I Rise (song)

"I Rise" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her fourteenth studio album Madame X (2019). The song was written by the singer herself, alongside Starrah and Jason Evigan, while produced by Madonna and Evigan. It was released on May 3, 2019, by Interscope Records, as the first promotional single from the album, and later sent to Italian radio on October 4, 2019, as the album's third single, by the aforementioned label. The song is a mid tempo pop track which lyrically deals about self-empowerment and draws attention to gun violence in the United States, and contains a sample from a speech by American activist Emma González.

"I Rise"
Single by Madonna
from the album Madame X
ReleasedOctober 4, 2019 (2019-10-04)
GenrePop
Length3:44
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Madonna
  • Jason Evigan
Madonna singles chronology
"Crave"
(2019)		 "I Rise"
(2019)		 "I Don't Search I Find"
(2020)

"I Rise" received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its message and production. The song became Madonna's 48th chart-topping single on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart, and reached the top 10 on the digital charts in Finland and Greece. An accompanying music video for the song was made in partnership with Time Studios, which was directed by Peter Matkiwsky and released on June 19, 2019. The video features footage of Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivors, LGBTQ supporters, and women's rights protesters, among other social justice movements. The song was performed during Madonna's set at Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019, and was later included on her 2019-20 Madame X Tour.

Background and composition

In 2017, Madonna relocated to Lisbon when seeking a top football academy for her son David Banda, who wanted to become a professional association football player.[1] While living in the city, she began meeting artists; painters and musicians, who would invite her to "living room sessions". In the sessions, they would bring food and sit around the table, and musicians would start playing instruments, singing fado and samba music.[1] Finding herself "connected through music", the singer decided to record a new album, which she titled Madame X: "I found my tribe [in Lisbon] and a magical world of incredible musicians that reinforced my belief that music across the world is truly all connected and is the soul of the universe."[1][2] For Madame X, she worked with several producers, such as longtime collaborator Mirwais, who had previously contributed to her albums Music (2000), American Life (2003) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005), as well as Mike Dean, who was a producer on Rebel Heart (2015), and Diplo.[3] Madonna stated that she wrote "I Rise" as a way of giving a voice to marginalized people who felt they did not have an opportunity to speak their minds, and that she hoped that it would encourage "all individuals to be who they are, to speak their minds and to love themselves".[4] The song was released on May 3, 2019 as the first promotional single from Madame X, by Interscope Records.[5] It was later sent to Italian radio stations on October 4, 2019, as the album's third single, by the aforementioned label.[6]

"I Rise" was written by Madonna, Starrah and Jason Evigan, while production was handled by the singer and Evigan.[7] It has been described as a mid tempo pop song that lyrically deals about self-empowerment and draws attention to gun violence in the United States,[8][9][10] but can also be seen as "an allegory for the highs and lows" of Madonna's career, according to HuffPost's Daniel Welsh.[11] The song begins with a sample from Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor and activist Emma González's speech, in which she declares, "They say us kids don't know what we're talking about, that we're too young to understand how the government works. We call BS".[10] Later within the track, the words "no BS" are echoed at the end of several verses.[12] On "I Rise", Madonna sings: "There's nothing you can do to me that hasn't been done/ Not bulletproof, shouldn't have to run from a gun/ River of tears ran dry, let 'em run/ No game that you can play with me I ain't won", over Auto-Tuned vocals.[9] She also cites a quote by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, that says, "Freedom's what you choose to do with what's been done to you."[12]

Critical reception

"I Rise" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Mark Kennedy from the Associated Press gave Madame X an overall negative review, but selected the track as one of the album's best songs.[13] Louise Bruton of The Irish Times opined that it was a "gimmick-free, uplifting ballad", and noted that "Madonna knows the power she wields, and as a long-time advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV, she plays that card very well" on the song.[14] For Nick Smith from musicOMH, "I Rise" was "powerful and introspective", and complimented the González's sample, calling it "emotional".[15] Wren Graves from Consequence of Sound wrote that the track was "rousing stuff",[16] while Hot Press' Paul Nolan called it "stirring".[17] Jamie Tabberer from Gay Star News classified the track as a "self-empowerment anthem" with "heartfelt lyrics" that sounded "autobiographical".[18] Samuel R. Murrian from Parade wrote that it was a "moving, triumphant ode to genuine strength" and also noted the "dreamy lyrics and ethereal production".[19] According to The Guardian's Ben Beaumont-Thomas, "I Rise" has "elegant, sinewy melodies that twine around you rather than jabbing you into submission".[20] Trey Alston from MTV called it "powerful and uplifting". He further wrote that the song was "as soft as war chants come, but there's power in this fragility".[10]

