I'll Wait

{{Infobox song

| name = I'll Wait

| cover = Van Halen - I'll Wait.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| album = 1984

| B-side = {{ubl|"Girl Gone Bad" (U.S./Japan){{cite magazine |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/van-halen-the-japanese-singles-vinyl-collection-revealed |title=Van Halen: The Japanese Singles vinyl collection revealed |first=Scott |last=Munro |magazine=Classic Rock |date=September 16, 2019 |access-date=February 28, 2025}}|"Drop Dead Legs" (UK)}}

| released = April 1984 (US)
July 27, 1984 (UK){{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1984/Music-Week-1984-07-21.pdf|title=Music Week|page=18}}

| recorded = 1983

| studio = 5150 Studios, Studio City

| genre = {{hlist|Synth rock|hard rock}}

| length = 4:10 (Single Version)
4:40 (Album Version)

| label = Warner Bros.

| writer = {{hlist|Edward Van Halen|Alex Van Halen|Michael Anthony|David Lee Roth|Michael McDonald}}

| producer = Ted Templeman

| prev_title = Jump

| prev_year = 1983

| next_title = Panama

| next_year = 1984

|misc={{External music video|header=Audio|

{{YouTube|_CIE041T954|"I'll Wait"}}}}}}

"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,{{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}} and produced by Ted Templeman.{{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}}

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 Michael McDonald, who was brought in by Templeman when David Lee Roth had trouble completing the melody and lyrics to the song.{{cite web|work=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}} The song is in the key of D minor, having a moderate common time tempo of 114 beats per minute.{{cite book|title=Van Halen Guitar Anthology|pages=143–7|publisher=Alfred|location=Van Nuys, California|year=2006|isbn=9780897246729|oclc=605214049}}

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.{{cite magazine|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}}

The song's subject was inspired by a woman wearing men's underwear in a Calvin Klein print media advertisement. Roth pinned up the ad beside his Sony Trinitron television and addressed the lyrics to the model.{{cite web|title=1984|url=http://www.classicvanhalen.com/albums_1984.shtml|work=Classicvanhalen.com}}

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|date=October 2014}}

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.

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."{{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}}

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

Track listing

US 7" single

{{track listing

| headline = Side A

| title1 = I'll Wait

| note1 = radio edit

| length1 = 4:10

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side B

| title1 = Girl Gone Bad

| length1 = 4:33

}}

UK 7" single/US 12" single

{{track listing

| headline = Side A

| title1 = I'll Wait

| note1 = radio edit

| length1 = 4:10

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side B

| title1 = Drop Dead Legs

| length1 = 4:13

}}

Personnel

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

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! Chart (1984)

! Peak
position

{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|21|chartid=6729|rowheader=true|access-date=March 25, 2021}}

{{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}}

I'll Wait

Writing and composition

Reception

Track listing

Personnel

Charts

References

Further reading