Walk on Water (Thirty Seconds to Mars song)

"Walk on Water" is a song recorded by American rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, featured on their fifth studio album America. It was produced by lead vocalist Jared Leto, who wrote the song alongside drummer Shannon Leto, with production contributions from Stevie Aiello, Arkadi Zaslavski and Mike Elizondo, among others.

"Walk on Water"
Single by Thirty Seconds to Mars
from the album America
ReleasedAugust 22, 2017 (2017-08-22)
StudioThe International Centre for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Sound, Los Angeles, California
GenreElectronic rock
Length3:08
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jared Leto
Thirty Seconds to Mars singles chronology
"City of Angels"
(2013)		 "Walk on Water"
(2017)		 "Dangerous Night"
(2018)

It was recorded at the International Centre for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Sound in Los Angeles, California. "Walk on Water" was released on August 22, 2017 through Interscope Records, as the lead single from the album.

Release

On August 14, 2017, Thirty Seconds to Mars announced that "Walk on Water" would be the lead single from their upcoming fifth studio album. Jared Leto told NME that the song required a long period of time to record.[1] "Walk on Water" marks the first work by Thirty Seconds to Mars to be released by Interscope, after the band parted from Virgin due to tumultuous years with the label.[2]

On August 22, "Walk on Water" made its radio debut and became commercially available for downloading. A lyric video for the song was released on YouTube the same day.[3] Music website Genius premiered the lyrics of the song on August 21, 2017, a day prior the single's official release.[4] "Walk on Water" was used by ESPN as the promotional theme for the network's coverage of the 2017 College Football season.[5]

Composition

"Walk on Water" is an electronic rock song with influences and elements from gospel music and arena rock.[3][6] It opens with a vocal chanted part followed by the sounds of digital drums and guitars, with a heavy bassline. During the first verse, Leto voices the lines "Can you even see what you're fighting for? / Bloodlust and a holy war / Listen up, hear the patriots shout: / Times are changing". The full-throated chorus then follows, which features heavy use of drums, synthesizers and guitars. The song's bridge is characterized by call-and-response verses performed by a gospel ensemble.[7]

Leto called "Walk on Water" an "ever so subtle and minimalist ode".[8] He described it as "a song for everybody due to its universal message."[9] The track's lyrics deal "with such topics as freedom, persistence, change and fighting for what one believes in."[9] In an interview with Loudwire, Leto depicted the song as a "call to arms but also full of all the optimism and hope that is such an integral part of the American Dream".[3] Jon Blistein from Rolling Stone acknowledged a slight political edge in the song's lyrics.[10] Nick Reilly of NME noted that "Walk on Water" dissects the general condition of the United States and calls for unity in the nation.[11] In her review for Fuse, Bianca Gracie felt that the song serves as a call to arms to fight collectively for change.[12]

Music video

After several weeks of editing, the band premiered the official music video for "Walk on Water" on November 8, 2017. It was directed by Jared Leto and features user-submitted footage from July 4, 2017, depicting Independence Day in the United States. Thirty Seconds to Mars also utilized their own crews to compile additional footage, all of which will be part of a documentary film titled A Day in the Life of America, scheduled for release in 2018.[13]

Critical reception

Michael Christopher from Loudwire gave the song a positive review, calling it an "anthemic, electronically tinged track" which features "sweeping music" and "even grander lyrics" that fit the political climate of the period.[3] Gil Kaufman from Billboard commended the song's "anthemic chorus" and "heart-stirring, propulsive rhythm".[7] Jon Blistein from Rolling Stone called it a "sweeping" song, noticing "marching drums" and "booming synths".[10] Nick Reilly from NME was impressed with the track, labelling it a "rousing call to arms".[11] A Kerrang! writer called the song a "pretty powerful offering" and praised its lyrics, noting that they call for people to "come together rather than building walls".[14] Markos Papadatos, writing for Digital Journal, rated it an "A", labelling it an "empowering song", and commended the band's musicianship and Leto's "rich and captivating" vocals.[9] Bianca Gracie from Fuse noted the track's "commanding chorus" and lauded its political message.[12] Deepa Lakshmin from MTV commended the song's "fiery lyrics" and named "Walk on Water" a "powerful anthem" which is "equal parts inspirational and motivational".[13]

