It Ain't Over 'til It's Over

For the Fast Eddie Clarke album, see It Ain't Over till It's Over.

"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" is a song written, produced, and performed by American musician Lenny Kravitz for his second studio album, Mama Said (1991). Released as the album's second single in June 1991 by Virgin, the song is a mid-tempo ballad musically inspired by Motown, Philly soul, and Earth, Wind & Fire (particularly "That's the Way of the World"). The horn line at the end is performed by the Phenix Horns from Earth, Wind & Fire. "That song just came out one day, and I knew it had a classic vibe. And I still love that song very much today," Kravitz said in an interview for VivaMusic.com in 2000.^[1] The line is based on a Yogiism, or quotation from Yogi Berra: "It ain't over 'til it's over."^[2]

"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over"
Single by Lenny Kravitz
from the album Mama Said
B-side	"I'll Be Around"
Released	June 3, 1991
Genre	Philadelphia soul pop
Length	3:55
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Lenny Kravitz
Producer(s)	Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz singles chronology
"Always on the Run" (1991) "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (1991) "Fields of Joy" (1992)
Music video
"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" on YouTube

"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" was Kravitz's first top-10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 2 to become his highest-peaking song on the chart. Worldwide, the single reached No. 2 in Canada and peaked within the top 10 in Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom, it reached No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart. Jesse Dylan directed its music video. British singer Mutya Buena's 2007 song "Real Girl" contains a sample from "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over";^[3] this recording peaked at No. 2 on the UK chart.^[4]

Background

The song was written by Kravitz while dealing with a struggling marriage to his then wife, Lisa Bonet, and was an attempt to rekindle the relationship. Kravitz has described his thinking at that time as "not just a depression, but a fog. I didn’t know which way was up".^[5]

Initially Kravitz, realizing the hit potential of the song, did not want to release the song himself, wishing to remain an underground artist, thinking instead of giving the song to Smokey Robinson. His label however eventually persuaded him to include it on the album.^[5]

Chart performance

"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" is Kravitz's most successful single on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart to date, peaking at No. 2. It also reached No. 6 on the Cash Box Top 100, as well as No. 2 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart. The song was also popular in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart.

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic noted the song's "swirling Philly soul", describing it as "instantly addictive".^[6] Larry Flick from Billboard complimented it as a "delicious slice of Philly soul/pop, flavored with lush strings, understated funk bass and guitar riffs, and Kravitz's engaging falsetto vocal. Could be a sleeper smash."^[7] Alex Henderson from Cashbox named the song one of the "goodies" from the album, describing it as "uptown soul"-flavoured.^[8] Adam Sweeting from The Guardian declared it as "nimble soul with chart potential".^[9] Pan-European magazine Music & Media felt the singer "sings in smooth tones, reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield and the Style Council. Soultime on EHR."^[10] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel complimented "a nice guitar solo that sounds a bit like Hall & Oates circa "She's Gone"."^[11] Sunday Tribune's reviewer also noted the echoes of Paul Weller and Mayfield in the song.^[12]

Retrospective response

In a 2016 retrospective review, Christopher A. Daniel from Albumism remarked that the song "marries his Curtis Mayfield-inspired falsetto with chunky Stax Records guitars and a lush MFSB-flavored (possibly Love Unlimited Orchestra) string arrangement."^[13] In 2020, Carla Hay of AXS ranked it number four in her list of "The Top 10 Best Lenny Kravitz Songs". She wrote, "Kravitz has said he wrote this song about the breakdown of his marriage to actress Lisa Bonet (they eventually divorced), and the heartbreak is oozing all over this song." She added, "With a Motown-ish 1960s vibe, this ballad (from 1991’s Mama Said album) is one of Kravitz’s best ballads. It remains his highest-charting hit of his career in the US, where it peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart."^[14]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over", directed by American film director and production executive Jesse Dylan, features Kravitz and his band performing the song. Different kinds of background lighting colors were featured in the video.

