Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

"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]

"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"
Single by Hillsong United
from the album Zion
Released23 August 2013 (2013-08-23)
Recorded2013
GenreWorship
Length8:55 (Album version)
4:09 (Radio version)
4:19 (Spanish version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Michael Guy Chislett
Hillsong United singles chronology
"Scandal of Grace"
(2013)		 "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"
(2013)		 "Touch the Sky"
(2015)
Music videos
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) Lyric Video" on YouTube
"Océanos (Donde Mis Pies Pueden Fallar)" on YouTube
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) (Radio Version) on YouTube
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) (From the Zion Acoustic Sessions) on YouTube
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) (From of Dirt and Grace)" on YouTube
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) (Live at Colour Conference)" on YouTube
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) (Live in Israel)" on YouTube
"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) (Live at Hillsong Conference)" on YouTube

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 triple 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]

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."[7] 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."[8]

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.[9] 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.[10] In total, the song spent a record 61 weeks atop of the chart.[11]

It became the longest running No. 1 song on the chart, before "You Say" broke the record in 2019.[12]

Track listing
Digital download[13]
No.TitleLength
1."Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"8:55
Digital download[14]
No.TitleLength
1."Océanos (Donde Mis Pies Pueden Fallar)"4:19

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[26] 3× Platinum 3,000,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Australia 22 February 2013 Digital download
[27]
Worldwide 23 February 2013 [13]
United States 26 February 2013 [28]
23 August 2013 Christian radio Sparrow [1]
Worldwide 30 September 2014 Digital download
(Spanish version)
  • Hillsong
  • Capitol CMG
  • Sparrow
 [14]

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. "Oceans - Hillsong United - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  4. "Joel Houston, Matty Crocker and Michael Guy Chislett talk about how 'Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)' came to be". Hillsong. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  5. Faith, Dawn (2016). dear God. Myzizi (pty) Ltd. ISBN 9781684191338. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  6. "JFH News: Hillsong UNITED Honored With 5 Dove Awards Including Artist, and Song of the Year Awards". Jesus Freak Hideout. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  7. Ryan Barbee (24 February 2013). "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Hillsong UNITED, 'Zion' Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  8. Jono Davies. "Louder Than The Music - Hillsong United - Zion". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  9. Wade Jessen (9 December 2014). "The Year in Christian Music: Hillsong and Carrie Underwood Triumph - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  10. "Christian Music: Praise and Worship Songs Chart - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  11. Jim Asker (8 February 2017). "Country Goes Christian: Reba McEntire No. 1, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Debut - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  12. Herb Longs (26 April 2016). "Kari Jobe Performs 'Oceans' With Hillsong Worship On Outcry Tour". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  13. Worldwide digital release of "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)":
  14. Worldwide digital release of "Océanos (Donde Mis Pies Pueden Fallar)":
  15. "Hillsong United Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  16. "Hillsong United Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  17. "Hillsong United Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  18. "Hillsong United - Christian AC History". Billboard. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  19. "Hillsong United - Chart history (Heatseeker Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  20. "Hot Christian Songs - Year-End 2014 - Billboard". Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  21. "Christian Airplay – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  22. "Hot Christian Songs - Year-End 2015 - Billboard". Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  23. "Hot Christian Songs - Year-End 2016 - Billboard". Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  24. "Hot Christian Songs - Year-End 2017 - Billboard". Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  25. "Hot Christian Songs – Decade-End 2010s". Billboard. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  26. "American single certifications – Hillsong United – Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 10 October 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  27. "Zion (Deluxe Edition) by Hillsong UNITED on Apple Music". iTunes Store (AU). Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  28. "Zion by Hillsong UNITED on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved 29 June 2017.
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