"Why Wait"
Single by Rascal Flatts
from the album Nothing Like This
ReleasedAugust 2, 2010
Recorded2010
GenreCountry
Length3:46
LabelBig Machine
Songwriter(s)Neil Thrasher
Tom Shapiro
Jimmy Yeary[1]
Producer(s)Dann Huff, Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts singles chronology
"Unstoppable"
(2010) 		"Why Wait"
(2010) 		"I Won't Let Go"
(2011)

"Why Wait" is a song written by Neil Thrasher, Tom Shapiro, and Jimmy Yeary and recorded by American country music band Rascal Flatts. It was released in August 2010 as the first single from the band's 2010 album Nothing Like This.[2] It is also their first single from Big Machine Records.[3]

Content

The protagonist attempts to convince his lover to run off to Las Vegas with him to get married.

Music video

The music video, directed by William Zabka, was shot in Las Vegas, Nevada, following a story reminiscent of the comedy film The Hangover. David Arquette plays the man in the video who proposes to his girlfriend. Rick Harrison, owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop and star of the History Channel original show Pawn Stars, makes a cameo appearance in the video when the Flatts and Arquette stop at the pawn shop to buy an engagement ring. Also in the video are cameos by Ron White, Carrot Top, Victoria Justice, Wayne Newton, and Penn and Teller.

Critical reception

Matt Bjorke of Roughstock gave the song four stars out of five, saying that the lyrics "may be 'cheesy' to some, but it fits right where we'd expect a Rascal Flatts song to go."[4] Tara Seetharam gave the song a B+ grade, describing it as "a tasteful, vintage-Flatts track marked by an infectious rush of joy." She positively commented on the production, lyrics, and LeVox's vocals, stating that "the song gets everything right."[5] Ben Foster of "The 1-to-10 Country Music Review" gave it ten stars out of ten, saying, "this is the best that the boys' voices have sounded in years and their signature three-part harmonies are fully intact and sounding great."[6]

Chart performance

"Why Wait" debuted at No. 34 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of August 14, 2010.[7] For the week of December 18, 2010, the song became the group's eleventh number one hit on the chart.

Chart (2010–2011) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 48
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] 60

Year-end charts

Chart (2010) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[11] 47
Chart (2011) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[12] 66

References

  1. ^ Malec, Jim (August 3, 2010). "Song Review: Rascal Flatts — "Why Wait"". American Twang. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  2. ^ "Rascal Flatts to Release 'Nothing Like This' on Big Machine". Billboard.
  3. ^ "Rascal Flatts Sign With Big Machine Records". CMT. July 29, 2010. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
  4. ^ Bjorke, Matt (July 29, 2010). "Rascal Flatts – "Why Wait"". Roughstock. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  5. ^ Seetharam, Tara (August 13, 2010). "Single Review: Rascal Flatts, "Why Wait"". Country Universe. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  6. ^ Foster, Ben (August 16, 2010). "Rascal Flatts, "Why Wait"". The 1-to-10 Country Music Review. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  7. ^ Top Country Songs & Charts, Country Music Hits – Billboard.com
  8. ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Rascal Flatts Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Best of 2010: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  12. ^ "Best of 2011: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
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