There’s something about the Swedes: they sure know how to write a pop song, never mind perform one. And this is on full display with Nadine Randle’s newest single, “Waterfalls.” Randle, the official singer for Sweden’s national football team and a seasoned touring artist with experience supporting Lauryn Hill, OneRepublic, French Montana, and Lionel Richie across the United States and UAE, is set on adding to her catalog before heading back out on the road, and “Waterfalls” is sure to be one of the highlights of her set.
The song begins with a piano and Randle’s voice, but it’s the kind of intro which, when you hear it, already hints at something big coming. And “Waterfalls” delivers: the soundscape is epic and immersive, supported by almost-cinematic drums, full synth pads, pizzicato string stabs, the works. Randle’s voice, contemplative at first in the verses, absolutely soars over the choruses. The song doesn’t linger too long, either – it might be epic in sonics, but at just under 3 minutes, it delivers the goods in a burst that’s entirely appropriate for the ever-diminishing attention spans of our time.
The lyrics are uplifting, with an overarching theme of resilience. The main thrust of the chorus, “waterfalls, so do you,” comes off as pessimistic, but when Randle sings lines like “running away from the past / stronger than I have been before,” it becomes clear that this is a song about overcoming. It’s hopeful and optimistic but grounded in the reality that life is tough. Although it’s clear that Randle and cowriters Benjamin Jennebo, Joy Deb, and Palle Hammarlund aren’t native English speakers, the occasional awkward turn of phrase doesn’t detract too heavily from the song.
In the context of Randle’s growing discography, “Waterfalls” stands in contrast to her last single from earlier this year, “What The Heart Wants,” which is introspective, vulnerable, and very much in the ‘sad relationship song’ bucket. “Waterfalls,” on the other hand, is a song that hints at self-discovery, rejuvenation, and – with help from the instrumental backing – a sense of personal triumph.
“Waterfalls” is also a contrast to the ever-darker sonic palette we’ve been hearing in pop music for the last five years or so. Stylistically, it recalls the expansive, anthemic ballads of the post-Swedish House Mafia era, when festival-scale EDM seeped into every corner of pop songwriting. Yet it avoids anachronistic pitfalls – there’s no gigantic synthesizer drop, and although it does feature a four-on-the-floor kick during the choruses, this doesn’t feel like it was produced for a DJ set. It feels like the centerpiece of a live performance.
With a few more songs like “Waterfalls”, Randle’s star is likely to keep rising, and I won’t be surprised if I start to see her name pop up on festival lineups across Europe or the United States. For now, though, she can rest assured that she’s delivered a very solid pop single befitting someone who’s already received the accolades that she has.
Listen to "Waterfalls" on Spotify here -
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