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 (Joel Corry Remix)[with RudyWade]"
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 (Joel Corry Remix)[with RudyWade]" (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 vs.RudyWade 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 Pop Airplay (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]	11× Platinum	770,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[23]	Platinum	60,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[24]	4× Platinum	320,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[25]	Platinum	90,000‡
France (SNEP)[26]	Gold	100,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[27]	Platinum	400,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[28]	Gold	35,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[29]	3× Platinum	90,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[30]	2× Platinum	120,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[31]	Platinum	20,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[32]	Platinum	10,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[33]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[34]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[35]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
Streaming
Sweden (GLF)[36]	2× Platinum	16,000,000†
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country	Release date	Format	Label
Australia	30 September 2016[37]	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.^[38] 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."^[39]

See also

• List of highest-certified singles in Australia