Robert De Niro's Waiting

Album: Bananarama (1983)
Charted: 3 95
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a girl who goes into a fantasy world where she imagines the actor Robert De Niro is her boyfriend. The American actor was a strange choice for the British girl group, but this is a strange song. It's very dark with plenty of paranoia, as the girl feels like the world is closing in on her in a way that De Niro's characters did in movies like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.
  • The song was much more somber when it started, as it originally told the story of a girl who gets raped and uses her Robert De Niro fantasy as an escape. They toned it down to make the song more palatable - it was the first single from the album and it needed to get airplay.
  • Why is De Niro "Talking Italian"? That's because Steve Jolley, who wrote and produced the song with his partner Tony Swain, thought that Italian was a more romantic language, and that De Niro speaking it would make him even more appealing to the girl. The girls in Bananarama collaborated with Jolley and Swain in writing the song, and they hated the line. They let it stand in an effort to minimize arguments - the producers wanted the album to stick with their hit formula, and the girls were pushing to do something different.
  • Details are sketchy, but according to Bananarama, Robert De Niro asked to meet them after the song came out. The girls had a few drinks before the encounter to build up their courage.
  • The song was originally going to be titled "Al Pacino's Waiting" before the girls decided that "Robert de Niro" sounded better.

Comments: 2

  • Micheal Corleone from NeyawkDe Nero is likely talking italian because she developed her crush on him from his role in The Godfather part 2, wherein he speaks very good Sicillian italian. It was also one of his yonger roles where he played a character that would likely be more attractive to a girl of that age than his later roles, and the movies release date coincides with the era during which the songs writer would have been young themself.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 16th 1984, Bananarama performed "Robert DeNiro's Waiting" and "Cruel Summer" on 'American Bandstand'.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."