13 Wet Songs About Water, Water, Water! | Playlist 🎧

1. Galantis, “Holy Water”

Church • Atlantic • 2020

In 2020, Grammy-nominated, Swedish electronic production, songwriting, and DJ duo Galantis (Christian Karlsson and Linus Eklöw) returned with their third studio album, Church.  Church arrived more than two years after The Aviary (2017).  Galantis earns a spot on this Water-cubed playlist thanks to “Holy Water,” which appears as the fifth track on the album.  “You are my church tonight / My holy view.” Sigh let the church say YES!

“Holy Water” features bright vocals courtesy of British singer Cathy Dennis, who goes uncredited, at least as a featured artist.  Even so, “Holy Water” wouldn’t have nearly the same ‘saving grace’ without her breath vocals painting the major-key backdrop produced by Karlsson (Bloodshy), Henrik Jonback, and Jimmy ‘Svidden’ Koitzsch.  Furthermore, the lyrics are pretty sweet, making references to spiritual things, even if the content is quite secular.

“I wanna drown in your holy water
You know a sin never felt so good
I wanna drown in your holy water
A-Amen (A-Amen, A-Amen).”

Also, worth noting, the drop is pretty epic as well.  This Galantis bop previously appeared on the playlist, 🎧13 Holy Songs That Are Holy in Name Only.

2. Chris Brown, “Troubled Waters”

Indigo • RCA • 2019

Beginning in 2017, Chris Brown decided when releasing an album, he needed to throw every song he recorded at his audience.  That means the resulting album is fat, bloated, and totally overstuffed with material.  Brown’s Heartbreak on a Full Moon, in its deluxe version, runs an absurd three hours in duration! Indigo, released in 2019, was shorter, but still runs more than two hours long.  Honestly, that makes it difficult to appreciate every song because there’s just too much material.  Perhaps that why, when initially reviewing Indigo, I failed to mention “Troubled Waters” – it just didn’t necessarily stand out at the time.  Honestly, it’s an enjoyable song with plenty of positive attributes, namely production and vocals.

“And baby, when you decide that he just ain’t right / I need to now, I need to know.” Chris Brown definitely desires the girl that he sings about on the 18^th track from Indigo.  On this smooth, rhythmic, mid-tempo number (produced by Leon “Roccstar” Youngblood, Andre Harris, and Almatic), he tries his best to flatter her and convince her to be his on the pre-chorus and succeeding chorus section:

“Baby, your skin like porcelain
Like ocean waves, your mind’s amazing, oh
Can I be your everything?
… I just came to calm your troubled waters
Down to be aligned, I swear I got you.”

On the bridge, he continues to argue why he’d be best suited for her: “Baby, I’ll be your lifeguard / Through everything / If you stay with me.” “Troubled Waters” previously appeared on the troubled playlist, 🎧 11 Songs Where the Trouble is, Well, Troubling.

3. Miranda Lambert, “Holy Water”

Wildcard • Vanner / Sony Music Entertainment • 2019

“Mmm, they’re sellin’ snake oil from the pulpit / At the church on main / They’re makin’ deals with the Devil / In the good Lord’s name.” Wow! On her seventh studio album, Wildcard, Grammy-winning country artist Miranda Lambert maintains consistency, adding another winning album to her discography.  Throughout the project, there are no shortage of musical gems. Among those musical gems is the fifth track, “Holy Water.”

Picking up where the first verse left off, Miranda Lambert adds, “I’m stuck at home missin’ a dirty soul cleansin’ / Ain’t got a dime for the tithe / I believe amusing, personal communion / Can lead you right to the light.” Sure… “Holy Water” is a compelling cut, incorporating elements of gospel and funk, while still remaining idiomatic of country. Lambert’s vocals are quite soulful, drawing from southern gospel music. The backing vocals further amplify the excellence of the song. Besides the colorful lyrics featured on the verses, the chorus is a selling point:

“Gimme some of that holy water
A bit of that holy water
Just a nip on that holy water
Holy water gonna make us drown.”

“Holy Water” previously appeared on the playlist, 🎧 13 Holy Songs That Are Holy in Name Only.

4. Kanye West, “Water”

Ft. Ant Clemons

JESUS IS KING • Getting Out Our Dreams, II / Def Jam • 2019

Controversy and Kanye West should be synonymous.  West, a highly decorated musician by all means, often overshadows his musical prowess with his polarizing personality, particularly, his MOUTH.  The number of controversies that have surrounded him over the years, including his support of Trump, have certainly caused his popularity to wane.  Even with his controversies aside, his best music seems to be behind him. Following the disappointing, forgettable Ye in 2018, and several delays, West finally released JESUS IS KING in October 2019.  In a stark contrast, West focused on GOD as opposed to clout, egomania, fame, or sex.  With ample background served up, how about focusing on the song that earns West a spot on Water³, “Water.”  

