For You I Will (Monica song)

"For You I Will" was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. It was the first song to be recorded for Monica's second studio album The Boy Is Mine (1998). In a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Monica called the song "a statement record for me. I had always expressed that, yes, I’m a young woman that’s from urban America that speaks to a very specific crowd at times, but I wanted to be clear that I’m not limited to one genre or the other [...] I didn’t want to separate it. I didn’t want to put limitations on myself, so I wanted to work with David Foster and Diane Warren. This was a direct request of mine because I wanted to show that these were also the types of records that I could absolutely perform." The key modulates to C major for the final chorus. ==Critical reception==

"For You I Will" earned generally positive reviews from music critics some of which called it a departure from the R&B-directed nature of Monica's previous songs. Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "It's one of those anthemic ballads that Warren has a knack for writing, building to a swayalong finale with Monica's inch-perfect R&B-inflected vocals proving a perfect foil." In a retrospective review of the song, Erica Henderson from Singersroom noted that "the song’s timeless melody and emotional depth have made it a beloved R&B classic that continues to be played and loved by fans. With its moving lyrics and powerful delivery, "For You I Will" remains one of Monica's most memorable and impactful tracks." In 2019, Vibe called "For You I Will" the standout track from Space Jam: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture. In 2023, Yardbarkers Mya Singleton ranked the song among Warren's best song, writing: "Monica’s contralto vocal tone is perfect for any Diane Warren ballad [...] On the track, Monica states her love and devotion for a partner, claiming she will do anything and be there for them through it all." ==Chart performance==

The highest debut of the week, On April 19, 1997, its sixth week on the chart, the song peaked at number four, eventually becoming Monica's second top five single after "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)" (1995) as well as one of her highest-charting songs of the 1990s. For shipments in excess of 1.0 million units, "For You I Will" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 2, 1997, and ranked 13th on Billboards Top Hot 100 Hits of 1997 listing. It also reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and peaked at number three on both Billboards Adult Contemporary and Rhythmic chart, respectively. Elsewhere, "For You I Will" reached the top five in New Zealand, where it became her highest-charting single yet, reaching number two in its second week on the New Zealand Singles Chart on May 11, 1997. It also peaked at number three on the Dutch Top 40 Tipparade and at number four on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart. In the United Kingdom, "For You I Will" spent two weeks on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 27. It fared better on the UK Hip Hop/R&B chart, where it debuted and peaked at number seven on May 18, 1997. ==Music video==

in Los Angeles (pictured). A music video of "For You I Will" was directed by Francis Lawrence. Filming took place inside the Orpheum Theatre on Los Angeles Broadway. The visuals open in a closed theater with Monica singing as she walks through the lobby. She enters the theater where clips from Space Jam are shown. ==Track listing==

All tracks written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. ==Credits and personnel==

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of The Boy Is Mine. • Monica Arnold – lead vocals • Sue Ann Carwell – backing vocals • Felipe Elgueta – engineering • David Foster – arrangement, keyboards, production • Simon Franglen – Synclavier programming • Mick Guzauski – mixing • Tim Lauber – recording assistance • Jeff Pescetto – backing vocals • Marnie Riley – mixing assistance • Michael Thompson – guitar • Diane Warren – writer ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications==