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Waiting for the End

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For other uses, see Waiting for the End (disambiguation).

"Waiting for the End"
Single by Linkin Park
from the album A Thousand Suns
B-side
ReleasedOctober 1, 2010 (2010-10-01)
Recorded2008–10
Genre
Length3:51
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Linkin Park
Producer(s)
Linkin Park singles chronology
"The Catalyst"
(2010) 		"Waiting for the End"
(2010) 		"Burning in the Skies"
(2011)
Audio sample
Music video
"Waiting for the End" on YouTube
"Waiting for the End" (live) on YouTube
Promotional single

"Waiting for the End" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park, released on October 1, 2010.[5] It is the second single and eighth track from their fourth studio album, A Thousand Suns, which was released on September 14, 2010. A music video for the single, directed by Joe Hahn, was released on October 8, 2010, on MTV.[6][7]

It received mostly positive reviews from critics and reached number 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

"Waiting for the End", along with five other songs from A Thousand Suns, is featured in the "Linkin Park Track Pack" as downloadable content for the rhythm video game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. The track pack was released on October 19, 2010. It was also released as one of six Linkin Park songs released in a pack for Rock Band 3 on January 11, 2011, though it was the only track from A Thousand Suns to be included in that pack.

Background

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"Waiting for the End" was announced as the album's second single at the time of the album's release.[7]

The track features minimal distorted guitar and differs from many previous Linkin Park singles. The song features reggae-style verses by Mike Shinoda followed by both chorus and verses sung by Chester Bennington. The breakdown of the song uses remixed portions of Bennington's vocals.

Music video

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A screenshot of the music video, showing lead singer Chester Bennington being applied with digital effects.

The official music video is directed by Joe Hahn. The video was filmed in September 2010,[8] before the release of A Thousand Suns and was released to MTV on Friday October 8, 2010. The video features the entire band performing the song in darkness along with heavily experimental digital effects and distortion applied to them. The video also carries the themes of the artwork for their album, A Thousand Suns, with many shots of abstract artworks featuring animals and digital-themed media.

Joe Hahn wrote a blog post describing the music video:

The clip is an experiment in making the most digital version of ourselves in the spirit of the visual palette of A Thousand Suns. If you have been following our visuals throughout this album, this is the next step in our journey. I wanted to push ourselves so far down the digital path that it eventually felt spiritual. As we live our lives in the digital noise of today, we can find our center of humanity in the midst of the chaos. This is my illustration of that.[9]

In celebration of the band's North American tour, an alternate live video of the song premiered in the band's official site and YouTube channel. It was filmed by numerous fans on January 26, 2011, at the United Center in Chicago, and January 28 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The version played in the video is the actual live performance of the song.[10][11]

The video was placed at No. 28 of the year by VH1's Top 40 Videos of the Year.

Reception

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Michael Menachem of Billboard gave the song a positive review, saying " 'Waiting for the End' offers the grandness of 'Numb' and 'Faint', but producer Rick Rubin's polyrhythmic framework and the group's moralistic lyrics set it apart from Linkin Park's past hits."[12] MTV's James Montgomery praised the song, describing it as "one part soaring, big-boned ballad, one part rattling, slightly Ragga dancehall toast, and zero parts anything LP have previously attempted."[7] Tim Grierson of About.com listed the song as the seventh best rock song of 2010, saying that "Balancing rapped and sung vocals, the hopeful, resilient track builds to a beautifully rousing finale."[13]

During a Twitch stream in 2020, Mike Shinoda revealed that "Waiting for the End" is his favourite Linkin Park song.[14]

Live performances

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The song was performed live at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2010.[15] It was also performed on Saturday Night Live on February 5, 2011. "Waiting for the End" is the only single to be performed at all concerts in the A Thousand Suns World Tour ("The Catalyst" was not performed at the Sunrise, Florida concert; "Burning in the Skies" never received a full performance until the Australia leg; and "Iridescent" was not performed at most concerts at the Australia leg).

