Not Gon' Cry

Last updated
"Not Gon' Cry"
Not Gon' cry by Mary j Blige US CD single.jpg
US CD single
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album Waiting to Exhale and Share My World
ReleasedJanuary 23, 1996
Genre R&B
Length4:57
Label
Songwriter(s) Babyface
Producer(s) Babyface
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"
(1996)
"Not Gon' Cry"
(1996)
"Touch Me, Tease Me"
(1996)
Audio
"Not Gon' Cry on YouTube

"Not Gon' Cry" is a song by American R&B singer Mary J. Blige, from the soundtrack to the film Waiting to Exhale ; the song is also featured on Blige's third album, Share My World (1997). It was written and produced by Babyface and became a major hit for Blige in the United States, where it peaked at numbers one and two on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles and Hot 100 charts, respectively. The single sold 1,000,000 copies domestically and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Contents

Blige received her third Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (her first nomination in that category) at the 39th Grammy Awards in 1997 for the song. Coincidentally, other songs on that were later released as singles from the soundtrack ("Exhale" by Whitney Houston and "Sittin' Up in My Room" by Brandy) also received nominations in the same category. Blige performed the song at the 39th Grammy Awards telecast.

Background

The lyrics of the song are inspired by a storyline in the movie Waiting to Exhale revolving around one of the films main characters, Bernadine (portrayed by actress Angela Bassett), who gets abandoned by her philandering husband. The music video, which incorporates clips from Waiting to Exhale, was directed by Wayne Maser and Elizabeth Bailey.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard felt "Not Gon' Cry" is "one of the strongest numbers" of the Waiting To Exhale soundtrack and "is finally given a crack at chart success." He added "Blige's worldly delivery breathes palpable depth and empathy into Babyface's composition tracing the bitter split of a relationship. She convincingly builds from white-knuckled anger to cathartic resolution in the space of four minutes, riding a slowly grinding R&B groove etched with quiet blues colors. Judging from the sparks ignited here, the pairing of Blige and Babyface is one that needs to happen again and again." [1] Jonathan Bernstein from Entertainment Weekly described the song as "snarling". [2] British magazine Music Week rated it three out of five, declaring it as a "slow, steel-tipped ballad". They added, "Good, if not memorable." [3] A reviewer from People Magazine viewed it as Waiting to Exhale’s "jilted woman’s manifesto". [4]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [16] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary J. Blige</span> American singer (born 1971)

Mary Jane Blige is an American singer, songwriter, rapper and actress. Often referred to as the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Awards, twelve NAACP Image Awards, and twelve Billboard Music Awards, including the Billboard Icon Award. She has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards, including one for her supporting role in the film Mudbound (2017) and another for its original song "Mighty River", becoming the first person nominated for acting and songwriting in the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exhale (Shoop Shoop)</span> 1995 single by Whitney Houston

"Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" is a song by American recording artist and actress Whitney Houston, featured on the soundtrack for the film Waiting to Exhale. It was released as the lead single from the soundtrack on November 6, 1995, by Arista Records. The song was written and produced by Babyface. A mid-tempo R&B and soul ballad, composed in the key of D-flat major, the song's lyrics speak about growing up and learning to let go. The song garnered mostly positive reviews from critics, many of whom noted Houston's vocal maturity in the song.

<i>Waiting to Exhale</i> (soundtrack) 1995 soundtrack album by Various artists

Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album is a soundtrack for the film of the same name, released on November 14, 1995, by Arista Records. Written and produced by Babyface, the soundtrack features appearances by several prominent R&B artists, including Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, TLC, Brandy, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Faith Evans, Patti LaBelle, SWV and Mary J. Blige. The album remained at number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart for five weeks and Top R&B Albums chart for ten weeks, going 7× platinum, on September 4, 1996. It spawned two number-one hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart; "Exhale " and "Let It Flow", and three top-ten hits, "Sittin' Up in My Room", "Not Gon' Cry" and "Count on Me". "Exhale ", "Let It Flow" and "Not Gon' Cry" also topped the R&B hits chart. All songs were written and produced by Babyface, except for "My Funny Valentine". The album also includes songs by lesser-known artists like Shanna and Sonja Marie.

<i>Share My World</i> 1997 studio album by Mary J. Blige

Share My World is the third studio album by American R&B singer Mary J. Blige, released by MCA on April 22, 1997. The album became Blige's first to open at number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart. Moreover, it is her first album where she serves as an executive producer, alongside Steve Stoute, who also shared executive producer credits on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainy Dayz</span> 2002 single by Mary J. Blige

"Rainy Dayz" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige featuring additional vocals from rapper Ja Rule. Taken from Blige's re-release of her fifth studio album, No More Drama, the track was released to coincide with the release of the album's reissue, serving as its final single. The Irv Gotti-produced duet became another hit for both, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Not Today (Mary J. Blige song)</span> 2004 single by Mary J. Blige featuring Eve

"Not Today" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige, featuring guest vocals by rapper Eve. It was written by Blige, Eve, Dr. Dre, Mike Elizondo, Theron Feemster, and Bruce Miller for her sixth studio album Love & Life (2003), while production was helmed by Dr. Dre. It was released as the album's third single in 2003, also serving as a promotional single to the soundtrack of the motion picture Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2003).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Be Without You</span> 2005 single by Mary J. Blige

