Wait Your Turn
"Wait Your Turn" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her fourth studio album, Rated R (2009). It was written by Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Saul Milton, Will Kennard, James Fauntleroy II, Takura Tendayi, and Rihanna herself. Stargate (Eriksen and Hermansen) and Chase & Status (Milton and Kennard) produced the song. "Wait Your Turn" was released on November 13, 2009, as the second international and third overall single from Rated R.
"Wait Your Turn"
Upon the release of Rated R, some critics noted the diverse musical variety on the album, whilst others commented on the heavy influence of dubstep on the song. The song was not a commercial success. "Wait Your Turn" peaked inside the top twenty on the UK R&B Chart. The song failed to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, making this Rihanna's second single that failed to reach that chart ("We Ride"). The song was performed live as part of a medley with "Hard" at the 2009 American Music Awards and on Good Morning America, along with "Russian Roulette" and "Umbrella". The song was also included on the set list of the Last Girl on Earth Tour (2010–11). As part of promotion for the release of Rated R, a music video was directed by Rihanna's longtime collaborator Anthony Mandler. A remix of the song features American rapper, and a member of Slaughterhouse, Joell Ortiz.
Background and release[edit]
"Wait Your Turn" was written by Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Saul Milton, Will Kennard, James Fauntleroy II, Takura Tendayi and Rihanna, with production of the song helmed by the former four, under their stage names StarGate and Chase & Status, respectively.[1] It comes from the recording sessions for the Rated R album, which took place during March to November 2009 at several recording studios throughout United States and Europe. After the song leaked online toward the end of October 2009,[2] it was used in a promotional video for her first televised interviews since the alleged assault on her by then-boyfriend Chris Brown, singing the line, "The wait is ova", which is part of the lyrics.[2][3] Eriksen of StarGate, who co-produced the song, had confirmed "Wait Your Turn" as the second single from Rated R; it was later released as the second international and third overall single.[4][5] The song was made available for digital download via iTunes on November 13, 2009, in Australia,[6] Austria,[7] Brazil,[8] Finland,[9] Italy,[10] Norway,[11] Spain,[12] Sweden[13] and Switzerland.[14] The song interpolates "The Bridge Is Over" by Boogie Down Productions.
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
Greg Kot of The Chicago Tribune noted that Rihanna assumes the role of playing the victim in the song, and not the offender, saying "She's wary of men even when she’s flirting with them in 'Wait Your Turn'."[19] Prior to Greenblatt's album review of Rated R, where she briefly commented on "Wait Your Turn", she also reviewed the song when it leaked onto the Internet in early November, saying "Now that the wait is nearly ova, are you feeling it, Music Mixers? I cannot tell a lie; I’m a little underwhelmed by this new walk-the-plank Pirate incarnation."[20] William Goodman of Spin magazine was more critical and dismissive of the song, saying "'Wait Your Turn' ...leaked online over the weekend, and like the album's lead track, 'Russian Roulette,' it's a total let down: clunky, Auto-Tuned vocals repeat 'The wait is ova / The wait is ova' ad nauseam, over dark atmospherics and a spare dub beat that fails to connect ...it's certainly not worth the wait."[21]
Chart performance[edit]
"Wait Your Turn" made its first chart appearance on November 26, 2009, on the Irish Singles Chart, where it debuted at number 32 and remained for one week before falling out of the Top 50.[22][23] The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 45 on December 5,[24] before dropping to number 75 the following week, which was its last appearance on the chart.[24] However, the song was more successful on the UK R&B Chart, where it debuted at number 17 on December 5,[25] where it stayed in the Top 40 for three consecutive weeks.[26] The song has since sold 20,000 digital copies in the UK.[27] On the week commencing December 7, "Wait Your Turn" debuted on the Australian Singles Chart at number 82, before dropping out of the chart the following week.[28][29]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Rated R.[1]