Lake by the Ocean

2016 single by Maxwell

"Lake by the Ocean"

Single by Maxwell
from the album  blackSUMMERS'night
Released| April 7, 2016 (2016-04-07)
Recorded| 2010-15
Genre|

* R&B
* neo soul

Length| 3:59
Label| Columbia
Songwriter(s)| MUSZE, Hod David
Producer(s)| MUSZE, Hod David
Maxwell singles chronology
| "Fire We Make"
(2013)  | "Lake by the Ocean"
(2016)  | "1990x"
(2016)

|
|

"Lake by the Ocean" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Maxwell, for his fifth studio album, blackSUMMERS'night (2016).

Written and produced by MUSZE (Maxwell) and Hod David, the single was released April 7, 2016 by Columbia Records as the first single from the album.[1] Maxwell debuted the song, alongside "Rose", on February 14, 2016 at the Barclays Center.[2] "Lake by the Ocean" won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.[3]

## Background and composition

[edit]

After a seven-year hiatus, including delayed release dates and cancelled tours due to a medical issue, Maxwell's first single from the second installment of his trilogy BLACKSUMMERS'NIGHT was released April 8, 2016. "Lake By the Ocean" is a song released after being described as "several years" in the making. The artist expressed, with regards to the single's delayed release, that people did not have ill feelings towards him. Additionally, Maxwell shared that the song's original composition was "much slower" and that he wanted people to know that the songs that he wrote and recorded were of his "real life", in an interview with Kevin O'Donnell for Entertainment Weekly.[4]

## Reception

[edit]

"Lake by the Ocean" has been reviewed positively by music critics. Ryan Reed of Rolling Stone praised Maxwell's "crooning" ability, usage of a "sweet falsetto" during the song's bridge and additionally, applauded Maxwell's layered harmonies.[5] The same magazine named "Lake by the Ocean" one of the 30 best songs of the first half of 2016: "After a seven-year hiatus, Maxwell returned with a song that turned smooth romance and sweet nothings into a Bob Ross painting, lyrically manifesting landscapes to reflect the cleansing of a relationship. In the end, he created the year's most mature love song."[6] Brittany Williams of The Arkansas Traveler noted that "Maxwell relishes in refined youthful aesthetics ... with punchy vocals and non-traditional phrasing". Additionally, his "straightforward, soulful vocals" were described as "the cherry and sprinkles on the eclectic sundae".[7] Splashes of falsetto and quick pauses add that extra flavor to “Lake by the Ocean.” The single has reached number 50 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart[8] and debuted on component charts of the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number 16 on the US R&B Songs chart and has peaked at number five on the US Adult R&B chart.[9]

## Music video

[edit]

Shot on location in Haiti, the music video for "Lake by the Ocean" was released on May 26, 2016. The music video was directed by Philip Andelman, who worked with Maxwell to visually depict a world "in need of water" where "two clandestine lovers meet with liquid dreams; one being the bare-boned need for clean water, and another, the performer, who wants to be lost in the watery worlds of love and devotion."[10]

## Live performances

[edit]

On May 4, 2016, in promotion of "Lake by the Ocean", Maxwell performed a live version of the single on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[11] In support of the second installment of his BLACKSUMMERS’NIGHT trilogy, the artist announced a 30 date tour across North America and Asia.[12]

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (2016)  | Peak
position

|

US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[13] | 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] | 50

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Mitchell, Gail (May 8, 2016). "Maxwell Invites Fans to the 'Lake By the Ocean'". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
2. ^ Pareles, Jon (2016-02-15). "Review: Maxwell's Sensual R&B Makes a Big Room Intimate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
3. ^ [1] [dead link]
4. ^ "Maxwell reveals the painstaking process of his hot new single 'Lake by the Ocean'". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
5. ^ Reed, Ryan (8 April 2016). "Maxwell Teases New LP With Suave Ballad 'Lake by the Ocean'". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
6. ^ Christopher R. Weingarten (June 22, 2016). "30 Best Songs of 2016 So Far". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
7. ^ "Review: Maxwell's "Lake by the Ocean" and Ariana Grande's "Let Me Love You"". The Arkansas Traveler. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
8. ^ a b "Maxwell Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
9. ^ "Maxwell's 'Lake by the Ocean' Splashes Onto R&B Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
10. ^ "Watch Maxwell's Sultry 'Lake by the Ocean' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
11. ^ "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Video - Maxwell Performs 'Lake By The Ocean' - CBS.com". CBS. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
12. ^ Records, Columbia. "LAKE BY THE OCEAN". Musze.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
13. ^ "Maxwell Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* www.musze.com

* v
* t
* e

Maxwell

Studio albums|

* Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite (1996)
* Embrya (1998)
* Now (2001)
* BLACKsummers'night (2009)
* blackSUMMERS'night (2016)

Other albums|

* MTV Unplugged

Solo singles|

* "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)"
* "Sumthin' Sumthin'
* "Luxury: Cococure"
* "Matrimony: Maybe You"
* "Fortunate"
* "Let's Not Play the Game"
* "Get to Know Ya"
* "Lifetime"
* "This Woman's Work"
* "Pretty Wings"
* "Smile"
* "Bad Habits"
* "Cold"
* "Fistful of Tears"
* "Lake by the Ocean"

Tours|

* Now Tour (2001–02)
* Maxwell 08 Tour (2008)
* BLACKsummers'night Tour (2009)
* Maxwell & Jill Scott: The Tour (2010)
* King and Queen of Hearts World Tour (2016)

Related articles|

* Discography

* v
* t
* e

Grammy Award for Best R&B Song

1960s|

* "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" – Otis Redding & Steve Cropper (songwriters) (1968)
* "Color Him Father" – Richard Lewis Spencer (songwriter) (1969)

