Waves (Normani song)

Normani originally performed the song without 6lack at a Tidal X concert in Brooklyn on October 23, 2018. Billboard reported on the performance, calling it "slow-churning" and its hook "intoxicating".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8481518/normani-performs-unreleased-song-waves-tidal-x|title=Normani Performs Unreleased Song 'Waves' at TIDAL X Concert: Watch|magazine=Billboard|last=Lamarre|first=Carl|date=October 24, 2018|accessdate=November 15, 2018}} Covering the concert, Paper called the song an upcoming single in October.{{cite web|url=http://www.papermag.com/normani-tidal-x-2616251889.html|title=Behind the Scenes of Normani's Tidal X Show|work=Paper|date=October 29, 2018|accessdate=November 15, 2018}} The singer announced the song on Twitter and shared its cover art on November 14.{{cite web|url=http://www.idolator.com/7688259/normani-6lack-new-single-waves|title=Normani Teams Up With 6LACK On New Single, 'Waves'|website=Idolator|last=Wass|first=Mike|date=November 14, 2018|accessdate=November 15, 2018}} "Waves" premiered on Beats 1 and was released as a single on November 15.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8485236/normani-new-song-waves-6lack|title=Normani Unleashes New Single 'Waves' Feat. 6LACK, Says Debut Album Is Slated for Early 2019|magazine=Billboard|date=November 15, 2018|accessdate=February 5, 2019}} Normani explained to Zane Lowe on Beats 1 why she chose to work with 6lack:

{{Blockquote|text=He's an amazing lyricist, and I feel like he took the record to a whole other level. I already love the record as is, but he totally exceeded any expectation I even had, which was pretty high, because I admire him as an artist.{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/11/normani-6lack-new-song-waves|title=Normani Shares New Song "Waves" f/ 6lack|website=Complex|accessdate=January 21, 2019}}}}

"Waves" was serviced to radio and in January 2019 ranked No. 73 on the Mediabase rhythmic format.{{Cite web|url=https://headlineplanet.com/home/2018/12/10/normani-6lacks-waves-earns-73-ranking-rhythmic-radio/|title=Normani & 6LACK's "Waves" Earns #73 Ranking At Rhythmic Radio|date=2018-12-10|website=Headline Planet|access-date=2019-05-22}} On February 9, 2019, Normani posted a teaser of the music video on social media, announcing that it will premiere on February 12. On March 13, 2019, Normani and 6Lack performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. MTV praised the performance.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3116947/normani-6lack-waves-performance-fallon/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190318000608/http://www.mtv.com/news/3116947/normani-6lack-waves-performance-fallon/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 18, 2019|title=Normani And 6lack Bring The Roar Of The Ocean To Sexy 'Waves' Performance|last=Alston|first=Trey|website=MTV News|language=en|access-date=2019-06-04}} Questlove, who leads The Tonight Show band, later stated, "After some 2000 summed odd episodes of Late Night/Tonight I’ll say that Normani’s performance on #FallonTonight was one of the most impressive performance debuts".{{Cite web|url=http://hiphop-n-more.com/2019/03/normani-6lack-perform-waves-on-jimmy-fallon/|title=Normani & 6LACK Perform 'Waves' on Jimmy Fallon|last=Navjosh|date=2019-03-14|website=HipHop-N-More|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-04}}

Musically, 'Waves" is an "alluring and hypnotic" R&B slow jam.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/song-you-need-to-know-normani-6lack-waves-758339/|title=Song You Need to Know: Normani and 6lack, 'Waves'|last=Spanos|first=Brittany|date=2018-11-27|magazine=Rolling Stone|accessdate=January 21, 2019}} The song opens with "atmospheric" synths, before being met with skittering percussion and throbbing bass bombs." Lyrically, Normani refers to a relationship she finds herself going back to on the song, singing "When I have you, wanna leave you/If you're gone, that's when I need you." Originally, the pre-chorus for the single, as well as some lyrics, were different, however it was changed once 6lack began working on the single.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8493318/normani-talks-recording-waves-6lack|title=Normani Talks Creating 'Waves' With 6LACK: 'I Try To Be as Honest as I Can Be'|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=January 21, 2019}}

Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone called the track a "brooding break-up song", saying that Normani and 6lack both give "deft vocal performances".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/normani-6lack-new-song-waves-756988/|title=Hear Normani, 6lack Brood Over Bad Exes on 'Waves'|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=November 15, 2018|accessdate=November 18, 2018}} Rap-Up called the single a "seductive jam."{{Cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2018/11/15/new-music-normani-6lack-waves/|title=New Music: Normani feat. 6LACK – 'Waves'|website=Rap-Up|accessdate=January 21, 2019}} Brittany Spanos, also writing for Rolling Stone, called the single "worthy of the type of star Normani sees herself as and wants to be." While MTV stated “Their voices sound heavenly together, both butter smooth and simply lush on the ear.”{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/z36krj/normani-is-better-off-alone-on-6lackassisted-single-waves|title=Normani Is Better Off Alone On 6LACK-Assisted Single 'Waves'|website=www.mtv.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-06-04}}

The music video was released on February 12, 2019, and was directed by Emil Nava.{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/02/normani-6lack-waves-video|title=Normani and 6lack Share Intergalactic Video for "Waves"|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=2019-02-13}} The video's opening sequence features Normani waking up on a deserted planet next to a white Beats Pill. She performs in various dance sequences in a sheer body suit and slicked-back bun, accompanied by dancers wearing identical costumes. The video is also intercut with scenes of her caressing a starry silhouette on a diving board in the sky, lying on a mattress floating on the surface of a dark ocean, floating underwater, and disappearing into a star field. 6LACK then appears on the surface of the Moon as he and Normani embrace while shooting stars fly past. The video ends with them holding hands as they lie on mattress floating in the middle of a submerged crater as the camera zooms out.

James Dinh for IHeartRadio described the collaboration as "brooding", adding that the clip feels "psychedelic" and "worth the wait".{{Cite web|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-02-12-normani-6lack-head-to-outer-space-in-dreamy-waves-video/|title=Normani & 6LACK Head To Outer Space In Dreamy 'Waves' Video|last=Dinh|first=James|date=February 12, 2019|website=www.iheart.com|access-date=2019-02-13}}

Adapted from Tidal.{{Cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/98673473|title=Try the TIDAL Web Player|publisher=Tidal|accessdate=January 21, 2019}}

• Normani Kordei Hamilton – vocals, composition
• 6lack – vocals, composition
• Mary Weitz – composition
• Jonah Christian – production, composition, bass, guitar, keyboards, programming, synthesizer
• Tayla Parx – vocal production
• Colin Leonard – master engineering
• Tim McClain – mix engineering, record engineering
• Andrew Keller – engineering assistance
• JT Gagarin – record engineering

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|artist=Normani|title=Waves|access-date=May 20, 2024}}

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{{reflist}}

{{Normani}}

{{6lack}}

{{MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video}}

Category:2018 singles

Category:2018 songs

Category:Normani songs

Category:6lack songs

Category:Songs written by Paul McCartney

Category:Songs written by Ilya Salmanzadeh

Category:Songs written by Normani