Waving Through a Window#2021 film version

The song takes place during the first high school scene after Connor Murphy, following a joke Jared Kleinman, Evan Hansen's "family friend," makes to him about his hair length, pushes Evan to the ground due to mistakenly interpreting Evan's awkwardness as making fun of him. During the number, Evan expresses his struggles with his social anxiety and depression, as well as his longing to be accepted by his peers in his community and at school. ("On the outside always looking in, will I ever be more than I've always been?"). After the first chorus, a dialogue break takes place where Zoe Murphy runs into Evan to apologize for her brother's behavior. This results in Evan acting awkward toward her and he fails to make a connection, even though it is already known beforehand that he is infatuated with her. Evan then continues singing alone, wondering if being ignored and left behind is to be his life going forward and if one day "Will [I] ever make a sound?" The entire cast then joins in for the final chorus. The song is reprised twice afterward, first in the following scene in the computer lab when Evan writes the letter to himself that becomes the catalyst of the events that follow, and then by Alana Beck before Evan goes to the Principal's Office to meet Cynthia and Larry, Connor and Zoe's parents, after Connor dies of suicide.

The final chorus is based on the metaphor “If a tree crashes in the forest and no one is there to hear it, did it make a sound?”; however, Steven Levenson, the musical's librettist, came up with the idea of Evan "literally falling in a forest," resulting in the final lyric. The opening lyrics of the song ("I've learned to slam on the brake, before I even turn the key") return during the climax of "Words Fail" in Act 2 to bring Evan's journey full circle.{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/genesis-of-a-song-how-benj-pasek-and-justin-paul-wrote-waving-through-a-window|title=GENESIS OF A SONG: How Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Wrote 'Waving Through a Window'|last=Fierberg|first=Ruthie|work=Playbill|date=June 6, 2017|access-date=April 9, 2021}}

In his review of the Broadway production of the musical for The New York Times, Charles Isherwood praised Ben Platt's performance, writing "...when Mr. Platt sings Evan's songs — including the touching introductory cri de coeur, "Waving Through a Window" — we can simultaneously hear the heartsore, conflicted young man and the intelligent, kindly kid buried inside him."{{Cite news|last=Isherwood|first=Charles|date=2016-05-22|title=Review: 'Dear Evan Hansen' Puts a Twist on Teenage Angst (Published 2016)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/theater/review-dear-evan-hansen-puts-a-twist-on-teenage-angst.html|access-date=2020-11-08|issn=0362-4331}} On July 23, 2020, "Waving Through a Window" was named the "Most Listened To Song From Musicals In The Car" from a study by Halfords analyzing the top "road trip" songs from multiple genres through Spotify playlists.{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Waving-Through-a-Window-is-Revealed-as-the-Most-Popular-Broadway-Song-to-Sing-in-the-Car-20200723|title='Waving Through a Window' is Revealed as the Most Popular Broadway Song to Sing in the Car|author=BWW News Desk|work=BroadwayWorld|date=July 23, 2020|access-date=April 6, 2021}} In 2020, Sportsshoes.com named "Waving Through a Window" the 2nd-most popular show tune people went running to.{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2020 |title=These are the Most Popular Running Songs |url=https://www.sportsshoes.com/running-hub/motivation/these-are-the-worlds-most-popular-running-songs/ |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=Sportsshoes}}

{{certification Table Top}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Platt/Dear Evan Hansen Cast|title=Waving Through a Window|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2016|certyear=2025|access-date=June 10, 2025|id=18010-5922-1}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Ben Platt & Original Broadway Cast of Dear Evan Hansen|title=Waving Through a Window|award=Platinum|type=single|certyear=2021|access-date=November 26, 2021}}

