Waiting on You (Lindsay Ell song) explained

Waiting on You
Cover:Lindsay Ell - Waiting on You (single cover).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Lindsay Ell
Album:The Project
Genre:Country blues
Label:Stoney Creek
Producer:Kristian Bush
Prev Title:All Alright
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:Criminal
Next Year:2017

"Waiting on You" is a song written and recorded by Canadian country music singer, songwriter, and guitarist Lindsay Ell. It was released May 29, 2017 as Ell's sixth single and serves as the lead single for her third studio album, The Project (2017).[1] Ell co-wrote the song with Adam Hambrick and Andrew DeRoberts, while Kristian Bush of Sugarland produced the track. "Waiting on You" is also included on Ell's debut extended play, Worth the Wait (2017). The song became Ell's first top five single on the Canadian country chart.

Release and promotion

Following a string of successful one-off singles between 2013 and 2016,[2] Ell released her debut extended play, Worth the Wait, in March 2017.[3] "Waiting on You" was selected as the record's lead single and was made available to country radio stations via the digital Play MPE service on May 8, 2017.[4] [5] It officially went for adds at the format in the United States on May 29, 2017.[1] A radio edit of the song was released digitally on March 2, 2018 in promotion of the album's UK physical release.[6]

Ell was scheduled to appear on the Sacramento, California country station KNCI on June 16, 2017 as part of a promotional radio tour for the single, but the appearance was cancelled the day before.[7] Through her Twitter, Ell explained that she had been asked not to attend " of my personal life," referring to her relationship with Bobby Bones, a popular radio personality from a rival station.[8] [9] The controversial decision renewed discussions about the challenges faced by female artists and generated increased interest in the single.[8] [9] Ell appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live four days later, on June 20, 2017, and performed the song to general acclaim.[10]

Critical reception

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country wrote that "everything about this song is looser, more honest and much more compelling than anything Ell had released previously."[11]

Chart performance

"Waiting on You" debuted at number 60 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart dated July 15, 2017.[12] This earned Ell her fourth entry on the country charts in the United States. The song peaked at number 42 in November 2017, making it her highest-charting single on Country Airplay to date. Follow-up single, "Criminal", would surpass this peak the following month. In October 2017, "Waiting on You" reached number 4 on the Canada Country chart, becoming her highest-peaking single to date in her home country.

Music video

A music video directed by Peter Zavadil premiered July 5, 2017 through CMT.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Future Releases for Country Radio Stations. All Access Media Group. July 10, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170504001607/https://www.allaccess.com/country/future-releases. May 4, 2017.
  2. News: Freeman . Jon. Lindsay Ell, Kristian Bush on How John Mayer Influenced Ell's New EP. July 10, 2017. Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. March 27, 2017.
  3. Web site: Worth the Wait - Lindsay Ell Songs, Reviews, Credits . AllMusic. July 10, 2017.
  4. News: Roland. Tom. After Years Of 'Waiting' It Out, Lindsay Ell Finds Her Artistic Voice . July 10, 2017. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. June 21, 2017.
  5. Web site: Lindsay Ell  - Waiting On You. Daily Play MPE. July 10, 2017.
  6. Web site: Waiting On You - Lindsay Ell Release Info. AllMusic. April 30, 2018.
  7. News: Watts. Cindy. Lindsay Ell on show being canceled because she's dating Bobby Bones: 'Everyone makes mistakes'. July 10, 2017. The Tennessean. Gannett Company. June 19, 2017.
  8. News: Roland. Tom. Bobby Bones Accuses a Dozen Radio Execs of Blackballing His Girlfriend Lindsay Ell. July 10, 2017. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. June 20, 2017.
  9. News: Aiello. McKenna. Lindsay Ell Opens Up About Country Music's Backlash Against Her Dating Bobby Bones. July 10, 2017. E! Online. NBCUniversal Cable. June 22, 2017.
  10. News: Casey. Jim. Lindsay Ell Proves She's Worth the Wait With Performance of "Waiting on You" on "Jimmy Kimmel". July 10, 2017. Nash Country Daily. June 22, 2017.
  11. News: Dukes. Billy. ToC Critic's Pick: Lindsay Ell, 'Waiting on You' [Listen]]. July 10, 2017. Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. May 10, 2017.
  12. Web site: Country Airplay: The Week Of July 15, 2017. Billboard. July 10, 2017.
  13. Web site: Lindsay Ell Waiting on You. https://web.archive.org/web/20170711071607/http://www.cmt.com/videos/lindsay-ell/1701178/waiting-on-you.jhtml. dead. July 11, 2017. CMT. July 10, 2017.