Foreigner has always been one of my favorite bands of all-time and my favorite song they did was “Waiting for a girl like you”. It holds a dubious record for the most weeks spent at number two on the Billboard charts without ever reaching the top spot (10 weeks). This was thanks to the dreadful “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John which spent 10 weeks at the summit. To add insult to injury, once “Physical” dropped from the top spot Foreigner did not replace it and remained at number two for their 10th week as Hall & Oates took the top with the insipid “I can’t go for that (No Can do)”! Oh well.
Fortunately, Foreigner eventually climbed to the top for the first and only time in their career with the amazing “I want to know what love is”. I don’t know why but I felt such satisfaction for them. They so deserved all the success they ultimately achieved.
Here’s Foreigner performing the song live during their peak of popularity in 1981
Lou Gramm, the powerful lead singer, achieved some success in his solo career apart from the band with albums such as “Ready or Not” and “Long Hard Look” which spawned hit singles such as “Midnight Blue” and “Just Between You and Me”.
Unfortunately, Lou Gramm’s health was dealt a serious blow in 1997 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Thankfully, he was able to recover because it was benign but the treatment involved medication that caused him to gain a great deal of weight which hinders his stamina and voice. Also, his singing was impacted as well due to a surgery that damaged his pituitary gland.
After the deaths of his parents, Lou Gramm formed a new group called “The Lou Gramm Band” with two of his brothers and some friends. They continue to tour. I saw them live and thoroughly enjoyed them.
Here are the lyrics to “Waiting for a girl like you”
So long, I’ve been looking too hard, I’ve been waiting too long
Sometimes I don’t know what I will find, I only know it’s a matter of time
When you love someone, when you love someone
It feels so right, so warm and true, I need to know if you feel it too
Maybe I’m wrong, won’t you tell me if I’m coming on too strong
This heart of mine has been hurt before, this time I wanna be sure
I’ve been waiting for a girl like you to come into my life
I’ve been waiting for a girl like you, your loving will survive
I’ve been waiting for someone new to make me feel alive
Yeah, waiting for a girl like you to come into my life
You’re so good, when we make love it’s understood
It’s more than a touch or a word can say
Only in dreams could it be this way
When you love someone, yeah, really love someone
Now I know it’s right, from the moment I wake up till deep in the night
There’s nowhere on earth that I’d rather be than holding you tenderly
I’ve been waiting for a girl like you to come into my life
I’ve been waiting for a girl like you, your loving will survive
I’ve been waiting for someone new to make me feel alive
Yeah, waiting for a girl like you to come into my life
I’ve been waiting, waiting for you, ooh, I’ve been waiting
I’ve been waiting
(I’ve been waiting for a girl like you, I’ve been waiting)
Won’t you come into my life?
