What You Waiting For?

Infobox Single
Name = What You Waiting For?


Artist = Gwen Stefani
from Album = Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
B-side =
Released = flagicon|USASeptember 28, 2004
flagicon|Europe November 15, 2004
Format = 12" single, digital download
Recorded = Home Recordings, London, England and Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, California, United States
Genre = Dance-pop, electropop
Length = 3:41
Label = Interscope
Writer = Gwen Stefani, Linda Perry
Producer = Nellee Hooper
Director = Francis Lawrence
Certification = Platinum (ARIA)
Gold (RIAA)
Last single = "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (2001)
This single = "What You Waiting For?" (2004)
Next single = "Rich Girl" (2004)"What You Waiting For?" is an electropop song written by Gwen Stefani and Linda Perry for Stefani's 2004 debut solo album "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." The song is the album's opening track, and was released as its first single. "What You Waiting For?" details Stefani's lack of inspiration, fear of producing the album, as well as her reaction to pressures exerted by her record label. The song is influenced by electro and New Wave music, and introduces Stefani's four back-up dancers, the Harajuku Girls, who had a major input into the album's production.

"What You Waiting For?" was released as the album's lead single; according to Stefani, as an "explanation for doing the record". The single sold well, reached the top twenty in many countries, and topped the charts in both Argentina and Australia. It was certified gold in the United States, and was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 47th Grammy Awards. It was well received by critics, and was frequently cited as a highlight of the album. The song has been remixed a number of times, and was covered by the indie rock band Franz Ferdinand.

Background and writing

During the night of the 2003 Grammy Awards, Perry forced Stefani into a chokehold, and demanded that they were "gonna write songs together!". Stefani reluctantly agreed. [Ives, Brian and Bottomley, C. [http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1495320/20050105/stefani_gwen.jhtml "Gwen Stefani: The Solo Express"] . VH1. January 5, 2005. Retrieved March 7, 2007.] Soon after, Stefani finished the Rock Steady Tour with her band No Doubt, and took a call from her label, who informed her that Perry was in a studio ready to collaborate, and that she [Perry] "only [had] five days out of the whole year to work with [her] ."Morrisson, John. [http://www.accessmag.com/Archives/74-gwen.html No Doubt's Gwen Stefani Rocks Steady on Her Solo Debut, "Love Angel Music Baby"] . "Access". March 2005. Retrieved March 2, 2007.] Levy, Ariel. [http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=1329 "The Coronation of Gwen Stefani"] . "Blender". December 2004. Retrieved March 2, 2007.] Stefani has since admitted that she was frustrated by not being able to see her husband Gavin Rossdale, and was intimidated at the thought of collaboration, in particular with Perry, who she did not feel was qualified to write dance music. Stefani was exhausted by the recently completed tour, and shortly afterwords suffered an emotional breakdown, which she spent in bed crying.

During their first day of work, the two wrote a song entitled "Fine by You", which Stefani later described as "a stupid love song, but really good".Eliscu, Jenny. [http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,1402498,00.html "'I'll cry just talking about it'"] . "The Guardian". January 30, 2005. Retrieved March 7, 2007.] Perry remarked that the song "wasn't right," and the track was excluded from the album.Anderman, Joan. [http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2004/11/21/not_just_a_girl/ "Not just a girl"] . "The Boston Globe". November 21, 2004. Retrieved April 15, 2007.] The session was unproductive, due in part to Stefani's self-consciousness and writer's block, and she at one stage broke down in tears in the studio.Vineyard, Jennifer. [http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/ "Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo"] . MTV News. Retrieved March 2, 2007.] [Soghomonian, Talia. [http://www.musicomh.com/interviews/gwen-stefani.htm "Gwen Stefani : interview"] . OMH. January 2005. Retrieved March 7, 2007.] Stefani has since admitted that writing songs without her band members felt "humiliating and intimidating even if they're sweet and excited, because you're drowning in their creativity".

That night, Perry began work on another track, which she played for Stefani the next day to motivate her. Stefani was impressed with the track, and Perry asked her "What are you waiting for?" According to Perry, Stefani took the question as a dare, replying, "You're totally challenging me, right?" The two began writing lyrics for the New Wave-styled song based on Stefani's writer's block and fears about making a solo record, and it grew into "What You Waiting For?"Vineyard, Jennifer. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1493633/20041110/stefani_gwen.jhtml "Gwen Stefani's Debut Solo LP Inspired By Insecurity And Japan"] . MTV News. November 10, 2004. Retrieved March 2, 2007.]

