I'm Gonna Be Strong

"I'm Gonna Be Strong" is a song written by the songwriting duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.[1] It was first recorded by Frankie Laine in 1963 and released as a single on Columbia Records. However, the song did not become a major hit until 1964, when Gene Pitney released his version as a single. It was also a single released by the 1980 band Blue Angel, with lead vocals provided by future star Cyndi Lauper. This release was prior to Lauper's solo career; however, Lauper re-recorded the track and released it as a single in 1994. The song was also featured on 1982's Quiet Lies album by Grammy winner Juice Newton. Though Newton never released the song as a single, her remake was later added as a bonus track to her first Greatest Hits collection.

For the Gene Pitney album, see It Hurts to Be in Love and Eleven More Hit Songs.

Gene Pitney version
"I'm Gonna Be Strong"
Single by Gene Pitney
from the album It Hurts to Be in Love and Eleven More Hit Songs
B-side"E Se Domani (If Tomorrow)"
Released1964 (1964)
Recorded1964 (1964)
GenrePop
Length2:16
LabelMusicor
Songwriter(s)Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
Gene Pitney singles chronology
"It Hurts to Be in Love"
(1964)		 "I'm Gonna Be Strong"
(1964)		 "I Must Be Seeing Things"
(1965)

This version became a top ten hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. The song is Pitney's biggest UK solo hit, with only his duet version of "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" with Marc Almond peaking higher.

Chart performance
Country Peak
position
United Kingdom 2
United States 9

Blue Angel version
"I'm Gonna Be Strong"
Single by Blue Angel
from the album Blue Angel
B-side"Just the Other Day" "Maybe He'll Know" "Anna Blue"
Released1980 (1980)
GenrePop
Length2:50
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
Producer(s)Roy Halee
Blue Angel singles chronology
"You Make Loving Fun"
(1977)		 "I'm Gonna Be Strong"
(1980)		 "I Had a Love"
(1980)

It was also the most successful single released by the 1980 band Blue Angel from their album also called Blue Angel. The vocals were provided by Cyndi Lauper. Like the album, the only country the single charted in was the Netherlands, where it reached #37 on the charts.

The artwork and track listing for the single varied depending on the country of origin. An Italian promotional 7" vinyl single with the same catalogue number and track listing as the German version was released with alternate artwork. The original 1980 Dutch release was re-released with identical packaging in 1984 after Lauper's solo success.

7" vinyl (Netherlands)

Length: 5:32

  1. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
  2. "Just the Other Day" (Cyndi Lauper, John Turi) – 2:42

7" vinyl (Germany)/Italian promo 7" vinyl

Length: 6:44

  1. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
  2. "Maybe He'll Know" (Cyndi Lauper, John Turi) – 3:54

7" vinyl (Australia and UK)

Length: 6:47

  1. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:50
  2. "Anna Blue" (Cyndi Lauper, John Turi) – 3:57

Cyndi Lauper version
"I'm Gonna Be Strong"
Single by Cyndi Lauper
from the album Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some
B-side"I'm Gonna Be Strong", "A Part Hate"
ReleasedOctober 10, 1994
February 1995 (UK)
Recorded1994 (1994)
GenrePop
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Cyndi Lauper singles chronology
"Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun)"
(1994)		 "I'm Gonna Be Strong"
(1994)		 "Come On Home"
(1995)
Music video
"I'm Gonna Be Strong" on YouTube

Because "I'm Gonna Be Strong" was the most successful single of Lauper's early band Blue Angel, she went on to re-record the track for her greatest hits album Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some, and subsequently a new single was released in 1994. The song shows off Lauper's singing ability, containing a challenging arrangement and notes. It peaked in the top 40 on the UK chart. This single was not commercially released in the US where it was only released as a promo.

Critical reception

David Bauder from Associated Press said "it's among her strongest vocal performances".[2] Cox News Service noted that Lauper "still owns one of the most wide-ranging and dynamic voices in pop music."[3] Ian Tasker from The Guardian wrote that Lauper's voice is "arguably best displayed" on the 1994 single "I'm Gonna Be Strong". He added that the song is "a highly emotional song of a relationship breaking down, it's unusual in as much as it doesn't really have a chorus – it just builds and builds, adding layer upon layer of pain and hurt as Lauper's majestic voice grows stronger and more insistent, higher and higher until it reaches a heartbreaking climax."[4] Gerald Martinez from New Straits Times described the song as a "broadway style ballad". He stated that "she's got a unique voice — too high pitched — with a vast range of dynamics, from a whisper to operatic crescendos. Just listen to her final note".[5]

Music video

The music video for "I'm Gonna Be Strong" features a lonely Lauper walking around in an old house. She wears a red dress and her hair is curly and strong-yellow, almost orange. In the beginning, the singer stands by a wooden table, making a cup of tea while she sings. The windows are covered with blonde curtains. Other scenes show her glancing out of one window, sitting on a bed or looking at herself in a mirror. The video was uploaded to YouTube in 2009. In August 2020, it has got more than 2,000,000 views.[6]

Chart performance
Chart (1994–95) Peak
position
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[7] 35
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 37

Track listing

Europe 2-Track CD Single

  1. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" - 3:46
  2. "A Part Hate" - 4:54

Europe CD Maxi-Single / Australian CD Single

  1. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" - 3:46
  2. "Broken Glass" - 3:52
  3. "Dear John" - 3:40
  4. "A Part Hate" - 4:54

UK CD1

  1. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" - 3:46
  2. "Broken Glass" - 5:31
  3. "Dear John" - 3:37

UK CD2

  1. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" - 3:46
  2. "A Part Hate" - 4:53
  3. "Product of Misery" - 4:08

Japan CD Single

  1. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" - 3:50
  2. "Sally's Pigeons" - 3:46
  3. "Feels Like Christmas" - 4:36

Other versions

Jackie DeShannon covered the song on her 1965 album This is Jackie DeShannon. Del Shannon covered this song on his 1965 album One Thousand Six Hundred Sixty One Seconds.[9]

Tim Rose released the song as single with the B-side "I Got a Loneliness" (Columbia USA 4-43958, 19 Dec 1966) and on his selftitled album 1967.

Juice Newton included the song on her albums Quiet Lies (1982) and Greatest Hits (1984).

Guitarist Ronnie Montrose created an instrumental version of this song on his Territory album (1986).

Dutch singer Glennis Grace covered the song in 1994, peaking at 13 on the Dutch Top 40.[10]

Buddy Miller covered the song on his 1999 album Cruel Moon, with Joy Lynn White on backing vocals.

References
  1. Aquila, Richard (2000-09-14). That Old-time Rock & Roll: A Chronicle of an Era, 1954-1963. University of Illinois Press. p. 270. ISBN 9780252069192. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  2. "12 Deadly Cyns". The Hour. 1995-11-29. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  3. "Lauper changed but still has fun". Bangor Daily News. 1995-10-09. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  4. "Lauper changed but still has fun". The Guardian. 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  5. "Cyn and heard with great grooves". New Straits Times. 1994-10-30. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  6. "Cyndi Lauper - I'm Gonna Be Strong". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  7. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 (05 February 1995-11 February 1995)". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  8. "CYNDI LAUPER | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  9. "Del Shannon - One Thousand Six Hundred Sixty One Seconds". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  10. Steffen Hung. "Glennis Grace - I'm Gonna Be Strong". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.