music.wikisort.org - Composition

"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
Released	June 2, 2009
Genre	Soul pop
Length	4:15
Label	Arista, 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.^{[citation needed]} 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]

• Songwriting – Robin Thicke
• Production – Robin Thicke, Pro Jay
• Recording – Bill Molina
• Backing vocals – Robin Thicke
• Drums – Pro Jay
• Guitar – Tony Reyes
• Organ – Larry Cox
• Mixing – Rich Travali
• Mastering – Chris Gehringer

Chart performance

Weekly charts

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

References

External links

• JenniferHudsonOnline.com — official site

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