"Waves" is a song by Dutch singer and rapper Mr. Probz. Originally released through Left Lane Productions on 26 April 2013, the song became an international hit upon being remixed in a more up-tempo fashion by German DJ and record producer Robin Schulz, with Schulz's remix topping the charts in multiple countries, including Austria, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. "Waves" was sent to US dance radio by Ultra Music on 14 April 2014. The remix was the fourth best-selling song of 2014 in the UK, selling over 800,000 copies.

Background Mr Probz told USA Today about writing the song: "It was like someone put a hard drive in the back of my head and boom! The song was there. Everyone knows this type of situation, where the distance between you and a certain person is growing, every time you fight or whatever." The original version of the song debuted in the Dutch Top 40 and also became a hit in Australia, Belgium, New Zealand and South Africa.

Robin Schulz remix

In 2014, "Waves" was remixed in a more up-tempo fashion by German DJ and record producer Robin Schulz. "At the time there were a lot of remixes and bootlegs everywhere after the original hit the ceiling in Holland. But when my manager told me about Robin Schulz’s version, I gave it a listen and right away we already knew that if we would want to make a move like that, it should be that version," Mr. Probz told Billboard. "After numerous labels outside of Holland started hitting us up to see if we would be interested in releasing it officially it was all a no brainer from there. We contacted Robin's people after that and the rest is history."

Schulz's remix was released as a single on 4 February 2014 in North America and 7 February in Europe. The remix propelled the song to greater success, topping the charts in Austria, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and peaking within the top five of the charts in Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Ireland and Italy. The remix is strongly inspired by the track "Mr Probz - Waves (Roter & Lewis Edit)", released in mid-2013.

An alternate version of the Schulz remix was released on November 11, 2014, featuring additional vocals from American rapper T.I. and American singer Chris Brown. This version is featured on the Ultra Music compilation album Ultra Dance 16.

Chart performance On 27 April 2014, "Waves" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, selling 127,000 copies in its first week, and then remained there the following week. The song also peaked at number one in Austria, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. In the United States, the remix reached number one on the Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart for the issue dated 16 August 2014. "Waves" also topped the UK's Official Audio Streaming Chart for eight consecutive weeks and ended 2014 as both the UK's fourth most streamed track and fourth best-seller, with 32.1 million streams and selling 815,000 copies.

Music video The music video for the remix of "Waves" was directed by Petro Papahadjopoulos. It was filmed in Tulum, Mexico and released on 3 February 2014; another identical version was uploaded by Ultra Music the following day. Belarusian model Maryna Linchuk and British model James Penfold star in the video as a couple, with Mr. Probz in a cameo in a bar.

The video begins with Penfold swimming towards a desert island. After reaching the shore and knocking some coconuts down from a tree, he recounts a time when he and his girlfriend were on holiday together. They are shown to get on very well at first, but then have several arguments, and this culminates in them breaking up one evening. The scene switches to Penfold sitting in a Jacuzzi and drinking several shots of vodka, revealing that the desert island never existed and was only in his mind. He then collapses back-first into the Jacuzzi and drowns. The video ends with Penfold lying dead in the middle of the ocean. The video has over 600 million views as of November 2024.

Track listings Digital download "Waves" – 2:54

Digital download (remix) "Waves" (Robin Schulz radio edit) – 3:28

Digital download (remix) "Waves" (Robin Schulz radio edit) – 3:10

CD single "Waves" (Robin Schulz radio edit) – 3:28 "Waves" (original edit) – 2:54

Charts

Original version

Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "Waves" Chart (2013–2014) Peakposition

Year-end charts +2013 year-end chart performance for "Waves" Chart (2013) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 8 +2014 year-end chart performance for "Waves" Chart (2014) Position Australia (ARIA) 21 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 4 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 12 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 21 +2015 year-end chart performance for "Waves" Chart (2015) Position Netherlands (Single Top 100) 85

Robin Schulz remix

Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for Robin Schulz remix Chart (2014–2015) PeakpositionBelgium (Ultratop Flanders Dance) 1Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia Dance) 2Brazil (Billboard Brasil Hot 100)60Greece Digital Songs (Billboard) 1Lebanon (The Official Lebanese Top 20) 5 Romania (Airplay 100)7Slovenia (SloTop50) 1

+ 2025 weekly chart performance for Robin Schulz remix Chart (2025) Peakposition Greece International (IFPI) 100

Year-end charts +2014 year-end chart performance for Robin Schulz remix Chart (2014) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 7 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 64 CIS (Tophit) 22Denmark (Tracklisten)4 France (SNEP) 9 Germany (Official German Charts) 3 Hungary (Dance Top 40)11 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)3 Hungary (Single Top 40)4 Italy (FIMI)10Ireland (IRMA)13 Poland (ZPAV)9 Russia Airplay (TopHit) 10Slovenia (SloTop50) 5 Spain (PROMUSICAE)15 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)3 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)5 Ukraine Airplay (Tophit) 34 UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 4 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 12 +2015 year-end chart performance for Robin Schulz remixChart (2015)Position Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 59 France (SNEP) 144 Hungary (Dance Top 40) 64 Russia Airplay (TopHit) 22 US Billboard Hot 10095 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) 48 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 5 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 47

Decade-end charts +2010s-end chart performance for original version Chart (2010–2019) PositionNetherlands (Single Top 100) 4 +2010s-end chart performance for Robin Schulz remix Chart (2010–2019) Position Germany (Official German Charts) 39 UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 41 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 21

Certifications

Release history +Release dates for "Waves" Region Date Format Version Label Netherlands 26 April 2013 Digital download Original Left Lane Germany 22 November 2013 Belgium Canada 4 February 2014 Remix United States Belgium 7 February 2014 France Germany Netherlands United Kingdom Italy Contemporary hit radio Germany 14 February 2014 Compact disc Epic United States 14 April 2014 Dance radio Remix Ultra 15 September 2014 Adult album alternative radio 11 November 2014 Digital download Remix Left Lane

References