Track listings and formats

US cassette single[15] A. "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" B. "I'll Be Around" 7-inch single and UK cassette single[16][17] "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" – 3:55 "The Difference Is Why" – 4:48 12-inch and CD single[18][19] "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" – 3:55 "I'll Be Around" "The Difference Is Why" – 4:48

UK 12-inch picture disc[20] A. "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" – 3:55 B. Lenny Kravitz talking to Robert Sandall in an interview for Q magazine – 15:20 Japanese CD single[21] "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" – 4:01 "Let Love Rule" – 5:43 "I'll Be Around" – 2:55 "Always on the Run" (instrumental) – 3:56

Personnel

• Lenny Kravitz – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, electric piano, drums, electric sitar
• The Phenix Horns – horn section

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1991) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[22] 10 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[23] 25 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[24] 20 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[25] 2 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[26] 6 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[27] 23 France (SNEP)[28] 29 Germany (GfK)[29] 43 Ireland (IRMA)[30] 14 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 9 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 12 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 5 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 21 UK Singles (OCC)[35] 11 US Billboard Hot 100[36] 2 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[37] 5 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[38] 10 US Cash Box Top 100[39] 6

Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position Australia (ARIA)[40] 72 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[41] 16 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[42] 60 Europe (European Hit Radio)[43] 15 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[44] 96 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] 86 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[46] 44 US Billboard Hot 100[47] 35 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[48] 40

Certifications

Certifications for "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[49]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[50]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	June 3, 1991	7-inch vinyl CD	Virgin	[22]
United States	June 1991	Cassette		[51]
Japan	June 21, 1991	CD		[52]
United Kingdom	July 1, 1991	12-inch picture disc		[53]

References

1. "Lenny Kravitz Grammy Awards!". Lenny-Kravitz.com. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
2. See Examples of Yogiisms.
3. Masterton, James (May 20, 2007). "Week Ending May 26th 2007". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
4. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. June 3, 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
5. Barlow, Eve (May 24, 2018). "Lenny Kravitz on 30 years in music: 'I did whatever I had to do to survive'". The Guardian. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
6. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Lenny Kravitz – Mama Said". AllMusic. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
7. Flick, Larry (June 15, 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 65. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
8. Henderson, Alex (June 1, 1991). "Pop Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 5. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
9. Sweeting, Adam (April 4, 1991). "Music: Tom's Torch Song Travesty". The Guardian.
10. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. June 8, 1991. p. 12. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
11. Gettelman, Parry (May 3, 1991). "Lenny Kravitz". Orlando Sentinel.
12. Sunday Tribune. April 21, 1991. p. 22.
13. Daniel, Christopher A. (April 1, 2016). "Lenny Kravitz's 'Mama Said' Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
14. Hay, Carla (March 2, 2016). "The Top 10 Best Lenny Kravitz songs". AXS. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
15. It Ain't Over 'til It's Over (US cassette single sleeve). Lenny Kravitz. Virgin Records. 1991. 4-98795.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. It Ain't Over 'til It's Over (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). Lenny Kravitz. Virgin Records. 1991. VUS 43.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. It Ain't Over 'til It's Over (UK cassette single sleeve). Lenny Kravitz. Virgin America. 1991. VUSC 43, 411 759.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. It Ain't Over 'til It's Over (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Lenny Kravitz. Virgin America. 1991. VUST 43, 614 397.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. It Ain't Over 'til It's Over (UK CD single disc notes). Lenny Kravitz. Virgin America. 1991. VUSCD 43, 664 397.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
20. It Ain't Over 'til It's Over (UK 12-inch picture disc sleeve). Lenny Kravitz. Virgin America. 1991. VUSTY 43, 614 398.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
21. It Ain't Over 'til It's Over (Japanese CD single liner notes). Lenny Kravitz. Virgin America. 1991. VJCP-14026.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
22. "Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
23. "Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
24. "Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
25. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1606." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
26. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1625." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
27. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 27. July 9, 1991. p. 45. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
28. "Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
29. "Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
30. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
31. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 25, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
32. "Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
33. "Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
34. "Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
35. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
36. "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
37. "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
38. "Lenny Kravitz Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
39. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles: August 17, 1991". Cash Box. August 17, 1991. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
40. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
41. "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
42. "RPM 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
43. "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
44. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1991". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
45. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
46. "End of Year Charts 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
47. "Billboard Top 100 – 1991". Archived from the original on July 7, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
48. "1991 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. December 21, 1991. p. YE-36. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
49. "Spanish single certifications – Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'til It's Over". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
50. "British single certifications – Lenny Kravitz – It Ain't Over 'Til It' s Over". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
51. Ellis, Michael (June 1, 1991). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 22. p. 79. ...'It Ain't Over Til It's Over' by Lenny Kravitz garners 47 adds but will also debut next week when it hits the stores.
52. "イット・エイント・オーヴァー・ティル・イッツ・オーヴァー | レニー・クラヴィッツ" [It Ain't Over 'til It's Over | Lenny Kravitz] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
53. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 29, 1991. p. 21.

External links

• "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over (Remastered 2012)" on YouTube