Waiting for a Girl Like You
"Waiting for a Girl Like You" is a 1981 power ballad[2] by the British-American rock band Foreigner released as the second single from the album 4 (1981) and was co-written by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones. The opening motif was written by Ian McDonald[3] and the distinctive synthesizer theme was performed by the then-little-known Thomas Dolby.
"Waiting for a Girl Like You"
"I'm Gonna Win"
October 2, 1981 (U.S.)
- December 4, 1981 (UK) [1]
1981
4:35 (single)
4:49 (album)
Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Mick Jones
Reception[edit]
Billboard said that "The melodic arrangement enhances the lyrics while the tasty orchestration and commanding vocal maximizes the love ballad's effectiveness."[4] Record World called it a "dreamy ballad" and said that "a great title hook, enchanting vocals & keyboards make a perfect radio record."[5]
It has become one of the band's most successful songs worldwide, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 1 on Billboard's Rock Tracks chart, and number 1 on the Radio & Records (R&R) Top 40/CHR chart.[6][7][8] On both the Billboard and R&R Adult Contemporary chart, the song reached number 5.[9][10] The song peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.[11]
"Waiting for a Girl Like You" achieved a chart distinction by spending its record-setting 10 weeks in the number 2 position of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, without ever reaching the top. It debuted on the Hot 100 chart dated October 10, 1981. It reached the number 2 position in the week of November 28, where it was held off the number 1 spot by Olivia Newton-John's single "Physical" for nine consecutive weeks, and then by Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" for a tenth week on January 30, 1982.[12] Because of its chart longevity, it ended up being the number 19 song on the Top 100 singles of 1982. The song was the band's biggest hit until "I Want to Know What Love Is" hit number 1 in 1985. In Canada, the song was number 2 for 2 weeks, kept out of number 1 by The Friends of Mr Cairo on its 5 week run at number 1.
The song lists at number 80 on Billboard's "Greatest Songs of All Time".[13] Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as Foreigner's 7th best song, particularly praising the "great keyboard line played at the song’s intro and in between verses."[14]
Foreigner
Additional personnel