I Can't Wait (Nu Shooz song)
Encyclopedia
"I Can't Wait" is the title of a song recorded by American group Nu Shooz
from the album Poolside
. The song was originally recorded the previous year and became a popular radio track in and around the band's hometown of Portland
, Oregon
. Credits on the back of the single indicate that the Poolside
LP was originally to be called "The Point of No Return".
In the United States
, the song reached #1 on Billboards Hot Dance Club Play
chart in late March 1986, remaining atop the chart for two weeks. Soon afterwards, the song appeared on the Hot 100
chart, where it climbed to #3 in mid-June of that year, and remained in the top 40 for 15 weeks. In the United Kingdom
, the song reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart
.
The song's American chart run coincided with that of a Stevie Nicks
song also titled "I Can't Wait" (a rare incidence of two different songs with the same title charting at the same time). The extended "Long Dutch Mix" contains more samples (such as "c'mon!" from Madonna
's "Into the Groove
"), and takes the pitchshifting of the chorus even further, creating an eventual "pitchdown" at the ending.
's writeup in a Spin
magazine column wrote about the single, saying: "You can listen to this record as many times as you want and still not have any strong impressions that human beings actually made it. In other words, it's the perfect disco record."
. It contains animations and has a hint of the very surreal. The plot has Valerie Day singing the song sitting at a desk, while tools and other oddities pass through and out again.
cover of the song, "I Can't Wait (To Rock the Mike)", by Spyder-D
was released later that year. In 1996, Vanessa Williams
used an interpolation of "I Can't Wait" in her hit "Happiness
", which is one of the words in the original song.
Brian McKnight
's "Jam Knock" used a sample of "I Can't Wait" on his 1997 album, Anytime.
It was sampled by Natalie Alvarado's "I Can't Wait" off her 2005 debut album Natalie.
The song was sampled by Vanessa Williams in her song "Happiness."
In 2007, the music was replayed in a remix for Paula DeAnda
's single "Easy", featuring a rap appearance by Bow Wow. This song was produced by a production team by the name of The Flyntstones.
The song was sampled by Girl Talk
in the song "No Pause" on his 2008 album Feed the Animals
. The vocals to Work It by Missy Elliott
are mixed over it.
Belgian beauty queen Tatiana Silva
covered the song in 2008.
The song was mashed up
with Snoop Dogg
's "Drop It Like It's Hot
" by dj BC
in a song called "Snoop's Nu Shooz". It also was mashed up with 50 Cent and Mobb Deep's "Have a Party" on the Statik Selektah mixtape of 2008 called The Empire Strikes Back; the track is titled "I Can't Wait (Have a Party Showoff Rmx)" (feat. 50 Cent & Mobb Deep).
The song is also sampled in the 2010 single "Buzzin'
" by Mann
.
Nu Shooz
Nu Shooz is an American Freestyle-R&B-Dance group fronted by husband-and-wife team of John Smith and Valerie Day, based in Portland, Oregon. The Shooz released four albums in the U.S...
from the album Poolside
Poolside (album)
Poolside is the title of a 1986 album by the American pop–Latin freestyle–electronic dance music group Nu Shooz. It was released on Atlantic Records in the U.S. in the May 1986. At the time, the band was creating music in both the synthpop and freestyle genres...
. The song was originally recorded the previous year and became a popular radio track in and around the band's hometown of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Credits on the back of the single indicate that the Poolside
Poolside (album)
Poolside is the title of a 1986 album by the American pop–Latin freestyle–electronic dance music group Nu Shooz. It was released on Atlantic Records in the U.S. in the May 1986. At the time, the band was creating music in both the synthpop and freestyle genres...
LP was originally to be called "The Point of No Return".
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the song reached #1 on Billboards Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart in late March 1986, remaining atop the chart for two weeks. Soon afterwards, the song appeared on the Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, where it climbed to #3 in mid-June of that year, and remained in the top 40 for 15 weeks. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the song reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
The song's American chart run coincided with that of a Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
song also titled "I Can't Wait" (a rare incidence of two different songs with the same title charting at the same time). The extended "Long Dutch Mix" contains more samples (such as "c'mon!" from Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's "Into the Groove
Into the Groove
"Into the Groove" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan. It was featured on the 1985 re-issue of her second studio album, Like a Virgin, and released on July 23, 1985 by Sire Records as the album's fourth single outside North America...
"), and takes the pitchshifting of the chorus even further, creating an eventual "pitchdown" at the ending.
Critical reception
John LelandJohn Leland (journalist)
John Leland is an author and has been a New York Times journalist since 2000. During a stint in 1994, he was editor in chief of Details magazine...
's writeup in a Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
magazine column wrote about the single, saying: "You can listen to this record as many times as you want and still not have any strong impressions that human beings actually made it. In other words, it's the perfect disco record."
Music video
The music video was drected by Jim BlashfieldJim Blashfield
Jim Blashfield is an American filmmaker and media artist, best known for his short films such as Suspicious Circumstances and The Mid-Torso of Inez, and his music videos for musicians Talking Heads, Joni Mitchell, Nu Shooz, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, Michael Jackson, Tears for Fears, "Weird Al"...
. It contains animations and has a hint of the very surreal. The plot has Valerie Day singing the song sitting at a desk, while tools and other oddities pass through and out again.
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
1 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
2 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 16 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 1 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 9 |
| French Singles Chart | 24 |
| German Singles Chart | 2 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 10 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 9 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 4 |
In other media
- The intro can be heard in the 2007 UK film Son of RambowSon of RambowSon of Rambow is a 2008 comedy-drama film written and directed by Garth Jennings. The film premiered January 22, 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival. It was later shown at the Newport Beach Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Glasgow Film...
. - Portions of the intro can be heard in a Powerade ZeroPoweradePowerade is a sports drink manufactured and marketed by The Coca-Cola Company. First introduced in 1988, its primary competitor is PepsiCo's Gatorade...
television commercial that aired in 2010. - Briefly heard in the 2010 comedy, Hot Tub Time MachineHot Tub Time MachineHot Tub Time Machine is a 2010 American science fiction adult comedy film directed by Steve Pink. Four men, all of them bored with their adult lives, travel back to their 1980s teen-hood, courtesy of a time-shifting hot tub. It stars John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Kellee Stewart, Rob...
, when Nick runs out realizing the group is in the 1980s. - Used in the 2010 film The Switch, and was included on the film's soundtrack.
- Included on the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrackGrand Theft Auto IV soundtrackThe soundtrack to the game Grand Theft Auto IV, like the previous games in the series, is mostly made up of in-game radio stations. These radio stations can be listened to when driving various vehicles in the game, or at the start menu...
. - Used in Season 1, Episode 3 of The Cleveland ShowThe Cleveland ShowThe Cleveland Show is an American animated television series that premiered on September 27, 2009, as a part of the "Animation Domination" lineup on Fox in the United States...
, "The One About FriendsThe One About Friends"The One About Friends" is the third episode of The Cleveland Show. The episode aired on October 11, 2009 on Fox Broadcasting Company. In the episode, Cleveland, concerned that Cleveland Jr has no friends, invites his neighbor Lester’s son Ernie to their house. Ernie becomes attached to the family...
" when Cleveland goes shoe-shopping. - Heard on one of the commercials used for The Big Bang TheoryThe Big Bang TheoryThe Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the show, along with Steven Molaro. All three also serve as head writers...
syndication on TBS (TV channel)TBS (TV channel)TBS , stylized in the logo as tbs, is an American cable television channel owned by Time Warner that shows a variety of programming, with a focus on comedy. TBS was originally known as WTCG, a UHF terrestrial television station that broadcast from Atlanta, Georgia, during the late 1970s...
in the Fall of 2011.
Charting
Cover versions/Samples
A rapRapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
cover of the song, "I Can't Wait (To Rock the Mike)", by Spyder-D
Spyder-D
Duane Hughes, better known by his stage name Spyder D, is a former professional old-school rapper and producer from New York City.- 1980s :...
was released later that year. In 1996, Vanessa Williams
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
used an interpolation of "I Can't Wait" in her hit "Happiness
Happiness (Vanessa Williams song)
Happiness was the first single from Vanessa Williams' album Next. It was released on June 24, 1997. Williams withdrew the video immediately after her divorce from husband Ramon Hervey...
", which is one of the words in the original song.
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
's "Jam Knock" used a sample of "I Can't Wait" on his 1997 album, Anytime.
It was sampled by Natalie Alvarado's "I Can't Wait" off her 2005 debut album Natalie.
The song was sampled by Vanessa Williams in her song "Happiness."
In 2007, the music was replayed in a remix for Paula DeAnda
Paula DeAnda
Paula DeAnda is a Mexican American pop singer-songwriter and actress. She first came to prominence with her first single "Doing Too Much" that became a hit in the Southwest. She then got the opportunity to audition for Clive Davis who signed her to Arista Records on the spot...
's single "Easy", featuring a rap appearance by Bow Wow. This song was produced by a production team by the name of The Flyntstones.
The song was sampled by Girl Talk
Girl Talk (musician)
Gregg Michael Gillis , better known by his stage name Girl Talk, is an American musician specializing in mashups and digital sampling. Gillis has released five LPs on the record label Illegal Art and EPs on 333 and 12 Apostles....
in the song "No Pause" on his 2008 album Feed the Animals
Feed the Animals
Feed the Animals is the fourth album by Girl Talk , released on Illegal Art in 2008. It is composed almost entirely of samples taken from other artists' songs, plus minor original instrumentation by Girl Talk...
. The vocals to Work It by Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
are mixed over it.
Belgian beauty queen Tatiana Silva
Tatiana Silva
Tatiana Silva Braga Tavares was Miss Belgium in 2005. She entered the pageant as Miss Brussels and represented Belgium at the Miss World contest in December 2005.She was born in the Brussels suburb of Uccle...
covered the song in 2008.
The song was mashed up
Mashup (music)
A mashup or bootleg is a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another...
with Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
's "Drop It Like It's Hot
Drop It Like It's Hot
"Drop It Like It's Hot" is a 2004 rap number-one hit single by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell. Snoop performs the chorus and the second and third verses , while Pharrell performs the first verse....
" by dj BC
Dj BC
Bob Cronin, better known by the stage name dj BC, is an American disc jockey and Mashup record producer.BC's work has been heard from the radio stations in Boston and New York City to stations in Paris and Athens. For several years he co-hosted a mash-up night in Boston, known as Mash Ave, with a...
in a song called "Snoop's Nu Shooz". It also was mashed up with 50 Cent and Mobb Deep's "Have a Party" on the Statik Selektah mixtape of 2008 called The Empire Strikes Back; the track is titled "I Can't Wait (Have a Party Showoff Rmx)" (feat. 50 Cent & Mobb Deep).
The song is also sampled in the 2010 single "Buzzin'
Buzzin' (Mann song)
"Buzzin" is a song by American hip hop artist Mann. Written by Mann, The Jackie Boyz and J.R. Rotem and produced by the latter, the song was released as a single on October 25, 2010 and serves as the lead single from Mann's upcoming debut album Mann's World. "Buzzin'" is an R&B hip hop song and is...
" by Mann
Mann (rapper)
Dijon Thames Shariff , better known by his stage name Mann, is an American hip-hop/rap artist from West LA, California, signed to J.R. Rotem's Beluga Heights Records.- Biography:...
.