"For You I Will" is a song by American singer Monica. It was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster,and recorded for the soundtrack of the live-action/animated sports comedy film Space Jam (1996),directed by Joe Pytka and starring basketball player Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes cast. One out of several songs from the album to be released as a single,it was sent to Top 40 radio on January 14,1997[2] and issued on physical formats a month later on February 11,[3] by Atlantic Records and Rowdy Records. A downtempopop and R&B ballad,the song's lyrics involve the singer pledging love and devotion and promising to help an unnamed "you" overcome any difficulty,regardless of the magnitude.
The song debuted at an impressive number on the US Billboard Hot 100,peaking at number four,becoming Monica's second top five single and one of her highest-charting songs of the 1990s. It was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 2,1997,and ranked 13th on Billboard's Top Hot 100 Hits of 1997.[3] Elsewhere,"For You I Will" reached the top five in the Netherlands,New Zealand,and on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart. The first project to be recorded for her second album,it was later included on The Boy Is Mine (1998).
Background and composition
"For You I Will" was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster.[4] It was the first song to be recorded for Monica's second studio album The Boy Is Mine (1998).[5] In a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter,Monica called the song "a statement record for me. I had always expressed that,yes,I’m a young woman that’s from urban America that speaks to a very specific crowd at times,but I wanted to be clear that I’m not limited to one genre or the other [...] I didn’t want to separate it. I didn’t want to put limitations on myself,so I wanted to work with David Foster and Diane Warren. This was a direct request of mine because I wanted to show that these were also the types of records that I could absolutely perform."[5] According to Monica,she had a walking pneumonia while recording "For You I Will," which she cited as a "testament to my dedication [and] versatility."[5] Sheet music for "For You I Will" is in the key of B♭ major in common time with a slow tempo of 72 beats per minute.[6] The key modulates to C major for the final chorus.
Critical reception
"For You I Will" earned generally positive reviews from music critics some of which called it a departure from the R&B-directed nature of Monica's previous songs.[7] Alan Jones from Music Week wrote,"It's one of those anthemic ballads that Warren has a knack for writing,building to a swayalong finale with Monica's inch-perfect R&B-inflected vocals proving a perfect foil."[8] In a retrospective review of the song,Erica Henderson from Singersroom noted that "the song’s timeless melody and emotional depth have made it a beloved R&B classic that continues to be played and loved by fans. With its moving lyrics and powerful delivery,"For You I Will" remains one of Monica's most memorable and impactful tracks."[9] In 2019,Vibe called "For You I Will" the standout track from Space Jam:Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture.[10] In 2023,Yardbarker's Mya Singleton ranked the song among Warren's best song,writing:"Monica’s contralto vocal tone is perfect for any Diane Warren ballad [...] On the track,Monica states her love and devotion for a partner,claiming she will do anything and be there for them through it all."[11]
Elsewhere,"For You I Will" reached the top five in New Zealand,where it became her highest-charting single yet,reaching number two in its second week on the New Zealand Singles Chart on May 11,1997.[17] It also peaked at number three on the Dutch Top 40 Tipparade and at number four on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart.[18][19] In the United Kingdom,"For You I Will" spent two weeks on the UK Singles Chart,reaching number 27.[20] It fared better on the UK Hip Hop/R&B chart,where it debuted and peaked at number seven on May 18,1997.[21]
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