Stand by My Woman

Last updated
"Stand by My Woman"
Stand by my woman LK.jpg
Single by Lenny Kravitz
from the album Mama Said
ReleasedSeptember 2, 1991 (1991-09-02) [1]
Genre Rock
Length4:19
Label Virgin
Songwriter(s) Henry Hirsch, Stephen Mark Pasch, Anthony Krizan, Lenny Kravitz
Producer(s) Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz singles chronology
"Fields of Joy"
(1991)
"Stand by My Woman"
(1991)
"What the Fuck Are We Saying?"
(1991)
Music video
Lenny Kravitz - Stand By My Woman on YouTube

"Stand by My Woman" is a song recorded by American singer Lenny Kravitz and released on September 2, 1991, as the fourth single from his second studio album Mama Said . [2] [3] [4] [5] The song was later included as a track on his 2000 album Greatest Hits .

Contents

Critical reception

Christopher A. Daniel of Albumism said "Stand By My Woman" is "one of the album’s more remorseful moments, allowing Kravitz to be vulnerable over gospel-inspired pianos and organs." [6] Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune wrote, "As demonstrated on "All I Ever Wanted" and "Stand by My Woman", Kravitz is particularly fond of John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band phase, in which Phil Spector's echo-laden production inflated the sparest instrumentation-simple snare beats, bell-like piano chords-around gut-wrenching vocals." [7] Elysa Gardner of Rolling Stone stated, "Prince – a musician whose penchant for producing and playing various instruments Kravitz shares and a singer whose whisper-to-a-scream vocal style he adopts for urgent numbers like "Stand by My Woman". [8] Caroline Sullivan from Smash Hits deemed it "a slow, serious one." She added, "This is all brooding and emotional and you can just see Len furrowing his brow as he sings. It's not as immediately catchy as the last one, but repeated listenings make you feel like you're doing something educational and mind-improving. Sort of." [9]

Music video

The accompanying music video was directed by Lisa Bonet, his then wife, and Paul Boyd, and was included in Kravitz's first video album Video Retrospective released in 1991. The video should feature young actress Angelina Jolie [10] but her footage was reportedly cut out. [11] Kravitz told Us Weekly magazine, "Angelina Jolie auditioned for the lead in my Stand by My Woman video. The director passed!" [12] [13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Henry Hirsch, Stephen Mark Pasch, Anthony Krizan, Lenny Kravitz

No.TitleLength
1."Stand by My Woman"4:19

Charts

Chart (1991)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [14] 46
France (SNEP) [15] 36
Germany (Official German Charts) [16] 66
UK Singles (OCC) [17] 55
US Billboard Hot 100 [18] 76

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenny Kravitz</span> American musician and actor (born 1964)

Leonard Albert Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Born in New York City to TV news producer Sy Kravitz and actress Roxie Roker, Kravitz was exposed to the entertainment industry at a young age. As a child, Lenny showed a keen interest in music, and by his teenage years, he began embarking on a music career with his style mixing rock, funk, reggae, hard rock, soul, and R&B. Kravitz's has had numerous hit singles over his career including It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (1991) and "Again" (2000), each of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Top 100 chart; other hits include "Let Love Rule" (1989), "Always on the Run" (1991), "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (1993), "Fly Away" (1998), and "American Woman" (1999), each of which reached the top 10 on the Alternative Airplay chart.

<i>Mama Said</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Lenny Kravitz

Mama Said is the second studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released in April 1991 by Virgin Records. Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash co-wrote and played on the song "Always on the Run". He also played on the song "Fields of Joy". The song "All I Ever Wanted" was co-written by Sean Lennon.

<i>Let Love Rule</i> (Lenny Kravitz album) 1989 studio album by Lenny Kravitz

Let Love Rule is the debut studio album of American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on September 6, 1989, by Virgin Records. Then-wife Lisa Bonet wrote the lyrics to "Fear" and co-wrote the lyrics on the song "Rosemary"; other than that the album is virtually a one-man Kravitz show, as he wrote and produced all the songs and played nearly all the instruments.

