"Are You Gonna Go My Way" is the first single to be released by American musician Lenny Kravitz from his third studio album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993). It was written by Lenny Kravitz and Craig Ross. The single has been covered by numerous artists, such as Metallica, in a medley for "MTV Hits" at the 2003 MTV Music Video Awards, Tom Jones for the Jerky Boys OST, Robbie Williams on Jones' 1999 album Reload and Mel B in her solo section of the Spice Girls 2007 Reunion Tour. Serbian hard rock band Cactus Jack recorded a version on their live cover album DisCover in 2002. A remixed version is played as the opening theme song in Gran Turismo 3: A-spec. Adam Lambert covered the song in November 2012 in his swing through South Africa.[4] Critical reception[edit]AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the song as "roaring".[5] American magazine Billboard said it is Kravitz's "hardest and fastest to date".[6] Larry Flick described it as a "passionate" track, that is "wrapped in the kind of retro, Jimi Hendrix-style guitar riffs that album-rock programmers go wild for." He added, "Spare boogie rhythms and a simply irresistible hook provide added radio incentive."[7] Tony Harris from The Corsair called it a "throwaway hit single".[8] David Browne from Entertainment Weekly wrote that it "opens with a blast of phase-shifter electric guitar that could have been lifted directly off an old Jimi Hendrix or Isley Brothers album. And the lyrics are prime Kravitz."[9] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report described it as "'90s rock", adding that "it doesn't get much better than this."[10] Music writer James Masterton noted in his weekly UK chart commentary, "Kravitz returns to his own career in full Jimi Hendrix mode and at a stroke matching the peak of his biggest hit ever It Ain't Over 'til It's Over."[11] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "A special warning before you fasten your headphones. Kravitz cracks your nut with his hardest rocking single to date. A delicious earache."[12] John Kilgo from The Network Forty wrote that "shades of Hendrix-a nice grungy-driven guitar with a crunchy rhythm beat highlights this funked rock release."[13] Rick de Yampert from The News Journal noted it as "feverish Hendrix".[14] Rick Marin from The New York Times described the music video as a "frenzied, orgiatic performance exhuming (if not reincarnating) the spirit of Jimi Hendrix, complete with phase-shifter guitar and sexily slurred lyrics."[15] A reviewer from Reading Evening Post declared the song as a "mixture of stomping drums and guitars, built around a grinding sub-Hendrixian riff", adding that "it's a bit too relentless and repetitive" to achieve the top 20 success of "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over".[16] Jamie Parmenter from Renowned for Sound picked it as a "stand out" from the album, complimenting it for "being an anthem of the early 90s, a rollicking fast-paced rock masterpiece that shows Lenny's eye for a chart-topping tune and mastery at a catchy riff."[17] Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits deemed it "a scorcher".[18] Chart performance[edit]"Are You Gonna Go My Way" was released as an airplay-only single in the US and thus was not eligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100,[19] but reached number one on the Album Rock Tracks and number two on the Modern Rock Tracks. It also reached the top 5 in the UK, peaking at number four.[20] It is still Kravitz's most successful single in Australia, where it peaked at number-one for six weeks through April and May 1993.[21] "Are You Gonna Go My Way" is the only Diamond certified single in Brazil, with over 500,000 downloads.[22] Music video[edit]A music video was shot to accompany the song, directed by American filmmaker Mark Romanek.[23] It consisted of Kravitz and his band playing in a large circular arena, with three tiered balcones stepped back from the centre, filled by people dancing. Above the band and the dancers, lighting designer, director Michael Keeling created a chandelier of 983 cylindrical 23 cm incandescent light tubes (originally designed for aquarium use) that could be brightened and dimmed to create patterns of light.[24] Cindy Blackman appears on drums in the music video, although she did not perform on the studio recording that plays in the video's audio track.[25] Awards[edit]The success of the song and the music video led to Kravitz being nominated for and winning several awards:
Track listings[edit]
Charts[edit]Certifications and sales[edit]See also[edit]
References[edit]
Who wrote the riff to Are you gonna go my way?The Backstory
It was written by Kravitz and guitarist Craig Ross who has been performing and recording with Kravitz for many years. “That song was literally cut in five minutes,” Kravitz said of the song in a 2018 interview.
Are you going to go my way meaning?So basically, “Are you gonna go my way?” meaning “my way of love.” I had no idea that that song would become what it became. No idea. There was nothing on the radio like that.
Who played the guitar solo on Are you gonna go my way?This solo is a classic that belongs to the ages. It's exciting, energetic, and a blast to play! Beginning on the 12th position, the solo is a memorable E Minor Pentatonic lead break. Guitarist Craig Ross avoids clichés by employing some nifty syncopations (bar 4), and the use of the E Major Pentatonic from bars 4-6.
Are you going to go my way drummer?Hearing Cindy Blackman play the drums is like a rapturous percussive tornado of sound. You just get swept away. My first exposure to Cindy Blackman occurred when I first saw the video for, rock 'n soul all-star Lenny Kravitz's “Are You Gonna Go My Way” in the early 90s.
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Are You Gonna Go My Way Jimi Hendrix
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