Giving Myself

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"Giving Myself"
Single by Jennifer Hudson
from the album Jennifer Hudson
Released June 2, 2009
(see Release history)
Format Digital download
Genre Soul, pop
Length 4:15
Label Arista/J
Writer(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)

"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.

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] 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

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  8. ↑ Template:BillboardEncode/J/chart?f=367 "Jennifer Hudson – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Jennifer Hudson. Retrieved 2012-05-10.

External links

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