“Clean us like the rain in spring / Take the chlorine out our conversation / Let your light reflect on me / I promise I’m not hiding anything / It’s water…” Ant Clemons joins West on “Water,” a record that falls short three minutes in duration.  Previously appearing on the preceding track, “Everything We Need,” he plays a bigger role, singing the chorus as well as the first verse.  That follows an odd intro by Kanye West where the listener is scratching their head (“High as the sun come out / Plannin’ / Bootin’ / Plannin’ / Movin’…”).  Ultimately, the song is about being cleansed by God and of course leaning on Jesus.  Throughout his verse, Kanye says Jesus a total of 16 times:

“Jesus, flow through us
Jesus, heal the bruises
Jesus, clean the music
Jesus, please us us…”

Safe to say, West is so serious about him. Also, the aforementioned intro by West returns as the outro.

5. Avril Lavigne, “Head Above Water”

Head Above Water • Avril Lavigne Music / BMG Rights Management • 2019

“And I can’t see in the stormy weather / I can’t seem to keep it all together / And I, I can’t swim the ocean like this forever / and I can’t breathe.” Canadian pop artist Avril Lavigne shines on “Head Above Water” (Head Above Water, 2019), a powerful ballad that finds her thankful for surviving a scare with Lyme Disease. In terms of her career, “Head Above Water” is a welcome change of pace, dipping into CCM and religious music. Faith is key on this inspirational, uplifting record.  On the first verse, Lavigne references being safe – surviving and weathering the storm.

She follows up with powerful vocals on the chorus, summarizing the deep emotions she’s been experiencing and petitioning God to help her persevere through.

“God, keep my head above water
Don’t let me drown, it gets harder
I’ll meet you there at the altar
As I fall down to my knees
Don’t let me drown, drown, drown
Don’t let me, don’t let me, don’t let me drown.”

The second verse is shorter than the first, but still meaningful and thoughtful: “Come dry me off and hold me close / I need you now, I need you most.” On the bridge (appears at the top of this review), Lavigne continues to confirm her fight to live despite adversity.  “Head Above Water” previously appeared on playlists 🎧13 Songs That Involve the Head in Some Capacity, 🎧101 Best Songs of 2018, and 🎧Recapping 40 Stunning Ballads from 2018.

6. The Black Keys, “Walk Across the Water”

“Let’s Rock” • Nonesuch • 2019

“I wanna feel the one who has my love / … I put no one else above / Only one I’m dreaming of.” Grammy-winning rock band The Black Keys had been missing in action for nearly five years.  Prior to the arrival of “Let’s Rock” (2019), the last time Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney released an album as The Black Keys was in May 2014, when the excellent divorce-fueled Turn Blue arrived (Auerbach released a second solo album, Waiting on a Song, in 2017). “Let’s Rock” marks a stellar, though underrated return for Auerbach and Carney.  What earns the duo a spot on this particular list is the song “Walk Across the Water.”

“Rivers run into the ocean / Oceans run into the blue / Look around at all the commotion / Then I walk across the water for you.” “Walk Across the Water,” the fourth track from “Let’s Rock” doesn’t eclipse the trio of songs preceding it.  Even so, this water-driven record remains pretty strong and certainly consistent, focused less on water and more on L-O-V-E (“Me and you together for the longest ride / From here to eternity / Feels just like a dream to me”).  The production is one of the selling points here, specifically the colorful, psychedelic organ sound.  The harmonic progression and extended instrumental section mark other notable pros.

7. SchoolBoy Q, “Water”

Ft. Lil Baby

CrasH Talk • Interscope • 2019

ScHoolboy Q albums tend to be quite complex and difficult to listen to. That was certainly the case on his Grammy-nominated, 2016 album, Blank Face LP. His follow-up album, CrasH Talk (2019), still has difficult moments to listen to.  That said, while CrasH Talk is respectable, it lacks the intriguing complexity and challenge of Blank Face LP. It’s a more disjointed effort; a bit bipolar. Even with its flaws, Q gives a truly wet, watery song for this playlist.  Guess what it’s called? “Water,” of course!

