Are You Gonna Go My Way (song)

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"Are You Gonna Go My Way"
Single by Lenny Kravitz
from the album Are You Gonna Go My Way
B-side"My Love"
ReleasedFebruary 8, 1993 (1993-02-08)
Genre
Length3:32
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz singles chronology
"What the Fuck Are We Saying?"
(1992) 		"Are You Gonna Go My Way"
(1993) 		"Believe"
(1993)
Music video
"Are You Gonna Go My Way" on YouTube

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" is a song by American musician Lenny Kravitz, released in February 1993 by Virgin Records as the first single from his third studio album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993). The song was written by Kravitz and Craig Ross, while Kravitz produced it. It peaked at number one in Australia and number four on the UK Singles Chart, as well as number one on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Its music video was directed by Mark Romanek.

The success of the song and the music video led to Kravitz being nominated for and winning several awards at the 1993 Grammy Awards and the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards. Since its release, "Are You Gonna Go My Way" has been covered by numerous artists, such as Metallica, Tom Jones, Robbie Williams, Mel B, Cactus Jack and Adam Lambert.

Chart performance[edit]

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" was released as an airplay-only single in the US and thus was not eligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100,[3] but reached number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. It also reached the top five in the UK, peaking at number four.[4] It is Kravitz's most successful single in Australia, where it peaked at number one for six weeks through April and May 1993.[5] "Are You Gonna Go My Way" is the only diamond-certified single in Brazil, with over 500,000 downloads.[6]

Critical reception[edit]

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the song as "roaring".[7] American magazine Billboard said it is Kravitz's "hardest and fastest to date".[8] Billboard Larry Flick described it as a "passionate" track, that is "wrapped in the kind of retro, Jimi Hendrix-style guitar riffs that album-rock programmers go wild for." He added, "Spare boogie rhythms and a simply irresistible hook provide added radio incentive."[9] Tony Harris from The Corsair called it a "throwaway hit single".[10] David Browne from Entertainment Weekly felt that it "opens with a blast of phase-shifter electric guitar that could have been lifted directly off an old Jimi Hendrix or Isley Brothers album. And the lyrics are prime Kravitz."[11] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report declared it as "'90s rock", adding that "it doesn't get much better than this."[12] Adam Sweeting from The Guardian remarked that Kravitz is "rocking it up a bit on the riffsome title track".[13] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "Kravitz returns to his own career in full Jimi Hendrix mode and at a stroke matching the peak of his biggest hit ever "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over"."[14]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "A special warning before you fasten your headphones. Kravitz cracks your nut with his hardest rocking single to date. A delicious earache."[15] John Kilgo from The Network Forty wrote that "shades of Hendrix-a nice grungy-driven guitar with a crunchy rhythm beat highlights this funked rock release."[16] Rick de Yampert from The News Journal viewed it as "feverish Hendrix".[17] Rick Marin from The New York Times described the music video as a "frenzied, orgiatic performance exhuming (if not reincarnating) the spirit of Jimi Hendrix, complete with phase-shifter guitar and sexily slurred lyrics."[18] A reviewer from Reading Evening Post declared the song as a "mixture of stomping drums and guitars, built around a grinding sub-Hendrixian riff", adding that "it's a bit too relentless and repetitive" to achieve the top 20 success of "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over".[19] Jamie Parmenter from Renowned for Sound named it a "stand out" from the album, complimenting it for being an anthem of the early 90s, "a rollicking fast-paced rock masterpiece that shows Lenny's eye for a chart-topping tune and mastery at a catchy riff."[20] Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits declared it as "a scorcher".[21]

Music video[edit]

A music video was shot to accompany the song, directed by American filmmaker Mark Romanek.[22] It consisted of Kravitz and his band playing in a large circular arena, with three tiered balcones stepped back from the centre, filled by people dancing. Above the band and the dancers, lighting designer, director Michael Keeling created a chandelier of 983 cylindrical 23 cm incandescent light tubes (originally designed for aquarium use) that could be brightened and dimmed to create patterns of light.[23] Cindy Blackman appears on drums in the music video, although she did not perform on the studio recording that plays in the video's audio track.[24] "Are You Gonna Go My Way" was later made available by VEVO on YouTube in 2011, remastered in HD, and had generated more than 66 million views as of early 2024.[25]

Awards[edit]

The success of the song and the music video led to Kravitz being nominated for and winning several awards:

  • Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo: Nominated
  • Grammy Award for Best Rock Song: Nominated
  • MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction: Nominated
  • MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Artist: Won

Track listings[edit]

  1. "Are You Gonna Go My Way"
  2. "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over"
  3. "Always on the Run"
  4. "Let Love Rule"
  • UK CD 2 and Australian CD single[27]
  1. "Are You Gonna Go My Way"
  2. "My Love"
  3. "All My Life"
  4. "Someone Like You"
  • UK 7-inch and cassette single; Japanese mini-CD single[28][29][30]
  1. "Are You Gonna Go My Way"
  2. "My Love"

Charts[edit]

Certifications and sales[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[58] Platinum 70,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[59] Diamond 250,000*
France (SNEP)[60] Gold 250,000*
Italy (FIMI)[61] Gold 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[62] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[63] Gold 400,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom February 8, 1993
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 Virgin [64]
Japan February 26, 1993 Mini-CD [65]

