"Waterfalls"
Single by TLC
from the album CrazySexyCool
Released	1995
Format	CD Single
Genre	R&B
Length	4:39
Label	LaFace
Writer(s)	Marqueze Etheridge, Lisa "Left eye" Lopes, Organized Noize
Producer(s)	Organized Noize
Certification	RIAA: Platinum
Peak chart positions
#1 (U.S.), #4 (U.K)
TLC singles chronology
"Red Light Special" (1995)	"Waterfalls" (1995)	"Diggin' On You" (1995)

"Waterfalls" is a 1995 hit R&B song by female trio TLC. The song was produced by the Organized Noize team and written by Marqueze Etheridge, TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Organized Noize. Image File history File links TLC-Waterfalls-65800. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... TLC is an American music group, whose repertoire spans R&B, hip hop and pop. ... CrazySexyCool is a bestselling R&B/hip hop album by the group TLC, released on November 15, 1994. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... LaFace Records is an Atlanta based record label company created by Kenneth Babyface Edmonds and Antonio LA Reid. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has sold a certain number of copies. ... A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... TLC is an American music group, whose repertoire spans R&B, hip hop and pop. ... Red Light Special is TLCs second single from their sophomore album, CrazySexyCool. ... Diggin On You is TLCs fourth single from their sophomore album, CrazySexyCool. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Organized Noize is a successful Atlanta-based American record production company made up of Rico Wade, Ray Murray, and Patrick Sleepy Brown. ... Lisa Nicole Lopes (stage name Left Eye) (May 27, 1971 – April 25, 2002) was a member of the popular R&B group TLC. In addition to hit songs like Waterfalls with TLC, Lopes also did some solo performing. ...

The video featured Ella Joyce, Bokeem Woodbine, Shyheim, Paul J. Alessi and Gabrielle Bramford. Ella Joyce (born Cherron Hoye in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Detroit, Michigan) is a theater actress. ... Bokeem Woodbine (born April 13, 1973 in Harlem, New York, USA) is an African-American film and television actor. ... The pioneering hardcore hip hop group Wu-Tang Clans plan to conquer the hip hop industry consisted not only of making each member into a solo star in their own right, but also to create and promote numerous affiliate artists. ... Paul Joseph Alessi (born Queens, New York) is an American actor, best known as a contestant during the first season of The Amazing Race in 2001 along with his fiancee Amie Barsky. ...

The song and video tackle the issues of drug dealing and AIDS. Writer Etheridge explains that the image of a waterfall was chosen because it's "one of the most beautiful things in the world, but at the same time is one of the most deadliest" [sic]. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The chorus urges caution:

Don't go chasing waterfalls, please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to

I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all, but I think you're moving too fast...

The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks from July 8, 1995. It was later parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic as "Phony Calls", a reference to prank calls. The background vocals on the recording are performed by the members of TLC, Debra Killings, and Cee-Lo. The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Weird Al Yankovic (album) Alfred Matthew Weird Al Yankovic (IPA pronunciation: ; born October 23, 1959) is an American musician, satirist, parodist, accordionist, and television producer. ... A prank call, also known as a crank call or hoax call, is a form of practical joke committed over the telephone. ... Debra Killings is an American singer and bass guitarist; notable for extensive session and background vocal work for LaFace Records-based artists such as TLC and OutKast. ... Cee-Lo Green is the stage name of Thomas DeCarlo Callaway (born May 30, 1974), a large American hip hop, funk, soul, and R&B musician. ...

Although this song shares the same title and a few words at the start of some lines as the song by Paul McCartney^{[citation needed]}, no legal action was taken by the former Beatle against TLC. Sir James Paul McCartney MBE (born June 18, 1942) is an iconic Grammy Award-winning English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who first gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of the Beatles. ...

'Waterfalls' was placed in VH1's 100 Greatest Songs ever, charting at #13

Charts

Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? is a 1995 song by Bryan Adams from the Don Juan DeMarco soundtrack. ... Bryan Adams OC, OBC, (born 5 November 1959) is a Canadian rock singer, guitarist, songwriter and photographer. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... This is a list of number-one hits in the United States by year from the Billboard Hot 100. ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kiss from a Rose is a song from Seals second eponymous album Seal, subsequently featured on the Batman Forever (1995) film soundtrack. ... Seal Samuel (born 19 February 1963 in London, England) is a three-time Grammy Award-winning black British soul vocalist and songwriter. ...

References

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