All That I Can Say

"All That I Can Say" is a song by American recording artist Mary J. Blige. It was composed by fellow R&B singer and close friend Lauryn Hill, who also sang backing vocals, for Blige's fifth studio album Mary (1999).[1] Released as the album's lead single, it became a moderate commercial success in both the United States and United Kingdom, peaking at numbers forty-four and twenty-nine, respectively.

"All That I Can Say"
Single by Mary J. Blige
from the album Mary
B-side"Beautiful"
ReleasedJuly 9, 1999 (1999-07-09)
Format
Recorded1998
Genre
Length
  • 5:30 (album version)
  • 3:59 (radio edit)
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)Lauryn Hill
Producer(s)Lauryn Hill
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"As"
(1999)		 "All That I Can Say"
(1999)		 "Deep Inside"
(1999)
Music video
"All That I Can Say" on YouTube

Blige garnered her sixth Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 42nd Grammy Awards. Blige performed the song live in addition to an impromptu appearance by Hill who performed a rap on the first incarnation of The Queen Latifah Show in September 1999. She also performed the song on Top of the Pops, and her performance was shown the week "All That I Can Say" charted.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that the song "demonstrates yet another formidable step forward in the career path of this fly girl gone sophisticate." He noted that Blige is "in good hands with this dreamy, '70s-based jazz/funk smash" and that she is "sounding as sharp as cut glass, with a smattering of scatting and just enough grit to define the artist's signature edge in this classy number." He also described the track as "spirited, joyful, retro, and yet right on the edge, sounding like nothing she's delivered before".[2] Stacey A. Rather from Lincolnian said the song "has a pop sound that is very prevalent in music right now."[3]

Track listings
UK CD single[4]
No.TitleLength
1."All That I Can Say" (Radio Edit) 
2."Beautiful" (Blackstar Remix featuring Mos Def and Talib Kweli) 
3."All That I Can Say" (Album Version) 

Notes

  • Tracks 1 and 3 – Produced and written by Lauryn Hill
  • Track 2 – Produced and arranged by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
    Written by James Harris III, Terry Lewis, and Mary J. Blige
    "Beautiful" Remix produced by Hi-Tek

Charts

Release history
Country Date
United States July 9, 1999 (1999-07-09)
United Kingdom November 2, 1999 (1999-11-02)

Cover versions

In 2000, French pianist Alex Bugnon covered the song from his album As Promised, which featured a guest vocals from Blige's former MCA Records labelmate Christopher Williams.[14][15]

In 2011, jazz vocalist Gretchen Parlato covered the song on her album The Lost and Found.

References
  1. James, Steven (July 10, 2018). "Today in 1999 Mary J Blige drops All That I Can Say". Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  2. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. July 17, 1999. p. 22. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  3. Rather, Stacey A. (September 15, 1999). "THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY". Lincolnian. p. 8. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  4. "Mary J. Blige - All That I Can Say (UK CD, 12" (Single) Discogs.com. Retrieved Feb. 25, 2014.
  5. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  6. "Dutchcharts.nl – Mary J Blige – All That I Can Say" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  7. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  8. "Mary J Blige: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  9. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
  10. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
  11. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  12. "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  13. "R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: Year End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  14. "As Promised overview". Allmusic.com.
  15. "Alex Bugnon". Smooth-jazz.de.
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