I'll Wait: Difference between revisions

"I'll Wait"
"I'll Wait"
Single by Van Halen
from the album 1984
B-side	"Girl Gone Bad" (US); "Drop Dead Legs" (UK);
Released	April 1984 (US); July 27, 1984 (UK)
Recorded	1983
Studio	5150 Studios, Studio City, California
Genre	Synth rock; hard rock;
Length	4:10 (Single Version) ; 4:40 (Album Version)
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Eddie Van Halen; Alex Van Halen; Michael Anthony; David Lee Roth; Michael McDonald;
Producer(s)	Ted Templeman
Van Halen singles chronology
Audio
	"I'll Wait" on YouTube

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"I'll Wait" is a song by American rock band Van Halen, taken from their sixth studio album, 1984 (1984). It was written by band members Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth, along with Michael McDonald,^[2] and produced by Ted Templeman.^[3]

It was the second single released from the record and reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite the song being a hit, no video was ever filmed for it.

Writing and composition

The song was written as a collaboration between Van Halen and Doobie Brothers singer and yacht rock icon Michael McDonald, who was brought in by Templeman when David Lee Roth had trouble completing the melody and lyrics to the song.^[4] The song is in the key of D minor, having a moderate common time tempo of 114 beats per minute.^[5]

Like "Jump", the song features keyboards almost entirely, including a synthesizer bass line, and also features heavy use of Alex Van Halen's Rototom drum kit.^[6]

The song's subject was inspired by a woman wearing men's underwear in a Calvin Klein print media advertisement.^[6] Roth pinned up the ad beside his Sony Trinitron television and addressed the lyrics to the model.^[7]

The single's original cover featured the band posing in the same location where the cover for the "Hot for Teacher" single had been shot.^{[citation needed]}

David Lee Roth and producer Ted Templeman wanted to remove the song from the album, while Eddie Van Halen and engineer Donn Landee pushed for its inclusion.^[6]

Reception

Cash Box said that "this mid-tempo solid rocker is sure to catch the ear of both heavy metal and pop fans" and that "lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen sculpts some masterful backing riffs, and also creates a thoughtful and tasty guitar solo."^[8]

Chuck Klosterman of Vulture.com ranked it the 43rd-best Van Halen song, noting its "mammoth drums, mammoth synth, not much verve or panache."^[9]

Track listing

US 7" single

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"I'll Wait" (radio edit)	4:10

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Girl Gone Bad"	4:33

UK 7" single/US 12" single

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"I'll Wait" (radio edit)	4:10

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Drop Dead Legs"	4:13

Personnel

David Lee Roth – lead vocals
Eddie Van Halen – guitar, keyboards
Alex Van Halen – drums
Michael Anthony – keyboard bass, backing vocals

Charts

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[10]	21
Italy (FIMI)^[11]	48
UK Singles (OCC)^[12]	85
US Billboard Hot 100^[13]	13
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[14]	2

