Waiting Room (song)

"Waiting Room" is a song by the American post-hardcore band Fugazi. The song was first released as the opening track to their debut EP, and was later compiled on their widely acclaimed and commercially successful compilation 13 Songs. Featuring stylistic influences from funk, hip-hop and reggae, the song typifies Fugazi's signature style of post-hardcore and would go on to become one of their most popular and widely covered songs despite never being released as a single.

"Waiting Room"
Song by Fugazi
from the EP Fugazi
ReleasedNovember 1988
RecordedJune 1988
StudioInner Ear Studios (Arlington, VA)
Genre
Length2:53
LabelDischord Records
Producer(s)Ted Niceley, Fugazi

Background

The song was inspired by the short-lived nature of (then-lead vocalist) Ian MacKaye's previous band Embrace. Wanting to ensure the longevity of his new project, he was "absolutely determined that he was not going to make the same mistakes this time around [...] It's his song about waiting for the right people and the right moment."[3]

Versions

The earliest recorded version of the track appears on the first instalment of the Fugazi Live Series (the band's first live show—a benefit concert for Positive Force), recorded at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., on September 3, 1987 when Picciotto hadn't yet joined the band.[4] Months later, in January 1988, the band recorded a studio version of the song with Don Zientara, which ended up on their first demo tape.[5]

The definitive and most well-known version of the song was recorded in June that year with Ted Niceley at Inner Ear Studios. Initially released on their debut EP, the track would also appear on 13 Songs.[6]

Composition

The early versions of the song were described as being slower[5] and "dirge"-like,[7] whilst the definitive version has an "andante moderato" ("walking" to "moderate") tempo of 92 BPM.[8] With a time signature of 4
4, the song is performed in the key of D♭ minor.[9]

Stylistically, Andy Kellman of AllMusic noted the song's "relentless ska/reggae-inflicted drive", calling its sudden "drop into silence that occurs at the 22-second mark" attention-grabbing.[6] Joe Lally's bass riff on the song has been described as "circular", funk-influenced and "catchy".[10][11] Merely a backing vocalist at this point in the band, Guy Picciotto's contributions to the song have earned comparisons to that of Flavor Flav of Public Enemy, in that he acts as a "foil" to MacKaye.[10][12] The song's "tense [...] verses explode into a heavy metallic chorus" in a way reminiscent of an "impatient call to action" even though thematically, the song "is about carefully getting one's ducks in a row".[12]

Reception

The song has been widely acclaimed as one of the band's best and most popular songs. According to Blake Butler: "Ask the common punk rock listening kid, who may not know too much about music, what they know of Fugazi and they will probably mention fairly soon the impact that hearing "Waiting Room" had on them."[13] A similar point was made by Verbicide, who wrote that the song "is to Fugazi what “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is to Nirvana—the one song that you know, even if you know no others."[11] "While the band's sound would continue to grow over the arc of its existence," wrote Jes Skolnik for Pitchfork, ""Waiting Room" is the song that first defined them, and continues to reverberate with fans new and old."[14] It has even been called "the band's de facto “hit song”."[7] According to Quicksand lead singer Walter Schreifels, "everything that's great about Fugazi is spelled out within the first verse and chorus of ‘Waiting Room.’ Within the first 15 seconds of the song, you knew you didn't need to compare it to Minor Threat anymore. [That song] was an event that changed the meaning of everything that came before it."[7]

Legacy

Covers and samples

How many times has Washington, D.C., endured a Fugazi cover from a touring band? Specifically, how many times has Washington, D.C., endured a cover of "Waiting Room"? Too many times. It's okay, we get it: "Waiting Room" is a jam.

Lars Gotrich, NPR[15]

The song has been covered "by a remarkably diverse roster of artists"[14] since its release in 1988. "In the quarter-century since it was first performed," writes Verbicide magazine in an article listing ten different covers of the track, "“Waiting Room” has become a go-to song for rock bands looking to ingratiate themselves to an audience and gain some cred, as well as those simply wishing to share their love of a band that flies under the radar of the mainstream."[11] The Washington Post had even labelled 2011 as "the year of the Fugazi cover" due to the number of bands and musicians that had covered the song (as well as others by the band) that year.[16]

"Waiting Room" has been covered—both live and otherwise—by Red Hot Chili Peppers,[17] Arcade Fire,[18] Mustard Plug,[11] The Wildhearts,[19] Ryan Adams,[20] Atom and His Package,[11] Minus The Bear,[21] Billy Talent,[11] Anti-Flag,[22] Billy Squier,[23] Dead Milkmen,[24] The Ex,[25] Jimmie's Chicken Shack,[11] The Cryptkeeper Five,[26] Osaka Popstar,[27] Rubblebucket,[28] AWOLNATION,[29] and TV on the Radio.[11]

Both MC Lars[30] and Girl Talk[31] have sampled the song on their tracks "No Logo" and "Let It Out" respectively. Mike Doughty of Soul Coughing references the song's bridge on the track "Casiotone Nation" off of their 1994 debut Ruby Vroom.[32]

The song is frequently played at Washington Commanders football games at FedExField.[33] Actor Jack Black has lip-synched to the song as a part of his #RadOnes series of lip-sync videos.[34]