According to Victoria Segal from Q magazine, "I Rise" "keep[s] pace with a world out of joint",[21] while Michael Arceneaux of NBC News commented that it was one of the songs that "do deserve airplay".[22] Chuck Arnold of the New York Post thought the song was an "anthemic ballad" and that it "proves once more" as to why Madonna is "pop's ultimate survivor".[23] Metro Weekly's Sean Maunier felt that Madonna found "some redemption" on the song.[24] Daniel Megarry from Gay Times opined that while the track "isn't top tier" with other Madonna songs such as "Live To Tell" (1986) and "Take a Bow" (1994), "it's still a pleasant listen", and praised its lyrical message.[25] Mike Wass from Idolator thought the song was "well-intentioned, but it didn't need a children's choir to bludgeon the point home".[26] According to NME's El Hunt, the song's Sartre quote "can border on inspirational fridge magnet territory, too broad to establish real connection".[27] A more critical review came from Milenio's Ernesto Sanchez, who complimented the production, but was not impressed with the song's chorus and level of creativity, and said it sounded like an outtake from Rebel Heart.[28]

Accolades

Slant Magazine placed "I Rise" at number 67 on their list of the 82 best Madonna singles. For the magazine, Sal Cinquemani wrote, "The track itself is less affecting than its message, with unnecessary Auto-Tune rendering Madonna's soaring rhetoric nearly robotic."[29] The Tracy Young remix of the song won the Best Remixed Recording award at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. With this feat, Young became the first woman to win the award.[30]

Commercial performance

In the United States, "I Rise" became Madonna's 65th entry on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.[31] The song ultimately reached the summit of the chart, becoming her 48th chart-topping single on it for the issue date of August 31, 2019.[32] On the year-end US Dance Club Songs chart, "I Rise" ranked at number 31.[33] The song debuted on its peak of number 37 on the US Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart for the issue dated July 13, 2019. This gave Madonna her 15th entry on the chart and her 1st since "Living for Love" (2014).[34] "I Rise" also peaked at number 95 in Croatia, on the week of May 20, 2019.[35] The song further peaked at numbers four and nine on Finland and Greece's digital songs charts, respectively.[36] In Hungary, it reached number 27 on the national chart, while the song peaked at number 45 on the Scottish Singles Chart for the week ending May 10, 2019.[37][38] "I Rise" reached number 40 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.[39]

Promotion
Madonna ending her set at Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019 with a performance of "I Rise".

Madonna partnered with Time Studios to create a music video for "I Rise", which was directed by Peter Matkiwsky and released on June 19, 2019.[40] Madonna herself does not appear in the video, but it instead shows footage of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivors, LGBTQ supporters, women's rights protesters, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman's testimony about sexual abuse, Filipino journalist Maria Ressa's arrest, among other social justice movements.[41][42] Mike Wass from Idolator commented that the clip "conveys the song's powerful message in a striking way",[43] while according to Alexander Kacala from The Advocate, "Madonna has never shied away from making bold statements with her work", and the video was "a testament to that".[44]

The first live performance of "I Rise" took place during Madonna's appearance at Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019, where it was the closing number. The backdrops depicted imagery of the students who spearheaded the March for Our Lives movement, along with the word "resist"; Madonna wore an eye-patch over her left eye, while her background dancers were dressed as police officers that wielded.[45] After the performance, fireworks exploded over the venue.[46]

"I Rise" was performed as the encore of the singer's 2019-20 Madame X Tour. The performance began with González's speech being presented on the screen, which then showed news footage of protests and marches.[47][48] At the end of the performance, the screen turned the colors of the Rainbow flag, followed by Madonna and her dancers exiting the stage with their fists raised.[49] During her stop at the London Palladium on February 5, 2020, when Madonna performed the song, the theatre dropped the stage curtain and switched off the sound as she went past her deadline, and the song was performed a capella. This angered the singer, who took to her Instagram account for accusing the venue of trying to censor her show.[50]