"Be Without You" is a song by American recording artist Mary J. Blige. It was written by Johnta Austin, Bryan Michael Cox, Jason Perry, and Blige for her seventh studio album, The Breakthrough (2005). Production was helmed by Cox and Young Smoke, while vocal production was overseen by Ron Fair and Blige. It was released as the album's first official single on November 14, 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary J. Blige discography</span>

American singer Mary J. Blige began her career as a backing vocalist for Uptown Records in the early 1990s. In a career spanning more than thirty years, she has released 14 studio albums and 83 singles—including more than 20 as a featured artist. The "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" has sold an estimate of over 100 million records worldwide, and over 20 million in the United States alone. Billboard ranked Blige as the 18th Greatest Billboard 200 Woman of all time, the 45th Greatest Hot 100 Woman of all time and 88th Greatest Artist of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Count On Me (Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans song)</span> 1996 single by Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans

"Count on Me" is a song recorded by American singers and best friends Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans. Co-written and produced by Babyface, it is an uplifting song about leaning on a friend for support when needed. Released in early 1996, the song was the fourth single from the soundtrack album of the motion picture Waiting to Exhale, and the second single by Houston released from that album and its soundtrack. "Count on Me" became Winans's highest-charting single on the US Hot 100, peaking at number eight. It was certified gold in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sittin' Up in My Room</span> 1995 single by Brandy

"Sittin' Up in My Room" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was written and produced by Babyface and recorded by Norwood for the soundtrack of the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale, starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett. The track was one out of five singles the album spawned and reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Norwood's most successful single on that particular chart up to that point. It is of note that the characteristic bass intro is a replica of the famous riff performed by bassist Larry Graham, of Sly and the Family Stone, on their hit "Thank You ", and its remix featuring LL Cool J contains a sample of "Haven't You Heard" by Patrice Rushen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By</span> 1995 single by Method Man featuring Mary J. Blige

"I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" is a duet song by American rapper Method Man, featuring American singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. The song is a remix of Method Man's "All I Need" which appears on his debut studio album, Tical (1994). The song, a hip hop soul record, was released as a single by Def Jam Recordings and PolyGram Records on April 25, 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why Does It Hurt So Bad</span> 1996 single by Whitney Houston

"Why Does It Hurt So Bad" is a song recorded by American singer and actress Whitney Houston for the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale. It was released on July 22, 1996, by Arista Records as the seventh and final single from the accompanying soundtrack. The song was written and produced solely by Babyface. Musically, it is an R&B ballad, and the lyrics chronicle a lovelorn lament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just Fine</span> 2007 single by Mary J. Blige

"Just Fine" is a song by the American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Terius "The-Dream" Nash, Jazze Pha and Tricky Stewart for her eighth studio album, Growing Pains (2007), while production was helmed by Pha and Stewart. It was released as the album's lead single on October 16, 2007. The song peaked at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, while also topping the US Hot Dance Club Play chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missing You (Mary J. Blige song)</span> 1997 single by Mary J. Blige

"Missing You" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written and produced by Babyface for her third studio album, Share My World (1997). In the United Kingdom, the song was released as the album's third single where it reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. "Missing You" features background vocals from singer Shanice and talks about a woman in a dilemma over a relationship with a man that she at first claimed she "wasn't in love" with but then finds herself "thinking about him all the time" and her missing him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someone to Love (Jon B. song)</span> 1995 single by Babyface and Jon B.

"Someone to Love" is a song by Jon B. from his debut album Bonafide. Released as the first single from the album on April 3, 1995, the song is a duet with Babyface that gained wide exposure on the Bad Boys soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Going Down (Rose Royce song)</span> 1976 single by Rose Royce

"I'm Going Down" is a song written and produced by Norman Whitfield, and performed by American soul and R&B group Rose Royce in 1976. It is from the film Car Wash and is featured on its soundtrack. In 1994, it was covered by American singer Mary J. Blige.

The following is the discography of American musician Babyface.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Am (Mary J. Blige song)</span> 2009 single by Mary J. Blige

"I Am" is a song by American R&B singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Johntá Austin, Ester Dean, Magnus Beite, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen for her ninth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear (2009), while production was helmed by Hermansen and Eriksen under their production moniker Stargate. Lyrically, the song "I Am" confidently tells one's lover nobody can treat them better than the person they are with at the present time.

Paul Boutin is a French-born American music mixer, audio engineer and a long-time collaborator with producer/songwriter/artist Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.

References

  1. Flick, Larry (January 27, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard . p. 106. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  2. Bernstein, Jonathan (May 2, 1997). "Share My World". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  3. "Reviews" (PDF). Music Week . March 2, 1996. p. 14. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  4. "Picks and Pans Review: Share My World". People . May 19, 1997. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  5. "Mary J Blige – Not Gon' Cry". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  6. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  7. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  8. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  9. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  10. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  11. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  12. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  13. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  14. "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  15. "1996 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-40. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  16. "American single certifications – Mary J. Blige – Not Gon' Cry". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 20, 2020.