"Robert De Niro's Waiting..." is a song written by Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward, Steve Jolley, and Tony Swain, recorded for English girl groupBananarama's eponymous second studio album. Produced by Jolley & Swain, it was released as the album's second single on 20 February 1984. It namechecks American actor Robert De Niro. The single is one of the group's strongest-performing releases, peaking at number three in the UK Singles Chart. It made a brief appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 95. Billboard ranked the song at number 74 on their list of the "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".[3]
An extended version of the song is available on the 12-inch single. The B-side of both 7-inch and 12-inch singles is a song called "Push!". The version of "Push!" on the 12-inch single is not extended but preceded by an unlisted alternate version of the brief track that would be called "Link" at the end of side one of the Bananarama album. Bananarama have re-recorded "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." twice, in 2000 for the G-A-Y compilation and the next year another new re-recording was included on their eighth studio album Exotica (2001).
In Bananarama's 2017 reunion interview with The Guardian, original group member Siobhan Fahey explained the song's meaning: "The thing I'm proudest of [...] is that we made quirky pop. The lyrics were much darker than you'd imagine. 'Robert De Niro's Waiting' is about date rape." Keren Woodward added, "You'll listen to it with new ears now." Sara Dallin continued, "I wanted it to be like 'Pull Up to the Bumper'. It didn't quite work out like that, did it?"[4] This echoed similar statements in the group's contemporaneous, and earlier, interviews.[5][6] However, in a 2019 interview with The Telegraph, Dallin offered a different explanation of the song's meaning: "It was just about hero worship. It wasn't about rape. I don't know where that came from. It's absolute rubbish."[7]
Music videoedit
The music video for "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." was directed by Duncan Gibbins and shows Bananarama walking around dark streets, possibly followed by mafia-style clothed men. When it gets to the bridge part of the song, Dallin is shown running along, looking behind her as if being followed. As the video winds down, Dallin, Fahey, and Keren Woodward are back in their apartment, when the door bell rings. Woodward answers the door, only to be confronted by the man who might have been chasing them, armed with a Mafia-style violin case. As she looks nervously at him, the case falls open to reveal a sign saying "Pizza Delivery", along with three pizzas. Both the man and Woodward start laughing, and the video ends with Bananarama in their apartment eating the pizza and laughing.
Track listingsedit
Some copies of the UK 7-inch came with a cut out postcard of Fahey, Woodward, or Dallin. There were also three separate picture disc releases each with a photo of Fahey, Woodward, or Dallin. The UK 12-inch was available in three different vinyl colours: pink for Woodward, green for Fahey, and blue for Dallin, each with a large picture label.
^"New Singles". Music Week. 18 February 1984. p. 18.
^Graeme Virtue (14 November 2017). "Bananarama review – hi-NRG poignancy as pop trio return for first proper tour". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
^"100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
^Nicholson, Rebecca (24 April 2017). "'People wet their knickers when they find out I was in Bananarama': the 80s trio return". Retrieved 11 July 2017 – via The Guardian.
^Nicholson, Rebecca (26 April 2017). "Bananarama are back: 'It was every bit as intense as a marriage, but without the sex'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
^Potton, Ed (21 November 2017). "It's love in the first degree; This was a truly stonking comeback for the Eighties girl group, says Ed Potton Pop". The Times (London).
^Singh, Anita (19 April 2019). "Bananarama interview: 'We didn't have to be sexual to make it'". Telegraph Online. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
^Robert De Niro's Waiting... (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Bananarama. London Records. 1984. NANX 6, 820 033-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 25. ISBN0-646-11917-6.
^"European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1, no. 6. 7 May 1984. p. 8. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
^"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Robert De Niro's Waiting". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
^"Nederlandse Top 40 – Bananarama" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
^"Bananarama – Robert De Niro's Waiting..." (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
^. The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
^"Bananarama – Robert De Niro's Waiting...". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
^"Bananarama Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
^"Offiziellecharts.de – Bananarama – Robert De Niro's Waiting..." (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
^"Top 100 Singles 1984" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
External linksedit
"Robert De Niro's Waiting..." at Discogs (list of releases)
November 25, 2023