<i>Lenny</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Lenny Kravitz

Lenny is the sixth studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released in October 2001 through Virgin Records. It reached number 12 on the Billboard 200 and number 55 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Woman</span> 1970 single by the Guess Who

"American Woman" is a song by Canadian rock band the Guess Who, released January 1970, from the album of the same name. It was later released in March 1970 as a single backed with "No Sugar Tonight", and it reached number one for three weeks commencing May 9 on both the United States' Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM magazine singles chart. Billboard magazine placed the single at number three on the Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970 list, and it was listed as number five for 1970 on the RPM Year-End Chart. On May 22, 1970, the single was certified as gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also reached the top ten in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria, and the top twenty in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

<i>5</i> (Lenny Kravitz album) 1998 studio album by Lenny Kravitz

5 is the fifth full-length studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on May 12, 1998, by Virgin Records. The album produced six singles released over the course of 1998 and 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fly Away (Lenny Kravitz song)</span> 1998 single by Lenny Kravitz

"Fly Away" is a song by American singer Lenny Kravitz. It was released as the fourth single from his fifth studio album, 5 (1998). Released on November 9, 1998, "Fly Away" peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Fly Away" topped the charts in Iceland and the United Kingdom and peaked within the top ten of the charts in several countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Performance in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Are You Gonna Go My Way (song)</span> 1993 single by Lenny Kravitz

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" is a song by American musician Lenny Kravitz, released in February 1993 by Virgin as the first single from his third studio album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993). The song was written by Kravitz and Craig Ross, while Kravitz produced it. It peaked at number one in Australia and number four on the UK Singles Chart, as well as number one on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Its music video was directed by Mark Romanek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Ain't Over 'til It's Over</span> 1991 single by Lenny Kravitz

"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" is a song written, produced, and performed by American musician Lenny Kravitz for his second studio album, Mama Said (1991). Released as the album's second single in June 1991, the song is a mid-tempo ballad musically inspired by Motown, Philly soul, and Earth, Wind & Fire. The horn line at the end is performed by the Phenix Horns from Earth, Wind & Fire. "That song just came out one day, and I knew it had a classic vibe. And I still love that song very much today," Kravitz said in an interview for VivaMusic.com in 2000. The line is based on a Yogiism, or quotation from Yogi Berra: "It ain't over 'til it's over."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Again (Lenny Kravitz song)</span> 2000 song by Lenny Kravitz

"Again" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, being the only new song from his first Greatest Hits album, released in 2000. Written, arranged and produced by himself, "Again" was initially set to be on his sixth studio album; however, Kravitz found that the song didn't fit the tone of the album, releasing it instead as the lead single from the compilation on September 22, 2000, through Virgin Records. The mid-tempo rock ballad finds Kravitz wondering if he will ever see his former lover again and if they will reunite once more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always on the Run</span> 1991 single by Lenny Kravitz

"Always on the Run" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released as the first single from his second album, Mama Said (1991), in March 1991. It features a contribution by Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. Slash had written the music for the song with the original intention of releasing it on a Guns N' Roses studio album, but since former drummer Steven Adler had difficulty playing the song, he saved it for this eventual collaboration with Kravitz. On June 6, 1992, during Guns N' Roses's Use Your Illusion Tour stop in Paris, Kravitz joined the band onstage and played guitar and sang vocals for this track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Believe in Me (Lenny Kravitz song)</span> 2002 single by Lenny Kravitz

"Believe in Me" is the third single by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz from his 2001 sixth self-titled studio album Lenny, released on April 23, 2002 by Virgin Records America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fields of Joy</span> 1991 single by Lenny Kravitz

"Fields of Joy" is an original song by The New York Rock Ensemble released in 1971. Lenny Kravitz released a remake on July 16, 1991, as the third single from his second studio album Mama Said.

<i>Video Retrospective</i> 1991 video by Lenny Kravitz

Video Retrospective is the first video album by American rock singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz, released on November 25, 1991, in VHS format by Virgin Records America due to the success of his second album Mama Said. The album contains all of Kravitz's first music videos filmed from 1989 to 1991 from his first two albums, Let Love Rule and Mama Said.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenny Kravitz discography</span>

American singer Lenny Kravitz has released 11 studio albums, one greatest hits compilation album, four box set compilation albums, two extended plays, sixty-one singles, and eight video albums, including three live albums. His debut album Let Love Rule (1989) peaked at number 61 in the US, and while receiving generally positive reviews, it became a huge success in Europe but took a long time to reach success in the US. Its followers, Mama Said (1991) and Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993) sold better overall than his debut, achieving platinum and multi-platinum status respectively, establishing Kravitz in the music industry and expanding his success in Europe and South America. However, despite only a two-year gap between albums, personal issues such as substance abuse problems, the aftermath of divorce, and his mother Roxie Roker's illness led to a decline in commercial sales with Circus (1995).