Stefani came up with the idea of the Harajuku Girls while writing the song. Stefani first saw the women of Harajuku, known for their unique style drawing from Gothic Lolita and cyberpunk fashion, in 1996 and had admired them since. [Ahn, MiHi. [http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/feature/2005/04/09/geisha/index.html "Gwenihana"] . "Salon". April 9, 2005. Retrieved March 20, 2007.] She decided to mention them in the line "Harajuku girls, damn you got some wicked style," and the concept grew into a running theme on "Love. Angel. Music. Baby.", which went as far as to feature one song named after and dedicated to them.

Music and lyrics

"What You Waiting For?" is an electropop song composed in common time and in the key of G minor.Sheet music for "What You Waiting For?". Famous Music. 2004.] It is written in verse-chorus form, and its instrumentation comes from the guitar and electronic keyboard. ["Love. Angel. Music. Baby." (CD liner notes). Interscope Records. November 2004.] The song opens with an emotional piano solo as a tribute to Stefani's time with No Doubt.Vineyard, Jennifer. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1491456/20040928/no_doubt.jhtml "Gwen Stefani Battles With Herself On First Single From Solo LP"] . MTV News. September 28, 2004. Retrieved March 2, 2007.] The verse begins at only 60 beats per minute and gradually slows, mixed with sounds of applause from the audience. [http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/track_review/29983 "Gwen Stefani: 'What You Waiting For' [Track Review"] . November 8, 2004. Retrieved March 3, 2004.] A beat set at 138 BPM begins, and Stefani repeats the phrase "tick-tock", commonly interpreted as a reference to her maternal clock and the pressures she felt about producing the album. [Vineyard, Jennifer. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1519189/20051222/stefani_gwen.jhtml "Gwen Stefani Confirms Pregnancy While Onstage In Florida"] . MTV News. December 24, 2005. Retrieved March 2, 2007.]

Stefani creates an argument between lyrical personas by alternating her vocal range and point of view. Stefani's vocal range spans nearly two octaves in the song, from G₃ to F₅. In a melody similar to that of Weezer's "Hash Pipe",Greenwood, Eric. [http://old.drawerb.com/features/1106173438.htm "Gwen Stefani - Love Angel Music Baby (Interscope)"] . Drawer B Media. January 19, 2005. Retrieved April 14, 2007.] one side of Stefani's personality sings in a higher range in the first person, and the other, more confident personality sings lower in the second-person. During the verses, the more nervous personality discusses her concerns about leaving No Doubt for a solo career as well as the ephemeral success of female singers in the music industry. [Rosen, Jody. [http://www.slate.com/id/2111008/ "Gwen Stefani, diva clown."] "Slate". December 14, 2004. Retrieved April 14, 2007.] The chorus is a boost of confidence for her and continues the song's time motif with the lines "Look at your watch now/You're still a super hot female". Backed by perfect octave dyads, Stefani sings a verse about her excitement for her future, and the two personalities merge into one during the coda.

