Waiting For A Girl Like You – Foreigner | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#2) and Adult Contemporary (#5); 1981
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Pop music fans usually focus on the #1 hits on Billboard magazine’s Hot 100. As of year’s end 2005, the rock era top spot was held by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men and One Fine Day with 16 weeks at #1.
But what about the runner-up star? For 24 years and seven months that honor belonged to the Diamonds, whose Little Darlin’ stayed at #2 for eight weeks in April and May of 1957.
That record stood until January 23rd, 1982 when Waiting For A Girl Like You by Foreigner logged its ninth week at #2. Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones had come up with the intro and verse parts for the tune while the group was working on its fourth studio album.
The chorus then came from a melody Mick had used during rehearsals to test the piano’s tuning. Waiting‘s record-breaking 10 week stay at #2 lasted until February 3rd, 1995 when Exhale (Shoop Shoop) by Whitney Houston logged its 11th week in the runner-up spot.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Robert John “Mutt” Lange
- Mick Jones
Lyrics Written by:
- Mick Jones
- Lou Gramm
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).