Oceans_(Where_Feet_May_Fail)

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

2013 song by Hillsong United


"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" is a song by Australian worship group Hillsong United. It was released on 23 August 2013 as the second and final single from their third studio album, Zion (2013).[1] The song is led by Taya Smith, and was written by Matt Crocker, Joel Houston and Salomon Ligthelm, with production being handled by Michael Guy Chislett.[2][3]

Quick Facts Single by Hillsong United, from the album Zion ...

In the United States, the song spent a record 61 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart. In the year-end summaries, it was the chart's No. 1 song in 2014 and 2016, No. 2 in 2015, and No. 10 in 2017. Billboard ranked it as the No. 1 Christian song of the 2010s decade. The song was certified quadruple platinum in the United States.

Writing and background

The song ideas began early in the production of the album. Crocker worked with Ligthelm later back in Australia to write more of the lyrics and Ligthelm helped deciding that the theme of the song should be about stepping into the unknown and Peter having blind trust to walk on water. Much of the melody was written over the course of 10 days at Houston's apartment in New York.[4][5] The last lyrics were written at a waterfall on the final day of recording.[4]

The song was recorded by singer Taya Smith who sang many parts of the song in one take.[4]

Awards

The song won many of the main categories at the 2014 GMA Dove Awards. It won the "Song of the Year", "Contemporary Christian Performance of the Year", "Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year", "Worship Song of the Year", and Hillsong United was named the "Artist of the Year".[6] In turn, the Australian group was the winner in the Top Christian Artist category and the song "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" was chosen as Top Christian Song at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.[7]

Critical reception

Ryan Barbee of Jesus Freak Hideout said "'Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)' continues [the album] with a more intimate tone and will surely grasp the heart of the listener as the song reiterates, 'Spirit lead me where my trust is without boarders [sic], let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me'. The music builds and builds to a gorgeous climax that will pull on your heartstrings whilst being encouraged by the faith that only the Holy Spirit can give."[8] Louder Than the Music's Jono Davies stated "[Oceans] has a stunning orchestral opening before out of nowhere a voice hits you. The voice is stunning, yet haunting, all in the same breath. The song then builds musically from atmospheric haunting tones to sheer epicness. I can hear people just getting lost in worship at a Hillsong conference to this song."[9]

In 2021, Dutch DJ group Dash Berlin created a remix of the song.[10] Hungarian artist Ekhoe sampled the song in his 2023 song Százszorszép.[11]

Chart performance

"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, and stayed atop of the charts for 45 consecutive weeks until it was dethroned by Carrie Underwood's "Something in the Water" in October 2014.[12] The song rebounded to No. 1 for another five weeks until the chart week of 23 May 2015, marking a total of 50 non-consecutive weeks atop of the chart.[13] In total, the song spent a record 61 weeks atop of the chart.[14]

As of May 2022, Oceans has the most total weeks on Billboard's "Hot Christian Songs" chart with 191 weeks.[15]

It became the longest running No. 1 song on the chart, before "You Say" broke the record in 2019.[16]

Track listing

More information No., Title ...
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Charts

More information Chart (2013–2017), Peak position ...

Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...

Release history

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References

  1. "UNITED - Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) - Daily Play MPE". Daily Play MPE. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  2. Kate Shellnutt (10 June 2015). "'Oceans' Keeps Rising - Christianity Today". Christianity Today. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  3. Faith, Dawn (2016). dear God. Myzizi (pty) Ltd. ISBN 9781684191338. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  4. "Hillsong United Snags Two Billboard Music Awards". The Fish Base Station. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  5. Ryan Barbee (24 February 2013). "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Hillsong UNITED, 'Zion' Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  6. Jono Davies. "Louder Than The Music - Hillsong United - Zion". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  7. Dash Berlin - Oceans (with lyrics), retrieved 19 December 2021
  8. ekhoe - Százszorszép (in Hungarian), retrieved 2 February 2024
  9. "Hillsong United - Hot Christian Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  10. Herb Longs (26 April 2016). "Kari Jobe Performs 'Oceans' With Hillsong Worship On Outcry Tour". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  11. Worldwide digital release of "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)":
  12. Worldwide digital release of "Océanos (Donde Mis Pies Pueden Fallar)":
  13. "Christian Airplay – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  14. "Hot Christian Songs – Decade-End 2010s". Billboard. Archived from the original on 31 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.

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