Format Digital download Length 3:25 | Genre Pop rock Label Self-released | |
Released May 12, 2015 (2015-05-12) Writer(s) Eric Leva, Brett McLaughlin, Matt Parad | ||
"Don't Wait" is a song recorded by YouTube personality and singer Joey Graceffa. Written by Eric Leva, Brett McLaughlin, Matt Parad, it is the third original composition released by Graceffa. It was released independently as a single on May 12, 2015.
Contents
Chart performance
"Don't Wait" debuted at number 64 on the official UK Singles Downloads Chart, a component of the UK Singles Chart for the week of May 24, 2015, becoming his first charting single. It also entered the UK Independent Singles chart at number 7 and the UK Independent Singles Breakers component chart at number 1.
Music video
An accompanying music video for the song was directed by Doug Potts and was uploaded to Graceffa's YouTube channel on May 16, 2015. The video uses fantasy elements to dramatize the struggles Graceffa faced growing up, including goblins depicting bullies and a witch representing his alcoholic mother. Graceffa's character spends the video attempting to rescue a prince, played by model and blogger Daniel Preda, from a shadow version of himself. In the end, he succeeds, and the two share a kiss.
This kiss between Graceffa and Preda, who confirmed in February 2016 that they has been dating since before the video shoot, served as Graceffa's first public acknowledgement of his homosexuality. He formally came out two days later, in another video titled "Yes I'm Gay" and in his memoir, In Real Life: My Journey Through a Pixelated World, which was published May 19, 2015.
Reception
Emma Lord of lifestyle blog Bustle described the video as "one of the most groundbreaking and adorable videos of the year," while praising the production for "depicting the very real struggles he faced growing up," and "[coming] to a satisfying end" with the kiss. Following the video's release, Graceffa received many supportive comments from fans and fellow "YouTubers." By December 2016, the video had been viewed over 25 Million times.