Riptide

About this song

The song served as the intro and first single from Vance Joy's debut EP God Loves You When You're Dancing, and it was a critical and commercial success that peaked at 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. Critics praised its clever lyrics filled with pop culture references. Vance started writing it in 2008 and left it unfinished until 2012, working on it bit by bit while his roommate was at work, before playing the melody on ukulele one day and finishing it a few days later. The RIAA later certified it 6x platinum in 2020, his highest certification to date.

What it's about

Vance Joy has described the song as a stream of consciousness, a mix of different ideas and images that came together without a general storyline or a specific experience behind it.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 4 other songs, like “I Just Loved You by In Love With A Ghost (Ft. Oiseaubizarre & tomppabeats)”.
• Covered 22 times, including “Riptide by Nathan Evans”.
• Written by Vance Joy.
• Produced by John Castle, Edwin White and Vance Joy.
• Recorded at Red Door Studios.