It Ain't Over 'til It's Over

"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" is a song recorded, written, and produced by American musician Lenny Kravitz for his second studio album, Mama Said (1991). Released as the album's second single in June 1991, the song is a mid-tempo ballad, musically inspired by Motown, Philly soul, and Earth, Wind & Fire (particularly "That's the Way of the World"). The horn line at the end is performed by the Phenix Horns from Earth, Wind & Fire. "That song just came out one day, and I knew it had a classic vibe. And I still love that song very much today," Kravitz said in an interview for VivaMusic.com in 2000.[1] The line is based on a Yogiism, or quotation from Yogi Berra: "It ain't over 'til it's over."[2] It was Kravitz's first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 of his career, and his highest peak in the chart. British singer Mutya Buena's 2007 song "Real Girl" contains a sample from "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over".

For the Fast Eddie Clarke album, see It Ain't Over till It's Over.
"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over"
Single by Lenny Kravitz
from the album Mama Said
ReleasedJune 6, 1991
Recorded1990
Genre
Length3:55
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Lenny Kravitz
Producer(s)Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz singles chronology
"Always on the Run"
(1991)		 "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over"
(1991)		 "Stand by My Woman"
(1992)
Music video
"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" on YouTube

Background

The song was written by Kravitz while dealing with a struggling marriage to his then wife, Lisa Bonet, and was an attempt to rekindle the relationship. Kravitz has described his thinking at that time as "not just a depression, but a fog. I didn’t know which way was up".[3]

Initially Kravitz, realizing the hit potential of the song, did not want to release the song himself, wishing to remain an underground artist, thinking instead of giving the song to Smokey Robinson. His label however eventually persuaded him to include it on the album.[3]

Critical reception

Christopher A. Daniel from Albumism said that the song "marries his Curtis Mayfield-inspired falsetto with chunky Stax Records guitars and a lush MFSB-flavored (possibly Love Unlimited Orchestra) string arrangement."[4] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic noted its "swirling Philly soul", describing the song as "instantly addictive".[5] Carla Hay of AXS stated, "Kravitz has said he wrote this song about the breakdown of his marriage to actress Lisa Bonet (they eventually divorced), and the heartbreak is oozing all over this song." She added, "With a Motown-ish 1960s vibe, this ballad (from 1991’s Mama Said album) is one of Kravitz’s best ballads. It remains his highest-charting hit of his career in the U.S., where it peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart."[6] Larry Flick from Billboard called it a "delicious slice of Philly soul/pop, flavored with lush strings, understated funk bass and guitar riffs, and Kravitz's engaging falsetto vocal. Could be a sleeper smash."[7] Alex Henderson from Cashbox picked the song as one of the "goodies" from the album, describing it as ""uptown soul"-flavoured".[8] Music & Media commented that the singer "sings in smooth tones, reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield and the Style Council. Soultime on EHR."[9] Also Sunday Tribune noted that Paul Weller and Mayfield are "echoed" in the song.[10]

Chart performance

"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" is Kravitz's most successful single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart to date, peaking at number two, but it was prevented from the number-one position by Bryan Adams' hit "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You". It also reached number two on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart, behind Adams' hit as well. It was also popular in the United Kingdom, where it peaked number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.

Music video

The music video, directed by Jesse Dylan, features Kravitz and his band performing the song. Different kinds of background lighting colors were featured in the video.

Personnel

Track listings and formats
CD single and 12" single
  1. "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" – 3:55
  2. "I'll Be Around" – 2:52
  3. "The Difference Is Why" – 4:48
7" single
  1. "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" – 3:55
  2. "The Difference Is Why" – 4:48

Charts

References
  1. "Lenny Kravitz Grammy Awards!". Lenny-Kravitz.com. Retrieved 2007-03-12.
  2. See Examples of Yogiisms.
  3. Barlow, Eve. "Lenny Kravitz on 30 years in music: 'I did whatever I had to do to survive'". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  4. Daniel, Christopher A. (1 April 2016). "Lenny Kravitz's 'Mama Said' Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Lenny Kravitz – Mama Said". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  6. Hay, Carla (2 March 2016). "The top 10 best Lenny Kravitz songs". AXS. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  7. Flick, Larry (15 June 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 65. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  8. "Pop Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Cashbox. 1 June 1991. p. 5. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  9. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 8 June 1991. p. 12. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  10. Sunday Tribune. 21 April 1991. p. 22. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  11. "Australian-charts.com – Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  12. "Austriancharts.at – Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  13. "Ultratop.be – Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  14. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1606." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  15. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1625." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  16. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 27. July 9, 1991. p. 45. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  17. "Lescharts.com – Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  20. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 25, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  21. "Dutchcharts.nl – Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  22. "Charts.nz – Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  23. "Swedishcharts.com – Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  25. "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  26. "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  27. "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  28. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  29. "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  30. "RPM 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  31. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1991". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  32. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  33. "End of Year Charts 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  34. "Billboard Top 100 – 1991". Archived from the original on July 7, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  35. "Top Adult Contemporary Songs of 1991 ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
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