{{certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

{{main|Dear Evan Hansen (film)}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Waving Through a Window

| cover =

| alt =

| type =

| artist = Ben Platt and Dear Evan Hansen Choir

| album = Dear Evan Hansen: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

| EP =

| written =

| published =

| released = September 24, 2021

| recorded = 2020

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = *Musical

• theatrical
• pop

| length = 3:56

| label = Interscope

| writer = Pasek & Paul

| producer =

• Alex Lacamoire
• Dan Romer
• Pasek & Paul

| chronology = Ben Platt singles

| prev_title = I Wanna Love You But I Don't

| prev_year = 2021

| next_title = You Will Be Found

| next_year = 2021

| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|ZkOwjEd3SXw|"Waving Through a Window" (2021 film version)}}}}

}}

"Waving Through a Window" was featured in Universal Pictures' 2021 film adaptation of the musical, starring Ben Platt, who reprised his performance in the titular role. The film, which premiered at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2021,{{cite news|title=Toronto Festival Unveils 'Dear Evan Hansen' As Opening-Night Premiere, Zhang Yimou's 'One Second' As Closer; Check Out First Slated Films |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/2021-toronto-film-festival-slate-dear-evan-hansen-1234796440/ |work=Deadline Hollywood|date = July 20, 2021|last = Fleming|first = Mike Jr. |access-date=July 20, 2021}} followed by a theatrical release on September 24, 2021, is directed by Stephen Chbosky from a screenplay by Levenson, who also serves as an executive producer with Michael Bederman, Pasek & Paul, and the show's lead producer Stacey Mindich. Ben's father Marc Platt and Adam Siegel serve as producers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Check-out-the-New-Poster-for-the-DEAR-EVAN-HANSEN-Movie-20210519|title=Photos: Check out the New Poster for the DEAR EVAN HANSEN Movie|author=BWW News Desk|work=BroadwayWorld|date=May 18, 2021|access-date=May 21, 2021}}

In the film, the song is moved to the first scene in Evan's bedroom following his opening monologue and plays through his journey to the high school and his being unable to connect with the other students when in the halls, ending in the school's gymnasium. This was a result of the cutting of "Anybody Have a Map?", the opening number of the stage musical. This creative decision was negatively received by critics and audiences, largely due to the filmmakers' main goal to capture and immortalize Ben Platt's performance. Chbosky explained the reason for this, saying that "...we felt the best way to tell the story was to start with Evan, start with ‘Waving Through a Window’. And then, when you meet Connor's parents, they're strangers to us. We're really on Evan's journey. It freed us up to meet all the characters through Evan. And it binds the audience to a way in Evan that is so valuable."{{Cite web|last= Reilly|first=Jenelle|date=September 9, 2021|title=Director Stephen Chbosky on Chasing 'Dear Evan Hansen,' Premiering at TIFF and Cutting Songs|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/features/dear-even-hansen-stephen-chbosky-tiff-1235056696/|access-date=September 9, 2021|website=Variety|language=en}}

This version of the song was made available as an exclusive download from the soundtrack album on August 26, 2021, alongside "You Will Be Found." The album was released on September 24, 2021, the same day as the film.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/dear-evan-hansen-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1582547856|title=Dear Evan Hansen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Ben Platt, SZA, Sam Smith & Benj Pasek & Justin Paul|date=24 September 2021|access-date=6 November 2021|website=Music.apple.com}} Platt also performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on September 15, 2021 to promote the film.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9630109/ben-platt-dear-evan-hansen-fallon-exclusive/|title=Ben Platt Performs Showstopping Number from 'Dear Evan Hansen' on 'Fallon': Exclusive|magazine=Billboard}}

