“Something in the Water” is a song by American country music artist Carrie Underwood, from her first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits: Decade #1. The song was released on September 29, 2014, as the album’s lead single through Sony Music Nashville. It was written by Underwood, Chris DeStefano, Brett James and produced by Mark Bright.
A crossover success, “Something in the Water” reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Hot Christian Songs charts. It is Underwood’s 14th career leader on Hot Country Songs and her second in 2014. It set and broke multiple airplay records on Country radio in its first week. The song received acclaim from music critics.
Background
““Something in the Water” is so inspirational. It’s so joyous! I can’t help but smile when I hear it. I hope it has the same effect on everyone who listens to it.”
—Underwood on the song
The song was written by Underwood along with Chris DeStefano and Brett James, and produced by Underwood’s longtime producer Mark Bright. It also has a sample of Amazing Grace at the closing of the song, sung by Underwood.
James told Country Weekly that, when he arrived at Underwood’s cabin in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee for a songwriter’s session, she and DeStefano already had a track ready, when Underwood suggested “Something in the Water” as a title. They then chose to make the song themed after a person whose life changes after baptism. James said that he found Underwood’s demo of the song “emotional”, and praised Underwood’s singing and songwriting style. He later called it “one of the most perfect writing days I have had in my life”.
Music Video
The music video was directed by Raj Kapoor and priemered on November 4, 2014, on Twitter during the 48th Annual CMA Awards. Emmy nominated choreographer Travis Wall choreographed the video.
In the video it shows Underwood performing with dancers from the Shaping Sound dance academy dancing in the background. The video “required 16 choir members, 12 dancers, three costume changes and a custom-built tank of reyclyed water to create its dance spectacle.”
“We took it in a direction that was probably not what most people would think.”
“We made it joyful and happy and uplifting.”
—Underwood describing the video to Entertainment Tonight
Critical reception
“Something in the Water” was met with widespread critical acclaim. Rolling Stone praised the song stating that “Underwood sings in the soaring song showcasing her heavenly high vocal range” and called the song a “spiritual heartstring-tugger”. Billboard praised the song with 4 out of 5 stars, stating: “Carrie Underwood offers a message of faith in times of trouble”. Music Times praised the song by saying that Underwood “pulls out all of her strongest, boldest notes for the religious anthem” and that the song “builds to some of the greatest heights Underwood has reached to date”. All Access Music also praised the song, stating that “It’s a welcome – and bold – move for Underwood that flies in the face of Country’s recent direction. Her vocals soar and to no one’s surprise she powerfully delivers the message”. AXS called “Something in the Water” a “mighty offering” while praising Underwood for a “righteously powerful performance.”
Website Taste of Country praised Underwood’s vocals and the songs’s lyrics and production, saying “Mark Bright creates a complex and rich tapestry that swirls between the rare breathes Underwood takes. Her vocal performance is typically stunning and personal” and also predicted the song “to clean up come 2015 awards season”. Website Popdust gave the song a rating of 4.5/5, saying, “assembled with an orchestral arrangement and a backing of a harmoniously sanctified choir, this track...is a game changer.” The website also praised Underwood bringing faith back into her song.
Chart performance
“Something in the Water” sold over 125,000 copies in its first week, becoming the biggest opening-week sales of any female country artist in 2014 and the singer’s highest sales frame since 2009, when “I Told You So”, featuring Randy Travis, sold 126,000 copies. It is also Underwood’s best debut sales week for a digital song. It debuted at No. 4 on Billboard’s Digital Songs chart. The song’s massive airplay in its first week prompted it to also debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, achieving the highest debut for a solo artist in 2014 and surpassing Underwood’s previous record of No. 20 with “So Small” in 2007. Additionally, it set an all-time record by amassing 144 total stations on impact date on Mediabase. The song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs, becoming the singer’s first song to top such a chart, and rose from No. 48 to number two on the Billboard Hot Country Songs in its second week on the chart. It also debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In its seventh week on the charts, “Something in the Water” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs, becoming Underwood’s 14th career leader on the chart and her second in 2014. With 14 chart-toppers on such a chart, she expands her record as the female country artist with the most number one hits on the Hot Country Songs chart in the Nielsen SoundScan era (1991–present), breaking her own Guinness Book record of ten, set in 2010. The song has topped the Hot Christian Songs for seven consecutive weeks. As of November, 2014, it has sold over 423,000 copies in the US.
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