The song debuted at number 96 on the U.S. The song was nominated for 2010 Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. A video for the song was released on August 5, 2008. The song was officially released to radio on July 21, 2008. The song was written by Gordie Sampson, Steve McEwan, and Hillary Lindsey.
Maybe this is more acceptable in the country music genre." Just a Dream" is a country song, released as the fourth single from Carrie Underwood's second studio album, Carnival Ride. And the song’s music is closer to her country style than the gospel genre in this song.īut in the world of Top 40 songs, it’s still a welcome anomaly to see “Something in the Water” on the charts. But lyrically the song was more personal and more of a narrative. Underwood’s 2005 song “Jesus Take The Wheel” was was about someone reaching the point of despair and realizing she needed to change. So they created more ambiguous imagery in the music video. Maybe Underwood’s handlers felt she was pushing the envelope too much with religious lyrics. And a missed opportunity to have religious or spiritual symbolism to go along with the lyrics. It’s Underwood singing with some dancers in a pool of water behind her. The concluding gospel chorus doesn’t lift off the way it should. (Photo courtesy Getty Images)īut they’re not often referred to in Top 40 songs. It’s a turning experience toward being a better person - a rare theme for a Top 40 song. “Something in the Water” is about a person in despair having a spiritual revelation. One way is a conversion experience where someone is suddenly transformed. In his seminal book “The Varieties of Religious Experience,” William James writes about the major ways religion reaches people. As Paul, he wrote some of the most significant and influential books in the New Testament. Perhaps the most famous conversion experience is in The Book of Acts where the Bible details how a persecutor of Christians named Saul had a dramatic mystical encounter which transformed him into a Christian. But there are people who have a sudden and dramatic turn from one way of life to another one. A conversion experience suddenly comes where she feels “love pouring down from above.” She becomes “changed” and “stronger.” Suddenly there’s “joy in my heart, angels on my side.” And a “trust in someone bigger than me ever since the day that I believed.”įor most people faith arrives slowly as the result of a often challenging spiritual journey. Or is it to an adult baptism?Ī few nights later the singer is “out of hope and all out of fight.” She falls to his knees. So she follows the preacher to a river to hear him preach. He knows what if feels like to be “wasting a life that the Good Lord gave.” The preacher tells her just having some faith will turn things around. The song is from the point of view of someone who feels there’s no way out of her despair.Ī preacher tells her he’s been there too. It’s similar in theme to Underwood’s 2005 hit “Jesus Take The Wheel.” (Photo courtesy CMA) Rising from despair to hopeĪlthough many songs are about spiritual journeys, “Something in the Water” is about a radical rapid change.
At least according to the World of Top 40 songs. People are looking for the transcendental through drugs and alcohol, casual sex, fame and materialism. As I’ve chronicled many times in reviewing so many Worst Top 40 songs of the month, the search for something transcendental is misplaced in modern life. The chorus of “There must be something in the water” means something transcendental, mystical and supernatural happened. It deserves attention just for being about a spiritual experience.
There aren’t many songs on the charts about a conversion experience that transforms someone from despair to hope.ĭespite some melodramatic singing and a cheesy music video, it’s an inspiring song. (Photo courtesy Sony Music)Ĭarrie Underwood’s “Something in the Water” is probably the the most overtly religious song to be named the Best Top 40 Song of The Month on this web site. “Something in the Water” is about a conversion experience. Country singer Carrie Underwood lands a song about a spiritual transformation in the Top 40.
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