I Will Be





"I Will Be" is a song co-written and originally performed by Canadian singerAvril Lavigne, which was included on the North American, Taiwanese, and Japanese limited editions of her third studio album The Best Damn Thingand as an iTunes Store pre-order bonus track in 2007; British singer-songwriter Leona Lewis covered the song for her debut studio album, Spirit, also released in 2007. Max Martin and Lukasz Gottwald also co-wrote the song, whilst production was helmed by Gottwald under his production name Dr. Luke. It was co-produced by Steven Wolf and Max Beckley and Smit. It is a piano and guitar led song, and draws influence from the musical genres of adult contemporary, pop rock and contemporary R&B. It garnered a mixed response from music critics, with some critics praising Lewis's vocal performance and delivery, whilst others described it as emotionless.

Upon the release of Spirit in November 2007, the song peaked at number 160 on the UK Singles Chart due to strong digital download sales. It was released for US Contemporary hit radio airplay on 6 January 2009.[1] Throughout January to March of 2009, it also made an impact on the Canadian and United States charts; in the former it peaked at number 83, while it peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the latter. However, it was more successful on the US Adult Pop Songs and Pop Songs charts, peaking at numbers 23 and 24, respectively. As part of promotion, a music video was shot in New York City and featured Chace Crawford as Lewis's love interest. In January 2009, she performed the song on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Production and Recording
"I Will Be" was written by Avril Lavigne, Max Martin, Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald; it was produced by Dr. Luke, and was co-produced by Steven Wolf and Max Beckley and Smit.[2] Lavigne originally performed the song, which was included on her third studio album The Best Damn Thing (2007),[3] included on the bonus track edition.[4] In the same year Leona Lewiscovered the song. Lewis's version was recorded at multiple recording studios around the world, including Conway Recording Studios and Westlake Recording Studios, in Los Angeles, California; Henson Recording Studios, Opra Music, and Ocean Way Recording, all located in Hollywood, California; Dr. Luke's personal recording studio in New York City; Atlantic Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; Sarm West, London, England.[2] The production coordinators were Gary "The Shredder" Silver and Emily Wright.[2]

A multitude of engineers were involved with the process of recording the song, including Doug McKean, Rob Smith, Seth Waldmann, Keith Gretlin, Josh Wilbur, Tom Syrowski, Tatiana Gottwald, Chris Soper, Sam Holland, Chris Holmes, Rouble Kapoor, Wesley Seidman, Janne Hansson, Emily Wright, Marcus Dextegen and Sam Cross.[2] "I Will Be" was mixed by Chris Lord-Alge at Resonale Recording Studios, Burbank, CA, and was assisted by Keith Armstrong and Nik Karpen.[2] For the instrumental, Leon Pendarvis was the conductor and arranger; Martin provided piano, Dr. Luke provided theelectric guitar and Yamaha Acoustic guitar, Jack Daley provided the bass and Wolf provided the drums andpercussion.[2]

Composition
 "I Will Be" is a piano[5] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SRBostonGlobe_5-0" style="line-height:1em;">[6] and guitar led song, <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Digital_Sheet_Music.2C_Leona_Lewis_I_Will_Be_6-0" style="line-height:1em;">[7] which lasts for a duration of 3 minutes, 58 seconds. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-iTunes_7-0" style="line-height:1em;">[8] The song was composed in the key of G major using common time and a slow groove at 72 beats per minute. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Digital_Sheet_Music.2C_Leona_Lewis_I_Will_Be_6-1" style="line-height:1em;">[7] Lewis's vocal range spans two octaves, from the low note of B<sub style="line-height:1em;">3 to the high note of B<sub style="line-height:1em;">5 , on the song. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Digital_Sheet_Music.2C_Leona_Lewis_I_Will_Be_6-2" style="line-height:1em;">[7] It incorporates elements of adult contemporary music, pop rock and contemporary R&B genres. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Digital_Sheet_Music.2C_Leona_Lewis_I_Will_Be_6-3" style="line-height:1em;">[7] The song opens with the lyrics "There's nothing I could say to you, nothing I could ever do to make you see what you mean to me." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Digital_Sheet_Music.2C_Leona_Lewis_I_Will_Be_6-4" style="line-height:1em;">[7] Chad Grischow for IGN described the song's piano led instrumental to be "overblown", but noted that Lewis has enough "vocal strength to prevent her from being overshadowed by the drowningly lush sound." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CGIGN_4-1" style="line-height:1em;">[5] Eric R. Danton wrote on his review of Spirit for the Hartford Courant daily that "I Will Be" begins with a "spare piano introduction" that "blossoms into an arrangement buoyed by strings and then drums and guitar". Danton described Lewis's vocals as "delicate" and that "take flight on the chorus ". <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HartfordCourant_8-0" style="line-height:1em;">[9]

Lyrics
There's nothing I could say to you Nothing I could ever do to make you see What you mean to me

All the pain, the tears I cried Still you never said goodbye and now I know How far you'd go

[Bridge:] I know I let you down But it's not like that now This time I'll never let you go

[Chorus:] I will be, all that you want And gather myself together Cause you keep me from falling apart All my life, I'll be with you forever To get you through the day And make everything OK

[Verse 2:] I thought that I had everything I didn't know what life could bring But now I see, honestly

You're the one thing I got right The only one I let inside Now I can breathe, cause you're here with me

[Bridge:] And if I let you down I'll turn it all around Cause I would never let you go

[Chorus]

[Ending bridge:] Cause without you I cant breathe I'm not gonna ever, ever let you leave You're all I've got, you're all I want Yeah

And without you I don't know what I'd do I can never, ever live a day without you Here with me, do you see, You're all I need

[Chorus x2]