robert, niro, waiting, song, written, sara, dallin, siobhan, fahey, keren, woodward, steve, jolley, tony, swain, recorded, english, girl, group, bananarama, eponymous, second, studio, album, produced, jolley, swain, released, album, second, single, february, 1. Robert De Niro s Waiting is a song written by Sara Dallin Siobhan Fahey Keren Woodward Steve Jolley and Tony Swain recorded for English girl group Bananarama s eponymous second studio album Produced by Jolley amp Swain it was released as the album s second single on 20 February 1984 It namechecks American actor Robert De Niro The single is one of the group s strongest performing releases peaking at number three in the UK Singles Chart It made a brief appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number 95 Billboard ranked the song at number 74 on their list of the 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time 3 Robert De Niro s Waiting Single by Bananaramafrom the album BananaramaB side Push Released20 February 1984 1984 02 20 1 GenreSynth pop 2 Length3 43LabelLondonSongwriter s Sara Dallin Siobhan Fahey Keren Woodward Steve Jolley Tony SwainProducer s Jolley amp SwainBananarama singles chronology Cruel Summer 1983 Robert De Niro s Waiting 1984 Rough Justice 1984 Music video Robert De Niro s Waiting on YouTubeAn extended version of the song is available on the 12 inch single The B side of both 7 inch and 12 inch singles is a song called Push The version of Push on the 12 inch single is not extended but preceded by an unlisted alternate version of the brief track that would be called Link at the end of side one of the Bananarama album Bananarama have re recorded Robert De Niro s Waiting twice in 2000 for the G A Y compilation and the next year another new re recording was included on their eighth studio album Exotica 2001 Contents 1 Lyrical content 2 Music video 3 Track listings 4 Charts 4 1 Weekly charts 4 2 Year end charts 5 References 6 External linksLyrical content editIn Bananarama s 2017 reunion interview with The Guardian original group member Siobhan Fahey explained the song s meaning The thing I m proudest of is that we made quirky pop The lyrics were much darker than you d imagine Robert De Niro s Waiting is about date rape Keren Woodward added You ll listen to it with new ears now Sara Dallin continued I wanted it to be like Pull Up to the Bumper It didn t quite work out like that did it 4 This echoed similar statements in the group s contemporaneous and earlier interviews 5 6 However in a 2019 interview with The Telegraph Dallin offered a different explanation of the song s meaning It was just about hero worship It wasn t about rape I don t know where that came from It s absolute rubbish 7 Music video editThe music video for Robert De Niro s Waiting was directed by Duncan Gibbins and shows Bananarama walking around dark streets possibly followed by mafia style clothed men When it gets to the bridge part of the song Dallin is shown running along looking behind her as if being followed As the video winds down Dallin Fahey and Keren Woodward are back in their apartment when the door bell rings Woodward answers the door only to be confronted by the man who might have been chasing them armed with a Mafia style violin case As she looks nervously at him the case falls open to reveal a sign saying Pizza Delivery along with three pizzas Both the man and Woodward start laughing and the video ends with Bananarama in their apartment eating the pizza and laughing Track listings editSome copies of the UK 7 inch came with a cut out postcard of Fahey Woodward or Dallin There were also three separate picture disc releases each with a photo of Fahey Woodward or Dallin The UK 12 inch was available in three different vinyl colours pink for Woodward green for Fahey and blue for Dallin each with a large picture label 7 inch single 8 A Robert De Niro s Waiting 3 27 B Push 4 0812 inch single 9 A1 Robert De Niro s Waiting extended version 5 43 B1 Untitled Link unlisted on label and artwork 1 59 B2 Push 4 08Charts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1984 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 10 40Europe European Hot 100 Singles 11 12Ireland IRMA 12 8Netherlands Dutch Top 40 13 25Netherlands Single Top 100 14 22South Africa Springbok Radio 15 7Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 16 8UK Singles OCC 17 3US Billboard Hot 100 18 95West Germany Official German Charts 19 7 Year end charts edit Chart 1984 PositionUK Singles Gallup 20 69References edit New Singles Music Week 18 February 1984 p 18 Graeme Virtue 14 November 2017 Bananarama review hi NRG poignancy as pop trio return for first proper tour The Guardian Retrieved 10 December 2022 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time Critics Picks Billboard Retrieved 11 July 2017 Nicholson Rebecca 24 April 2017 People wet their knickers when they find out I was in Bananarama the 80s trio return Retrieved 11 July 2017 via The Guardian Nicholson Rebecca 26 April 2017 Bananarama are back It was every bit as intense as a marriage but without the sex The Irish Times Retrieved 2 January 2020 Potton Ed 21 November 2017 It s love in the first degree This was a truly stonking comeback for the Eighties girl group says Ed Potton Pop The Times London Singh Anita 19 April 2019 Bananarama interview We didn t have to be sexual to make it Telegraph Online Retrieved 2 January 2020 Robert De Niro s Waiting UK 7 inch single sleeve Bananarama London Records 1984 NANA 6 820 033 7 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Robert De Niro s Waiting UK 12 inch single sleeve Bananarama London Records 1984 NANX 6 820 033 1 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 25 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 European Top 100 Singles PDF Eurotipsheet Vol 1 no 6 7 May 1984 p 8 OCLC 29800226 via World Radio History The Irish Charts Search Results Robert De Niro s Waiting Irish Singles Chart Retrieved 15 November 2020 Nederlandse Top 40 Bananarama in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 15 November 2020 Bananarama Robert De Niro s Waiting in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved 15 November 2020 SA Charts 1965 1989 As presented on Springbok Radio Radio Orion Acts B The South African Rock Encyclopedia Archived from the original on 1 September 2018 Retrieved 16 November 2020 Bananarama Robert De Niro s Waiting Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved 15 November 2020 Bananarama Artist Chart History Official Charts Company Retrieved 16 October 2016 Bananarama Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved 15 November 2020 Offiziellecharts de Bananarama Robert De Niro s Waiting in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved 15 November 2020 Top 100 Singles 1984 PDF Music Week Retrieved 18 September 2022 External links edit Robert De Niro s Waiting at Discogs list of releases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert De Niro 27s Waiting amp oldid 1185476083, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