References

^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 18.
^ Giles, Jeff (March 2, 2014). "How Michael McDonald Ended Up Co-Writing Van Halen's 'I'll Wait'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
^ Considine, J.D. (March 1, 1984). "1984". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 3, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
^ "100 Best Albums of the Eighties, 81 Van Halen, '1984'". Rolling Stone. November 16, 1989.
^ Van Halen Guitar Anthology. Van Nuys, California: Alfred. 2006. pp. 143–7. ISBN 9780897246729. OCLC 605214049.
^ ^a ^b ^c Graff, Gary (January 9, 2014). "Van Halen's '1984' At 30: Classic Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
^ "1984". Classicvanhalen.com.
^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 14, 1984. p. 14. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
^ Klosterman, Chuck (October 6, 2020). "All 131 Van Halen Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best A look back at the band's formidable legacy". Vulture.com. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6729." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
^ "{{{artist}}} – {{{song}}}". Top Digital Download. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
^ "Van Halen Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
^ "Van Halen Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2021.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|1984 single by Van Halen}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
+{{other uses|I'll Wait (disambiguation)}}
 {{Infobox song
 | name       = I'll Wait
@@ Line 8: / Line 10: @@
 | album      = [[1984 (Van Halen album)|1984]]
 | B-side     = {{ubl|"Girl Gone Bad" (US)|"Drop Dead Legs" (UK)}}
+| released   = April 1984 (US)<br/>July 27, 1984 (UK)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1984/Music-Week-1984-07-21.pdf|title=Music Week|page=18}}</ref>
-| released   = April 1984
 | format     =
-| recorded   = {{flat list|
+| recorded   = 1983
+| studio     = [[5150 Studios]], [[Studio City, Los Angeles|Studio City]], [[California]]
-* 1983
-* [[5150 Studios]]<br><small>([[Hollywood, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]])</small>
-}}
-| studio     =
 | venue      =
-| genre      = {{flatlist|
+| genre      =
 * [[Synth rock]]
-* [[hard rock]]}}
+* [[hard rock]]
-| length     = 4:40
+| length     = 4:10 (Single Version) <br> 4:40 (Album Version)
-| label      = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
+| label     = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
 | writer     = {{hlist|[[Eddie Van Halen]]|[[Alex Van Halen]]|[[Michael Anthony (musician)|Michael Anthony]]|[[David Lee Roth]]|[[Michael McDonald (musician)|Michael McDonald]]}}
 | producer   = [[Ted Templeman]]
@@ Line 27: / Line 26: @@
 | next_title = [[Panama (song)|Panama]]
 | next_year  = 1984
+|misc={{External music video|header=Audio|
-}}
+{{YouTube|_CIE041T954|"I'll Wait"}}}}}}
-"'''I'll Wait'''" is a song by the American [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Van Halen]], taken from their sixth studio album, ''[[1984 (Van Halen album)|1984]]'' (1984). The song was written by band members [[Eddie Van Halen]], [[Alex Van Halen]], [[Michael Anthony (musician)|Michael Anthony]] and [[David Lee Roth]], along with [[Michael McDonald (singer)|Michael McDonald]]<ref name=UCR>{{cite web|work=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]|last=Giles|first=Jeff|date=March 2, 2014|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/michael-mcdonald-van-halen-ill-wait/|title=How Michael McDonald Ended Up Co-Writing Van Halen’s ‘I’ll Wait’|accessdate=October 25, 2020}}</ref> and produced by [[Ted Templeman]].<ref name=RS>{{cite web|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=J.D.|last=Considine|author-link=J.D. Considine|date=March 1, 1984|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/1984-19840301|title=1984}}</ref>
+"'''I'll Wait'''" is a song by American rock band [[Van Halen]], taken from their sixth studio album, ''[[1984 (Van Halen album)|1984]]'' (1984). It was written by band members [[Eddie Van Halen]], [[Alex Van Halen]], [[Michael Anthony (musician)|Michael Anthony]] and [[David Lee Roth]], along with [[Michael McDonald (singer)|Michael McDonald]],<ref name=UCR>{{cite web|work=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]|last=Giles|first=Jeff|date=March 2, 2014|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/michael-mcdonald-van-halen-ill-wait/|title=How Michael McDonald Ended Up Co-Writing Van Halen's 'I'll Wait'|access-date=October 25, 2020}}</ref> and produced by [[Ted Templeman]].<ref name=RS>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=J.D.|last=Considine|author-link=J.D. Considine|date=March 1, 1984|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/1984-19840301|title=1984|access-date=August 31, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803035734/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/1984-19840301|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 It was the second single released from the record and reached number 13 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. Despite the song being a hit, no video was ever filmed for it.
 ==Writing and composition==
-The song was written as a collaboration between Van Halen and [[The Doobie Brothers|Doobie Brothers]] singer Michael McDonald, who was brought in by Templeman when Van Halen had trouble completing the song.<ref name=RS2>{{cite web|work=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]|title=100 Best Albums of the Eighties, 81 Van Halen, '1984'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-eighties-20110418/van-halen-1984-20110330}}</ref> The song is in the key of [[D minor]], having a moderate [[common time]] [[tempo]] of 114 beats per minute.<ref>{{cite book|title=Van Halen Guitar Anthology|pages=143–7|publisher=Alfred|location=Van Nuys, California|year=2006|isbn=9780897246729|oclc=605214049}}</ref>
