"Waterfalls" | ||||
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Single by Paul McCartney | ||||
from the album McCartney II | ||||
B-side | "Check My Machine" | |||
Released | 13 June 1980 | |||
Recorded | July–August 1979 | |||
Genre | Soft rock | |||
Length | 4:43 (Album Version) 3:20 (DJ Edit) | |||
Label | Parlophone/EMI (UK) Columbia (US) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
Producer(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
Paul McCartney singles chronology | ||||
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McCartney II track listing | ||||
11 tracks
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Music video | ||||
"Waterfalls" on YouTube |
"Waterfalls" is a Paul McCartney ballad from his first solo album after Wings, McCartney II. The song has a minimalist sound, with McCartney only playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano and a synthesizer and singing, and a short solo performed on acoustic guitar.
"Waterfalls" was released as a single with "Check My Machine" as its B-Side and reached chart position No. 9 in the UK and No. 4 in Ireland.[1][2] In the US, however, it was his first single ever to miss the Billboard Hot 100 chart, only reaching No. 106 despite being the follow-up to the No. 1 hit "Coming Up".[3] In 2013, Rolling Stone rated it the No. 25 all-time Paul McCartney post-Beatles song, describing how it contrasted with Wings' prior single.[4]
Billboard described "Waterfalls" as having "a subtle oriental flavour" and "appropriately sparse" instrumentation, and described McCartney's vocal performance as "inimitable" and "creamy."[5] Cash Box called it a "whimsical ballad," stating that it has an "almost dirge-like melody."[6] Record World said that "Stately keyboards surround [McCartney's] boyish falsetto for pop-A/C appeal."[7]
When questioned on singles he wished were more successful, McCartney stated, "There's quite a few, actually. ... 'Waterfalls', I think is nice." He also commented that TLC's single "Waterfalls" carries elements of his song.[4][8]
McCartney also said of his song:
Waterfalls’ is basically saying don’t go doing a load of dangerous stuff, ’cause I need you. And that’s a kind of a more mature thought for me than I would have been able to have done 20 years ago, ’cause I just didn’t realize that it’s not all gonna be here forever. That’s the kind of thing you realize when you pass 30.[9]