On March 4, 2022, a clip of the climax of this film's version of the song was uploaded to Twitter as a parody response to a viral clip of the opening long take shot of "The Dance at the Gym" sequence from Steven Spielberg's 2021 film version of West Side Story, that was uploaded the weekend before.{{cite web|url=https://www.thedigitalfix.com/west-side-story/spielberg-scene-goes-viral|title=West Side Story scene goes viral because Spielberg is the GOAT|first=Fiona|last= Underhill|date=1 March 2022|website=The Digital Fix|access-date=2 March 2022}} Like that clip, it went viral, reaching over a million views and over 15,000 likes, leading many users to compare the visual styles and production values of the two films.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/JakeyimDb/status/1499444773190524937|title="This shot from WEST SIDE STORY is insane."|date=March 4, 2022|website=Twitter|language=en|access-date=2022-03-04}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Waving Through a Window

| cover = Waving Through a Window Owl City.jpg

| alt =

| type = Song

| artist = Owl City

| album =

| released = June 23, 2017

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Electropop{{cite web|url=https://foundationsmusic.com/owl-city-reimagines-waving-through-a-window-from-dear-evan-hansen/|title=Owl City Reimagines Waving Through a Window From Dear Evan Hansen|publisher=Foundations Music|date=June 23, 2017|access-date=October 3, 2023}}

| length = 4:07

| label = Atlantic

| writer = Pasek & Paul

| producer = Adam Young

| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|ppCqURHTaXI|"Waving Through a Window" (Owl City version)}}|type=song}}

}}

American electronica project Owl City covered the song and released it on June 23, 2017 via Atlantic Records.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/broadway/7841971/owl-city-adam-young-dear-evan-hansen-pop-single-interview|title=Owl City's Adam Young on Singing the First Pop Single From 'Dear Evan Hansen'|last=Milzoff|first=Rebecca|magazine=Billboard|date=June 23, 2017|access-date=December 28, 2020}}

In an interview with Billboard magazine, Young revealed that the Dear Evan Hansen team approached him as they wanted to re-imagine a pop version of the track.

{{quote|"It was them calling me saying 'We're big fans of your work' — which I still can't believe — 'we're trying to kind of re-imagine 'Waving Through a Window' in more of a pop genre versus the theatrical version.' And they said they looked at each other and thought, 'Let's get the Owl City guy'."}}

He also revealed that he had not been familiar with the project before listening to the song and covering it. After listening to the song, Young stated that the lyrics "resonated" with him and noted that the experience covering the track was "surreal."{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/theater/2017/06/23/dear-evan-hansen-owl-city/|title=Listen to Owl City's cover of Dear Evan Hansen|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|author=Marc Snetiker|date=June 23, 2017|access-date=October 3, 2023}} The track runs at 124 BPM and is in the key of A major.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0176256|title=Waving Through a Window by Owl City - Digital Sheet Music|website=musicnotes.com|date=30 June 2017 |access-date=October 3, 2023}} Young's range in the song spans from the notes A2 – B{{flat}}4.

Marc Snetiker of Entertainment Weekly stated, "In Owl City's version, the song is notably lighter and more upbeat, but don't mistake it for a lack of emotion."

Credits for "Waving Through a Window" adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/waving-through-a-window-mw0003100855/credits|title=Waving Through a Window - Owl City Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=October 3, 2023}}

Owl City

• Adam Young – vocals, programming, producer, recording

Production

• Ted Jensen – mastering
• Robert Orton – mixing
• Benj Pasek – composer, lyricist
• Justin Paul – composer, lyricist