+The song was written as a collaboration between Van Halen and [[The Doobie Brothers|Doobie Brothers]] singer and [[yacht rock]] icon Michael McDonald, who was brought in by Templeman when David Lee Roth had trouble completing the melody and lyrics to the song.<ref name=RS2>{{cite web|work=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]|title=100 Best Albums of the Eighties, 81 Van Halen, '1984'|date=November 16, 1989|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-best-albums-of-the-eighties-20110418/van-halen-1984-20110330}}</ref> The song is in the key of [[D minor]], having a moderate [[common time]] [[tempo]] of 114 beats per minute.<ref>{{cite book|title=Van Halen Guitar Anthology|pages=143–7|publisher=Alfred|location=Van Nuys, California|year=2006|isbn=9780897246729|oclc=605214049}}</ref>
-Like "[[Jump (Van Halen song)|Jump]]," the song features keyboards almost entirely, including a synthesizer bass line, and also features heavy use of Alex Van Halen's [[Rototom]] drum kit.<ref name=BB>{{cite web|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|title=Van Halen's '1984' At 30: Classic Track-By-Track Review|first=Gary|last=Graff|date=January 9, 2014|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/5869374/van-halen-s-1984-at-30-classic-track-by-track-review|accessdate=October 25, 2020}}</ref>
+Like "[[Jump (Van Halen song)|Jump]]", the song features keyboards almost entirely, including a synthesizer bass line, and also features heavy use of Alex Van Halen's [[Rototom]] drum kit.<ref name=BB>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|title=Van Halen's '1984' At 30: Classic Track-By-Track Review|first=Gary|last=Graff|date=January 9, 2014|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/5869374/van-halen-s-1984-at-30-classic-track-by-track-review|access-date=October 25, 2020}}</ref>
 The song's subject was inspired by a woman wearing men's underwear in a [[Calvin Klein]] print media advertisement.<ref name=BB/> Roth pinned up the ad beside his [[Sony Trinitron]] television and addressed the lyrics to the model.<ref>{{cite web|title=1984|url=http://www.classicvanhalen.com/albums_1984.shtml|work=Classicvanhalen.com}}</ref>
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 ==Reception==
+''[[Cash Box]]'' said that "this mid-tempo solid rocker is sure to catch the ear of both heavy metal and pop fans" and that "lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen sculpts some masterful backing [[riff (music)|riff]]s, and also creates a thoughtful and tasty [[guitar solo]]."<ref name=cb>{{cite magazine|title=Reviews|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1984/CB-1984-04-24.pdf|date=April 14, 1984|accessdate=July 23, 2022|page=14}}</ref>
-Chuck Klosterman of [[Vulture.com]] ranked it the 43rd-best Van Halen song, noting its "mammoth drums, mammoth synth, not much verve or panache."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Klosterman |first1=Chuck |title=All 131 Van Halen Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best A look back at the band’s formidable legacy. |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-van-halen-songs-chuck-klosterman.html |accessdate=October 10, 2020 |work=[[Vulture.com]] |date=October 6, 2020}}</ref>
+Chuck Klosterman of [[Vulture.com]] ranked it the 43rd-best Van Halen song, noting its "mammoth drums, mammoth synth, not much verve or panache."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Klosterman |first1=Chuck |title=All 131 Van Halen Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best A look back at the band's formidable legacy. |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-van-halen-songs-chuck-klosterman.html |access-date=October 10, 2020 |work=[[Vulture.com]] |date=October 6, 2020}}</ref>
 ==Track listing==
@@ Line 75: / Line 77: @@
 ==Personnel==
-*[[David Lee Roth]] – [[lead vocalist|lead vocals]]
+*[[David Lee Roth]] – lead vocals
-*[[Eddie Van Halen]] – [[guitar]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]
+*[[Eddie Van Halen]] – guitar, keyboards
-*[[Alex Van Halen]] – [[Drum kit|drums]]
+*[[Alex Van Halen]] – drums
-*[[Michael Anthony (musician)|Michael Anthony]] – [[keyboard bass]], [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]]
+*[[Michael Anthony (musician)|Michael Anthony]] – [[keyboard bass]], backing vocals
 ==Charts==
-{|class="wikitable"
+{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
-!align="left"|Chart (1984)
+! Chart (1984)
-!align="center"|Peak position
+! Peak<br />position
 |-
+{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|21|chartid=6729|rowheader=true|access-date=March 25, 2021}}
-|align="left"|US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]
+|-
-|align="center"|13
+{{single chart|Italy|48|chartid=6729|rowheader=true|access-date=March 25, 2021}}
+|-
+{{single chart|UK|85|date=19840805|rowheader=true|access-date=March 25, 2021}}
+|-
+{{single chart|Billboardhot100|13|artist=Van Halen|rowheader=true|access-date=March 25, 2021}}
+|-
+{{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|2|artist=Van Halen|rowheader=true|access-date=March 25, 2021}}
 |}
@@ Line 94: / Line 103: @@
 ==Further reading==
 *{{cite book|title=Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life In Music|first1=Ted|last1=Templeman|first2=Greg|last2=Renoff|pages=350–1, 359–61|publisher=ECW Press|location=Toronto|year=2020|isbn=9781770414839|oclc=1121143123}}
-==External links==
-*{{MetroLyrics song|van-halen|ill-wait}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
 {{Van Halen}}
 {{authority control}}
 [[Category:1984 singles]]
+[[Category:1984 songs]]
 [[Category:Van Halen songs]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Michael McDonald (musician)]]
@@ Line 111: / Line 117: @@
 [[Category:Songs written by Eddie Van Halen]]
 [[Category:Song recordings produced by Ted Templeman]]
-[[Category:1984 songs]]
 [[Category:Warner Records singles]]
 [[Category:Synth rock songs]]
-{{1980s-rock-song-stub}}

