Dan Mangan: Fool For Waiting
The art-rock auteur returns to a simpler sound on this new single. The combination of minimal piano and his deep resonant voice is perfectly suited to an openly sentimental ballad that may just become a wedding song fave.
By Kerry Doole
Dan Mangan - "Fool For Waiting" (Arts & Crafts): This new single from the Juno-winning singer/songwriter is being hailed as something of a return to his musical roots. Mangan has made a major mark in recent years with artful material featuring ornate and adventurous arrangements, but "Fool For Waiting" takes a more simplified approach.
The combination of minimal piano chords and a deep resonant voice may remind some of the solo ballads John Cale created, though that reference will be lost on younger listeners. It works beautifully here, with the simplicity enhancing the open sentimentality of the lyrics. The song is already being tipped as a potential classic love song, destined for lovers' soundtracks and weddings in the near-future.
In a label press release, Mangan explains that “Fool For Waiting” is about “finding someone who makes you feel less crazy, or at least someone who finds your craziness endearing because it’s real and honest. That real, imperfect love is not always as fantastical or magical as a wild romance, but that it’s worth waiting for.”
Produced by Simone Felice (Lumineers, Bat For Lashes) and engineered/mixed by Ryan Hewitt (Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers), the song’s vocals, piano, and drums were recorded live off the floor as a duo with Mangan and Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley, St. Vincent).
Mangan opens US shows for Stars in April, then has Canadian shows with Kaleo, June 23- July 3. Dates here
The Weeknd at Rogers Centre in Toronto on August 8, 2025.Hyghly Alleyne, Courtesy XO Records