<i>Black and White America</i> 2011 studio album by Lenny Kravitz

Black and White America is the ninth studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on August 30, 2011. The album also produced six singles released in 2011 and 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Believe (Lenny Kravitz song)</span> 1993 single by Lenny Kravitz

"Believe" is a song by American musician Lenny Kravitz, released by Virgin Records on May 10, 1993, as the second single from his third album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993). It is a rock ballad with string orchestration, and was co-written, arranged and produced by Kravitz, with Henry Hirsch also contributing to the orchestration and composition. Its lyrics concern one being able to achieve freedom and "eternal grace" if they believe in themselves and put their faith in God.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What the Fuck Are We Saying?</span> 1991 single by Lenny Kravitz

"What the Fuck Are We Saying?" is a song written and recorded by American singer Lenny Kravitz and released in September 1991, as the fifth single from his second studio album Mama Said.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Get You Off My Mind</span> 1996 single by Lenny Kravitz

"Can't Get You Off My Mind" is a song written and performed by American singer and songwriter Lenny Kravitz and released in February 1996 as the third single from his fourth studio album, Circus (1995). The song was later included in the albums Greatest Hits (2000) and Lenny (2001) as a bonus track. There are two versions of the music video for the song: one was directed by Matthew Rolston, the other by Jim Gable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circus (Lenny Kravitz song)</span> 1995 single by Lenny Kravitz

"Circus" is a song co-written and performed by American singer Lenny Kravitz and released on December 11, 1995, as the second single from his fourth studio album, Circus (1995). There were produced two music videos for the song: one directed by Ruven Afanador and the other by Martyn Atkins. Kravitz explained to Billboard, "it gets more like a circus with all this suff—management people, fans, bankers, investment people. It's like, My God! What happened? It gets harder to be yourself."

References

  1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . August 31, 1991. p. 19.
  2. Martinez, Richard J. (14 April 2009). The Paperback Trilogy: Struggles Through Writer's Block. AuthorHouse. p. 23. ISBN   978-1-4678-4339-3 . Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  3. Burnett, Robyn (2002). Crash Into Me: The World of Roswell. ECW Press. p. 182. ISBN   978-1-55022-539-6 . Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  4. Barrett, J. D. (12 April 2016). The Secret Recipe for Second Chances: A charming novel of second chances, delicious recipes and love. Hachette Australia. ISBN   978-0-7336-3478-9 . Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  5. Spiritual Journeys: How Faith Has Influenced Twelve Music Icons. Relevant Media Group. 2003. p. 197. ISBN   978-0-9729276-0-4 . Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  6. Daniel, Christoper A. (March 30, 2021). "Lenny Kravitz's 'Mama Said' Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  7. Kot, Greg (April 4, 1991). "Lenny Kravitz: Mama Said (Virgin) (STAR)(STAR)1/2 Rather than..." Chicago Tribune . Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  8. Gardner, Elysa (April 18, 1991). "Lenny Kravitz: Mama Said : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 2007-11-04. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  9. Sullivan, Caroline (September 4, 1991). "Reviews: Singles". Smash Hits . p. 43. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  10. "Birthday special: 10 interesting facts about Angelina Jolie". Mid-Day . Mid-Day Infomedia Limited. June 4, 2015. Archived from the original on June 15, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  11. Reid, Joe (11 May 2021). "Angelina Jolie's Forgotten Music Video Origins". Primetimer. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  12. "Angelina Jolie once auditioned for Lenny Kravitz music video". Hollywood.com. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  13. "Lenny Kravitz: 25 Things You Don't Know About Me". Us Weekly . 22 November 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  14. "Lenny Kravitz – Stand by My Woman". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  15. "Lenny Kravitz – Stand by My Woman" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  16. "Lenny Kravitz – Stand by My Woman" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  18. "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2021.