I'm Waiting Here
| "I'm Waiting Here" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"I'm Waiting Here" is a song by the American film director and musician David Lynch. It is the thirteenth track and lead single from Lynch's second studio album The Big Dream (2013), and was released on June 3, 2013 on Sacred Bones Records. Produced by Lynch, "I'm Waiting Here" features vocals by Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li, who co-wrote the song with Lynch collaborator Dean Hurley. Critical response to the song was largely positive and a music video was released.
Music video
The music video was concepted by Li and visual artist Daniel Desure, cinematographed by Nicholas Trikonis and edited by Jesse Fleming and Sadie Strangio. It was premiered on both Lynch's and Li's official YouTube channels on June 10, 2013.[1] The video features "a single-shot clip taken from the dashboard of car traveling a long and empty desert road"[2] and has been described by BlackBook as "beautiful in its simplicity", "the perfect, tranquil, seductive, and meditative accompaniment for the song" and its imagery "harkening back to Lynch's affinity for the road and the vast possibility of spaces that transcend forever."[3]
Release and reception
"I'm Waiting Here" was released as The Big Dream's lead single on June 3, 2013. It was made available for digital download on iTunes[4] and for stream on the online music service Spotify. A 7" version of "I'm Waiting Here" was included as a bonus item with LP versions of The Big Dream. It features an "etching hand-inscribed by Lynch" on the single's b-side.[5]
Critical reception to "I'm Waiting Here" was largely positive. Stereogum writer Tom Breihan said the song "isn't exactly 'low-down blues,' but you could see how it's Lynch’s version of the stuff. It's a smothered torch song with a narcotized vocal from his guest" and drew comparisons between it and Lynch's "beautiful, faraway" material produced with Julee Cruise for the television series Twin Peaks.[6] Spin reviewer Christ Martins referred to "I'm Waiting Here" as "a dreamy and noir swooner replete with slow-dance swing and bassy atmospheric swells"[7] and FACT described the song as "a lilting, 50s-inspired number [that] harks back instantly to Lynch's pioneering work with Julee Cruise back in the late 80s, and is a return to a smoky sound many fans thought was missing on his last record."[8] Lynch himself praised Li's performance on the song, saying: "She brought her own style to this song, which has a doo-wop sort of thing going on, but in a way it's far-removed from the '50s."[9] Alex Hudson of Exclaim! also described the song as "atmospheric, guitar-driven electro-waltz."[10]
Track listing
- Digital download and 7" single (Sacred Bones Records, sbr109)
- "I'm Waiting Here" – 5:02
Use in popular culture
The song has been used as background music onboard flights from the airline Norwegian from August 2013.
References
- ^ "David Lynch & Lykke Li – I'm Waiting Here". YouTube. Google. June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- ^ Hilleary, Mike (June 10, 2013). "Watch: David Lynch – I'm Waiting Here (Feat. Lykke Li) Video". Under the Radar. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- ^ Weston, Hilary (June 10, 2013). "Drive Through the Desert with David Lynch & Lykke Li's Video for "I'm Waiting Here" – Music". BlackBook. VIBE Media. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
- ^ "Music – The Big Dream by David Lynch". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
- ^ Minkser, Evan (June 3, 2013). "David Lynch Announces New Album, The Big Dream, Shares Track Featuring Lykke Li | News". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (June 3, 2013). "David Lynch – "I'm Waiting Here" (Feat. Lykke Li)". Stereogum. Spin Media. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ Martins, Chris (June 3, 2013). "David Lynch and Lykke Li Dream-Weave Spooky Doo-Wop on I'm Waiting Here". Spin. Spin Media. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ "David Lynch reveals "modern blues" album The Big Dream; steam clips now". FACT. The Vinyl Factory. June 3, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ "David Lynch announces new album and unveils Lykke Li collaboration – listen". NME. IPC Media. June 3, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ Hudson, Alex (June 10, 2013). "David Lynch "I'm Waiting Here" (ft. Lykke Li) (video)". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 6, 2013.