1970s|

* "Patches" – Ronald Dunbar & General Johnson (songwriters) (1970)
* "Ain't No Sunshine" – Bill Withers (songwriter) (1971)
* "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" – Barrett Strong & Norman Whitfield (songwriters) (1972)
* "Superstition" – Stevie Wonder (songwriter) (1973)
* "Living for the City" – Stevie Wonder (songwriter) (1974)
* "Where Is the Love" – Harry Wayne Casey, Willie Clarke, Richard Finch & Betty Wright (songwriters) (1975)
* "Lowdown" – Boz Scaggs & David Paich (songwriters) (1976)
* "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" – Leo Sayer & Vini Poncia (songwriters) (1977)
* "Last Dance" – Paul Jabara (songwriter) (1978)
* "After the Love Has Gone" – David Foster, Jay Graydon & Bill Champlin (songwriters) (1979)

1980s|

* "Never Knew Love Like This Before" – Reggie Lucas & James Mtume (songwriters) (1980)
* "Just the Two of Us" – Bill Withers, William Salter & Ralph MacDonald (songwriters) (1981)
* "Turn Your Love Around" – Jay Graydon, Steve Lukather & Bill Champlin (songwriters) (1982)
* "Billie Jean" – Michael Jackson (songwriter) (1983)
* "I Feel for You" – Prince (songwriter) (1984)
* "Freeway of Love" – Jeffrey E. Cohen & Narada Michael Walden (songwriters) (1985)
* "Sweet Love" – Anita Baker, Louis A. Johnson & Gary Bias (songwriters) (1986)
* "Lean on Me" – Bill Withers (songwriter) (1987)
* "Giving You the Best That I Got" – Anita Baker, Randy Holland & Skip Scarborough (songwriters) (1988)
* "If You Don't Know Me by Now" – Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff (songwriters) (1989)

1990s|

* "U Can't Touch This" – MC Hammer, Rick James & Alonzo Miller (songwriters) (1990)
* "Power of Love/Love Power" – Marcus Miller, Luther Vandross & Teddy Vann (songwriters) (1991)
* "End of the Road" – Babyface, L.A. Reid & Daryl Simmons (songwriters) (1992)
* "That's the Way Love Goes" – Janet Jackson,  Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (songwriters) (1993)
* "I'll Make Love to You" – Babyface (songwriter) (1994)
* "For Your Love" – Stevie Wonder (songwriter) (1995)
* "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" – Babyface (songwriter) (1996)
* "I Believe I Can Fly" – R. Kelly (songwriter) (1997)
* "Doo Wop (That Thing)" – Lauryn Hill (songwriter) (1998)
* "No Scrubs" – Kandi Burruss, Kevin Briggs & Tameka Cottle (songwriters) (1999)

2000s|

* "Say My Name" – Beyoncé, Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson & Kelly Rowland (songwriters) (2000)
* "Fallin'" – Alicia Keys (songwriter) (2001)
* "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" – Erykah Badu, Glenn Standridge, James Poyser, Madukwu Chinwah, Raphael Saadiq, Lonnie Lynn & Robert Ozuna (songwriters) (2002)
* "Crazy in Love" – Beyoncé, Shawn Carter & Rich Harrison (songwriters) (2003)
* "You Don't Know My Name" – Alicia Keys, Harold Lilly & Kanye West (songwriters) (2004)
* "We Belong Together" – Mariah Carey, Johntá Austin, Manuel Seal Jr. & Jermaine Dupri (songwriters) (2005)
* "Be Without You" – Bryan-Michael Cox, Jason Perry, Johntá Austin & Mary J. Blige (songwriters) (2006)
* "No One" – Alicia Keys, George M. Harry & Kerry "Krucial" Brothers (songwriters) (2007)
* "Miss Independent" – Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Hermansen & Ne-Yo (songwriters) (2008)
* "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" – Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart (songwriters) (2009)

2010s|

* "Shine" – John Legend (songwriter) (2010)
* "Fool for You" – CeeLo Green, Melanie Fiona & Jack Splash (songwriters) (2011)
* "Adorn" – Miguel Pimentel (songwriter) (2012)
* "Pusher Love Girl" – James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake (songwriters) (2013)
* "Drunk in Love" – Shawn Carter, Rasool Diaz, Noel Fisher, Jerome Harmon, Beyoncé Knowles, Timothy Mosley, Andre Eric Proctor & Brian Soko (songwriters) (2014)
* "Really Love" – D'Angelo, Gina Figueroa & Kendra Foster (songwriters) (2015)
* "Lake by the Ocean" – Hod David & Musze (songwriters) (2016)
* "That's What I Like" – Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip (songwriters) (2017)
* "Boo'd Up" – Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane (songwriters) (2018)
* "Say So" – PJ Morton (songwriter) (2019)

2020s|

* "Better Than I Imagined" – Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson (songwriters) (2020)
* "Leave the Door Open" – Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II & Bruno Mars (songwriters) (2021)
* "Cuff It" – Denisia "Blu June" Andrews, Beyoncé, Brittany "Chi" Coney, Terius "The-Dream" Gesteelde-Diamant, Morten Ristorp, Nile Rodgers & Raphael Saadiq (songwriters) (2022)
* "Snooze" – Kenny B. Edmonds, Blair Ferguson, Khris Riddick-Tynes, Solána Rowe & Leon Thomas III (songwriters) (2023)
* "Saturn" – Rob Bisel, Carter Lang, Solána Rowe, Jared Solomon & Scott Zhang (songwriters) (2024)

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