I Can Love You

"I Can Love You"
"I Can Love You"
Single by Mary J. Blige featuring Lil' Kim
from the album Share My World
Released	May 6, 1997
Recorded	1996
Studio	The Record Plant ; (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	R&B; hip hop soul;
Length	4:23
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	Mary Blige; LaTonya Blige-DaCosta; Rodney Jerkins; Kimberly Jones; Carlos Broady; Nashiem Myrick;
Producer(s)	Rodney Jerkins
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
Lil' Kim singles chronology

"I Can Love You" is a song by American recording artist Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige along with her sister LaTonya Blige-DaCosta, Rodney Jerkins, and Lil' Kim for her third album, Share My World (1997), with Jerkins producing the song and Lil Kim having featured vocals. In addition, the song also features a sample of the song "Queen Bitch," a track from Kim's debut album Hard Core (1996), co-written by Carlos Broady and Nashiem Myrick. "I Can Love You" was released as the second single from Share My World in the US, where it reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Release and reception[]

"I Can Love You" was issued as a radio-only promotional single in America. Ultimately, it peaked at number two on the R&B singles chart and number twenty-eight on the American pop chart. In the UK, the song was released as the b-side to "Missing You".

Critical reception[]

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "R&B radio has already deemed this second single from the gorgeous "Share My World" as a deserved smash—now it's time for pop programmers to do the same. Like its predecessor, "Love Can Turn Around", this jam cruises at an uplifting jeep-funk pace, with Miss Blige getting sultry over layers of soothing love chants tightly arranged by producer-of-the-moment Rodney Jerkins. The result is a wickedly catchy jam that will sooth a brow fevered by the ongoing spree of factory-like funk that crowds the airwaves. Top 40 will probably focus on the snug rap-free edit, though the more airy and expansive album version has a guest rhyme by Lil' Kim that's quite cute and well worth a listen."^[1]

Music video[]

The music video for "I Can Love You" was shot in May 1997 and directed by Kevin Bray. Shot at a house and forest, It features Mary, Kim, and other people that are partying and having fun.

Credits and personnel[]

Credits adapted from the Share My World liner notes.^[2]

Mary J. Blige – lead vocals, background vocals
LaTonya Blige-DaCosta – background vocals
Rodney Jerkins – production
Lil' Kim – additional vocals

Charts[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1997)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100^[3]	28
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[4]	2

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1997)	Peak position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[5]	31

References[]

^ Flick, Larry (July 26, 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 68. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^ Blige, Mary J. (1997). Share My World (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records.
^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
^ "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: Year End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.

[1] Flick, Larry (July 26, 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 68. Retrieved December 4, 2020.

[Booklet-2] Blige, Mary J. (1997). Share My World (Liner Notes) (Compact Disc). Mary J. Blige. MCA Records.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Mary_J._Blige-3] "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_Mary_J._Blige-4] "Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.

[year-end1997-5] "R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: Year End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.

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show v t Mary J. Blige singles
Discography
1990s singles	"You Remind Me" "Real Love" "Reminisce" "Sweet Thing" "Love No Limit" "You Don't Have to Worry" "My Love" "Be Happy" "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" " I'm Goin' Down" "You Bring Me Joy" "I Love You" "Love Is All We Need" "I Can Love You" "Everything" "Missing You" "Seven Days" "As" "All That I Can Say" "Deep Inside"
2000s singles	"Your Child" "Give Me You" "Family Affair" "Dance for Me" "No More Drama" "Rainy Dayz" "Love @ 1st Sight" "Ooh!" "Not Today" "Whenever I Say Your Name" "It's a Wrap" "MJB da MVP" "Be Without You" "One" "Enough Cryin" "Take Me As I Am" "We Ride (I See the Future)" "Just Fine" "Work That" "Stay Down" "The One" "I Am"
2010s singles	"Each Tear" "We Got Hood Love" "Ain't Nobody" "25/8" "Don't Mind" "Mr. Wrong" "Why" "Love a Woman" "Someone to Love Me (Naked)" "Do You Hear What I Hear?" "This Christmas" "Suitcase" "Doubt" "Right Now" "Therapy" "Whole Damn Year" "Thick of It" "U + Me (Love Lesson)" "Love Yourself" "Set Me Free" "Only Love" "Thriving" "Know"
Soundtracks	"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" "Not Gon' Cry" "Stronger" "The Living Proof"
Guest appearances	"911" "Ain't No Way" "America's Song" "Bridge over Troubled Water" "Can't Knock the Hustle" "Disrespectful" "F for You" "Hands" "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" "I'm a Hustla (Remix)" "If U Leave" "Just Stand Up!" "Lean on Me" "Magic Touch (NYC Remix)" "Now or Never" "Remember Me" "Runaway Love" "Stay with Me (Remix)" "Touch It (Remix)" "Wake Up Call (Mark Ronson Remix)" "What Child Is This" "Where's the Love?"
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