Are You Gonna Go My Way (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Are You Gonna Go My Way


Artist = Lenny Kravitz
from Album = Are You Gonna Go My Way
Released= 1993
Format= CD single
Maxi single
Genre = Hard rock
Length = 3:32
Label = Virgin
Writer = Lenny Kravitz
Craig Ross
Producer = Lenny Kravitz
Last single = "What the Fuck are We Saying?"
(1992)
This single = "Are You Gonna Go My Way"
(1993)
Next single = "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. 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". The song was also featured in the premiere teaser trailer for "" and will be on the setlist for the game. It ranked #78 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s.

Composition

"Are You Gonna Go My Way" is an uptempo and anthemic rock song. The riff starts off with what is considered by many as a Jimi Hendrix rip-offFact|date=August 2008 as there are similarities to a riff that appears in the middle of Hendrix's song "Ezy Ryder." The lyrics are about Jesus ChristFact|date=August 2008.

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. [http://www.lenny-kravitz.com/bio.html] 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. [http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?key=2588&cat=s]

Music video

‎The music video consisted of Kravitz and his band playing, surrounded by people dancing. The background scenography consists of a futuristic and architectonical place, something not unusual 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 [http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/kravitz_lenny/bio.jhtml] 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 " Volume 4: The Work of Director Mark Romanek".

ingle track listing

*CD 1
# "Are You Gonna Go My Way"
# "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over"
# "Always on the Run"
# "Let Love Rule"

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

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

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.

References