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Waiting for That Day

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"Waiting for That Day"
Single by George Michael
from the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
B-side
Released22 October 1990 (1990-10-22) (UK)[1]
RecordedMarch 1990[2]
GenrePop
Length4:49
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Praying for Time"
(1990) 		"Waiting for That Day"
(1990) 		"Freedom! '90"
(1990)
Licensed audio
"Waiting for That Day" on YouTube

"Waiting for That Day" is a song performed and largely written by English singer-songwriter George Michael which was released on Epic Records in 1990 in the UK and on Columbia Records in 1991 in the US.

The song was the second single from Michael's second studio album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990), in the UK, and released as the third single from the album in the US and Australia. "Waiting for That Day" peaked at number 23 in the UK in October 1990 and was followed in the UK by three more singles from the album, all of which peaked slightly lower than that of its predecessor. In the US, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 on 9 February 1991 and peaked at number 27 on 2 March 1991.[3]

Background

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Although Michael wrote the song alone, the chords and rhythm are very similar to The Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want". This title is included at the very end of Michael's song, and a co-writer credit was given to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

The song also contains samples from the song "Funky Drummer" by James Brown.

The song did not enjoy great chart success in the United States, becoming Michael's first single to miss the top 10. The single's B-side, "Mother's Pride" achieved some airplay success during the Gulf War. As of October 2017, the single sold 61,000 copies in UK.[4]

Critical reception

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Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic retrospectively named the song a "highlight" from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1.[5] Andrew Mueller from Melody Maker felt it finds "the great chap in devastatingly ineffectual form."[6] Nick Robinson from Music Week wrote, "Possibly one of the singles of the year, this sad plea to a lost love coasts along on a "Funky Drummer" beat and mellow organ backing and ends perfectly with a "You Can't Always Get What You Want" chant. Not only is it a beautiful pop song but it also sees the talented song-writer adding a touch of creativity to a standard dance beat."[7]

Track listing

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  • 7", Epic / GEO 2 (UK)
  1. "Waiting for That Day" – 4:49
  2. "Fantasy" – 5:00

Note: also available on MC (Epic / GEO M2) and 12" (Epic / GEO T2)

  • CD, Epic / CD GEO 2 (UK)
  1. "Waiting for That Day" – 4:49
  2. "Fantasy" – 5:00
  3. "Father Figure" – 5:36
  4. "Kissing a Fool" – 4:34
  • Cassette and 7", Columbia 73663 (US)
  1. "Waiting for That Day" – 4:49
  2. "Mother's Pride" – 3:59

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ "New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 20 October 1990. p. 37. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  2. ^ Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (liner notes). George Michael. Epic Records. 3 September 1990. p. 9. 467295 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (8th ed.). p. 423. ISBN 9780823074990.
  4. ^ "Remembering George Michael's Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1". Official Charts Company. 13 October 2017. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  5. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "George Michael – Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  6. ^ Mueller, Andrew (20 October 1990). "Singles". Melody Maker. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  7. ^ Robinson, Nick (20 October 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 23. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  8. ^ a b George Michael - Waiting for That Day (song). Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  9. ^ Top Singles - Volume 53, No. 15, 16 March 1991. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 17 November 1990. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  11. ^ The Irish Charts. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  12. ^ Top 75 Releases. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  13. ^ US Billboard Hot 100. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  14. ^ US Billboard Adult Contemporary. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  15. ^ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
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