Waite was born in Lancaster, and was educated at Lancaster Art College (The Storey Institute).
Waite first came to attention as the lead singer and bassist of The Babys, a British rock band which had moderate chart success, including two pop hits that both coincidentally peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Isn't It Time" (1977) and "Everytime I Think of You" (1979), and a solid following of their concert tours. Over the course of five years, the band produced five albums ending with the final album On the Edge in October 1980, after which the group disbanded.
Waite subsequently launched his solo career with his 1982 debut album Ignition, which produced the hit single "Change". The Chrysalis 45 failed to chart on Billboard's Hot 100 during its initial release (June 1982) but was a top track on AOR radio stations, as well as a very popular music video on MTV as the 'new' cable channel celebrated its first full year of operation. The song was originally recorded in 1981 by another band, and in 1985 was included on the platinum selling Vision Quest soundtrack. When the single was reissued, it reached the Top 50 on the Hot 100. "Going to the Top" was released as the original follow-up single to "Change".
His next album, No Brakes, resulted in international attention. It was a Top 10 Billboard album in the US due to the smash hit "Missing You" which went to No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[4] It knocked Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It?" out of No. 1. For that very reason, Turner later recorded and released Waite's smash song herself. (Turner's single peaked at No. 84 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1996.) "Missing You" also hit No. 1 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks as well as the Top 10 of Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. No Brakes sold over a million and a half US copies yet has never been certified above the RIAA Gold standard (a record company must apply to the RIAA for such certification). Two more singles from No Brakes followed, including "Tears" which was a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts.
The next album Mask of Smiles followed in 1985 featuring the hit single "Every Step of the Way". Another single, "If Anybody Had a Heart", was released from the soundtrack of the 1986 film About Last Night.... In 1987, Rover's Return was released with the single "These Times Are Hard For Lovers". Waite would have another soundtrack appearance in 1990 from Days of Thunder with "Deal for Life"
In 1988, Waite joined former Babys bandmates Jonathan Cain and Ricky Phillips, along with Neal Schon from Journey and drummer Deen Castronovo, to form the supergroup Bad English. In 1989, the Bad English ballad "When I See You Smile" (penned by Diane Warren) went to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 and earned a Gold-certified single. Its parent album reached Billboard's Top Five and sold nearly two million copies in the United States alone. Bad English released two albums before tensions amongst the members led to the band's dissolution by 1992.
Waite returned to solo work. He released the album Rough And Tumble. He has continued to tour, such as in 2003 with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
In 2006, "Missing You" was released as a duet with Alison Krauss and reached the Top 40 on the Country Charts in the United States. Waite appeared with Krauss on The Tonight Show on 5 February 2007 to perform the song. Waite's songs have reappeared in other media as well: 2013 saw "Missing You" featured heavily in the movie Warm Bodies, and "Change" is on the soundtrack of the US movie Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.
In 2008 he recorded a guest vocal on the track "In God's Shadow" from the Keith Reid Project's The Common Thread.
Waite appears as himself and performs two songs in the 2010 feature film, New Day, from L'Oiseau Blanc Films.
In 2011 the title track from his tenth solo album Rough and Tumble went number one on Classic Rock radio.
A longtime resident of New York City, Waite now lives in Santa Monica, California. John Waite is divorced.
Valentine
John Waite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beneath the windows of
The house of love
Like Romeo to Juliet above
The lights out on the freeway
They lead me back to you
For always and forever now
I'll be with you
Tell me that there's something to this rhyme
Listen to your heart
Tell me what you want now
But don't let me be denied
And be my valentine
Be mine
The dragonfly at midnight
The jasmine of your room
The candle light inside our eyes
The dawn will come too soon
I come to you as nothing now
But everything I am
I'm burning for you constantly
Just let me be your man
Cause you know that I've come here for a reason
Tell me that there's something to this rhyme
Listen to your heart
Tell me what you want now
But don't let me be denied
And be my valentine
Be mine
Valentine
Cause you know that I've come here for a reason
Tell me that there's something to this rhyme
Listen to your heart
And tell me what you want now
But don't let me be denied
And be my valentine
Be mine
Be my valentine
Be mine
The lyrics to John Waite's song Valentine communicate a sense of yearning and devotion to a loved one. The singer is waiting below the windows of the "house of love," reminiscent of Romeo waiting beneath Juliet's balcony. The lights on the freeway lead him back to his beloved, and he pledges to be with her always and forever. He asks her to listen to her heart and tell him what she wants, but not to deny him his request to be her valentine, to be hers.
The imagery used in the song reinforces the theme of romance and devotion. The dragonfly at midnight and the jasmine of her room evoke a sense of mystery and sensuality. The candle light inside their eyes suggests a deep connection and mutual desire. The dawn coming too soon hints at the bittersweet reality that their time together may be fleeting, and the singer is willing to accept that fact if it means being with his beloved.
Overall, Valentine is a beautiful love song that captures the intensity and longing of a romantic relationship. The lyrics are poetic and sensual, and the melody is emotional and stirring.
Line by Line Meaning
Inside these moments waiting
During these moments of waiting
Beneath the windows of
Under the window of
The house of love
The house where love resides
Like Romeo to Juliet above
Like Romeo to Juliet in the balcony scene
The lights out on the freeway
The lights are out on the road
They lead me back to you
They guide me back to your presence
For always and forever now
From now and for eternity
I'll be with you
I will always be by your side
Cause you know that I've come here for a reason
You know that I came here with a purpose
Tell me that there's something to this rhyme
Confirm that there is meaning behind these words
Listen to your heart
Listen to your inner feelings
Tell me what you want now
Communicate your desires to me
But don't let me be denied
Do not refuse my plea
And be my valentine
Be my love interest on Valentine's Day
Be mine
Be my partner
The dragonfly at midnight
The dragonfly seen at midnight
The jasmine of your room
The scent of jasmine in your room
The candle light inside our eyes
The reflection of the candle light in our eyes
The dawn will come too soon
The morning will arrive too quickly
I come to you as nothing now
I come to you with nothing except my love
But everything I am
But my whole being is devoted to you
I'm burning for you constantly
I have an intense and constant desire for you
Just let me be your man
Allow me to fulfill the role of your partner
Valentine
A term of endearment for a loved one
Be my valentine
Be my love interest on Valentine's Day
Be mine
Be my partner
Be my valentine
Be my love interest on Valentine's Day
Be mine
Be my partner
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN WAITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stephanie Hand
Love this song
Bill Diehl
Love this song!!
Geoff Powell
thanks. nice track
Rita Anderson
JOIN IN THE MISSION TO INDUCT JOHN WAITE
INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME! Simply go to the link below,
and add your name to the petition on that official page!
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/johnwaite2rockhall.html
Mustafa Ghaleiw
Done with my pleasure 🙏
Pascal Brutal
You should try to listen to Lynda Thalie 's version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkcJm65qHW4
Pascal Brutal
You should try to listen to Lynda Thalie 's version
Productions Raniah
THANKS :)