Foreigner – Waiting for a Girl Like You
A synth-soaked slow-burn that redefined the rock ballad
By the time “Waiting for a Girl Like You” dropped in October 1981, Foreigner were already arena rock royalty. But this track from their 4 album showed a softer, more emotional side—one that leaned into synths, atmosphere, and pure romantic longing.
A different kind of power ballad
Written by Mick Jones and Lou Gramm, and co-produced with Mutt Lange, the song trades guitar crunch for dreamy textures and slow-burning emotion. The real secret weapon? A young Thomas Dolby, who laid down that iconic synth intro using a Minimoog—giving the track its haunting, cinematic vibe.
Lou Gramm’s vocals are all heart here—vulnerable, restrained, and totally locked into the song’s emotional core. It’s not about heartbreak or drama—it’s about finally finding someone who makes the wait worth it.
Chart heat and near-miss history
The song was a massive hit, spending a record-setting 10 weeks at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100—blocked from the top spot by Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” and Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go for That.” Still, it became one of Foreigner’s biggest songs ever, also hitting #8 in the UK, #2 in Canada, and Top 10 in Australia, Ireland, and Sweden.
It helped push 4 to multi-platinum status, and brought Foreigner to a whole new audience—especially fans who didn’t usually go for hard rock.
Why it still hits
“Waiting for a Girl Like You” is more than just a power ballad—it’s a mood. The synths shimmer, the vocals ache, and the whole thing feels like a slow dance under neon lights. It’s one of those songs that’s aged like fine wine—still smooth, still emotional, and still totally unforgettable.