Waiting for a Star to Fall
"Waiting for a Star to Fall" | ||||
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Single by Boy Meets Girl | ||||
from the album Reel Life | ||||
B-side |
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Released | June 10, 1988 (1988-06-10) | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 4:32 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Arif Mardin | |||
Boy Meets Girl singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Waiting for a Star to Fall” on YouTube | ||||
"Waiting for a Star to Fall" is a song by American pop music duo Boy Meets Girl in 1988, written by the duo's members, Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill. They wrote the song after witnessing a falling star at a Whitney Houston concert and originally offered the song to Houston, but Arista Records CEO Clive Davis rejected it. American singer Belinda Carlisle then recorded a demo of the song but denied its inclusion on her 1987 album Heaven on Earth, so Rubicam and Merrill decided to record and release the song themselves.
"Waiting for a Star to Fall" was released in June 1988 as the second single from Boy Meets Girl's second studio album, Reel Life (1988). The song became a chart hit in several countries, reaching number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two in Canada, number five in Ireland, and number nine in the United Kingdom. Since its release, it has been remixed and covered by many artists, including Cabin Crew and Sunset Strippers, who experienced concurrent success with their reworkings in 2005.
Background
"Waiting for a Star to Fall" was written by Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill, and was inspired by an actual falling star that Rubicam had seen during a Whitney Houston concert at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. The duo did not initially consider recording the song themselves, instead submitting it to Arista's CEO Clive Davis, in the hope that he would decide to use it on Houston's second studio album, Whitney. Even though Rubicam and Merrill had written Houston's previous hit "How Will I Know", Davis rejected "Waiting for a Star to Fall", suggesting that it did not suit her.[1] This then inspired the creation of Houston's 1987 hit "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)". The song was then offered to and recorded by Belinda Carlisle for her 1987 release Heaven on Earth, at the insistence of her label, but Carlisle disliked it and refused to include it on the album.[2] This version has, however, circulated on an unofficial compilation of that album's outtakes.[3]
The tenor saxophone solo on the Boy Meets Girl version was provided in a session recording early in the career of Andy Snitzer, who later found success as a solo artist.[4]
Release and reception
Merrill and Rubicam decided to record the song themselves for their second album Reel Life. Released as a single on June 10, 1988,[citation needed] it became a hit in the United States, reaching number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number five on the Billboard Hot 100.[5][6] Issued in the United Kingdom on November 14, 1988, the song reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart during January 1989, having entered the chart in December 1988.[7][8] It remains their sole top-40 hit in the UK.[9] The song also reached number 35 on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart in April 1989.[10] After the song was used as the closing theme to the 1990 movie Three Men and a Little Lady, the single was re-released with a new picture sleeve featuring the actors of the film. The re-release peaked at number 76 in the UK.[9]
Johnny Loftus of AllMusic remarked that the song was "just a classic", and that "the urgency as it drives toward its chorus is a clinic for durable songwriting."[11]
Music video
The video for the song, directed by Australian director Claudia Castle, features scenes of Merrill and Rubicam singing it on a beach and inside a house.[12] Also featured are scenes of a group of children playing with bubbles, including the couple's young daughter Hilary.[3]
Track listings
7-inch, cassette, and mini-CD single[13][14][15]
12-inch and CD single[16][17]
| 1991 7-inch single[18]
1991 12-inch and CD single[19][20]
|
Personnel
Personnel are lifted from the Reel Life liner notes.[21]
- George Merrill – writing, lead vocals, acoustic piano, synthesizers, bass, drum programming
- Shannon Rubicam – writing, backing vocals
- Susan Boyd – backing vocals
- John Goux – guitars
- Joe Mardin – synthesizers
- Denny Fongheiser – drums
- Michael Jochum – additional drums
- Andy Snitzer – saxophone
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[37] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | June 10, 1988 |
| RCA | [citation needed] |
United Kingdom | November 14, 1988 |
| [7] | |
January 9, 1989 | CD | [38] | ||
Japan | January 21, 1989 | Mini-CD | [39] |
Covers and remixes
"Star to Fall" | ||||
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Single by Cabin Crew | ||||
Released | 2005 | |||
Length | 2:47 (radio edit) | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Cabin Crew singles chronology | ||||
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"Falling Stars" | |
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Single by Sunset Strippers | |
Released | February 28, 2005 (2005-02-28)[40] |
Length | 3:19 |
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Sunset Strippers |
The song has been covered and remixed several times. The most commercially successful versions came in 2005, when Australian musical group Cabin Crew remixed the song as "Star to Fall" (or "Star2Fall") but were refused the sampling of the original lyrics by Sony BMG. Liking what Cabin Crew had done, however, George Merrill agreed to re-record the vocals.[41] Meanwhile, Sony BMG had British musical group Sunset Strippers remix the original track under the title "Falling Stars". Both versions peaked within the top five of the UK Singles Chart in March 2005.
Charts
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Other covers
- The track "In My Arms" by British electronic musician Mylo sampled the song and was featured on Mylo's album Destroy Rock & Roll. His version also samples Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes" and made it to number 15 in the United Kingdom in 2005.[76]
- In December 2012, a rock version of the song was released by the band Lionville on their album Lionville II.[77]
- In December 2013, a stripped back indie version of the song was released by the English band Young Kato. It was featured on the Made in Chelsea soundtrack.[78]
- Also in December 2013, a folk cover of the song by Icelandic singer Yohanna surfaced on the Internet.[79]
- In March 2014, a folk cover of the song by English singer Diana Vickers surfaced on the Internet.[80]
- In September 2017, Australian singer George Maple interpolated the song as part of her single "Hero".[81]
- On 31 December 2020, the international rock/metal musical project "At The Movies" released a cover version of the song on YouTube.[82]
References
- ^ Spears, Steve (September 15, 2017). "Why didn't anybody want to record 'Waiting For a Star to Fall?'". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ Zimbio (June 14, 2013). "28 Musicians Who Turned Down Hit Songs". Business Insider. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ a b Belinda Carlisle - Waiting for a Star To Fall. March 2, 2010. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "SmoothViews - Keeping Smooth Jazz in Sight". www.smoothviews.com.