Covers[edit]

The song has been covered by numerous artists, such as Metallica, in a medley for "MTV Hits" at the 2003 MTV Music Video Awards, Tom Jones for the Jerky Boys OST, Robbie Williams on Jones' 1999 album Reload and Mel B in her solo section of the Spice Girls 2007 Reunion Tour. Serbian hard rock band Cactus Jack recorded a version on their live cover album DisCover in 2002. A remixed version is played as the opening theme song in Gran Turismo 3: A-spec. Adam Lambert covered the song in November 2012 in his swing through South Africa.[66]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Jamar Rogers Rocks Lenny Kravitz Tune 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' on 'The Voice'". Loudwire. April 9, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  2. ^ "We're Gonna Go Lenny Kravitz's Way". 100.3 Jack FM. CBS Local Media. February 22, 2012. Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  3. ^ Joseph, Mike (March 9, 2018). "Lenny Kravitz Breaks Through With 'Are You Gonna Go My Way'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  6. ^ "Associação Brasileira de Produtores de Disco". ABPD. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011.
  7. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". AllMusic. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  8. ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 12. March 20, 1993. p. 64. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  9. ^ Flick, Larry (March 6, 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 10. p. 74. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  10. ^ Harris, Tony (March 10, 1993). "Kravitz Looks to the Past". The Corsair. Vol. 67, no. 3. p. 5. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  11. ^ Browne, David (March 19, 1993). "Are You Gonna Go My Way". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  12. ^ Sholin, Dave (September 24, 1993). "Gavin Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 1973. p. 58. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  13. ^ Sweeting, Adam (February 26, 1993). "Music: The Many Selves Of Solo Frank". The Guardian.
  14. ^ Masterton, James (February 14, 1993). "Week Ending February 20th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  15. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 6. February 6, 1993. p. 9. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  16. ^ Kilgo, John (September 24, 1993). "Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 22. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  17. ^ de Yampert, Rick (July 9, 1993). "'Zooropa' the picture of U2's achievement". The News Journal. p. 2-D. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  18. ^ Marin, Rick (May 16, 1993). "Critics no longer laugh at Lenny Kravitz". Gainesville Sun. p. 5D. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  19. ^ Reading Evening Post. February 4, 1993. p. 20.
  20. ^ Parmenter, Jamie. "Album Review: Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way: Deluxe Edition". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  21. ^ Daniels, Leesa (April 28, 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 49. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  22. ^ Tewksbury, Drew (September 16, 2010). "Mark Romanek: 'Never Let Me Go' Director On His Music Video Career". NPR Music. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  23. ^ Moreno, Shonquis (2004). "And Then There Was Light" (PDF). Frame. No. 40. p. 75. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 23, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  24. ^ Vargas, Andrew (May 17, 2007). "Cindy Blackman". Drumhead Magazine. Archived from the original on December 26, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  25. ^ "Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way". YouTube. May 6, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  26. ^ Are You Gonna Go My Way (UK CD1 liner notes). Lenny Kravitz. Virgin Records. 1993. VUSDG 65.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ Are You Gonna Go My Way (UK CD2 & Australian CD single liner notes). Lenny Kravitz. Virgin Records. 1993. VUSCD 65.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ Are You Gonna Go My Way (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Lenny Kravitz. Virgin Records. 1993. VUS 65.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ Are You Gonna Go My Way (UK cassette single sleeve). Lenny Kravitz. Virgin Records. 1993. VUSC 65.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ Are You Gonna Go My Way (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Lenny Kravitz. Virgin Records. 1993. VJDP-10202.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  32. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  33. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0972." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  34. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 11. March 13, 1993. p. 23.
  35. ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 16. April 17, 1993. p. 30. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  36. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  37. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  38. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  39. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40: Vikan 29. apríl – 5. maí". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 29, 1993. p. 21. Retrieved October 7, 2019 – via Timarit.is.
  40. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  41. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Lenny Kravitz" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  42. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  43. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  44. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". VG-lista. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  45. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  46. ^ "Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  47. ^ a b "Are You Gonna Go My Way – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  48. ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Singles 1993". ARIA Charts. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  49. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  50. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Vol. 58, no. 23. December 18, 1993. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  51. ^ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. December 18, 1993. p. 15. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  52. ^ "Jahrescharts – 1993". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015.
  53. ^ "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 4, 1994. pp. 16–17. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  54. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  55. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  56. ^ "End of Year Charts 1993". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  57. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. January 15, 1994. p. 24.
  58. ^ "Australian Fun Countdowns – Accreditation Awards". Australian Fun Countdowns. April 7, 2011. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  59. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
  60. ^ "French single certifications – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  61. ^ "Italian single certifications – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 22, 2024. Select "2024" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Are You Gonna Go My Way" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  62. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". Recorded Music NZ.
  63. ^ "British single certifications – Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  64. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 6, 1993. p. 27.
  65. ^ "自由への疾走 | レニー・クラヴィッツ" [Sprinting to Freedom | Lenny Kravitz] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  66. ^ White, Caitlin (November 15, 2012). "Adam Lambert: Lenny Kravitz 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' Cover Rocks Cape Town (Video)". AOL Music Blog. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
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