Critical reception

"What You Waiting For?" received very positive reviews from critics. Pitchfork Media gave the song a strong review, rating it four and a half stars, and labeled it "fucking great". It went on to rank the song sixteenth on its list of the top 50 singles of 2004. [Raposa, David. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/38513-staff-list-top-50-singles-of-2004 "Top 50 Singles of 2004"] . Pitchfork Media. Retrieved August 26, 2008.] "Blender" noted the song's New Wave influence by stating that it could start a revival of Missing Persons, [Smith, RJ. [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3126 "Gwen Stefani : Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Review"] . "Blender". Retrieved March 3, 2007.] and "The Village Voice" compared the "giddy, yodeling vocals" to those of Lene Lovich's 1981 song "New Toy". [Linden, Amy. [http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0450,linden,59190,22.html "The '80s Girl Inside Reveals More Doubts Than Boundaries"] . "The Village Voice". December 13, 2004. Retrieved April 30, 2007.] PopMatters was mixed on the song, calling the opening "awkward" and the refrain "ridiculously dumb", but arguing that the song "is so frivolous and stupid that it winds up being brilliant; it pretends to be nothing more than party bubblegum and achieves its artistic criteria beautifully." [Damas, Jason. [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/stefanigwen-love.shtml "Gwen Stefani: Love.Angel.Music.Baby. - PopMatters Music Review"] . PopMatters. November 29, 2007. Retrieved March 3, 2007.] "Slant Magazine" agreed, stating that "it's this impishness that helps make 'What You Waiting For' one of the hottest 'arrival' songs of all time". [Cinquemani, Sal. [http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=530 "Music Review: Gwen Stefani: "Love. Angel. Music. Baby."] "Slant Magazine". 2004. Retrieved April 14, 2007.] PlayLouder found the track's production "crisp" and "edgy", [Smirke, Richard. [http://playlouder.com/review/+loveangelmusicba/ "Gwen Stefani: "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." (2004) review"] . PlayLouder. November 23, 2004. Retrieved March 6, 2007.] and LAUNCHcast called the song "itchily irresistible". [Nine, Jennifer. [http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/041125/33/1xcq5.html "Gwen Stefani - 'Love, Angel, Music, Baby'"] . LAUNCHcast. November 25, 2004. Retrieved March 6, 2007.] Contactmusic.com gave the song a nine out of ten rating, commenting that it has "irresistible commercial pull and a melody to die for" and that the track "makes the most of her unmistakable vocal and reflects that off-the-wall Stefani personality perfectly." [Volp-Fletcher, Jemma. [http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/gwenstefanix09x11x04 "Gwen Stefani - What you waiting for? - Single Review"] . Contactmusic. Retrieved March 20, 2007.] OMH Media gave the song a negative review, stating that "it'll become one of those tracks that's irritatingly catchy - but on this initial listening, Ms Stefani's debut solo effort is just plain irritating." [Tripney, Natasha. [http://www.musicomh.com/singles/gwen-stefani.htm "Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For? (Interscope)"] . OMH Media. Retrieved March 20, 2007.]

Many reviewers considered the track one of the album's highlights. "Entertainment Weekly" gave "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." a C+ rating but called the track "one of the album's undeniable highs". [Browne, David. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,831435,00.html "Love. Angel. Music. Baby. | Music Review"] . "Entertainment Weekly". November 23, 2004. Retrieved March 3, 2007.] In its review of the album, Pitchfork Media said that "we can't expect 12 more cuts as personal or urgent as debut single 'What You Waiting For'...one of the best electro songs this year." [Sylvester, Nick. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/22321/Gwen_Stefani_Love_Angel_Music_Baby "Gwen Stefani: Love Angel Music Baby: Pitchfork Record Review"] . Pitchfork Media. November 24, 2004. Retrieved March 3, 2007.] The BBC stated that it "stands out as the best track on the album for the way it pits storming beats against enthusiastic lyrics" and compared the song to Goldfrapp's 2003 single "Strict Machine". [Haines, Lisa. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/pp4h/ "Rock/Indie Review - Gwen Stefani, Love Angel Music Baby"] . British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved April 14, 2007.] Eric Greenwood of Drawer B Media, who said that the album "fails on every level", also commented that "if this album had even two more songs this immediate and catchy, then I'd stick my neck out for it, but, sadly, it's the only song worth listening to.".It was also performed in the Latest Buzz pilot episode dubbed as Glimmer.

Chart performance

In the United States, "What You Waiting For?" debuted on October 23, 2004 at number ninety-three on the "Billboard" Hot 100. It reached a peak at number forty-seven on December 4, 2004 and remained on the chart for a total of twenty weeks. [http://www.musicsquare.net/charts/song/603 "Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For?: Charts"] . Music Square. Retrieved March 6, 2007.] The song topped the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, but only had moderate success on the pop charts, reaching number seventeen on the Top 40 Mainstream and number twenty-four on the Adult Top 40. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kk8gtq3zxu48~T31 "Love.Angel.Music.Baby. > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles"] . Allmusic. Retrieved March 3, 2007.] The song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in February 2005. [ [http://www.riaa.com/gp/database/search_results.asp "Gold & Platinum"] . Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 3, 2007.] Additionally, the song was nominated for best Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2005 Grammy Awards, but lost to Norah Jones' "Sunrise". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4262875.stm "Grammy Awards 2005: Key winners"] . BBC News. February 14, 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2007.]

