Music Review: Nu Shooz "I Can't Wait"

Nu Shooz

I Can’t Wait

Album: Poolside

Year: 1986

            Valerie Day wants to be around her boyfriend all the time in the glittery  “I Can’t Wait.”

               In the intro, it’s taking forever for it to be 8 p.m. (“Baby, I can't wait.”)

                Gleaming synths open the single, setting a sophisicated tone. There is something about him that draws her into to him. He really knows her. He just seems to know what to do when it comes to her. Something like they share is rare. She wants to his views on every topic. (“My love, tell me what it's all about/You've got something, that I can't live without/Happiness, is so hard to find/Hey baby, tell me what is on your mind.”)

           In the chorus, he said he’ll call her when he’s ready to leave. She estimates he’ll call her in about ten minutes or so. She wants to touch  and kiss him. (“Cause I can't wait (baby, I can't wait) till you call me on the telephone/I can't wait (baby, I can't wait) 'till we're all alone (I can't wait.”)

                  She appreciates that he isn’t trying too hard. The over-the-top romantic gestures aren’t her. He’ll open the door for her. However, he’ll stop short of pulling out her chair. For her, it’s too much. She hopes they stay together a long time. (“You know I love you, even when you don't try/I know, that our love will never die/Hey darling, when you look into my eye/Please tell me, you'll never have to say goodbye.”)

                  In the second chorus, she says she’s been wanting a guy she could talk to. It’s as though he just arrived one day in her life. (“Cause I can't wait (baby, I can't wait) this is what I've been waiting for/I can't wait (baby, I can't wait) 'till my love walked in the door/I can't wait (baby, I can't wait) true love is so hard to find, I found yours, you found mine/I can't wait (baby, I can't wait) tell me what is on your mind (I can't wait.”)

                 In the bridge, “I can’t wait” is sung six times.

                In the final section, a variation of the second chorus is sung. (“No, I can't wait/Say it one more time/Tell me what is on your mind/’Cause I can't wait/This is what I've been waiting for/I can't wait/Baby, 'til my love walks in the door.”)

                    Day anticipates what their date will be like. She can already see it in her mind. The fantasy matches the reality every time.

                    The luscious beat of “I Can’t Wait” makes the single stand out.