Take Me as I Am (Mary J. Blige song)
"Take Me as I Am" | ||||
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Single by Mary J. Blige | ||||
from the album The Breakthrough | ||||
Released | August 17, 2006 | |||
Length | 3:57 | |||
Label | Geffen | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | ||||
Mary J. Blige singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Take Me as I Am" on YouTube |
"Take Me as I Am" is a song by American singer
A anthem self-acceptance anthem that finds Blige in relief from the pressures of others,
Background
"Take Me as I Am" was written by
Critical reception
The song earned generally positive reviews from music critics. Billboard described "Take Me as I Am" as "striking in simplicity and sincerity" and remarked that it finds Blige "admonishing her critics and embracing her rocky musical journey."[2] Fellow Billboard critic Nerisha Penrose found that on "Take Me As I Am," the "singer’s resilience is stronger than ever before. She sings about all the hardships she’s endured and gives her listeners an ultimatum [...] It’s an empowering anthem that teaches self-love and acceptance despite the personal opinions detractors may try to pass off."[6] Da'Shan Smith from uDiscoverMusic found that "Throughout the song, Blige switches from protagonist to observer and back again. It’s another tale of survival, but, this time around, Blige is singing from the bright side of the tunnel."[7] Clover Hope, writing for Pitchfork, called the song a "plaintive ballad."[8] In a retrospective review, Alexis Petridis from The Guardian wrote in 2022: "By the time of 2005’s The Breakthrough, Blige was a master at alchemising her troubles into potent material. "Take Me As I Am" is simultaneously laid-back and steely; the beat is harder than you might expect from a ballad, the lyrics defiant."[9]
Accolades
Organization | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
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ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards
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2008 | Award Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
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Won | [10] |
Soul Train Music Awards | 2007 | Best R&B/Soul Single – Female | Nominated | [11] |
Commercial performance
Released as a single on August 17, 2006, "Take Me as I Am" debuted and at number 97 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the week of October 7, 2006.[12] It eventually peaked at number 58 in the week ending November 18, 2006.[12] The song fared better on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It would remain 48 on the chart and became Blige's third consecutive single from The Breakthrough to reach the chart's top three, peaking at numbe three.[13] In January 2007, "Take Me as I Am" also reached the top spot of the US Adult R&B Songs chart,[14] becoming Blige's third number-one hit on the chart.[15] Billboard eventually ranked it sixth on its Adult R&B Songs year-end chart of 2007.[16]
Music video
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Lance_Gross_2017.png/150px-Lance_Gross_2017.png)
The
As the video begins, Blige is a waitress/dishwasher getting her children ready for school and also trying to get her boyfriend / husband a job. Next, Blige is an editor during a photo shoot, in which a photographer is photographing Blige as a model. "Model Mary" is replaced with another model due to a tabloid report of a breakdown. "Editor Mary" is then sexually harassed by a corporate and walks out; while "model Mary" overdoses drugs in the bathroom of the photo shoot set, shortly after being replaced. In the restaurant which "Waitress Mary" works, Blige plays another character as well. This one is simply the girlfriend of a controlling boyfriend and is at lunch with her date. The date (
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from The Breakthrough liner notes.[3]
- Mary J. Blige – vocal producer, vocals
- Mike Eleopolous – assistant engineer
- Ron Fair – conductor, producer, vocal producer
- Tal Herzberg – co-producer, engineer
- Keri Hilson – writer
- Lonnie Liston Smith – writer (sample)
- Ezekiel Lewis – writer
- Jaycen Joshua – mixing assistant
- Candice Nelson– writer
- Thabiso Nkhereanye – writer
- Dave Pensado – mixing
- Allen Sides – recording
- Jordan "Infinity" Suecof – producer, writer
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- ^ Folk, Antwane (July 27, 2022). "Mary J. Blige's 30 Best Songs". Rated R&B. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ a b "Reviews > Spotlights > Singles". Billboard. August 26, 2006. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Blige, Mary J. (2005). The Breakthrough (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. Geffen Records.
- ^ a b "Interview: Ezekiel Lewis Talks Life As An A&R, Developing Kevin Ross & The Clutch Production Team". youknowigotsoul.com. January 5, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ "Candice Nelson Talks New Solo Project, Writing Hits for Brandy & Ciara, Developing Mindless Behavior (Exclusive Interview)". youknowigotsoul.com. January 16, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- Billboard.com. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ Smith, Da'Shan (January 11, 2024). "Best Mary J. Blige Songs: 20 Essentials From The Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul". udiscovermusic.com. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ Hope, Clover (October 1, 2023). "Albums: The Breakthrough". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (July 14, 2022). "Mary J Blige's 20 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ Gibson, Karl (June 23, 2008). "EMI, Timbaland take top ASCAP honors". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- Variety.com. February 6, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ a b "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Trevor (December 27, 2023). "Mary J. Blige's 'Still Believe in Love' Tops Last Adult R&B Airplay Chart of 2023". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ "Year-End Chats: Adult R&B Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c Gottlieb, Steven (July 7, 2006). "BOOKED: Mary J. Blige - Bille Woodruff, director". videostatic.com. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Fotzgerald, Trent (July 21, 2018). "12 Classic Mary J. Blige Videos That Deliver The Drama". theboombox.com. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c Folk, Antwane (June 29, 2020). "ille Woodruff on Directing Iconic R&B Music Videos: Interview". Rated R&B. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ "Year-End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Titles – 2006". Billboard.biz. 2006. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2021.