Elsewhere, the song's reception was stronger. In Canada, it debuted in the top forty on the singles chart before reaching number twenty-four in January 2005. [http://top40-charts.com/songs/full.php?sid=11779&sort=chartid "Gwen Stefani What You Waiting For"] . Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved March 2, 2007.] It debuted at number four in the United Kingdom and remained on the chart for fifteen weeks, unable to reach a higher position. The single performed well across most of Europe, reaching the top ten in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. In Latin America the single debuted at number fourteen on December 19, 2004 [ [http://toplatino.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=42 "Ranking del 19 de diciembre del 2004 (Semana 51)"] . Top Latino. Retrieved April 19, 2007.] and peaked at number six four weeks later. [http://toplatino.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=48 "Ranking del 16 de enero del 2005 (Semana 02)"] . Top Latino. Retrieved April 19, 2007.]

In Australia, the single debuted at the top of the ARIA Singles Chart on November 22, 2004 and stayed there for two weeks. It stayed within the top three through January 17, 2005 and dropped off the chart after fifteen weeks. The single was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association. [ [http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2004.htm "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2004 Singles"] . Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 3, 2007.] On the 2004 end-of-year chart, the song charted at number twenty-six [ [http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2004.htm "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2004"] . Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 3, 2007.] and topped the dance chart. [ [http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-dance-singles-2004.htm "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Dance Singles 2004"] . Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 5, 2007.] The next year, it was listed at number forty on the singles chart [ [http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2005.htm "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2005"] . Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 3, 2007.] and number four on the dance chart. [ [http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-dance-singles-2005.htm "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Dance Singles 2005"] . Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 5, 2007.] The single reached number three on New Zealand's RIANZ Singles Chart and remained four months on the chart. [ [http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Gwen+Stefani&titel=What+You+Waiting+For%3F&cat=s "Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For?"] . Charts.org.nz. Retrieved April 8, 2007.]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Francis Lawrence and produced by Caleb Dewart of DNA Inc. [ [http://www.muchmusic.com/events/mmva05/nominees/ "MMVA 05"] . MuchMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2007.] The video deals directly with the lyrics' theme of Stefani's search for inspiration in songwriting. It opens with a lengthy non-musical section in which Stefani arrives in Los Angeles off of No Doubt's "Rock Steady" tour. She receives several calls from manager Jimmy Iovine, who attempts to push her forward with her solo debut project, but she replies that shee is tired and uninspired. After a failed studio attempt, Stefani sees a flyer advertising help for writer's block. Upon arrival she fills out an unusual questionnaire and is then told that she'll be billed when she is finished. She asks for clarification only to discover that she is already back in the studio by herself. When Stefani picks up an oversized pocket watch from the piano, a rabbit knick-knack jumps across the room, causing her to fall back on her chair and find herself transported to a fantasy world based on "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass".

Stefani portrays several characters from the books, including Alice, the White Queen and the Red Queen, in dresses by British-Gibraltarian fashion designer John Galliano. [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,732983,00.html "The Must List | Must List | News + Notes"] . "Entertainment Weekly". October 29, 2004. Retrieved March 3, 2007.] The video frequently cuts to Stefani back in the studio to show her singing and performing in semi-synchronization with her actions within her fantasy-world. As this transpires the song is recording itself. Stefani ultimately rediscovers her confidence, and her full awareness is transported back to the ordinary reality of the studio just as she dances in front of her four giggling Harajuku Girls. She then is presented with her bill by the consultant as a wooden chair topples to the floor.

The music video was well-received by many reviewers. "Stylus Magazine" referred to it as a short film, comparing it to Michael Jackson's "Thriller", and commented "I sigh with admiration and wish every video was this alive." [Bloch, Sam. [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/pop_playground/stylus-videodrome-volume-iii.htm "Stylus Videodrome, Volume III"] . "Stylus Magazine". Retrieved April 4, 2007.] The video debuted on MTV's "Total Request Live" on October 18, 2004 at number eleven. [http://host17.hrwebservices.net/~atrl/trlarchive/db.html "The TRL Archive - Debuts"] . Popfusion. Retrieved March 3, 2007.] It reached the top of the chart and was there for three non-consecutive days, [ [http://www.popfusion.net/records/recaparchive/2004_11.html "The TRL Archive - Recap - November 2004"] . Popfusion. Retrieved March 3, 2007.] remaining over five weeks on the program. At the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, the video was nominated for Best Editing and won the award for Best Art Direction. [ [http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/2005/2005mtvv.htm "Past Winners Database"] . "Los Angeles Times". 2005. Retrieved March 3, 2007.] In Canada, it only reached number eleven on the MuchMusic's "Countdown", though it remained on the chart for eight weeks. At the 2005 MuchMusic Video Awards, the video was nominated for Best International Video but lost to Usher's "Caught Up". [ [http://www.muchmusic.com/events/mmva05/winners/ "MMVA 05"] . MuchMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2007.] It won the award for Best Dressed Video at the first MTV Australia Video Music Awards. [Alexander, Harriet. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/Music/Pop-goes-MTV-as-the-Idol-generation-votes/2005/03/03/1109700610477.html "Pop goes MTV as the Idol generation votes"] . "The Sydney Morning Herald". March 4, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2007.]

