"We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)" (stylized in all lowercase; commonly referred to as "We Can't Be Friends" or "Wait For Your Love") is the tenth track and second single on Ariana Grande’s seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine. It released through Republic Records on March 8, 2024. The Europop-influenced anthem traverses the waves of emotion that come with a tumultuous relationship, either with a past lover or the media's perception. A live version of the song is featured on Eternal Sunshine (Slightly Deluxe and Also Live), which was released on October 1, 2024.[1]
Background[]
On January 25, 2024, Grande posted a screenshot to her Instagram story replying to a fan in which they stated, "if you don't like yes, and?, then we can't be friends." She stated, "my cheeks hurt from smiling...also did you happen to say 'we can't be friends'?"[2] Two weeks later, on February 7, 2024, Grande revealed part of the tracklist, with "We Can't Be Friends" as the tenth track from the album.[3][4]
On March 13, 2024, several alternate versions of the song were released on iTunes: a string version, a acapella, and instrumental.[5] The string version was later included on some physical releases of the single. On May 19, 2024, the storyboard for the music video leaked.
On July 17, 2024, a digital bundle for the song was announced for streaming release for July 19, 2024. It contains the three alternate versions of the song previously exclusive to iTunes along with the string versions instrumental.[6]
On December 23, 2024, snippet of the demo version was leaked. (listen)
Track listing[]
7” vinyl & Cassette[]
- We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) (A-side)
- We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) (String Version) (B-side)
CD single[]
- We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)
We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) EP[]
- We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)
- We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) (A Cappella)
- We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) (Instrumental)
- We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) (String Version)
- We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) (String Version Instrumental)
Commercial Performance[]
On March 18, 2024, the song became Grande's ninth single to top the Billboard Hot 100.[7] With 32.6 million first week streams, it also topped the Streaming Songs chart, becoming her sixth song to reach #1 there. As her 7th #1 debut song, she broke her tie with Taylor Swift as the female artist with the most and currently trails behind Drake, who has nine. On November 6, 2024, it became her 18th song to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify, making her the artist with the second most songs beyond that threshold. It's also her first song to achieve this within a calendar year.
Music Video[]
The music video was teased on Grande's Instagram on March 1, 2024. Based heavily on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004,) it opens with a character named Peaches (portrayed by Grande) signing a contract granting the company 'Brighter Days Inc.' access to erase her memories of her ex-lover (portrayed by Evan Peters.) As the doctors begin the procedure, Peaches appears visibly unsure and uncomfortable. Montages of her ex-lover disappearing from her memories play throughout the video. Right after the bridge ends, Peaches begins to sob and appears in a panic-like state, begging the doctors to let her keep the necklace her ex-lover gifted to her. At the end of the video, Peaches's memory of her ex-lover is fully erased. The doctors burn her belongings that were related to her ex-lover while Peaches thanks the doctors for the procedure. The music video ends as we see Peaches and her ex-lover with their new partners walking on the same sidewalk not noticing one another.
Live Performances[]
Grande debuted the song live on Saturday Night Live which aired on March 9, 2024.[8]
The song was performed at 2024 Met Gala afterparty on May 6, 2024.[9] On September 8, 2024, a live acoustic recording from Jungle City Studios of the song was released in honor of Eternal Sunshine's 6-month anniversary.[10] On October 1, 2024 Grande released another live version of the song as part of Eternal Sunshine (Slightly Deluxe and Also Live) to celebrate the seven-month anniversary of the album’s release.[11]
Trivia[]
- The song title is tied with "Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored" as Grande's longest song title (40 characters).
- Tate McRae covered the song during one of her concerts at Manchester on April 25, 2024.
- This is Grande's fourth song to feature an alternate title in parenthesis, following "Jason's Song (Gave It Away)", "Raindrops (An Angel Cried)", and "Intro (End of the World)".
- The transition from the operation room to the flashbacks was a practical transition (without visual effects).[12]
- The title of the instrumental is "Beatles."
- On May 14, 2024, Keith Urban covered this song, captioning his Instagram post "this song is audible heroin". Grande commented on his post, "this is so beautiful 🥹 & thank youuuu !" along with reposting the video on her IG story.[13]
- He performed the song again during one of his shows at the Spotify House in Nashville Tennessee on June 8, 2024.[14]
- Following that, two months later Spotify posted on their Twitter account, "Now we can relive Spotify House @ CMA Fest every day of the week with these new Spotify Singles from @KeithUrban, @machinegunkelly & @AveryAnnamusic. 🤠🎧🎧" on July 31, 2024.[15]
- Keith Urban reposted the tweet from Spotify saying, "it’s no secret that I love Ariana Grande’s ‘we can’t be friends (wait for your love)’ - the first time I heard the song it was honestly more like feeling it than simply hearing it. I put my own spin on it at Spotify House during CMA Fest and now it’s yours ! listen on @Spotify."[16]
- The song is the only single released from Eternal Sunshine to not feature a remix with another artist.
- "Twilight Zone" uses the same drums as this song, making them sound similar.
- The song was released on a 4-inch Target exclusive, Tiny Vinyl (A-Side: We Can't Be Friends, B-Side, Imperfect For You). [17]
Merchandise[]
The "We Can't Be Friends" merchandise was unveiled on Ariana's webstore on March 7, 2024.
Physical Releases[]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
I didn’t think you’d understand me
How could you ever even try?
