |
The Hollywood Reporter | The 10 Best Songs of 2023 | 10 | [118] |
Independent Online | Top 5 Local Songs of 2023 | 1 | [119] |
Los Angeles Times | The 100 best songs of 2023 | 32 | [120] |
NME | The 50 best songs of 2023 | 11 | [121] |
NPR | The 123 Best Songs of 2023 | — | [122] |
OkayAfrica | The 20 Best South African Songs of 2023 | — | [123] |
Rolling Stone | The 100 Best Songs of 2023 | 68 | [124] |
The 40 Best Afropop Songs of 2023 | 1 | [125] | |
Stereogum | The Top 40 Pop Songs Of 2023 | 3 | [126] |
Variety | The Best Songs of 2023 | — | [127] |
Credits are adapted from the digital liner notes. [128]
Weekly charts
| Monthly charts
Year-end charts
Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [203] | 3× Platinum | 210,000‡ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [204] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
Belgium (BEA) [205] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [206] | Diamond | 160,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [43] | 3× Platinum | 240,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [207] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [208] | Platinum | 200,000‡ |
Hungary (MAHASZ) [209] | Platinum | 4,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [210] | Gold | 50,000‡ |
Mexico (AMPROFON) [45] | Gold | 70,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [48] | 2× Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV) [211] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP) [212] | 3× Platinum | 30,000‡ |
South Africa (RISA) [54] | 3× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [213] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [214] | 2× Platinum | 40,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [52] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [44] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
Streaming | ||
Greece (IFPI Greece) [215] | 2× Platinum | 4,000,000† |
Sweden (GLF) [216] | Gold | 4,000,000† |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 28 July 2023 |
| [2] | |
Portugal | Epic | [160] | ||
United Kingdom | [52] | |||
United States | 3 October 2023 | Rhythmic contemporary | Epic | [19] |
Italy | 13 October 2023 | Contemporary hit radio | Sony | [21] |
United States | 24 October 2023 |
| [20] | |
Canada | 6 December 2023 |
| [217] |
American singer Selena Gomez has released three solo studio albums, one compilation album, three extended plays (EPs), 36 singles, three promotional singles, and two charity singles. Gomez has sold 6.7 million albums worldwide by October 2015. As of August 2023, she has sold 3.6 million albums in the United States, and shifted more than 11.5 million album equivalent units, including her releases with The Scene. As of May 2017, she has sold 24.3 million songs in the U.S. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), she has achieved 47.5 million certified units, and a further 19.5 million as part of Selena Gomez & the Scene, in the U.S. She has a total of 41 chart entries on the US Billboard Hot 100, including a number one and nine top-ten songs.
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Born in the Ojuelegba suburb of Surulere, Lagos, Wizkid is a voice in the emerging Afrobeats movement. His music is a blend of Afrobeats, afropop, R&B, afrobeat, reggae, dancehall, and pop. He began recording music at the age of 11 and released a collaborative album with the Glorious Five, a group he and a couple of his church friends formed. In 2009, Wizkid signed a record deal with Banky W's Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). He rose to the limelight after releasing "Holla at Your Boy", the lead single from his debut studio album, Superstar (2011), which also spawned the singles "Tease Me/Bad Guys" and "Don't Dull".
Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and rapper. He gained initial recognition with his 2019 song "Dumebi". That same year, he signed with D'Prince's record label, Jonzing World. He achieved international recognition with his 2022 single "Calm Down", which spawned a remix with American singer Selena Gomez that peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also led Billboard Afrobeats Songs chart for a record-setting 58 weeks.
Afrobeats, not to be confused with Afrobeat or Afroswing, is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK in the 2000s and 2010s. Afrobeats is less of a style per se, and more of a descriptor for the fusion of sounds flowing out of Nigeria and Ghana. Genres such as hiplife, jùjú music, highlife, azonto music, and naija beats, among others, were amalgamated under the "Afrobeats" umbrella.
Amapiano is a subgenre of kwaito and house music that emerged in South Africa in the mid-2010s. It is a hybrid of deep house, gqom, jazz, soul and lounge music characterized by synths and wide, percussive basslines. The word "amapiano" derives from the IsiZulu word for "pianos".
"Essence" is a song by Nigerian singer Wizkid, featuring fellow Nigerian singer Tems. It was released on 30 October 2020, as the fourth single from Wizkid's fourth studio album, Made in Lagos. "Essence" was produced by P2J and Legendury Beatz. The "sensual" song sees the duo express their desire for each other. A music video was released on 9 April 2021, shot in Accra, Ghana. "Essence" is the first Nigerian song in history to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200. The song received a nomination at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Global Music Performance.
Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, known professionally as Ayra Starr, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. Starr achieved mainstream international recognition in 2022, with the release of her song "Rush". The song charted in several territories, including Switzerland, Ireland and the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number 24. It earned Starr a nomination at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for Best African Music Performance.
Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman, known professionally as Oxlade, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter signed to Troniq Music, Epic Records in France, and Columbia Records in the UK. He rose to prominence with the release of the song "Away", which appeared on Rolling Stone's 50 best songs of 2020. After the success of his 2022 single "Ku Lo Sa", Oxlade was named Pandora Africa's Next Artist in July 2022.
"Calm Down" is a song by Nigerian singer Rema, from his debut studio album Rave & Roses (2022). It was released on 11 February 2022 through Jonzing World and Mavin as the album's second single. The song charted across Europe, reaching number one on the Belgian Ultratop 50, Dutch Top 40 and Dutch Single Top 100. In the United Kingdom, "Calm Down" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and spent 27 non-consecutive weeks in the top ten of the chart.
Tyla Laura Seethal, known mononymously as Tyla, is a South African singer. Her musical style is characterised by a fusion of the pop and amapiano genres, with many publications dubbing her "Queen of Popiano".
"City Boys" is a song by Nigerian singer Burna Boy, released on September 22, 2023, as the fifth single from his seventh studio album, I Told Them... . It was produced by MD$ and Ruuben and samples Jeremih's February 2009 single, "Birthday Sex". "City Boys" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
"Me & U" is a song by Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems, released on 5 October 2023, through RCA Records. Written and produced by both GuiltyBeatz and Tems, it serves as the lead single for her debut album Born in the Wild, and is her first solo release since her extended play If Orange Was a Place (2021).
Tyla is the debut studio album by South African singer Tyla. It was released on 22 March 2024 by FAX and Epic Records. The deluxe edition titled Tyla + was released on 11 October 2024. Musically, Tyla blends elements of amapiano, pop, Afrobeats and R&B and its lyrical themes include empowerment and relationships. In an interview with Nandi Madida, Tyla expressed her desire to launch her album with a South African sound.
"Truth or Dare" is a song by South African singer Tyla from her 2024 self-titled debut studio album. It was released by FAX and Epic Records as a promotional single from her 2023 self-titled extended play, before impacting rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States on 13 February 2024, as the second single from the album. Written by Tyla, Ariowa Irosogie, Imani Lewis, Corey Marlon Lindsay-Keay, Jamal Europe, and its producer Sammy SoSo, "Truth or Dare" is an amapiano track infused with elements of afrobeats and contemporary R&B influences.
"Art" is a song by South African singer Tyla from her self-titled debut studio album. It was released on 12 April 2024 through Fax and Epic Records, as the album's third single. The R&B-infused amapiano song was produced by Sammy Soso and was accompanied by a music video that premiered on YouTube on the day of the album's release.
"Been Thinking" is a single by South African singer and songwriter Tyla. It was released on 27 January 2023 though Fax and Epic Records. It features production and songwriting from American record producers and songwriters Tricky Stewart and Theron Thomas. It impacted rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States on 31 January 2023, and became her first Billboard-charting song in the region, entering at 36 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in May 2023.
"Jump" is a song by South African singer Tyla, American rapper Gunna and Jamaican rapper Skillibeng, from Tyla's self-titled debut album. The song was written by Tyla, Mocha, Believve, Gunna, Skillibeng, and its producer Sammy SoSo. Musically, "Jump" is a genre fusion of Afrobeats, dancehall and hip hop. It features throbbing bass, amapiano percussion, and a chant of the Zulu language expression "haibo". Tyla reflects on her rise to fame with braggadocio in the lyrics and references Johannesburg, the city where she was born and raised, by its two colloquial names, Joburg and Jozi.
The discography of South African singer and songwriter Tyla consists of one studio album, fifteen singles, three promotional singles and ten music videos. Tyla released her debut self-titled studio album on 22 March 2024, consisting of her digital extended play (EP) of the same name released on 1 December 2023, it debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album was supported by four singles; "Water", which peaked within the top 10 in multiple countries and was awarded multi-platinum certifications in many countries, "Truth or Dare", "Art" and "Jump", and a promotional single "On and On".
"Push 2 Start" is a song recorded by South African singer Tyla. It was released in tandem with the deluxe edition of her self-titled debut studio album on 11 October 2024, by FAX and Epic Records. It is a reggae-infused Afro-pop, afrobeats and amapiano-R&B song about Tyla imploring her partner to give her affection.
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)In her acceptance speech, Tyla reflected on what the award means to her as an artist coming from South Africa. "This is crazy that I'm being honoured tonight, what the heck yeah just thank you so much."
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)