I'll Never Love Again
"I'll Never Love Again" is a song from the 2018 film A Star Is Born, performed by its stars Lady Gaga and director Bradley Cooper whose character sings the final chorus in the flashback scene. The soundtrack contained both versions of the song including the extended version that featured Gaga as the sole performer. Gaga wrote the song with Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey, and Aaron Raitiere. Both tracks were produced by Lady Gaga and Benjamin Rice.
"I'll Never Love Again" | ||||
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Single by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper | ||||
from the album A Star Is Born | ||||
Released | May 27, 2019 | |||
Studio | EastWest Studios, The Village West (Los Angeles, California) | |||
Venue | Shrine Auditorium | |||
Length | 4:41 (film version) 5:28 (extended version) 3:13 (radio edit) | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Lady Gaga singles chronology | ||||
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Bradley Cooper singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"I'll Never Love Again" on YouTube |
The song has received widespread critical acclaim and has reached the top of the Slovakian digital charts, the top-ten of the record charts in Hungary, Ireland and Scotland, and the digital charts of Greece, combined-Europe, Luxembourg and Spain. The song received a limited release as the album's third single in selected territories on May 27, 2019.[1]
The song won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media, a year after the album's lead single "Shallow" won in the same category.
Background and composition
When Gaga was getting ready to film the final scene of A Star Is Born, where she sings "I'll Never Love Again", the singer got a telephone call that her childhood friend Sonja Durham was in her last moments of Stage IV cancer. Gaga left the set and drove to meet Durham, but she arrived ten minutes after her friend died. She asked Durham's husband if she should return to filming; he replied, "You've gotta do what Sonja would want you to do", so she returned to the set. Co-star and director Bradley Cooper was supportive of Gaga's loss but Gaga was adamant about finishing the scene, so she stepped on the set and sang "I'll Never Love Again". The singer said, "[Sonja] gave me a tragic gift that day and I took it with me to [the] set, and I sang that song for Jackson and for her on that very same day within an hour."[2]
Along with the film version, the soundtrack also contains an extended version. Gaga wrote the song with Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey, and Aaron Raitiere.[3][4] Both tracks were produced by Lady Gaga and Benjamin Rice.[5] The song is performed in the key of G major with a moderate tempo of 54 beats per minute in common time. It follows a chord progression of Gadd2–Em7–Cmaj9–D9sus in the verses and Gadd2–Em7(no3)–Cmaj9/E–D9sus in the chorus. Gaga's vocals span from G3 to E5.[6] Brian Truitt of USA Today described the song as a "weepy" ballad.[7]
Release and performance
The song was first chosen as the third single from the soundtrack on May 27, 2019 in France beginning a distribution across selected territories.[1] It has so far reached the top ten in Hungary, Scotland and Ireland, and the top ten of digital charts in Greece, Spain and Luxembourg, reaching the chart summit in Slovakia.
Critical reception
The song received universal acclaim. In her review of the film, Melina Newman of Billboard called the ballad "stunning".[8] The magazine's Tatiana Cirisano ranked Lady Gaga's performance of "I'll Never Love Again" as the film's best scene and wrote, "Not only are the lyrics devastatingly beautiful, but Gaga/Ally showcases her full, skyscraper-high range."[9] Jon Pareles of The New York Times compared the song to Harry Nilsson's "Without You" and Eric Carmen's "All by Myself", and complimented Gaga's "old-school finesse, timing, emotionality and lung power".[10] Pitchfork's Larry Fitzmaurice called the song a "stunning, heart-wrenching closer" and wrote, "... even though 'I'll Never Love Again' is plenty effective on its own, the dialogue-included version of the song dramatically cuts out in its final seconds the same way the film does: jumping back in time from Gaga's time-stopping performance to a pivotal and heartbreaking scene that only enhances the song's emotional quotient".[11]
In his film review, Ty Burr of The Boston Globe said Gaga's "climactic memorial" performance of the song "will leave you a soggy mess whether you like it or not".[12] Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter predicted the song would earn Gaga an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.[13] USA Today's Patrick Ryan wrote, "And with 'I'll Never Love Again,' the film's devastating emotional closer, Gaga gets her own Whitney Houston moment, powering through a formidable number about love and loss with searing vulnerability and grace. It's a transcendent achievement that could single-handedly net the singer-turned-actress her first Oscar, reminding us yet again that she's one of the best vocalists right now in any genre, pop or otherwise."[14]
Commercial performance
The song debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States[15] and has since sold 226,000 copies in the country, while accumulating 66 million streams.[16] Additionally, the song has reached the top ten position in Hungary, Ireland and Scotland.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the A Star Is Born soundtrack album.[17]
Management
- Published by Sony/ATV Songs LLC / SG Songs LLC (BMI) / Happygowrucke / Creative Pulse Music/These Are Pulse Songs (BMI).
