Are You Gonna Go My Way (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Are You Gonna Go My Way”
Single by Lenny Kravitz from the album Are You Gonna Go My Way
Released	1993
Format	CD single Maxi single
Genre	Hard Rock
Length	3:32
Label	Virgin Records
Writer(s)	Lenny Kravitz Craig Ross
Producer	Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz singles chronology
"What the Fuck are We Saying?" (1992) "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (1993) "Believe" (1993)

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" is the first single to be released by Lenny Kravitz from the album of the same name. It was released in March 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 and Robbie Williams on Jones' 1999 album Reload and Melanie Brown in her solo section, on the Spice Girls Reunion Tour. A remixed version is played as the opening theme song in Gran Turismo 3. The song was also featured in the premiere teaser trailer for "Guitar Hero: World Tour", hinting heavily that it will be in the game. It ranked #78 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s.

[edit] Composition

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" is an uptempo and anthemic rock song. It starts off with a riff that many considered as a Jimi Hendrix rip-off (there are similarities to a riff that appears in the middle of Hendrix's song "Ezy Ryder")^{[citation needed]}. The lyrics are about Jesus Christ.

[edit] Chart performance

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" is one of Kravitz's most successful songs, and is also considered one of his signature songs. The song failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but reached #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and #2 on the Modern Rock Tracks. Besides, it reached the top 5 in the UK, peaking at number four.[1] It is still Kravitz's most successful single in Australia, where it peaked at number-one for six weeks through April and May of 1993.[2]

[edit] Music video

‎The music video consisted of Kravitz and his band playing, surrounded by people dancing and having fun. The background scenography consists of a futuristic and architectonical place, something usual on Mark Romanek's videos, the director of the video. He would later direct more videos for Kravitz, such as "Is There Any Love In Your Heart" and "If You Can't Say No".

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" was one of the most played videos in 1993 on MTV [3] and has been considered on many MTV's best music video shows. It won the 1993 MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Artist, and was played live during the show with John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin fame on bass.

The video is featured in the DVD for the special tour edition for Kravitz's Greatest Hits album. It is also featured on Directors Label Volume 4: The Work of Director Mark Romanek.

[edit] Single track listing

• CD 1

1. "Are You Gonna Go My Way"
2. "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over"
3. "Always on the Run"
4. "Let Love Rule"

• CD 2

1. "Are You Gonna Go My Way" - 3:32
2. "My Love" - 3:52
3. "All My Life" - 6:16
4. "Someone Like You" - 4:14

[edit] Awards

The success of the song and the music video led to Kravitz being nominated for and winning several awards:

• Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo: Nominated
• Grammy Award for Best Rock Song: Nominated

• MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction: Nominated
• MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Artist: Won

[edit] Credits

• Lead and background vocals performed by Lenny Kravitz.
• Drums performed by Lenny Kravitz.
• Electric guitar performed by Craig Ross.
• Bass performed by Tony Breit.

[edit] External links

• "Are You Gonna Go My Way" music video with lyrics