Accolades

As of January 2021, aggregator website Acclaimed Music finds "Waiting Room" to be the 541st most acclaimed song of all time.[35]

Publication Country Accolade Rank
Beats Per Minute US The Top 100 Tracks of the 1980s 31[36]
Blender US The 1001 Greatest Songs to Download Right Now! -[37]
Pitchfork US The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s 16[14]
The Pitchfork 500 -[38]
PopMatters US The 100 Best Songs Since Johnny Rotten Roared 62[39]
The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s 84[2]
Kerrang! UK 666 Songs You Must Own: The Ultimate Playlist ("Post-Hardcore/Emo") 1[40]
NME UK The 500 Greatest Songs of all Time 411[41]

Personnel

References
  1. Kellman, Andy. "Fugazi | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  2. Gerard, Chris (27 September 2015). "The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 1: 100–81". PopMatters. p. 4. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  3. Galil, Leor (14 November 2014). "Fugazi's first step toward punk royalty: A demo that became an underground smash". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286.
  4. True, Chris. "Fugazi Live Series, Vol. 1: 9-3-87 Washington DC, Wilson Center—Fugazi | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  5. Thomas, Fred. "First Demo—Fugazi | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  6. Kellman, Andy. "13 Songs—Fugazi | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  7. Pappalardo, Anthony (20 November 2014). "Why Fugazi are still the best punk band in the world—an Op-Ed". Alternative Press.
  8. "Waiting Room BPM Key Fugazi | 13 Songs". www.chords.tv.
  9. "BPM for Waiting Room (Fugazi)" – via getsongbpm.com.
  10. Berman, Stuart (21 November 2014). "Fugazi: First Demo". Pitchfork.
  11. "10 Covers of Fugazi's "Waiting Room"". Verbicide. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  12. Azerrad, Michael (2012). Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316247184 – via Google Books.
  13. Butler, Blake. "Waiting Room—Fugazi | Song Info". AllMusic.
  14. "The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s". Pitchfork. 24 August 2015. p. 10.
  15. Gotrich, Lars (10 May 2019). "Ben Gibbard Turned Minor Threat's 'Filler' Into A Biting Piano Ballad". NPR.
  16. Malitz, David (19 July 2011). "2011: The year of the Fugazi cover?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  17. "Stop Covering "Waiting Room"". Washington City Paper. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  18. Young, Alex (18 August 2014). "Watch: Arcade Fire cover Fugazi's "Waiting Room" in Washington, DC". Consequence. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  19. Blabbermouth (21 April 2008). "THE WILDHEARTS: First Sample Of Upcoming Covers Album Posted Online". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  20. Greenberg, Rudi (27 July 2016). "Ryan Adams covered Fugazi and confronted a heckler at the Lincoln Theatre in D.C. last night". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286.
  21. Victor, Dan (26 July 2017). "MINUS THE BEAR covers FUGAZI "Waiting Room" & breaks a sign getting rowdy for Fall Tour". Popdust.
  22. "Anti‐Flag Covered Songs and Artists | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm.
  23. "Billy Squier—Waiting Room (Fugazi Cover) Lyrics (Video)". www.stlyrics.com.
  24. C, Mike (22 March 2012). "Temporary Rough Venom: The Dead Milkmen cover Fugazi's 'Waiting Room'". Temporary Rough Venom.
  25. Feb 2022, Oliver Sheppard / 16 (16 February 2022). "The Ian MacKaye Interview". The Battleground. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  26. Willschick, Aaron. "Fire Up THE CRYPTKEEPER FIVE's Smoking Cover of FUGAZI's "Waiting Room" Today! [Song Premiere]". puregrainaudio.com.
  27. "Exclusive Download: JuiceheaD and Osaka Popstar Cover Fugazi's 'Waiting Room'". Rolling Stone. 9 April 2012.
  28. Corcoran, Nina (3 April 2015). "Boston News Today—RUN FOR COVER: FUGAZI VS. RUBBLEBUCKET: "WAITING ROOM"". DigBoston.
  29. "AWOLNATION My Echo My Shadow My Covers And Me". 5 May 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  30. Shultz, Brian (25 February 2009). "A conversation with MC Lars". Alternative Press. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  31. Montgomery, James (16 November 2010). "Girl Talk Reveals His Favorite All Day Moments". MTV. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  32. ""Casiotone Nation" by Soul Coughing sampled Fugazi's "Waiting Room"". Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  33. "Football Goes Hardcore With Fugazi's Waiting Room". Chart Attack. 15 November 2001. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  34. Colburn, Randall (7 July 2017). "Jack Black lip syncs Fugazi's "Waiting Room" like only Jack Black can: Watch". Consequence.
  35. "Acclaimed Music". www.acclaimedmusic.net.
  36. "The Top 100 Tracks of the 1980s". Beats Per Minute. 6 September 2011. p. 7.
  37. Blender October 2003 issue
  38. "Pitchfork 500: Guide To the Greatest Songs from Punk To the Present". www.rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  39. "100 From 1977-2003". PopMatters. 21 August 2003. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  40. "Rocklist.net...Kerrang! 666 Tracks..." www.rocklistmusic.co.uk.
  41. Barker, Emily (31 January 2014). "The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time—500–401". NME.
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