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"I Am"
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album Stronger with Each Tear
Released	December 8, 2009
Recorded	2009
Genre	R&B
Length	3:28
Label	Matriarch Geffen
Songwriter(s)	Johntá Austin Magnus Beite Mary J. Blige Ester Dean Mikkel Eriksen Tor Erik Hermansen
Producer(s)	Stargate
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"What Child Is This" (2009) "I Am" (2009) "Each Tear" (2010)
Music video
"I Am" on YouTube

"I Am" is a song by American R&B singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Johntá Austin, Ester Dean, Magnus Beite, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen for her ninth studio album, Stronger with Each Tear (2009), while production was helmed by Hermansen and Eriksen under their production moniker Stargate. Lyrically, the song "I Am" confidently tells one's lover nobody can treat them better than the person they are with at the present time.

Release and promotion

"I Am" was sent to urban radio in the week beginning November 10, 2009 and was released as a digital download on December 8, 2009 She performed "I Am" live for the first time at the 2009 American Music Awards on November 22, 2009. Blige also performed "I Am" on Lopez Tonight, So You Think You Can Dance, The Jay Leno Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, A&E Television's Private Sessions, The Today Show, The View, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and on the Late Show with David Letterman. In the United Kingdom, the song was released as the first single from Stronger with Each Tear on March 1, 2010. Mary J Blige performed "I Am" on Alan Carr: Chatty Man on March 11, 2010.

Critical reception

BET.com wrote of the song: "This song is a perfect showcase of Mary's brighter outlook in the new millennium. Looking back at all the drama and pain of the '90s – both in her music and in her personal life – it's hard not to smile hearing her newfound confidence and optimism here."

Chart performance

"I Am" debuted at number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the week ending December 26, 2009. It eventually peaked at number 55, also reaching number three on the Dance Club Songs and number four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs as well as topping the Adult R&B Songs. Billboard ranked it 12th on the latter chart's 2010 year-end ranking. In the United Kingdom, "I Am" entered and peaked on the UK Singles Chart at number 24 on March 7, 2010. Elsewhere, it peaked at number 11 on the Japan Hot 100.

Music video

The music video for "I Am" was directed by Anthony Mandler. The video premiered via Vevo on December 8, 2009.

Track list

U.K. CD single – Matriarch Records/Geffen Records 2734850

1. "I Am" – 3:23
2. "I Am" (Instrumental) – 3:26

Charts

Release history

References

1. "New Music: Mary J. Blige – 'I Am'". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
2. "Radio1 – R&B & Hip-Hop New Songs". Radio1.gr. Archived from the original on March 20, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
3. "Video: Mary J. Blige Visits 'Lopez Tonight'". Rap-Up.com. November 23, 2009. Archived from the original on November 29, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
4. "Video: Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, & Leona Lewis on 'SYTYCD'". Rap-Up.com. December 16, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
5. 12/17/2009 by TeamIGA (December 17, 2009). "Mary J. Blige : News : Mary J. Blige on The Jay Leno Show Thursday 12/17". Interscope.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
6. 12/18/2009 by TeamIGA (December 18, 2009). "Mary J. Blige : News : Mary J. Blige on Jimmy Kimmel Live Friday 12/18". Interscope.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
7. lucasfdesousa (December 16, 2009). "Mary J. Blige : News : Mary J. Blige to appear on A&E Private Sessions 12/20". Interscope.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
8. shawanndemaure (December 23, 2009). "Mary J. Blige : News : Mary J. Blige on The Today Show Tuesday 12/22". Interscope.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
9. AndreaRivera (January 2, 2010). "Mary J. Blige : News : Watch Mary J. Blige on TV Wednesday, December 23rd!". Interscope.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
10. "Mary J. Blige Has Her Cake & Eats It Too". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
11. "Video: Mary J. Blige in Concert on 'Letterman'". Rap-Up.com. February 16, 2010. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
12. "Mary J. Blige's 50 Best Songs – MJB's What's the 411? was released 22 years ago today". BET.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
13. ^ "2010 Year End Chart: Adult R&B Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
14. ^ "Mary J. Blige: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
15. "Video: Mary J. Blige – 'I Am'". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
16. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
17. "Mary J. Blige – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Mary J. Blige. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
18. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
19. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1,2022.
20. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1,2022.
21. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
22. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
23. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
24. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
25. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
26. "®R&R :: Going For Adds™ :: CHR/Top 40". Gfa.radioandrecords.com. November 24, 2009. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
27. "Radio1 – Forthcoming USA Singles". Radio1.gr. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
28. "I Am: Mary J. Blige: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. January 1, 1970. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
29. "iTunes – Music – I Am (Moto Blanco Dub Remix) – Single by Mary J. Blige". Itunes.apple.com. February 25, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
30. "I Am: Mary J. Blige: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved October 20, 2011.

• 2009 singles
• Mary J. Blige songs
• Song recordings produced by Stargate (record producers)
• Songs written by Tor Erik Hermansen
• Songs written by Mikkel Storleer Eriksen
• Songs written by Mary J. Blige
• Songs written by Ester Dean
• Songs written by Johntá Austin
• Music videos directed by Anthony Mandler
• 2009 songs
• Geffen Records singles