Worth noting, “Water” ends up being a surprising collaboration to say the least.  The penultimate cut features Lil Baby.  Essentially, the West Coast and the south come together. Lil Baby assists on the second verse, rapping in his ever-distinct style. He is well suited for “Water,” which is a heavy ‘dripper’ to say the least.

“I got that water, no raindrop
Hit her one time, now her name poppin’
Plead the fifth on the bitch, I don't do name droppin’
Came through dripping on them, Gucci tube socks.”

Of course, prior to Baby’s verse, ScHoolboy Q throws some gangsta shit’ thrown into the mix.

“Gun in my pants, the eagle gon’ sound like the bass
Don’t fuck with the badge, you see what I did to his face
… Gang tats is all I got
Fly crippin’ never stop (Woo, uh).”

The watery chorus arrives courtesy of Cardo Got Wings, who co-produces alongside Johnny Juliano.

“Yeah, I got that water, yeah, I got that water (That H2O)
I got that water, yeah, I got that water.”

8. Ab-Soul, Anderson .Paak & James Blake, “Bloody Waters”

Black Panther the Album Music from and Inspired By • Interscope • 2018

“Hail Mary’s in the sky / False prophets get buried alive / Head on the throne, ‘cause that’s where I reside / Ways of the world, the weak won’t survive / Something’s in the water.” “Bloody Waters” ranks among the best moments from Black Panther the Album Music from and Inspired By. On the notable soundtrack cut, Ab-Soul is assisted by James Blake (intro and outro) and Anderson. Paak, who delivers the aforementioned chorus.

“Blood on my hands, I’ma need hoot agua / You gon’ meet yo maker, I won’t say it in Patois…” Ab-Soul gets to work on a post-chorus (“Hittas acquitted with fingerprints on the Glock…”), before dropping two ripe verses over some of the album’s most minimal, yet unique production work (Sounwav / Kendrick Lamar).  As the aforementioned excerpt from the first verse suggests, Ab-Soul is on-point, continuing, “Hope I strike a nerve like a package of matches.” What’s incredibly cool about “Bloody Waters” in the context of Black Panther the Album Music from and Inspired By is how it segues to arguably the soundtrack’s best cut, “King’s Dead”. “Bloody Waters” previously appeared on the playlists 🎧11 Songs by Male Artists Centered on Blood and  13 Songs That Reference Water, Vol. 1.

9. Josh Groban, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

Bridges • Reprise • 2018

Josh Groban is arguably classical crossover’s it boy – ‘Mr. Popera’.  For years, he’s shown off his prodigious pipes. “You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains…” Sigh, doesn’t that lyric just take you back to 2003, when he released one of the biggest hits of his career, “You Raise Me Up”, a cover that far eclipsed the success of the original.  He’s had plenty of great moments throughout his career (“All Luce del Sole”, “Per Te”, “You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)”, etc.).  With the release of his eighth studio album, Bridges in 2018, he added even more great moments to his resume, including a cover of the Simon & Garfunkel classic, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

“Bridge Over Trouble Water,” surprisingly, is the first cover to grace Bridges, arriving as the fifth track. The beloved classic never seems to get old, despite being covered by everybody and his/her brother/sister.  Josh Groban does this Grammy-winning record justice, accentuated by a backing choir (Major Tones Music, London, directed by Becky Thomas), as well as the strings (The London Studio Orchestra, conducted by Gavin Greenaway).  The arrangement is incredibly successful, arranged by Bernie Herms, who also produces track, co-orchestrating alongside David Hamilton.  The Josh Groban cover of “Bridge Over Trouble Water” previously appeared on the playlist, 🎧11 Songs Where the Trouble is, Well, Troubling.

10. Bon Iver, “21 M◊◊N WATER”

22, A Million • Jagjaguwar • 2016 

Grammy-winning alternative collective Bon Iver, led by Justin Vernon, returned triumphantly in 2016 with 22, A Million. That eclectic album sounds like nothing else released in 2016.  Incorporating electronic cues and acoustic cues alike, 22, A Million is an intriguing listen.  While its lyrics can be challenging – drenched in spirituality, numerology, and the most accessible, romance – 22, A Million is an album that makes listeners think. Appearing on this Water³ list, is “21 M◊◊N WATER,” fittingly the seventh track from the album. 

“21 M◊◊N WATER” is filled with thought-provoking lyrics and references.  Like much of 22, A Million, the record embraces numerology. Interestingly, Justin Vernon sings: “The math ahead / the math behind it / it’s moon water.”  What is particularly significant about those lyrics, as well as “21 M◊◊N WATER” isn’t water itself, but the number 7.  First of all, it appears as the seventh track on 22, A Million.  21, the number referenced in the title, is a product of 7. Also, 21 is comprised of three sevens, and 777 is a key Biblical number.