- All rights administered by These Are Pulse Songs, BIRB Music (ASCAP) / BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
- Warner Tamerlane Publishing Corp. / Super LCS Publishing / One Tooth Productions (BMI), Warner-Barham Music LLC (BMI)
- Extra administration by Songs of Universal (BMI) / Warner-Olive Music LLC (ASCAP) admin. by Universal Music Corp. (ASCAP)
- Recorded at Shrine Auditorium, EastWest Studios, The Village West (Los Angeles, California)
- Mixed at Electric Lady Studios (New York City)
- Mastered at Sterling Sound Studios (New York City)
Personnel
- Lady Gaga – songwriter, producer, primary vocals
- Natalie Hemby – songwriter
- Hillary Lindsey – songwriter
- Aaron Raitiere – songwriter
- Benjamin Rice – producer, recording
- Bo Bodnar – recording assistant
- Alex Williams – recording assistant
- Tom Elmhirst – mixing
- Brandon Bost – mixing engineer
- Randy Merrill – audio mastering
- Chris Johnson – drums
- Jon Drummond – bass
- Brokkett Parsons – keyboards
- Tim Stewart – guitar
- Ricky Tillo – guitar
Orchestra
- Stephen D. Oremus – string engineer
- Peter Rotter – strings contractor
- Alyssa Park – violin
- Julie Gigante – violin
- Charlie Bisharat – violin
- Jessica Guiderl – violin
- Bruce Dukov – violin
- Luanne Homzy – violin
- Benjamin Jacobson – violin
- Phillip Levy – violin
- Lisa Liu – violin
- Maya Magub – violin
- Lucia Micarelli – violin
- Josefina Vergara – violin
- Julie Gigante – violin
- Robert Brophy – violas
- Andrew Duckless – violas
- Matthew Funes – violas
- Darrin McCann – violas
- David Walther – violas
- Steve Eroody – cello
- Jacob Braun – cello
- Eric Byers – cello
- Dennis Karmazyn – cello
- Michael Valerio – contrabass
- Geoffrey Osika – contrabass
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[42] | Gold | 35,000 |
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[43] | Gold | 45,000 |
France (SNEP)[44] | Platinum | 200,000 |
Italy (FIMI)[45] | Gold | 25,000 |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[46] | Gold | 30,000 |
Portugal (AFP)[47] | Gold | 5,000 |
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] | Gold | 400,000 |
United States (RIAA)[49] | Platinum | 226,000[16] |
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Cover versions
- In October 2018, Lea Salonga performed the song live during her 40th Anniversary Concert.[50]
- In April 2019, Molly Hocking released a cover of the song after winning the eighth series of The Voice UK. This acted as her winner's single.[51]
References
- ""I'll Never Love Again" : Lady Gaga plus poignante que jamais sur son nouveau single". chartsinfrance.net.
- Weiner, Zoe (October 10, 2018). "The True Story Behind A Star Is Born's Final Scene Will Make You Cry All Over Again". Glamour. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- "'A Star is Born': Some of Nashville's most powerful voices helped shape the soundtrack". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- "Bradley Cooper / Lady Gaga: I'll Never Love Again". AllMusic. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- Colburn, Randall (October 4, 2018). "Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper unveil A Star Is Born original soundtrack: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- Germanotta, Stefani (2018). "Lady Gaga 'I'll Never Love Again' Sheet Music in G Major". Musicnotes.com. MN0190036. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- Truitt, Brian (October 1, 2018). "Review: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper are electrifying in extraordinary 'A Star Is Born'". USA Today. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- Newman, Melinda (September 25, 2018). "Lady Gaga's 'A Star Is Born' Hits All the Right Notes: Movie Review". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- Cirisano, Tatiana (October 5, 2018). "The 10 Best Moments from 'A Star Is Born,' Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- "In 'A Star Is Born,' Lady Gaga Pits Pop Against Authenticity". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- Fitzmaurice, Larry. "Lady Gaga / Bradley Cooper: A Star is Born Soundtrack". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
- Burr, Ty (October 3, 2018). "Lady Gaga glitters in 'A Star Is Born'". Boston Globe. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- Feinberg, Scott (September 10, 2018). "Toronto: 'A Star Is Born' Rockets Into Oscar Contention at North American Premiere". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- Ryan, Patrick (October 5, 2018). "Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper's stunning 'A Star Is Born' soundtrack proves 'Shallow' was no fluke". USA Today. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- "Lady Gaga Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
- Trust, Gary (February 10, 2019). "Ask Billboard: Lady Gaga's Career Sales & Streams; Ariana Grande Takes '7' to 1". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
- A Star Is Born (Credits from Liner notes). Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Interscope Records. 2018. B0028726-01. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Australian-charts.com – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – I'll Never Love Again". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- "Austriancharts.at – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – I'll Never Love Again" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
- "Lady Gaga Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201844 into search. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
- "Lady Gaga: Chart Search: I'll Never Love Again". Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
- "Lescharts.com – Lady Gaga – I'll Never Love Again" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
- "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
- "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 43" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
- "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 5, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
- "Portuguesecharts.com – Lady Gaga – I'll Never Love Again". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
- "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201843 into search. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- "2018년 44주차 Digital Chartt" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
- "Physical/Digital Single Top 50". Spanishcharts.com. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – I'll Never Love Again". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "Swisscharts.com – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – I'll Never Love Again". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
- "Single Top 100 – eladási darabszám alapján – 2018" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- "Top de l'année Top Singles 2019" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- "Single Top 100 – eladási darabszám alapján – 2019" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- "Digital Song Sales - Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
- "Danish single certifications". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved January 26, 2021. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2021 to obtain certification.
- "French single certifications – Lady Gaga – I'll Never Love Again" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- "Italian single certifications – Lady Gaga – I'll Never Love Again" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 30, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "I'll Never Love Again" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
- "Norwegian single certifications – Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper – I'll Never Love Again" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
- "Portuguese single certifications – Lady Gaga – I'll Never Love Again" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- "British single certifications – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – I'll Never Love Again". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- "American single certifications – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – I'll Never Love Again". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 30, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
- Criscitiello, Alexa (October 20, 2018). "VIDEO: Lea Salonga Sings 'I'll Never Love Again' From A STAR IS BORN". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- "The Voice UK's Molly Hocking's winner's single misses the Top 40". TellyMix. April 13, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.