Track listings
Digital download / streaming[51]
No.TitleLength
1."I Rise"3:44
7" picture disc (Madame X deluxe box set)[52]
No.TitleLength
1."I Rise"3:44
2."I Rise" (instrumental)3:44
Digital download / streaming (Tracy Young Remixes)[53]
No.TitleLength
1."I Rise" (Tracy Young's Pride Extended Remix)6:31
2."I Rise" (Tracy Young's Pride Dub)6:31
3."I Rise" (Tracy Young's Pride Intro Radio Remix)3:50
Digital download / streaming (Remixes)[54]
No.TitleLength
1."I Rise" (DJLW Remix)4:36
2."I Rise" (Kue Drops The Funk Remix)5:56
3."I Rise" (Offer Nissim Remix)6:56
4."I Rise" (Thomas Gold Remix)3:17
5."I Rise" (Daybreakers Remix)5:24
6."I Rise" (Dj Irene & The Alliance Remix)3:50
12" vinyl single[55]
No.TitleLength
1."I Rise" (Tracy Young's Pride Extended Remix)6:31
2."I Rise" (Kue Drops The Funk Remix)5:56
3."I Rise" (Daybreakers Remix)5:24
4."I Rise" (Thomas Gold Remix)3:17
5."I Rise" (DJLW Remix)4:36
6."I Rise" (Offer Nissim Remix)6:56

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[7]

Charts

Release history
Country Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various May 3, 2019
Interscope [51]
July 19, 2019
  • Digital download
  • streaming
(Tracy Young remixes)		 [53]
August 16, 2019
  • Digital download
  • streaming
(Remixes EP)		 [54]
Italy October 4, 2019 Contemporary hit radio Universal [6]
United States November 29, 2019 12" vinyl single Interscope [55]
gollark: Maybe you built it wrong.
gollark: I guess that sort of thing *might* work? My electronics knowledge is basically nonexistent.
gollark: I don't know if that's actually possible.
gollark: Just flip the output on and off every millisecond, I'm sure that's doable.
gollark: Great, then you'll be fine.

