Waiting for Stevie

Last updated
"Waiting for Stevie"
Single by Pearl Jam
from the album Dark Matter
ReleasedSeptember 10, 2024
Length5:41
Label
Composers
Lyricist Eddie Vedder
Producer Watt
Pearl Jam singles chronology
"Wreckage"
(2024)		"Waiting for Stevie"
(2024)
Official visualizer
"Waiting for Stevie" on YouTube

"Waiting for Stevie" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released as the fourth and final single from their 2024 album Dark Matter .

Contents

Composition and lyrics

"Waiting for Stevie" is inspired by soul singer Stevie Wonder's "tardiness", as when Wonder was recording a harmonica part on "Try" for Eddie Vedder's solo album Earthling , he was scheduled to appear in the studio at 4pm, but he arrived at 11pm. [1] Writing for Pitchfork, Zach Schonfield believed it was not actually about Stevie Wonder, but rather about self-doubt and depression. [2] Kerrang! critic George Garner writes it "tells the story of a young woman finding refuge in live music over a bright, slinking guitar line". [3]

Release and reception

"Waiting for Stevie" was named Record Store Day's Song of the Year. [4] It became a regular song on Pearl Jam's Dark Matter World Tour. [5] Uproxx critic Steven Hyde concludes it does work as a "screamingly effective revival of this band’s strengths", highlighting the guitar riff, which he notes sounds like "Black" if play 25% faster than played on Ten . [6]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Waiting for Stevie"
Chart (2024)Peak
position
US Rock & Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [7] 12

References

  1. ↑ Donovan, Thom (2024-05-02). "The Meaning Behind Pearl Jam's "Waiting for Stevie" and How a Music Legend's Tardiness Inspired the Song". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  2. ↑ Schonfeld, Zach. "Pearl Jam: Dark Matter". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  3. ↑ "Album review: Pearl Jam – Dark Matter | Kerrang!". www.kerrang.com. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  4. ↑ Staff, SPIN (2024-10-01). "Pearl Jam's 'Waiting For Stevie' Is Record Store Day's Song Of The Year". SPIN. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  5. ↑ Garro, Adrian (2024-10-14). "Pearl Jam Shares Live Video of "Waiting for Stevie" from Seattle". Rock Cellar Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  6. ↑ "The New Pearl Jam Album Is Their Best In Decades". UPROXX. 2024-04-15. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  7. ↑ "Pearl Jam Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
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