2017 song by Tauren Wells
"Hills and Valleys" is a song performed by American Christian pop artist Tauren Wells. It was released on January 20, 2017,[1] as the third single from Wells' debut studio album, Hills and Valleys (2017). Wells co-wrote the song with Chuck Butler and Jonathan Smith.[2]
"Hills and Valleys" peaked at number three on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.[3] "Hills and Valleys" garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song at the 2018 Grammy Awards.
Background
Tauren Wells released "Hills and Valleys" as a multi-track single, containing the original recording as found on the Undefeated EP; a remix version titled "The Hills Remix," and an acoustic piano-driven rendition dubbed "The Valleys Version."[4] Tauren Wells shared the story behind the song,[5] saying:
Initially when I was writing "Hills and Valleys," I wasn't trying to write a song. It was during worship time, and I was playing piano and singing melodies and that melody just came out on the keys. A quote came to mind, "on the mountaintops of life, learn to bow low, and in the valleys of life, learn to stand tall." I thought that would be cool to incorporate into a song, because I know that God is the God of the hills and valleys. Scripture points to that.
I haven't heard much conversation or too many songs about what our posture should be when in the biggest moments in our lives and the lowest moments of our lives. I started wrapping that into a lyric and a melody and took it to some of my friends in Nashville, and we finished the song together.
Composition
"Hills and Valleys" is composed in the key of D Major with a tempo of 84 beats per minute, and a musical time signature of 4
4.[6]
Music videos
Tauren Wells released the official acoustic video of "Hills and Valleys" on January 20, 2017, via YouTube.[7] On January 27, 2017, Tauren Wells published an official lyric video YouTube.[8] On June 23, 2017, Wells released audio videos for the original recording, the Hills Remix and the Valley Version of the song on YouTube.[9][10][11] On April 30, 2021, Wells released an official live performance video that shows Wells performing the song and filmed at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.[12]
