Riptide (Vance Joy song)

"Riptide"
Single by Vance Joy
from the album God Loves You When You're Dancing and Dream Your Life Away
Released	21 May 2013
Format	CD digital download
Recorded	May 2012
Genre	Indie folk indie pop
Length	3:24
Label	Liberation Infectious Atlantic
Writer(s)	James Keogh
Producer(s)	James Keogh Edwin White John Castle
Vance Joy singles chronology
"From Afar" (2013) "Riptide" (2013) "Mess Is Mine" (2014)

"Riptide" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy. It was first released as a track on his debut EP God Loves You When You're Dancing (2013), serving as its second single, and is also featured on his debut studio album Dream Your Life Away (2014). The song was written by Joy, who also produced it with drummer Edwin White. The upbeat indie folk song has been lyrically described as a "coming of age love story" and is known for its metaphors and pop culture references.^[1]

The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its lyrics, vocals and production and drew comparisons to singer-songwriters Paul Kelly and Jeff Buckley. "Riptide" would go on to have commercial success in Australia, peaking at number six on the ARIA singles chart and subsequently being named the number one song in radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2013. The following year, "Riptide" also peaked at number ten in the United Kingdom and entered Billboard's Alternative Songs chart, peaking at number 1. By May 2015, it was the second longest charting single still in the US Billboard Hot 100, appearing on that list for 43 weeks (at number 42 from its peak of number 30).^[2]

In May 2015, it was announced that "Riptide" had become the longest-charting song in ARIA Chart history, having remained in the top 100 for 107 weeks and counting. It surpassed previous record holder, Poker Face by Lady Gaga's 106 week record.^[3] In January 2016, the week count was at 120.^[4]

Background

The song's first few chords and opening two lines were originally written at Joy's Glen Iris, Melbourne, home in 2008—the same song title was used, but he initially shelved the song.^[5] Years after his experience in university and a VFL career, Joy started doing open mic gigs in Melbourne, Australia, which eventually led to a legitimate music career.^[6]

When recording the song in 2012, a year before the EP came out, Joy was writing a song that reminded him of the shelved "Riptide" draft from 2008—he then combined the 2008 effort with his current project at the time. A rough version of the song was uploaded on his personal Facebook account. Although the singer uploaded "...just the first verse and chorus," the encouraging response from Joy's friends and family encouraged him to persist with his music.^[7] Joy initially recorded and produced the song with drummer Edwin White in just one afternoon at Red Door Studios, in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick. Additional production was subsequently completed by John Castle.^[5] In an interview, Joy said the title of the song came from a motel of the same name he used to go to with his family when he was a child.^[8]

Chart performance

"Riptide" made its first chart appearance at 75 on the ARIA Singles Chart on 29 April 2013, later making its top 50 debut at 41 on 23 June. The song became a top 10 hit when charting at 10 on 28 July, peaking at number 7. For the remainder of the year, "Riptide" remained at the top 40 until on 2 February 2014, the song charted to a new peak of 6 from 35 in response to the song placed on the top of the Hottest 100 of 2013.

The song holds the record for the most weeks in the top 100 of the ARIA Singles Chart (120 consecutive weeks), breaking the records previously held by Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" (106 weeks) and The Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" (105 weeks), both of which were in non-consecutive runs.^[9] Worldwide, the single has sold over 1 million copies.^[9]

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Riptide" was first released onto YouTube on 2 April 2013, at a total length of three minutes and twenty-five seconds.^[10] The video, directed by Dimitri Basil, artistically depicts the song word for word.^[11]

Covers

• Georgia Arden, an Australian artist, covered this song in her live album 'Arden'
• .A live version of "Riptide" was covered by South African artist Van T on her EP, Tides, which was released in 2013.^[12]
• Gossling, a folk/pop singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Australia, also recorded a version of "Riptide" in 2014.
• Taylor Swift performed a piano-based version of the song on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge segment on 9 October 2014.^[13]
• MisterWives, a indie rock band, also recorded a version of "Riptide" in 2014

In popular culture

The song is featured in the 2014 film The Inbetweeners 2' ^[14] the TV series Stalker episode 8, and in episodes of Hawaii Five-0 and Home and Away.

The song is also used in the ads covering Medibank.

Performances

Joy performed "Riptide" at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards in Glasgow, Scotland. Held at the O2 Academy Glasgow, Joy's performance was part of the New York City Digital show. Quentin Alexander performed "Riptide" on the season 14 finale of American Idol on 13 May 2015.

Track listings

Digital download[15] "Riptide" – 3:24 "From Afar" – 4:24 Digital download (remix)[16] "Riptide" (FlicFlac Remix) – 5:39 Germany CD single[17] "Riptide" – 3:24 "Emmylou" – 4:40 "Play with Fire" – 4:23 "Snaggletooth" – 5:19 "From Afar" – 4:24 "Riptide" (FlicFlac Edit) – 5:39

United Kingdom digital download EP[15] "Riptide" – 3:24 "Play with Fire" – 4:23 "Snaggletooth" – 5:19 "Emmylou" – 4:40 "From Afar" – 4:24

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2013–15) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[18] 6 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] 4 Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[20] 6 Belgium Dance (Ultratop Flanders)[21] 19 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[22] 4 Belgium Dance (Ultratop Wallonia)[23] 27 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[24] 13 Canada AC (Billboard)[25] 30 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[26] 39 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[27] 29 Canada Rock (Billboard)[28] 10 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[29] 4 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[30] 9 France (SNEP)[31] 67 Germany (Official German Charts)[32] 9 Ireland (IRMA)[33] 7 Israel (Media Forest)[34] 2 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 26 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 50 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[37] 3 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[38] 8 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[39] 2 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[40] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[41] 18 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 17 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[43] 10 UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[44] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[45] 30 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[46] 2 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[47] 1 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[48] 7 US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[49] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[50] 16 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[51] 7 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[52] 18

Year-end charts Chart (2013) Position Australia (ARIA)[53] 12 Chart (2014) Position Australia (ARIA)[54] 55 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[55] 69 Germany (Official German Charts)[56] 27 Israel (Media Forest)[57] 6 Italy (FIMI)[58] 76 Ireland(IRMA)[59] 14 Poland (ZPAV)[60] 36 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[61] 12 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[62] 7 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[63] 34 US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[64] 7 Chart (2015) Position US Billboard Hot 100[65] 71 All-time chart Chart Position Australia (ARIA)[66] 65

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[67]	6× Platinum	420,000
Canada (Music Canada)[68]	4× Platinum	320,000
Germany (BVMI)[69]	Gold	150,000
Italy (FIMI)[70]	Platinum	30,000
South Africa (RISA)[71]	Gold	10,000^*
Sweden (GLF)[72]	Platinum	40,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[73]	Gold	15,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[74]	Platinum	600,000
United States (RIAA)[75]	3× Platinum	3,000,000
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[76]	Gold	1,300,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone sales/streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United States[15][77]	21 May 2013	Digital download	Atlantic Records
	7 October 2013	Adult album alternative radio
United Kingdom[78]	25 November 2013	Digital download	Infectious Records
United States[79]	28 January 2014	Digital download (free download)	Atlantic Records
United Kingdom[16]	10 March 2014	Digital download (FlicFlac remix)
Germany[17]	28 March 2014	Compact disc
United States[80][81]	1 April 2014	Modern rock radio
	11 August 2014	Hot adult contemporary radio

See also

• List of Australian chart achievements and milestones
• List of songs which have spent the most weeks on the UK Singles Chart

References

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