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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

"Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner

Top 10 Alert!
Platinum Record Alert!
Song#:  0778
Date:  10/10/1981
Debut:  42
Peak:  2
Weeks:  23
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  It is interesting that Foreigner's single "Urgent" from their massive hit album "4" peaked at #4. But this second single from the LP broke through the "four" barrier and reached #2. In doing so, it also set a chart record. The song stayed in the #2 position for a record-setting 10 weeks. It had the unfortunate luck of getting stuck behind Olivia Newton John's mega-hit "Physical" for 9 of those weeks and by the time the 10th week was rolling around, the single was loosing power and it got bested by Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)." The single still holds the record for amount of weeks at #2, but it had to share the record in 2002 when Missy Elliot's "Work It" achieved the same frustrating feat.

ReduxReview:  I have to admit that I didn't like this song when it came out. I can't even explain why. I guess I just didn't connect with the tune. It was all over the radio back then and I remember whenever it came on I would immediately change the station. But time passes by and tastes change and I have come to like the song. I can't say the same about their next big hit ballad...

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  The group's album "4" was originally titled "Silent Partners." The cover design showed a man asleep in bed and hovering over him were a pair of binoculars. Apparently the band thought this image had homosexual overtones and completely rejected the cover. They changed the album title and selected a new design that depicted the number 4 in the countdown of a film leader. The rejected image can be seen here. Maybe it is just me, but I don't get how this depicts homosexuality. Hmmm...

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2 comments:

  1. 8/10 for me, while it is a great song but for their ballads I prefer "I Want To Know What Love Is", I also thought "Waiting" was a notch below "Urgent"

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    Replies
    1. As time goes by, I'd up the rating a bit on this one a little bit. It's smokey blues rock feel has aged pretty well.

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