Here’s the thing.  While Bon Iver makes ‘spiritual’ references, “21 M◊◊N WATER” isn’t Christian.  Numerology certainly isn’t associated with Christianity in the least.  It is numbers based, hence why the reference to math signifies its use here.  Why are two opposite ends of the spectrum – Christianity and numerology – referenced within one song? Duality, which is a key component of 22, A Million and runs rampant on “21 M◊◊N WATER.” A prime example? “I’m not sinking – I’m not synching.”  Wow – how clever is that? Backtracking to spiritual association, if you need further evidence that “21 M◊◊N WATER” isn’t Christian, let’s talk about that ‘M◊◊N WATER,’ shall we?  Moon water, per Witchipedia is:

“Moon water is water that has been charged with the energies of the moon. It is a popular way to charge water to be used during a ceremony or spell working or to brew magical potions and may be used for anything you are directed to use water for.”

“21 M◊◊N WATER” is nothing short of intriguing, period.

11. Emeli Sandé, “Breathing Underwater”

Long Live the Angels • Virgin • 2016

After a four-year hiatus, British singer/songwriter Emeli Sandé returned with her sophomore album, Long Live the Angels in 2016.  Sandé built buzz with three excellent promo singles, including the gorgeous ballad, “Breathing Underwater”.  “Breathing Underwater” proves to be one of the album’s strongest, most inspired moments. It’s filled with lush sounds from the onset, establishing itself as an adult contemporary R&B song.

Expectedly, the vocals on “Breathing Underwater” are absolutely stunning, filled with nuance and authenticity. Sandé is experiencing and reacting to a range of emotions, most notably the loss of love.  By the end, a supporting gospel choir further amplifies the performance, highlighting the memorable chorus:

“Something like flying
Hard to describe it
My God, I’m breathing underwater
Something like freedom, freedom
My God, I’m breathing underwater.”

“Breathing Underwater” previously appeared on various playlists, including 🎧13 Songs That Reference Water, Vol. 1 and 🎧13 Songs That Go Under.

12. Major Lazer, “Cold Water”

Ft. Justin Bieber & MØ

“Cold Water” • Mad Decent • 2016

“I won’t let go / I’ll be your lifeline tonight.” Ah, good to know Justin, good to know! On “Cold Water”, Major Lazer  (Diplo, Walshy Fire, and Ape Drums) mixes an urban-pop sound with a reggae-tinged, dance beat. The verse sounds less dance-oriented, embracing more of an urban contemporary sound and vibe.  The guitars, coupled with lighter synths, suit featured guest Justin Bieber, who sings said verses and the aforementioned excerpted chorus. Bieber’s tone is rich, showcasing deeper, mature pipes.

The chorus clearly differentiates itself from the verse, thanks to more aggressive synths.  Swedish pop star MØ provides backing support to Bieber on the chorus.  Her biggest moment arrives on the powerful bridge:

“Come on, come on
Save me from my rocking boat
I just wanna stay afloat
I’m all alone
And I hope, I hope someone’s gonna take me home
Somewhere I can rest my soul (rest my soul)
I need to know you won’t let go.”

Ultimately, this “H₂O” joint is nothing short of a bop. Besides gracing that scientific, Periodic Table of Elements themed playlist, “Cold Water” also appeared on 🎧12 Songs that Truly Cold.

13. Adele, “Water Under the Bridge”

25 • Columbia • 2015

“If you’re gonna let me down, let me down gently / Don’t pretend that you don’t want me / Our love ain’t water under the bridge.” “Water Under the Bridge” is among the many highlights that grace the Grammy-winning album 25.  On this gem, Adele wants her man to take responsibility for his actions. After all, she makes it clear she has an effect on him, stating “If you’re not the one for me / Then how come I can bring you to your knees” and “And if you’re not the one for me / You’ve gotta stop holding me the way you do” (verse one).  Say that, Adele, say that!

Basically, Adele feels as if he’s treating her badly – ghosting in the relationship.  To her, what they have, hence, simply isn’t “water under the bridge” – it runs deeper than that.  The aforementioned lyrical excerpts from the first verse serve as evidence of such.  Even if the relationship is to end, she expects him to ‘man up’ and show her some respect in breaking it off. Makes perfect sense to me. “Water Under the Bridge” previously appeared on the playlist, 🎧 13 Songs That Go Under.