I Remember Me (song)
Encyclopedia
"I Remember Me" is a song recorded by R&B
singer and actress Jennifer Hudson
. It was written by Hudson and Ryan Tedder
, who also produced the track. It was released as the lead single from her sophomore album I Remember Me
in the UK
. The single version, which appears on the UK release of I Remember Me was mixed by Ash Howes. This radio mix was released as a single on April 3, 2011.
, "I'm not sure how it happened, but it doesn't matter to me! I love the album so much, and we got so tied up and confused on what to release that it felt better instead to spread the good music out! We're still not sure what to pick as the next single - I think there are a lot of strong contenders!"
Ryan Tedder spoke on his and Hudson's collaboration to MTV
. Tedder explained, "I did the title cut for her new album, I Remember Me. I produced and wrote that with her and it's, honestly, probably the most emotional song I've ever been involved with in my entire career... So I sit down and she's like, 'I hear we're going to work together,' and I'm like, 'Yes, we are,' Tedder recalled. She sends me an e-mail with a diary entry dated right after her family was... and it was, literally, her thoughts immediately after that happened. It started with the phrase, 'I remember me. I used to smile. I used to know love. I used to laugh. I used to hear things.' Tedder revealed that Hudson's private entry was 'about four or five paragraphs' and revolved around her initial response to the stunning loss. She said, 'You're the one to write the song. I want you to put music and melody to these words,' and so I pulled as much as I could from it and tried to turn it around and what we ended up with is 'I Remember Me,' which is the name of her album".
stated that "The title track, which sports Hudson's only co-writing credit here, slings clichés while the background clatter, specifically a bashing electronic drum, starts to become an issue." Brian Mansfield from USA Today
claims, "Jennifer says there's little left of the woman she was 10 years ago except her voice and a scar of her hand. And anyone who watched her during American Idol's third season could be forgiven for barely recognizing the Oscar-winning singer and actress of 2011. So this kind of confident self-examination is probably warranted, as she sings, "Memories, they fading, but I'm the one who made them/So I keep the love close enough to say, 'I remember me.'" Slant Magazine's
Matthew Cole stated that ""I Remember Me" is the centerpiece of Hudson's album, since it's both the title track and the only song on which she gets a co-writing credit. The words "I remember me" are repeated over and over again each time Hudson takes a show-boating lap around the chorus; nevertheless, I can't say I have any idea what that phrase is supposed to mean beyond some vague gesture of self-affirmation. The song plods and twinkles in equal measure." Entertainment Weekly's
Mikael Wood expresses that "Where 2008's Jennifer Hudson was bogged down with serious, self-assuring ballads, here she aims for a lighter vibe... coasting over producer Ryan Tedder's signature emo-soul synths on the sparkling title track." Kitty Empire of The Observer
gave the song a negative review, stating "That said, the songs on her second album don't ask much of her, and even the title track struggles to be sufficiently poignant." Orange U.K. stated "I Remember Me AKA the UK comeback single. A deeply personal track, and a brave move to make her international pop return with a song that deals so openly with her troubled life. The title should suggest, however, that the song has a positive outlook - and like the album as a whole, is the story of a woman recovering from tragedy, not one who has been overcome by it. Powerful production echoes the strength of the lyrics and makes for a spine-tingling return to form."
and a special for BET's
106 & Park
. Whilst promoting the single release in the UK, Hudson she performed the song on the April 22 edition of The Graham Norton Show
, where she was also interviewed. On April 25, she was interviewed and performed "I Remember Me" on Daybreak
. Hudson also pre-recorded an interview and performance for The Alan Titchmarsh Show
, which was broadcast on May 10, 2011.
on 1 May 2011, entering the chart at number 89.
Other Versions
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer and actress Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Kate Hudson is an American recording artist, actress and spokesperson. She came to prominence in 2004 as one of the finalists on the third season of American Idol coming in seventh place...
. It was written by Hudson and Ryan Tedder
Ryan Tedder
Ryan Benjamin Tedder is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the frontman of the pop rock band, OneRepublic, though he has an independent career as songwriter and producer for various artists such as Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, Far East Movement, Jordin Sparks, Leona...
, who also produced the track. It was released as the lead single from her sophomore album I Remember Me
I Remember Me (album)
I Remember Me is the second studio album by American recording artist Jennifer Hudson, released March 22, 2011, on Arista Records. Hudson worked with a variety of producers and writers on the album, including Alicia Keys, Rich Harrison, Ne-Yo, R.Kelly, Harvey Mason, Jr., Ryan Tedder, Diane Warren,...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The single version, which appears on the UK release of I Remember Me was mixed by Ash Howes. This radio mix was released as a single on April 3, 2011.