Commercial performance

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"Waiting for the End" debuted at number 96 on the US Billboard Hot 100 upon the release of the album. After falling off and re-entering the chart more than once, it has reached number 42, remaining 23 weeks on the chart. It has also obtained number 2 on the Rock Songs chart. After spending 15 weeks on the Alternative Songs chart, it replaced "Tighten Up" by The Black Keys at number 1, giving the band their tenth number 1 song on the chart. As of June 2014, the single has sold over 1,058,000 copies in the US, becoming their 9th best selling single in the US.[16] Despite peaking lower than "The Catalyst", it was the most successful single in the US from the album. Outside the US, the song was generally less successful than "The Catalyst".

Chester Bennington said this about the success of the single in an interview with MTV on February 7, 2011:[17]

It took two years for us to make that record, and it took that whole process for us to really digest the new music, so we knew that it was going to take people time to really let it settle... And 'Waiting for the End' is a perfect example of that ... it's taken it a while for it to elevate up the charts, and it went to No. 1 at the Alternative charts, and then kinda went back, and then went back to No. 1. ... People are getting it now. And I think, especially for our fans in the States, it was important for it to marinate for a little while before we came back and started playing these shows.

Track listing

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All songs written and composed by Linkin Park.

Digital single [1st version]
No.TitleLength
1."Waiting for the End"3:51
2."The Catalyst" ("Guitarmagedon" DIOYY? Remix)3:06
CD • Digital single [2nd version]
No.TitleLength
1."Waiting for the End"3:51
2."Waiting for the End" (The Glitch Mob Remix)4:54
Promotional radio CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Waiting for the End"3:51

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[39] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit From Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. March 28, 2016. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  2. ^ Grierson, Tim (September 14, 2010). "Linkin Park A Thousand Suns Review – Review of A Thousand Suns by Linkin Park". About.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  3. ^ Castillo, Arielle (January 21, 2011). "Linkin Park Mix Ambient with Rage in Tour Opener". SPIN.
  4. ^ "Live Review: Linkin Park at Sunset Strip Music Festival". Artistdirect. August 4, 2013. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  5. ^ "Waiting for the End – Single Linkin Park". iTunes. October 1, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  6. ^ ""Waiting for the End" Video Premiere: This Friday". LinkinPark.com. October 4, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c Montgomery, James (October 4, 2010). "Linkin Park's 'Waiting for the End' Video: Watch A Preview!". MTV. Archived from the original on October 6, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
  8. ^ "Pic of the Day". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
  9. ^ "Joe Hahn's Blog Waiting for the End". Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  10. ^ "Waiting for the End" live from the 2011 A Thousand Suns Tour on YouTube
  11. ^ "Waiting for the End (Official Video) on Youtube". YouTube. October 8, 2010. From Linkin Park's Youtube Channel.
  12. ^ Billboard "Waiting for the End" Linkin Park
  13. ^ Grierson, Tom. "2010's Best Rock Songs". About.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  14. ^ "MIKE SHINODA'S FAVORITE LINKIN PARK SONG MIGHT COME AS A SURPRISE". Alternative Press. May 8, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  15. ^ Linkin Park – Waiting for the End EMA 2010 on YouTube
  16. ^ Trust, Gary (June 24, 2014). "Ask Billboard: With Nico & Vinz, Norway Continues U.S. Chart Invasion". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  17. ^ Montgomery, James (February 7, 2011). "Linkin Park's on "Waiting for the End" Success: "People Are Getting It Now."". MTV. Archived from the original on February 11, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  18. ^ "Linkin Park – Waiting for the End" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  19. ^ "Linkin Park – Waiting for the End" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  20. ^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  21. ^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  22. ^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  23. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 46. týden 2010 in the date selector. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  24. ^ "Linkin Park – Waiting for the End" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  25. ^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  26. ^ "PORTUGAL SINGLES TOP 50". Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. November 14, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  27. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  28. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201044 into search. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  29. ^ "Linkin Park – Waiting for the End". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  30. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  31. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  32. ^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  33. ^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  34. ^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  35. ^ "Linkin Park Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  36. ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  37. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  38. ^ "Decade-End Charts: Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  39. ^ "American single certifications – Linkin Park – Waiting for the End". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
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