Live performances

The song was performed live for the first time at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards on August 27 with Travis Scott as a special surprise guest, who performed a verse from his hit song Butterfly Effect.[1] The band played "Walk on Water" at the Rock in Rio festival on September 24, 2017, featuring Brazilian rapper Projota. They later performed the song at the LOS40 Music Awards 2017 on November 10. An acoustic rendition of the track was performed on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge and during The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[15]

Credits and personnel

Recording and management

  • Recorded at The International Centre for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Sound, Los Angeles, California
  • Published by Apocraphex Music (ASCAP) / Universal Music – Z Tunes, LLC (ASCAP)
  • All rights administered by Universal Music – Z Tunes, LLC

Personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from Qobuz listing.[16]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[48] Gold 40,000
United States (RIAA)[49] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Maine, Samantha (August 14, 2017). "Thirty Seconds To Mars have teased their new single". NME. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  2. Sharp, Tyler (August 1, 2016). "Thirty Seconds To Mars tease return with new video". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  3. Christopher, Michael (August 22, 2017). "Thirty Seconds to Mars Unveil Lyric Video for New Song 'Walk on Water'". Loudwire. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  4. Mench, Chris (August 21, 2017). "Thirty Seconds To Mars Premiere The Lyrics To Their New Single "Walk On Water"". Genius. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  5. Negron, Anna (August 22, 2017). "Thirty Seconds To Marsí Newest Single "Walk on Water" Highlights ESPNís 2017 College Football Music Slate". ESPN MediaZone. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  6. Li, Vivian (August 23, 2017). "Thirty Seconds To Mars Have Released Their First Song In Four Years". GQ. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  7. Kaufman, Gil (August 22, 2017). "Listen to Thirty Seconds To Mars' First New Song in Four Years: 'Walk on Water'". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  8. Cashmere, Paul (August 15, 2017). "Thirty Seconds To Mars Tease New Music Sampler". Noise11. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  9. Markos, Papadatos (August 22, 2017). "Review: Jared Leto and Thirty Seconds to Mars amazing on 'Walk on Water'". Digital Journal. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  10. Blistein, Jon (August 22, 2017). "Hear Thirty Seconds to Mars' Sweeping New Rock Song 'Walk on Water'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  11. Reilly, Nick (August 22, 2017). "Listen to 'Walk on Water', the new single from 30 Seconds To Mars". NME. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  12. Gracie, Bianca (August 22, 2017). "Hear Thiry Seconds to Mars' 'Walk on Water', Their First New Song in Four Years". Fuse. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  13. Lakshmin, Deepa (August 22, 2017). "Get Fired Up With Thirty Seconds To Mars' New Song". MTV. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  14. "The New 30 Seconds To Mars Single Is A Call To Arms". Kerrang!. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  15. "Thirty Seconds to Mars just performed the most magical mash-up of all time in the Live Lounge". BBC. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  16. "Walk on Water / Songinfo" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  17. "The ARIA Report: Issue 1436 (Week Commencing 4 September 2017)" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  18. "Austriancharts.at – Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
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  20. "Ultratop.be – Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
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  23. "Radio Top100 Oficiální – Walk on Water" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  24. "Thirty Seconds to Mars: Walk on Water" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  25. "Lescharts.com – Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  26. "Offiziellecharts.de – Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  27. "Latvijas Top 40". Latvijas Radio. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  28. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Thirty Seconds To Mars" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  29. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  30. "Walk on Water by 30 Seconds to Mars". acharts.co. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  31. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  32. "Radio Top 100 – Walk on Water" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  33. "Spanishcharts.com – Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  34. "Swisscharts.com – Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
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  36. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
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  38. "Thirty Seconds to Mars Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  39. "Thirty Seconds to Mars Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  40. "Thirty Seconds to Mars Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  41. "Thirty Seconds to Mars Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  42. "Alternative Songs: 2017 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
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  48. "Canadian single certifications – Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water". Music Canada.
  49. "American single certifications – Thirty Seconds to Mars – Walk on Water". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 28, 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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