Giving Myself

"Giving Myself" is a song recorded by American recording artist Jennifer Hudson. It was written and produced by singer-songwriter Robin Thicke, along with his frequent co-producer Pro Jay, for her eponymous debut album, released in 2008. An eleventh hour replacement for Timbaland-produced "Pocketbook", the pop–soul ballad was selected as the album's third and final single and sent to US radios on June 2, 2009.[1] Upon release, it charted at number 84 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

"Giving Myself"
Single by Jennifer Hudson
from the album Jennifer Hudson
ReleasedJune 2, 2009
Genre
Length4:15
LabelArista, J
Songwriter(s)Robin Thicke
Producer(s)Robin Thicke, Pro Jay
Jennifer Hudson singles chronology
"If This Isn't Love"
(2009)		 "Giving Myself"
(2009)		 "Where You At"
(2011)

Background

"Giving Myself" is a pop–soul ballad written and produced by Robin Thicke, with co-production helmed by frequent collaborator Pro Jay.[2] Tony Reyes played the guitar and Larry Cox the organ while Thicke and Jay contributed Backing vocals and drums.[2] Rich Travali mixed the track, while audio recording of "Giving Myself" was overseen by Bill Molina.[2] A slightly different arrangement of the song was released as the single, with the original arraignment only made available through the physical version of the album. Speaking about what motivated her to record the song, Hudson said: "It's unexpected from me, but it still is me. I love how [Thicke] allowed me to be me but introduced another side. He introduced a more vulnerable side vocally, but yet he put it with the ballad side of Jennifer."[3] In an interview with E! Online, Thicke also elaborated on the recording process, stating: "Luckily, her voice is ready to go at all times. She showed up, I had this great little song in the spirit of Whitney Houston, and she sat down next to me and I started singing it for her, and she loved it right off the bat. We got her behind the microphone and she Jennifer Hudson-ed it."[4]

Critical reception

Joey Guerra from Houston Chronicle felt that "Thicke's 'Giving Myself' is a nice surprise, an old-school diva ballad a la Stephanie Mills, Jennifer Holliday and Patti LaBelle,[5] while The Washington Post's J. Freedom du Lac found, the song was "an emotional, devotional soul showcase, a classic piano ballad designed to show off Hudson’s big, brassy voice."[6] Digital Spy, on the other hand, called "Giving Myself" a "boring, sappy love song," which along with "You Pulled Me Through", "don't seem to belong on the same album as 'Pocketbook'."[7]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Jennifer Hudson.[2]

Chart performance

Weekly charts
Chart (2009) Peak
position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] 84

References
  1. "®R&R :: Going For Adds™ :: Urban AC". Gfa.radioandrecords.com. June 2, 2009. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  2. Jennifer Hudson (Media notes). Jennifer Hudson. J Records. 2008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. Vena, Jocelyn; Kash, Tim (October 6, 2008). "Jennifer Hudson Escapes 'American Idol' And 'Dreamgirls' Cover Songs On Self-Titled Debut". MTV News. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  4. "Robin Thicke on J.Hud: Touring Will Be Cathartic E! Online Interview". E! Online. October 6, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  5. Guerra, Joey (September 29, 2008). "Getting Back To Music". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  6. Freedom du Lac, J. (September 30, 2008). "Jennifer Hudson's Prime Time". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  7. Levine, Nick (September 29, 2008). "Jennifer Hudson: Jennifer Hudson". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  8. "Jennifer Hudson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
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