Waiting Game (Banks song)

"Waiting Game" is a song by American singer Banks from her second extended play (EP), London (2013). It was written by Banks and Sohn, and produced by the latter. The song was also included on Banks' debut studio album, Goddess (2014). "Waiting Game" charted at number 99 on the UK Singles Chart in January 2014 after being featured in a Victoria's Secret commercial.

"Waiting Game"
Song by Banks
from the EP London and the album Goddess
ReleasedSeptember 10, 2013 (2013-09-10)
StudioLion Aboard, London
GenrePop[1]
Length3:27
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Sohn

Background

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Although it was never released as a single, the song was featured in a Victoria's Secret commercial in December 2013,[2] and in January 2014, it charted at number 99 on the UK Singles Chart.[3] The track also reached number 16 on the US Alternative Digital Songs chart in April 2015.[4] The song describes a long-distance relationship.[5]

In July 2014, English girl group Neon Jungle released a cover version of the song on their album Welcome to the Jungle without Banks' knowledge. In response, Banks posted a statement on her Facebook page, explaining she was "shocked" to see the song on their album, describing the song as "my own heartbeats" and having been "born from my real life, my real heartache, my real fingertips when I was at one of the most confusing times in my life".[6] The song would later appear on her debut studio album, Goddess, released in September 2014.[7]

Release and promotion

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Banks performed "Waiting Game" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on August 7, 2014, along with single "Beggin for Thread", making her television debut.[8] It would later be featured in the television shows Reckless (season 1, episode 7), Grey's Anatomy (season 11, episode 3), Mistresses (season 3, episode 1), Power (season 1, episode 7), and The Originals (season 1, episode 4), as well as on the deluxe edition of the soundtrack to the 2014 film Divergent.[9]

Critical reception

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The Guardian described the song as "essentially, a [young-adult] novel distilled in song [which] throbs with yearning and lust over evocative drums and static".[10]

Music video

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The music video for "Waiting Game" was directed by Francesco Carrozzini and premiered on August 27, 2013.[11]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Goddess.[12]

Recording

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Personnel

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  • Banks – vocals
  • Sohn – production, mixing
  • Daniel Moyler – engineering
  • Pete Lyman – mastering

Charts

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Chart (2014–15) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[3] 99
US Alternative Digital Songs (Billboard)[4] 16

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[13] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Faubel, Alex (September 10, 2014). "THE DROP: FOUR ALBUMS YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO NOW". 303 Magazine. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  2. ^ Saad, Nardine (12 December 2013). "Watch extended cut of Victoria Secret models Paris commercial". L.A. Times. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Banks: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Banks Chart History (Alternative Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  5. ^ "banks is the Sort Of Person You Want To Tell Your Secrets To". Vice.com. 15 August 2013.
  6. ^ Banks (July 30, 2014). "People keep asking why I let Neon Jungle put my..." Retrieved August 11, 2014 – via Facebook.
  7. ^ "'Neon Jungle 'no comment' over claims they covered Banks song without artist's knowledge'". NME. July 31, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  8. ^ Kaye, Ben (August 8, 2014). "Watch: Banks makes her TV debut on Kimmel Live!". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  9. ^ "Banks Music". TuneFind.
  10. ^ "Banks: 'I'm being as honest as I can'". The Guardian. 30 August 2014.
  11. ^ Gottlieb, Steven (August 28, 2013). "Banks "Waiting Game" (Francesco Carrozzini, dir.)". VideoStatic. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  12. ^ Goddess (liner notes). Banks. Harvest Records. 2014. 2537546657.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ "American single certifications – Banks – Waiting Game". Recording Industry Association of America. November 21, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.