Waves (Dean Lewis song)

"Waves" is the debut single by Australian singer and songwriter Dean Lewis. Released in September 2016 as the lead single from his debut extended play Same Kind of Different (2017).

"Waves"
Single by Dean Lewis
from the EP Same Kind of Different
Released	30 September 2016
Length	4:01
Label	Island Australia Universal Australia
Songwriter(s)	Dean Lewis Nick Atkinson Edd Holloway
Producer(s)	Atkinson Holloway
Dean Lewis singles chronology
"Waves" (2016) "Need You Now" (2017)
Music video
"Waves" on YouTube
Alternative cover
Acoustic version

In an interview with Stack Magazine in May 2017, Lewis explained: "A lot of people think it's about relationships, but it's more about how with every year [that] passes, life gets a little bit less exciting. I was in London a year ago and a few music things were happening, and I'm like 'Why am I not really enjoying my life? Like, this is cool!' Then I remembered when I was 15 and you'd go to a house party and you'd be so excited, or going to the movies with your friends. Where has that feeling gone?"^[1]

An acoustic version was released on 3 February 2017.^[2]

In March 2019 it was included on Lewis' first full-length album A Place We Knew.

Remixes were released on 26 July 2019.^[3]

The song appeared in episode four of series one of Riverdale, episode 10 of series seven of Suits, in episode 12 of series two of Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments,^[4][5] the season 1 finale of Magnum P.I. (2018 TV series)^[6][7] and the season 2 premiere of All American.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2017, the song was nominated for five awards, including Best Pop Release, Breakthrough Artist and Song of the Year.^[8]

At the APRA Music Awards of 2018, the song was nominated for two awards; Pop Work of the Year and Most Played Australian Work.^[9]

Music video

The music video for "Waves" was directed by Mick Jones and released on 20 October 2016.^[10] It was nominated for Best Video at the ARIA Music Awards of 2017.^[11]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Waves"	4:01

Acoustic version

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Waves"	4:08

Acoustic guitar version

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Waves"	4:08

Waves Remixes

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Waves" (Timbaland remix)	3:57
2.	"Waves"	4:00
3.	"Waves" (Live at the Forum)	4:40
4.	"Waves" (acoustic)	4:08
5.	"Waves" (guitar acoustic)	4:08

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2016–2020) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[12] 12 Australian Artist Singles (ARIA)^[13] 1 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[14] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[15] 38 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)^[16] Timbaland remix 8 Ireland (IRMA)^[17] 97 Scotland (OCC)^[18] 75 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[19] 21 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[20] 38

Year-end charts Chart (2017) Position Australia (ARIA)^[21] 34

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[22]	10× Platinum	700,000^‡
Canada (Music Canada)^[23]	3× Platinum	240,000^‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[24]	Platinum	90,000^‡
France (SNEP)^[25]	Gold	100,000^‡
Germany (BVMI)^[26]	Platinum	400,000^‡
Italy (FIMI)^[27]	Gold	35,000^‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)^[28]	2× Platinum	120,000^‡
Poland (ZPAV)^[29]	Platinum	20,000^‡
Portugal (AFP)^[30]	Platinum	10,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[31]	Platinum	600,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[32]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country	Release date	Format	Label
Australia	30 September 2016^[33]	Digital download	Island Australia Universal Australia

Sheppard version

"Waves"
Single by Sheppard
from the album Undercover
Released	1 December 2017
Length	4:37
Label	Universal Australia
Songwriter(s)	Dean Lewis Nick Atkinson Edd Holloway
Sheppard singles chronology
"Coming Home" (2017) "Waves" (2017) "Riding the Wave" (2018)
Audio video
"Waves" on YouTube

Australian group Sheppard released a cover on 1 December 2017 as the lead single from their second extended play Undercover.^[34] Upon release, Sheppard said "We present to you our cover of "Waves". This was one of our favourite Australian songs of the year and Dean has been a friend of the band for a long time now. Congrats on everything Dean. We hope we’ve done it justice."^[35]

See also

• List of highest-certified singles in Australia

References

1. "Q&A with Dean Lewis". Stack. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
2. "waves (acoustic)". iTunes Australia. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
3. "waves remixes". iTunes Australia. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
4. "Dean Lewis' Hit Song 'Waves' Has Been Picked Up By Yet Another Hit US TV Series". The Music. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
5. "Dean Lewis' 'Waves' scores third (and biggest) TV sync". The Music Network. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
6. "Music from Magnum P.I. S1E20".
7. "Dean Lewis". IMDb.
8. "ARIA Awards Search Results - Dean Lewis". ARIA Awards. ARIA Awards. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
9. "Dean Lewis". APRA Awards (Australia). Retrieved 5 April 2018.
10. "Dean Lewis - Waves (Official Video)". YouTube. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
11. ARIA Award previous winners. "Winners by Award – Artisan Awards – Best Video". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 December 2019.
12. "Dean Lewis – Waves". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
13. "The ARIA Report" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 22 May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
14. "Dean Lewis – Waves" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
15. "Dean Lewis – Waves" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
16. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202006 into search. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
17. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Dean Lewis". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
19. "Dean Lewis Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
20. "Dean Lewis Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
21. "ARIA End of Year Singles 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
22. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
23. "Canadian single certifications – Dean Lewis – Waves". Music Canada. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
24. "Danish single certifications – Dean Lewis – Waves". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
25. "French single certifications – Dean Lewis – Waves" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
26. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Dean Lewis; 'Waves')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
27. "Italian single certifications – Dean Lewis – Waves" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
28. "Norwegian single certifications – Dean Lewis – Waves" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
29. "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2020 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
30. "Portuguese single certifications – Dean Lewis – Waves" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
31. "British single certifications – Dean Lewis – Waves". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
32. "American single certifications – Dean Lewis – Waves". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
33. "Waves (single)". iTunes Australia. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
34. "Waves (single)". iTunes Australia. December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
35. "We Are Sheppard". Facebook. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.