Critical reception
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">It garnered a mixed response from music critics<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">. Nate Chinen for The New York Times<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> was complimentary of Lewis's cover, and praised her "powerhouse vocals". <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NCNYTimes_9-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[10] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Matt O'Leary for Virgin Media<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> wrote that Lewis's rendition of the song was "epic", and that when the production is kept minimal, "her uniqueness is allowed to shine." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[11] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Although Sarah Rodman for The Boston Globe<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> described the song as "predictable", she praised Lewis's ability to sing with "believable pathos" and hit clean notes. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SRBostonGlobe_5-1" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[6] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Sarah-Louise James for the Daily Star<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> was critical of Lewis's rendition, and described it as insincerely emotional. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SLJDailyStar_2-1" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[3] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Sal Cinquemani for Slant Magazine<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> was also critical of the song, writing that it is "dangerously middle-of-the-road." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SCSlant_11-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[12] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Danton from the Hartford Courant<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> cosidered the song as "ready-made for awards shows or emotional on-screen montages." He concluded that "I Will Be" is a "powerful stuff, and it would make for a gem of a pop record if it kept up." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-HartfordCourant_8-1" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[9]

Chart performance
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">Upon the release of Spirit<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> in the United Kingdom, "I Will Be" debuted and peaked at number 160 on the UK Singles Chart<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">from digital download sales. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-UK2007Debut160_12-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[13] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Upon its release as a single in January 2009 in the United States, "I Will Be" debuted on the US Pop Songs<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> chart at number 34 on 31 January 2009. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USPopDebut_13-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[14] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> In its second week it rose to number 31, <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USPopSecondAndThird_14-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[15] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> and again to number 28 in its third week. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USPopSecondAndThird_14-1" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[15] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> It peaked at number 24 and remained on the chart for eight weeks. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LeonaLewisPopSongsHistory_15-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[16] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> In its seventh and eighth weeks, it charted at numbers 25 and 31, respectively. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USPopSeventhAndEighth_16-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[17] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> It debuted on the US Billboard<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Hot 100<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> at number 94 on 14 February 2009. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USHot100Debut_17-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[18] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> It peaked at number 66, <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LeonaLewisHot100SongsHistory_18-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[19] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> and exited the chart at number 80. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USHot10080_19-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[20] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> The song debuted on the US Adult Pop Songs<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> chart at number 39 on 7 March 2009, <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USAdultPopDebut_20-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[21] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> and rose to number 34 the following week. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USAdultPopSecond_21-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[22] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> In its third and fourth weeks, the song charted at numbers 33 and 25, respectively. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USPopThirdAndFourth_22-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[23] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> "I Will Be" peaked at number 23 in its fifth week on the chart, <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USPopFifthAndSixth_23-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[24] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> and fell to number 24 the following week. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USPopFifthAndSixth_23-1" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[24] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> It also debuted at number 65 on the US Hot Digital Songs<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">chart on 21 February 2009, <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-USDigital_24-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[25] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> which was also its peak. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LeonaLewisDigitalSongsHistory_25-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[26] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> In Canada, the song entered the chart at number 86, <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CanadaDebut_26-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[27] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> and peaked at number 83. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-LeonaLewisCanadaHot100SongsHistory_27-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[28]

Music Video
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">The music video<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> for "I Will Be" was shot in New York City on 18 December 2008, and features Gossip Girl<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> actor Chace Crawford<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> as one of the characters. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-People_28-1" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[29] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> A reporter for People<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">explained how the inclusion of Crawford in the video came to fruition, writing that "Chace went to London a couple months ago for meetings and to promote Gossip Girl. He went to a party and ended up meeting Leona. [They] hit it off and talk every once in a while and have become fast friends. A couple weeks ago Leona called Chace and asked if he would be in her next video. He obviously said yes." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-People_28-2" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[29] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> In the video, it is presumed that Lewis and Crawford have stolen a large amount of money, as it opens with dialogue between the pair and how they are going to try and arrange to meet each other at a later date, due to the police closing in on them. As the song begins to play, Lewis sings the first verse on the car bonnet<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> in which they were shown sitting in previously. As she sings the first chorus, she stands up and faces Crawford in the car, and begins to walk away in a car park as she sings the second verse. For the second chorus, Lewis is shown to evade the police by trying to escape by car park stairways, but is confronted by policemen in most directions she goes. For the final chorus, Lewis makes it out onto the road and runs from the police in their cars, but is ultimately blocked from escape in all directions as they close in on her, arrest her, and place her in the back of a police car. People<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> ranked the video as one of the most anticipated videos to be released in January 2009. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-People_28-3" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[29]



Live Performances
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">On 20 January 2009, Lewis' performed the song on The Late Show with David Letterman<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> to promote its release as a single. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guardian_29-0" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[30] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Complimentary of her performance, Letterman said "Beautiful! Oh my God that was lovely" after Lewis finished the song. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guardian_29-1" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[30] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Lizzie Smith for The Guardian<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> wrote that her performance was the "latest step towards her domination of the American music scene." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guardian_29-2" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[30] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> She also commented on the interaction between Lewis and Letterman after her performance, writing "It's rare for American chatshow host David Letterman to do more than shake the hands of performers on his U.S. show, but when X factor<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> winner Leona Lewis made an appearance he could hardly keep his hands off her. Hugging Leona, a smitten Letterman caught her by surprise by asking: 'Anything you want to talk about?' As Leona looked bemused Letterman cheekily added: 'Let's go up to the house and we'll talk about it. <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;padding-right:0.2em;">' <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;">" <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guardian_29-3" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[30] <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:12.727272033691406px;line-height:19.196969985961914px;"> Smith concluded her review of the performance with "But rather than looking pleased with his attentions a blushing Leona looked distinctly uncomfortable." <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Guardian_29-4" style="line-height:1em;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;">[30]