I don’t wanna tiptoe but I don’t wanna hide
But I don’t wanna feed this monstrous fire
Just wanna let this story die
And I’ll be alright
[Chorus]
We can’t be friends
But I’d like to just pretend
You cling to your papers and pens
Wait until you like me again
[Post-Chorus]
Wait for your love
My love, I’ll wait for your love
[Verse 2]
Me and my truth, we sit in silence
Mmm, baby girl, it’s just me and you
‘Cause I don't wanna argue but I don’t wanna bite
My tongue, yeah, I think I'd rather die
You got me misunderstood
But at least I look this good
[Chorus]
We can’t be friends
But I’d like to just pretend
You cling to your papers and pens
Wait until you like me again
[Post-Chorus]
Wait for your love
My love, I’ll wait for your love
I’ll wait for your love
My love, I’ll wait for your love
[Bridge]
Know that you made me
I don’t like how you paint me, yet I’m still here hangin’
Not what you made me
It’s somethin’ like a daydream
But I feel so seen in the night
So for now, it’s only me
And maybe that’s all I need
[Chorus]
We can’t be friends
But I’d like to just pretend
You cling to your papers and pens
Wait until you like me again
[Post-Chorus]
Wait for your love
My love, I’ll wait for your love
I’ll wait for your love
My love, I’ll wait for your love
[Outro]
I'll wait for your love
I'll wait for your love
I'll wait for your love
I'll wait for your love
I'll wait for your love
Gallery[]
“did i dream the whole thing?” To view the We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) gallery, click here.
|
Videos[]
Track listing[]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)" | 3:48 |
| 2. | "We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)" (A Capella) | 3:32 |
| 3. | "We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)" (Instrumental) | 3:48 |
| 4. | "We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)" (String Version) | 3:42 |
| 5. | "We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)" (String Version Instrumental) | 3:42 |
| Total length: | 18:34 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)" (Acoustic Live from Jungle City Studios) | 3:07 |
| Total length: | 3:07 | |
Additionally, the String Version, A Capella, and Instrumental variants of the song were available individually for download on iTunes.
References[]
- ↑ The Music Universe - Ariana Grande releases ‘Eternal Sunshine (Slightly Deluxe and Also Live)’
- ↑ Reddit - (r/arianagrandesnark) @(deleted account): "We cant be friends" speculated song name?"
- ↑ Billboard - (by Hannah Dailey): "Ariana Grande Reveals 3 More Song Titles From ‘Eternal Sunshine’ Tracklist & Alternate Cover"
- ↑ Twitter - @arianatoday: "ariana reveals three new track names on the album..."
- ↑ Twitter - @chartdata: "Ariana Grande has released new versions of "we can't be friends..."
- ↑ Twitter - @teamariana: "we can't be friends. digital bundle out friday..."
- ↑ Billboard - "Ariana Grande’s ‘We Can’t Be Friends’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100"
- ↑ NBC - Ariana Grande Performs "Imperfect for You" and "We Can't Be Friends" on Saturday Night Live - Watch
- ↑ Vulture - (by Alejandra Gularte): Ariana Grande Gives a Fairy-Core Performance at the Met Gala
- ↑ Twitter - @teamariana: "surprise! ｡˚❀ we can’t be friends (wait for your love) - acoustic (live from jungle city studios) ꕤ.ﾟout now: ..."
- ↑ Twitter (@teamariana): "｡˚❀ happy seven months of eternal sunshine .ﾟ*ꕤ (slightly deluxe and also live)"
- ↑ Twitter - @ag7source: "Ariana Grande reveals the transition..."
- ↑ Instagram - KeithUrban - "this song is heroin @arianagrande
- ↑ Twitter - Popcrave - "Keith Urban covers Ariana Grande’s hit single, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” at the Spotify House in Nashville last night."
- ↑ Twitter - Spotify - "Now we can relive Spotify House @ CMA Fest every day of the week with these new Spotify Singles from @KeithUrban, @machinegunkelly & @AveryAnnamusic. 🤠🎧🎧"
- ↑ Twitter - KeithUrban - "it’s no secret that I love Ariana Grande’s ‘we can’t be friends (wait for your love)’ - the first time I heard the song it was honestly more like feeling it than simply hearing it. I put my own spin on it at Spotify House during CMA Fest and now it’s yours ! listen on @Spotify: strm.to/keithspotifyho…"
- ↑ Ariana Grande Tiny Vinyl Edition - we can’t be friends/imperfect for you (Target Exclusive, vinyl 4 inch) : Target
[]
| Eternal Sunshine | |
|---|---|
| March 8, 2024 • 35:26 • Republic Records | |
| Songs | |
| Released | Bye • Dandelion • Don't Wanna Break Up Again • Eternal Sunshine • Hampstead • I Wish I Hated You • Imperfect For You • Intro (End of the World) • Ordinary Things • Past Life • Saturn Returns • Supernatural • Twilight Zone • The Boy Is Mine • True Story • Warm • We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) • Yes, And? |
| Unreleased | Eternally • Only When It Matters • Rainbow • Shoot My Heart • Soul Idea |
| Artists | |
| Ariana Grande • Brandy • Diana Garland • Mariah Carey • Marjorie Grande • Monica • Troye Sivan | |
| Associated | |
| Brighter Days Ahead • Brighter Days Hotline | |
| Tour | |
| The Eternal Sunshine Tour | |