{{Infobox song | name = Waiting for Magic | cover = Waiting for Magic (Ace of Base single - cover art).jpg | alt = | caption = Single cover | type = single | artist = Ace of Base | album = Happy Nation | released = 12 April 1993 | recorded = 1992 | studio = | genre = *Dance-pop *Eurodance *techno | length = *5:14 (album version) *3:31 (radio edit) | label = Mega | writer = Buddha; Joker | producer = Buddha; Joker | prev_title = Happy Nation | prev_year = 1992 | next_title = The Sign | next_year = 1993 | misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|2F1D6UJuoj8|"Waiting for Magic"}}|type=single}} }}
"'''Waiting for Magic'''" is a song recorded by Swedish pop group Ace of Base from their debut album, ''Happy Nation'' (1992). It was released in Scandinavia in April 1993 as the fourth single from the album. The song reached number one in Israel, and the top-10 in both Denmark and Finland. The original version of the song appears only on the original release of ''Happy Nation''. On the album's re-release and ''The Sign'' (1993), it was replaced with its remix. No music video was produced for "Waiting for Magic", but it was promoted through a number of live performances, including one at the Miss Universe Denmark pageant.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/J4M89dr7ZMI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20131020170139/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4M89dr7ZMI&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4M89dr7ZMI| title = Ace of Base - Waiting for the Magic , Live at Miss Universe Denmark 1993 , 720p | publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Lyrics== Snow White is used as an allegory in this song for waiting for "the prince" to come ("Kiss me baby, I am Snow White sleeping in my coffin waiting for you").<ref>{{Citation |title=Sk-a’na |date=2016-05-25 |work=Oxford Music Online |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.l2294798 |access-date=2026-03-13 |publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref>
==Critical reception== Chuck Eddy from ''LA Weekly'' said that the song "is sung by a sleeping beauty waiting "in a coffin" to be kissed and awakened".<ref>Eddy, Chuck (1994-04-21). "Music Reviews: Ace of Base – The Sign". p. 83. ''LA Weekly''.</ref> Kim Såtvedt from Norwegian newspaper ''Laagendalsposten'' stated that it "has something of the magic" that "All That She Wants" "holds".<ref>{{cite news|first= Kim |last= Såtvedt |title= Plater |newspaper= Laagendalsposten |issue= 54 |date= 1993-03-18 |page= 7 |accessdate= 2020-10-07 |url= https://www.nb.no/items/59046081b4f75913d286c09294526342 |language= no}}</ref> Pan-European magazine ''Music & Media'' wrote that here, "the Swedish chartbusters drop the conventional reggae beat in favour of a more modern dance cadence. The sing-along factor has remained intact though."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-06-12.pdf|title=New Releases|magazine=Music & Media|date=1993-06-12|page=11|access-date=2018-02-05}}</ref> Wendi Cermak from ''The Network Forty'' described the song as "dance-oriented and radio-friendly".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Wendi|last=Cermak|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-Network-40/94/Network-40-1994-01-14.pdf|title=Crossover: Music Meeting|magazine=The Network Forty|date=1994-01-14|page=32|access-date=2020-03-27}}</ref> Scandipop called it a "gem" in their retrospective review of ''Happy Nation''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scandipop.co.uk/ace-base-25-years-happy-nation/|title=Ace of Base: 25 years of 'Happy Nation'|publisher=Scandipop|date=2018-06-07|accessdate=2020-04-06}}</ref> A reviewer from Sputnikmusic noted "an upbeat piano identifying the chord progression that then moves to follow a catchy ascending vocal melody", and concluded that Ace of Base "clearly chose to put some effort into this one."<ref>{{cite web|title=Ace of Base - The Sign|publisher=Sputnikmusic|date=2007-10-28|accessdate=2020-04-06|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/14015/Ace-of-Base-The-Sign/}}</ref>
==Track listing== * '''Sweden Maxi-CD''' #"Waiting for Magic" (Radio Version) – 3:31 #"Waiting for Magic" (Total Remix 12") – 6:34 #"Waiting for Magic" (Total Remix 7") – 3:51 #"Waiting for Magic" (Album Version) – 5:14
==Personnel== * Vocals by Linn Berggren, Jenny Berggren, Jonas Berggren, and Ulf Ekberg * Written by Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg * Produced by Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg * Total Remix by Ulf Ekberg and Stonestream * Recorded at Tuff Studios
==Charts== {|class="wikitable sortable" !align="left"|Chart (1993) !align="center"|Peak<br>position |- |align="left"|Denmark (IFPI){{Citation needed|date=March 2021}} |align="center"|2 |- |align="left"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-05-08.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100|date=1993-05-08|access-date=2021-10-09|magazine=Music & Media}}</ref> |align="center"|84 |- |align="left"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref name="Book">{{cite book|first= Timo |last= Pennanen |year= 2006 |title= Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language= fi |edition= 1st |publisher= Tammi |isbn= 978-951-1-21053-5 |location= Helsinki}}</ref> |align="center"|5 |- {{singlechart|Sweden|19|artist=Ace of Base|song=Waiting for Magic}} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Ace of Base}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waiting For Magic}} Category:1992 songs Category:1993 singles Category:Ace of Base songs Category:English-language Swedish songs Category:Eurodance songs Category:Number-one singles in Israel Category:Songs written by Jonas Berggren Category:Songs written by Ulf Ekberg Category:Mega Records singles