Background
On March 16, "I Remember Me" was announced as the first single taken from Hudson's second studio album in the UK. Hudson explained in her interview with Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
, "I'm not sure how it happened, but it doesn't matter to me! I love the album so much, and we got so tied up and confused on what to release that it felt better instead to spread the good music out! We're still not sure what to pick as the next single - I think there are a lot of strong contenders!"
Ryan Tedder spoke on his and Hudson's collaboration to MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. Tedder explained, "I did the title cut for her new album, I Remember Me. I produced and wrote that with her and it's, honestly, probably the most emotional song I've ever been involved with in my entire career... So I sit down and she's like, 'I hear we're going to work together,' and I'm like, 'Yes, we are,' Tedder recalled. She sends me an e-mail with a diary entry dated right after her family was... and it was, literally, her thoughts immediately after that happened. It started with the phrase, 'I remember me. I used to smile. I used to know love. I used to laugh. I used to hear things.' Tedder revealed that Hudson's private entry was 'about four or five paragraphs' and revolved around her initial response to the stunning loss. She said, 'You're the one to write the song. I want you to put music and melody to these words,' and so I pulled as much as I could from it and tried to turn it around and what we ended up with is 'I Remember Me,' which is the name of her album".
Critical reception
"I Remember Me" received mixed reviews from critics. Thomas Conner from Chicago Sun-TimesChicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
stated that "The title track, which sports Hudson's only co-writing credit here, slings clichés while the background clatter, specifically a bashing electronic drum, starts to become an issue." Brian Mansfield from USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
claims, "Jennifer says there's little left of the woman she was 10 years ago except her voice and a scar of her hand. And anyone who watched her during American Idol's third season could be forgiven for barely recognizing the Oscar-winning singer and actress of 2011. So this kind of confident self-examination is probably warranted, as she sings, "Memories, they fading, but I'm the one who made them/So I keep the love close enough to say, 'I remember me.'" Slant Magazine's
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
Matthew Cole stated that ""I Remember Me" is the centerpiece of Hudson's album, since it's both the title track and the only song on which she gets a co-writing credit. The words "I remember me" are repeated over and over again each time Hudson takes a show-boating lap around the chorus; nevertheless, I can't say I have any idea what that phrase is supposed to mean beyond some vague gesture of self-affirmation. The song plods and twinkles in equal measure." Entertainment Weekly's
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
Mikael Wood expresses that "Where 2008's Jennifer Hudson was bogged down with serious, self-assuring ballads, here she aims for a lighter vibe... coasting over producer Ryan Tedder's signature emo-soul synths on the sparkling title track." Kitty Empire of The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
gave the song a negative review, stating "That said, the songs on her second album don't ask much of her, and even the title track struggles to be sufficiently poignant." Orange U.K. stated "I Remember Me AKA the UK comeback single. A deeply personal track, and a brave move to make her international pop return with a song that deals so openly with her troubled life. The title should suggest, however, that the song has a positive outlook - and like the album as a whole, is the story of a woman recovering from tragedy, not one who has been overcome by it. Powerful production echoes the strength of the lyrics and makes for a spine-tingling return to form."
Promotion
In the U.S, Hudson performed "I Remember Me" during the promotion for the album on Sessions@AOLSessions@AOL
Sessions@AOL is a special avenue of programming conducted by AOL Music. Originally an AOL exclusive, Sessions@AOL can now also be seen as an avenue for non-AOL users as well. Sessions@AOL consists of exclusive and intimate performances of songs by popular musicians, with likes of bands such as...
and a special for BET's
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
106 & Park
106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
. Whilst promoting the single release in the UK, Hudson she performed the song on the April 22 edition of The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show is a British comedy chat show that is broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom. It was originally shown on BBC Two from February 2007 to May 2009 until it moved to BBC One from October 2009...
, where she was also interviewed. On April 25, she was interviewed and performed "I Remember Me" on Daybreak
Daybreak (ITV)
Daybreak is the weekday breakfast television programme on the British commercial ITV network that broadcasts on weekday mornings from 06:00 to 08:30 and is currently presented by Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley from Monday to Thursday with Dan Lobb and Kate Garraway on Fridays...
. Hudson also pre-recorded an interview and performance for The Alan Titchmarsh Show
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
The Alan Titchmarsh Show is a British daytime TV chat show broadcast between 3 and 4pm weekdays on the ITV Network.-Format:The programme made its debut on ITV in 2007. It focused on the theme of "The Best of British" focusing on food, entertainment and celebrities in a mid-afternoon slot...
, which was broadcast on May 10, 2011.
Chart performance
The single first appeared on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on 1 May 2011, entering the chart at number 89.
Track listing
Digital Single- "I Remember Me" (Radio Mix) - 3:34
Other Versions
- "I Remember Me" (Album Version) - 4:10
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan Hot 100 Japan Hot 100 The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com .... |
8 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | April 3, 2011 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
External links
- JenniferHudsonOnline.com — official site