See also

References
  1. Smirke, Richard (April 24, 2019). "Madonna Talks Giving 'Zero You-Know-Whats' on New 'Madame X' Album at London 'Medellin' Video Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  2. D'Zurilla, Christie (April 17, 2019). "'Medellín' introduces Madame X, Madonna's new global pop persona". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  3. Polk, Milan (April 22, 2019). "Everything We Know About Madonna's New Album Madame X". Vulture. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  4. Renshaw, David (May 3, 2019). "Madonna samples Parkland shooting survivor Emma González on new song "I Rise"". The Fader. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  5. "Madonna releases empowering ballad 'I Rise'". Madonna. May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  6. Forastiero, Eleonora (October 1, 2019). "Madonna - I Rise (Radio Date: 04-10-2019)" (in Italian). EarOne. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  7. "I Rise by Madonna". Tidal. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  8. Delbyck, Cole (May 3, 2019). "Madonna's Uplifting Anthem 'I Rise' Samples Parkland Shooting Survivor Emma Gonzalez". HuffPost. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  9. Brandle, Lars (May 3, 2019). "Madonna Shares Powerful New Song 'I Rise' Featuring Sample of Stoneman Student Emma Gonzalez: Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  10. Alston, Trey (May 3, 2019). "Madonna Brings Soft Power To Resilience On Striking 'I Rise'". MTV. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  11. Welsh, Daniel (June 14, 2019). "Madame X: Madonna Is An Artist Who's Always Had To Fight, And On Her New Album She Proves She's Not Done Yet". HuffPost. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  12. Goldfine, Jael (May 3, 2019). "Madonna's New Song Samples Parkland Survivor Emma Gonzalez". Paper. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  13. Kennedy, Mark (June 14, 2020). "Madonna offers a needy, trying-too-hard mess of an album". Associated Press. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  14. Bruton, Louise (June 10, 2019). "Madonna: Madame X review – Big, ballsy and more than a bit bizarre". The Irish Times. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  15. Smith, Nick (June 12, 2019). "Madonna – Madame X". musicOMH. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  16. Graves, Wren (June 19, 2019). "Madonna Does It Her Way on the Scattered but Joyful Madame X". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  17. Nolan, Paul (June 9, 2019). "Album Review: Madonna, Madame X". Hot Press. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  18. Tabberer, Jaime (June 13, 2019). "Madonna, Madame X track-by-track review: 'Intriguing Gaga-esque weirdness'". Gay Star News. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  19. Murrian, Samuel R. (May 3, 2020). "Madonna's Anthemic New Song 'I Rise' Is a Soaring Ode to True Strength". Parade. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  20. Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (June 4, 2019). "Madonna: Madame X review – her most bizarre album ever". The Guardian. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  21. Segal, Victoria (Summer 2019). "X Factor". Q: 110. ISSN 0955-4955.
  22. Arceneaux, Michael (June 15, 2019). "Madonna's new album, 'Madame X,' makes me wish she'd just focus on being her iconic self". NBC News. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  23. Arnold, Chuck (June 13, 2019). "Madonna 'Madame X' review: Re-energized Material Girl gets freaky". New York Post. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  24. Maunier, Sean (June 7, 2019). "Music Review: Madonna's chaotic 'Madame X'". Metro Weekly. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  25. Megarry, Daniel (June 25, 2019). "We ranked every song on Madonna's new album Madame X". Gay Times. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  26. Wass, Mike (June 17, 2019). "Album Review: Madonna's 'Madame X' Pushes The Boundaries Of Pop". Idolator. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  27. Hunt, El (June 5, 2019). "Madonna – 'Madame X' review". NME. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  28. Sánchez, Ernesto (May 6, 2020). "'I Rise', el segundo corte de 'Madame X' que no convence". Milenio (in Spanish). Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  29. "All 82 Madonna Singles Ranked". Slant Magazine. April 14, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  30. Bain, Katie (January 26, 2020). "Tracy Young Becomes the First Woman to Win a Grammy for Best Remixed Recording, Non Classical". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  31. "Madonna Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  32. Murray, Gordon (August 26, 2019). "Madonna Earns 48th No. 1 on Dance Club Songs Chart With 'I Rise'". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  33. "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  34. "Madonna Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  35. "Airplay Radio Charts" (in Croatian). HRT. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  36. "Madonna, I Rise". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  37. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  38. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  39. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  40. Bruner, Raisa (June 19, 2019). "New Video Inspired by Madonna's 'I Rise' Captures Global Protest Movement". Time. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  41. "Madonna takes on all the causes in new video for 'I Rise'". ABC News Radio. June 19, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  42. Limos, Mario Alvaro (June 21, 2019). "Madonna's New Music Video Features Philippine Journalist Maria Ressa, Global Protesters". Esquire. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  43. Wass, Mike (June 19, 2019). "Madonna Drops Politically-Charged Video For 'I Rise'". Idolator. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  44. Kacala, Alexander (June 20, 2019). "Madonna Releases Powerful Video for Activist Anthem 'I Rise'". The Advocate. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  45. Setoodeh, Ramin (June 30, 2019). "Madonna Closes World Pride With Message About Gun Violence in America". Variety. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  46. "Madonna Pays Heartfelt Tribute to the LGBTQ Community at Pride Island 2019". Billboard. July 1, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  47. Crandell, Ben (December 15, 2019). "Review: Madonna's Madame X concert heats up Fillmore Miami Beach". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  48. Vaziri, Aidin (November 6, 2019). "Review: Madonna, battling a cold and bad knee, brings fury to late-night 'Madame X' concert". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  49. DeLuca, Dan (December 8, 2019). "Late nights with Madonna's 'Madame X' tour at the Met". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  50. Dams, Tim (February 6, 2020). "Madonna Vents Anger as London Palladium Cuts Off 'Madame X' Show". Variety. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  51. Citations regarding the digital release of "I Rise":
  52. "Madonna - Madame X (Deluxe Boxset) - (CD)" (in German). Saturn. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  53. Citations regarding the Tracy Young remixes of "I Rise":
  54. Citations regarding the remixes EP of "I Rise":
  55. "Special Release: Madonna – I Rise". Record Store Day. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
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