Alternate versions

Stuart Price (a.k.a Jacques Lu Cont) made the most well-known remix of the song, titled the "Thin White Duke Mix", which was included on the CD single. The track, over eight minutes long, is carried by a guitar riff and occasional chimes. [http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/GwenSWYWFRev.htm "Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For (The Remixes)"] . About.com. Retrieved April 14, 2007.] The remix received positive reviews from music critics. Pitchfork Media labeled it "outstanding", [Mandel, Aaron. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/33981-fischerspooners-new-album-set-for-april-release "Fischerspooner's New Album Set for April Release"] . Pitchfork Media. January 24, 2005. Retrieved April 14, 2007.] and "Stylus Magazine" stated that it "endowed [the song] with a sense of grandeur". [Cunningham, John M. [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=2064 "Top 10 Remixes of 2005"] . "Stylus Magazine". December 30, 2005. Retrieved April 14, 2007.] About.com found the remix "moody and a bit hypnotic", commenting that it is "best suited for early-evening sets." Armand Van Helden created two remixes, the Armand Van Helden Remix and the Armand Van Helden Dub, which use only some of the original vocals and a new bassline constructed with synthesizers and some electric guitar. Felix da Housecat created the Rude Ho Mix, which uses more bass guitar and leaves out the original background vocals by Mimi Parker until the final verse.

Alex Kapranos, guitarist and lead singer of Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand, has worn a Gwen Stefani pin on a Members Only Jacket as a tribute to "What You Waiting For?". [Hiatt, Brian. [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/franzferdinand/articles/story/7662932/hot_scots "Hot Scots"] . "Rolling Stone". September 22, 2005. Retrieved April 14, 2007.] In December 2005, the band performed a cover version of the song on Live Lounge, a segment of "The Jo Whiley Show" on BBC Radio 1. The cover includes the chorus from Billy Idol's 1983 song "White Wedding". In October 2006, the song was released as a part of the "Radio 1's Live Lounge" compilation, and the cover received mixed reviews. IndieLondon called the track "completely insane", stating that it "really has to be heard to be believed." [ [http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Music-Review/live-lounge-radio-1-review "Live Lounge (Radio 1) - Review"] . IndieLondon. Retrieved April 14, 2007.] "The Guardian" found the cover smug, commenting that "one of Alex Kapranos's eyebrows [is] raised so high that it practically vacates his head." [Lynskey, Dorian. [http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/story/0,,1922083,00.html "If hit ain't broke"] . "The Guardian". October 13, 2006. Retrieved April 14, 2007.]

Track listings

;CD single
# "What You Waiting For?" (album version) -3:43
# "What You Waiting For?" (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke mix) -8:02
# "What You Waiting For?" (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke dub) -8:22
# "What You Waiting For?" video (director's cut) -8:39

;U.S. & UK promotional CD single
# "What You Waiting For?" (album version)

Credits and personnel

* Lead vocals: Gwen Stefani
* Producers: Nellee Hooper, Linda Perry
* Recording engineers: Greg Collins, Ian Rossiter
* Programmer: Samuel Littlemore
* Assistant engineer: Keving Mills
* Guitar: Linda Perry, Rusty Anderson
* Keyboards: Linda Perry
* Background vocals: Mimi (Audia) Parker
* Audio mixing: Mark "Spike" Stent
* Assistant engineer: David Treaheam
* Second assistant engineer: Rob Haggett

Charts

References

External links

* [http://www.gwenstefani.com/ Gwen Stefani's official site]
** [http://www.gwenstefani.com/lyrics.aspx?pid=74&tid=910 "What You Waiting For?" lyrics]
** [http://www.gwenstefani.com/music/default.aspx?pid=74 "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." audio]
*