v t e Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen Alex Van Halen David Lee Roth Michael Anthony Sammy Hagar Gary Cherone Wolfgang Van Halen
Studio albums	Van Halen Van Halen II Women and Children First Fair Warning Diver Down 1984 5150 OU812 For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Balance Van Halen III A Different Kind of Truth
Compilation albums	Best Of – Volume I The Best of Both Worlds
Live albums	Live: Right Here, Right Now Tokyo Dome Live in Concert
Singles	"You Really Got Me" "Runnin' with the Devil" "Jamie's Cryin'" "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" "Dance the Night Away" "Somebody Get Me a Doctor" "Beautiful Girls" "And the Cradle Will Rock..." "So This Is Love?" "Unchained" "(Oh) Pretty Woman" "Dancing in the Street" "Where Have All the Good Times Gone!" "Jump" "I'll Wait" "Panama" "Hot for Teacher" "Why Can't This Be Love" "Dreams" "Love Walks In" "Best of Both Worlds" "When It's Love" "Black and Blue" "Finish What Ya Started" "Poundcake" "Top of the World" "Right Now" "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)" "Can't Stop Lovin' You" "Amsterdam" "Humans Being" "Me Wise Magic" "Can't Get This Stuff No More" "Without You" "Tattoo" "She's the Woman"
Other songs	"Eruption" "Everybody Wants Some!!" "Little Guitars"
Videography	Live Without a Net Live: Right Here, Right Now Video Hits Volume I
Tours	1978 World Tour World Vacation Tour World Invasion Tour Fair Warning Tour Hide Your Sheep Tour 1984 Tour 5150 Tour OU812 Tour For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Tour Right Here Right Now Tour Balance Tour III Tour Summer Tour 2004 North America 2007–2008 A Different Kind of Truth Tour North America 2015
Related	Discography Awards Guitar Hero: Van Halen 5150 Studios Frankenstrat Planet Us Chickenfoot Sammy Hagar and the Circle Mammoth WVH
Category