BLACK MUSIC MONTH DAY 3: WATERFALLS – TLC

W aterfalls is a 1995 single by R&B trio TLC from their second album CrazySexyCool and arguably the group’s signature song. The song was produced by Organized Noize and written by Marqueze Etheridge, TLC member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Organized Noize. The song stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks from July 8, 1995 – August 19, 1995 and is TLC’s second number one single and sixth top 10 single. The background vocals on the recording were performed by all three members of TLC, as well as Debra Killings and Cee-Lo. It was the 2nd biggest Hot 100 single of 1995, according to Billboard’s Year End Chart.

The music video was filmed at Universal Studios Hollywood; directed by F. Gary Gray and features Ella Joyce, Bokeem Woodbine, Shyheim, Paul J. Alessi and Gabrielle Bramford. The song and video tackle the issues of drug dealing and HIV.