• In 2017, a cover of the song by Thomas Sanders, Dodie Clark, and Ben J. Pierce was released on YouTube.{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/hear-some-beautiful-harmonies-in-fan-version-of-dear-evan-hansens-waving-through-a-window|title=Hear Some Beautiful Harmonies in Fan Version of Dear Evan Hansen's 'Waving Through a Window'|last=Gans|first=Andrew|work=Playbill|date=June 28, 2017|access-date=December 28, 2020}}
• In 2017, string quartet Well-Strung released a cover of the song as a music video.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-TV-Exclusive-Well-Strung-Unveils-Gorgeous-Cover-of-Waving-Through-a-Window-from-DEAR-EVAN-HANSEN-20170629|title=BWW TV Exclusive: Well-Strung Unveils Gorgeous Cover of 'Waving Through a Window' from DEAR EVAN HANSEN|website=Broadwayworld.com|date=June 29, 2017|access-date=January 12, 2020}}
• At the songwriters' request, the song was covered by American singer Katy Perry in 2018 to promote the musical's touring production and subsequently included on the deluxe edition of the cast recording.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8482727/katy-perry-re-recorded-dear-evan-hansen-song-waving-through-a-window-listen|title=Katy Perry Re-Recorded 'Dear Evan Hansen' Song 'Waving Through a Window' to Help Launch Show's National Tour: Listen|date=November 1, 2018|first=Gil|last=Kaufman|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 28, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/listen-to-katy-perry-sing-dear-evan-hansens-waving-through-a-window|title=Listen to Katy Perry Sing Dear Evan Hansen's 'Waving Through a Window'|date=November 2, 2018|first=Andrew|last=Gans|work=Playbill|access-date=December 28, 2020}}
• In 2019, Ramin Karimloo covered the song for his album From Now On.{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/ramin-karimloo-releases-new-album-from-now-on-august-2|title=Ramin Karimloo Releases New Album From Now On August 2|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|work=Playbill|date=August 2, 2019|access-date=December 28, 2020}}
• In 2019, Pentatonix released a cover of the song as a single with an accompanying music video.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/broadway/8512808/pentatonix-waving-through-a-window-music-video|title=Pentatonix Release Soaring Rendition of 'Waving Through a Window' From 'Dear Evan Hansen': Watch|last=Spencer|first=Tallie|magazine=Billboard|date=May 22, 2019|access-date=December 28, 2020}}
• In 2019, Darren Criss performed the song at the 5th Annual Elsie Fest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwaybox.com/daily-scoop/5-videos-from-2019-elsie-fest-that-your-monday-needs/|title=5 Videos From Elsie Fest 2019 That Your Monday Needs|website=BroadwayBox.com|access-date=6 November 2021}}
• In 2020, Lindsay Pearce of Wicked performed the song as part of BroadwayWorld's Living Room Concerts series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Living-Room-Concerts-WICKEDs-Lindsay-Pearce-Sings-Waving-Through-a-Window-20200423|title=Living Room Concerts: WICKED's Lindsay Pearce Sings 'Waving Through a Window'|last=TV|first=BroadwayWorld|work=BroadwayWorld|date=April 23, 2020|access-date=March 10, 2021}}
• In 2020, The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC released a virtual performance cover of the song on YouTube.{{Cite web|url=https://www.advocate.com/music/2020/4/23/dc-gay-mens-choruss-virtual-waving-through-window-beautiful|title=D.C. Gay Men's Chorus's Virtual 'Waving Through a Window' Is Beautiful|last=Gilchrist|first=Tracy E.|work=Advocate.com|date=April 23, 2020|access-date=March 1, 2021}}
• In 2021, Stephanie J. Block, Deborah Cox and Lea Salonga performed the song as part of that year's virtual edition of Broadway Backwards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/virtual-edition-of-broadway-backwards-breaks-fundraising-record|title=Virtual Edition of Broadway Backwards Breaks Fundraising Record|last=Gans|first=Andrew|work=Playbill|date=April 2, 2021|access-date=April 6, 2021}}
• In 2021, Tori Kelly recorded a cover of the song, produced by Justin Goldner, for the soundtrack album of the 2021 film adaptation.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/dear-evan-hansen-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1582547856|title=Dear Evan Hansen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Ben Platt, SZA, Sam Smith & Benj Pasek & Justin Paul|date=24 September 2021|access-date=6 November 2021|website=Music.apple.com}}{{Citation|title=Dear Evan Hansen [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - Original Soundtrack {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dear-evan-hansen-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0003580972|language=en|access-date=2021-09-26}}

{{reflist}}

• {{YouTube|hyB8g6QLNcE|"Waving Through A Window (Katy Perry version)"}}

{{Dear Evan Hansen}}

{{Pasek and Paul}}

{{Ben Platt}}

{{Katy Perry}}

{{Tori Kelly}}

{{Owl City}}

{{Pentatonix}}

Category:2010s ballads

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