- ^ a b "Boy Meets Girl Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ a b "Boy Meets Girl Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ a b "New Singles". Music Week. November 12, 1988. p. 31.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ a b "Boy Meets Girl". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ a b "Boy Meets Girl – Waiting for a Star to Fall". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ Johnny Loftus. "Reel Life – Boy Meets Girl – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ^ Boy Meets Girl - Waiting for a Star to Fall. February 21, 2014 – via YouTube.
- ^ Waiting for a Star to Fall (US 7-inch single sleeve). Boy Meets Girl. RCA Records. 1988. 8691-7-R.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Waiting for a Star to Fall (US cassette single sleeve). Boy Meets Girl. RCA Records. 1988. 8691-4-RS.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Waiting for a Star to Fall (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Boy Meets Girl. RCA Records. 1989. R10D-108.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Waiting for a Star to Fall (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Boy Meets Girl. RCA Records. 1988. PT 49520.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Waiting for a Star to Fall (UK CD single liner notes). Boy Meets Girl. RCA Records. 1989. PD49520.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Waiting for a Star to Fall (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Boy Meets Girl. Hollywood Records. 1991. HWD2, 570 003-7.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Waiting for a Star to Fall (US 12-inch single sleeve). Boy Meets Girl. Hollywood Records. 1991. HWD2T.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Waiting for a Star to Fall (UK CD single liner notes). Boy Meets Girl. Hollywood Records. 1991. HWD2CD, 570 003-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Reel Life (US CD album liner notes). Boy Meets Girl. RCA Records. 1988. 8414-2-R.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Boy Meets Girl – Waiting for a Star to Fall" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ "RPM 100 Singles" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 11. January 14, 1989. p. 6. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. January 28, 1989. p. 30. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ "Boy Meets Girl – Waiting for a Star to Fall" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ "Ísland Top 10". DV. February 17, 1989. p. 40. ISSN 1021-8254.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Waiting for a Star to Fall". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Boy Meets Girl – Waiting for a Star to Fall" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ "Boy Meets Girl – Waiting for a Star to Fall". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ Sweden Charts Archive. 14 January 1989.
- ^ "Boy meets girl". wweb.uta.edu.
- ^ "Waiting for a star to fall". wweb.uta.edu.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. December 24, 1988. p. 9. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 51. December 23, 1989. p. Y-22. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "British single certifications – Boy Meets Girl – Waiting for a Star to Fall". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
- ^ "New Singles". Music Week. January 7, 1989. p. 23.
- ^ "スター・トゥ・フォール | ボーイ・ミーツ・ガール" [Star to Fall | Boy Meets Girl] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 28th February 2005" (PDF). ARIA. February 28, 2005. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 19, 2005. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
- ^ "The ARIA Report – Chartifacts!" (PDF). ARIA. March 7, 2005. p. 2. Archived from the original on February 22, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "Cabin Crew – Star to Fall". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "The ARIA Report – ARIA Club Tracks – Week Commencing 21st February 2005" (PDF). ARIA. February 21, 2005. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 19, 2005. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "Issue 786" ARIA Top 50 Dance Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- ^ "Cabin Crew – Star to Fall" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Cabin Crew – Star to Fall" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 12. March 19, 2005. p. 41. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ "Cabin Crew: Star to Fall" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Cabin Crew – Star to Fall" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Cabin Crew – Star to Fall" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Star to Fall". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 3 March 2005". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved June 18, 2019.[dead link]
- ^ "Cabin Crew – Star to Fall". Top Digital Download. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 13, 2005" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Cabin Crew – Star to Fall" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Cabin Crew – Star to Fall". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Club Chart 2005". ARIA. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ a b "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Sunset Strippers – Falling Stars (Waiting for a Star to Fall)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "The ARIA Report – ARIA Club Tracks – Week Commencing 7th February 2005" (PDF). ARIA. February 7, 2005. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2005. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "Issue 785" ARIA Top 50 Dance Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- ^ "Sunset Strippers – Falling Stars (Waiting for a Star to Fall)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Sunset Strippers – Falling Stars (Waiting for a Star to Fall)". Tracklisten. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 13. March 26, 2005. p. 37. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ "Sunset Strippers – Falling Stars (Waiting for a Star to Fall)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Falling Stars". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 10 March 2005". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved June 18, 2019.[dead link]
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Sunset Strippers – Falling Stars (Waiting for a Star to Fall)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Mylo". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "Lionville - Waiting for a Star to Fall". Archived from the original on December 13, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Young Kato". www.withguitars.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ "Song "Waiting for a Star to Fall"". www.yohanna.de. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
- ^ Jord C (March 20, 2014). "Diana Vickers - Waiting For a Star to Fall". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
- ^ "George Maple - Hero (Official Video)". Archived from the original on December 13, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ At The Movies - Waiting For A Star To Fall on YouTube
External links
- Full lyrics at Boy Meets Girl Music Boy Meets Girl Music
- v
- t
- e
- George Merrill
- Shannon Rubicam
- Boy Meets Girl
- Reel Life
- "Waiting for a Star to Fall"