I Am Woman (Jordin Sparks song)

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"I Am Woman"
Single by Jordin Sparks
ReleasedMay 17, 2011 (2011-05-17)
GenreR&B
Length3:30
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)Ali Pierre, Dean Josiah, Ryan Tedder
Producer(s)Ryan Tedder
Jordin Sparks singles chronology
"Don't Let It Go to Your Head"
(2010) 		"I Am Woman"
(2011) 		"Celebrate"
(2012)

"I Am Woman" is a song performed by American recording artist Jordin Sparks. The song was written by Ali Pierre Gaschani, Dean Josiah and Ryan Tedder, who also produced the track. "I Am Woman" premiered online via AOL Music on May 5, 2011, and was later officially released in the United States on May 10, 2011. The song's lyrics contain a message towards female empowerment, which talks about different aspects of the lives of women.

"I Am Woman" received a positive reception from most music critics, who complimented its differences with any of Sparks' previous singles, as well as noting its similarities to the sounds of American R&B singer Beyoncé.

Background[edit]

"I Am Woman" premiered online via AOL Music on May 5, 2011.[1] It was written by Ali Pierre, Dean Josiah and Ryan Tedder, who also produced the track.[1][2] "I Am Woman" was made available for download on iTunes Stores worldwide on May 6, 2011,[3] and later in the United States on May 10, 2011.[4][5]

On speaking about the song, Sparks said "I Am Woman is a song about different aspects of the lives of women. It could be a mother, a performer, a woman working in a corporate space — it's all about what we go through as women and how our lives are so crazy. Walk a mile in my shoes, or in my stilettos, if you dare and see what happens. It's all about the strengths that a woman has: how we can multitask and carry so much, yet still always be on point when we need to be and on cue when we need to be. It's all about the amazingness of a woman."[1]

Critical reception[edit]

Following its release, "I Am Woman" was well received by most music critics. Becky Bain of Idolator wrote "This somewhat experimental, hand-clapping, high energy woman-power track is the most bangin' thing we've heard from Jordin, well, maybe ever. It makes us want to strap on our stilettos and wobble-strut all over the dancefloor!."[6] Nadine Cheung of AOL Radio Blog said the track shows a "new side" to Sparks, and added that she "sings with a feisty attitude, leaving her sweet disposition at the door."[7] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard called it "empowering".[8] James Dinh of MTV Newsroom wrote, "Sparks has taken to her music as a venue to rejoice in her coming-of-age growth and maturity".[9]

Many critics also noted the song's similarities to the sounds of American R&B singer Beyoncé. A writer for WPLJ said "I Am Woman" "is a forceful dance track that's a female empowerment anthem very reminiscent of Beyoncé."[10] Jarett Wieselman of New York Post, described the song as a "pre-teen version" of Beyoncé's "Run the World (Girls)" (2011).[11] Gil Kaufman of MTV News called it a "Beyoncé-like R&B jam".[12]

Chart performance[edit]

For the issue dated May 19, 2011, "I Am Woman" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number eighty-two[13] with 33,000 downloads sold.[14] As of September 2014, the video has not been released.

Live performances[edit]

On May 12, 2011, Sparks performed "I Am Woman" live for the first time on the tenth season of American Idol.[15] She wore a silver metallic trench coat and black heels for the first half of the performance, and was accompanied by female back-up dancers.[8] During the second half, Sparks removed the coat to reveal a black, body-skimming, dress, and the female dancers were replaced by male dancers.[8] Sparks performed the song on Live With Regis and Kelly on June 14.[16] "I Am Woman" was performed on the thirteenth season of Dancing with the Stars results show on November 8 by the women dancers of the show.[17]

Track listing[edit]

  • Digital download[5]
  1. "I Am Woman" – 3:30

Charts[edit]

Chart (2011) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 82

Radio and release history[edit]

List of release dates with formats and record labels
Country Date Format Label
Belgium[3] May 17, 2011 Digital download Sony Music
Canada[18]
Denmark[19]
Finland[20]
France[21]
Germany[22]
Ireland[23]
Netherlands[24]
New Zealand[25]
Norway[26]
Portugal[27]
Sweden[28]
United States[4][5] May 10, 2011 Jive Records
May 24, 2011 Mainstream radio[29]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Gayles, Contessa (2011-05-05). "Jordin Sparks Debuts New Anthem 'I Am Woman' and Dishes on Her New Body". AOL Music. AOL Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  2. ^ "Work Search – I Am Woman". Australasian Performing Right Association. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  3. ^ a b "I Am Woman - Single (Belgium)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  4. ^ a b Mansfield, Brian (2011-05-06). "Jordin Sparks releasing new single, 'I Am Woman'". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  5. ^ a b c "I Am Woman - Single (United States)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  6. ^ Bain, Becky (2011-05-05). "Jordin Sparks Declares 'I Am Woman' On New Track". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  7. ^ Cheung, Nadine (2011-05-05). "Jordin Sparks, 'I Am Woman' — New Song". AOL Music. AOL Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  8. ^ a b c Lipshutz, Jason (2011-05-12). "James Durbin Voted Off 'American Idol', Enrique Iglesias, Jordin Sparks Perform". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  9. ^ Dinh, James (2011-05-05). "Jordin Sparks' 'I Am Woman' Joins Other Coming-Of-Age Songs". MTV Newsroom. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  10. ^ "Jordin Sparks is All Grown Up on New Single, "I Am Woman"". WPLJ. Citadel Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  11. ^ Wieselman, Jarett (2011-05-09). "Listen to Jordin Sparks' new single, 'I Am Woman'". New York Post. News Corporation. Archived from the original on 2011-05-10. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  12. ^ Kaufman, Gil (2011-05-12). "James Durbin Sent Homt In 'American Idol' Shocker". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  13. ^ a b Trust, Gary (2011-05-18). "Adele Stays Atop Hot 100, Lady Gaga Makes 'Glory'-ous Start". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  14. ^ "'Idol' track sales: Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Jordin Sparks". USA Today. Gannett Company. 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2011-05-19.
  15. ^ Talarico, Brittany (2011-05-13). "Watch Jordin Sparks & Her Slimmer Figure Perform on 'American Idol'". OK! magazine. Buzz Media. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  16. ^ RoleModel. "Jordin Will Be on Regis + Kelly Next Tuesday | Jordin Sparks Official Site - RCA Records". Jordinsparks.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  17. ^ [1] Archived November 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "I Am Woman - Single (Canada)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  19. ^ "I Am Woman - Single (Denmark)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  20. ^ "I Am Woman - Single (Finland)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  21. ^ "I Am Woman - Single (France)". iTunes Store (in French). Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  22. ^ "I Am Woman - Single (Germany)". iTunes Store (in German). Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  23. ^ "I Am Woman - Single (Ireland)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  24. ^ "I Am Woman - Single (Netherlands)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  25. ^ "I Am Woman - Single (New Zealand)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  26. ^ "I Am Woman - Single (Norway)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  27. ^ "I Am Woman - Single (Portugal)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  28. ^ "I Am Woman - Single (Sweden)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  29. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
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