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'Set Me Free' is a song recorded by American singer Mary J. Blige. It is the fifth single^[1] from Blige's thirteenth studio album, Strength of a Woman (2017). The song was written by Blige, Jazmine Sullivan, Prince Charlez, and DJ Camper, with the latter producing it.

• 3Charts

Critical reception[edit]

The reception to the song has been generally positive, with Entertainment Weekly calling it a 'fiery kissoff'^[2], The Guardian calling it 'pleasingly understated' with 'D'Angelo vibes,'^[3] and The New York Times saying she sounds 'ecstatic and free.'^[4]

Commercial reception[edit]

'Set Me Free' became Blige's 22nd top-ten hit on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart, tying the record for most top-10 hits on that chart.^[5] It also became her third top-ten hit on that chart from the Strength of a Woman album.

Charts[edit]

Release history[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'Mary J. Blige selects 'Set Me Free' as new promotional single'. Hamada Mania Music Blog. 2017-07-19. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
2. ^'Mary J. Blige Is Above Hateration on 'Strength of a Woman': EW Review'. EW.com. 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
3. ^Hutchinson, Kate (2017-04-27). 'Mary J Blige: Strength of a Woman review – R&B star conjures some of her old magic'. The Guardian. ISSN0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
4. ^Caramanica, Jon (2017-04-26). 'For Mary J. Blige, Pain Leads to Beauty'. The New York Times. ISSN0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
5. ^'Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna's 'Loyalty.' Hits No. 1 on Rhythmic Songs Chart'. Billboard. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
6. ^'Mary J. Blige Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)'. Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
7. ^'Mary J. Blige Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)'. Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
8. ^'2017 Year End Chart: ADULT R&B SONGS'. Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
9. ^''Set Me Free''. July 19, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-26.

External links[edit]

Strength of a Woman is the thirteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. It was released on April 28, 2017 through Capitol Records.^[1] Blige collaborated with Kanye West, Quavo, DJ Khaled, Missy Elliott, Prince Charlez, Kaytranada, and BADBADNOTGOOD on the album's songs and worked with a variety of producers. Her first studio album since The London Sessions (2014), Strength of a Woman was met with positive critical reception and received several accolades.

The album debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 with sales of 78,000 album-equivalent units, of which 72,000 were pure album sales. It was supported by the singles Thick of It, U + Me (Love Lesson), and Love Yourself. Blige promoted Strength of a Woman through a series of public appearances and televised live performances. She embarked on her Strength of a Woman Tour in support of the album.

Singles[edit]

'Thick of It' was released as the lead single on October 7, 2016. The song topped the US Adult R&B Songs chart for a record-breaking 16 consecutive weeks. ^[4] Its music video, directed byDennis Leupold, premiered on November 7, 2016 on her YouTube account. 'U + Me (Love Lesson)' was released on February 17, 2017 and also topped the US Adult R&B Songs Chart.^[5] 'Love Yourself' was released as the third single on March 30, 2017.^[6] The music video for the official remix of 'Love Yourself' featuring Harlem rapper ASAP Rocky premiered via Complex on May 26, 2017.^[7] It was directed by Taj and was shot in Los Angeles and New York City.^[7] 'Set Me Free' was released as the fourth official single on July 19, 2017. 'Glow Up' was released as the fifth and last official single on September 1, 2017.^[8]

Commercial performance[edit]

Strength of a Woman debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 on the issue dated ending May 20, 2017, with 78,000 album-equivalent units, selling 72,000 standard copies in its first week.^[9] It became Blige's highest-charting album since 2009's Stronger with Each Tear, her tenth top five entry, and thirteenth top ten album on the chart. The album marked a significant spike of sales for the singer, whose previous release The London Sessions (2014) had opened at number nine, with first week sales of 55,000 copies.^[9]

Critical reception[edit]

Strength of a Woman received generally positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 74, based on seven reviews.^[10] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times gave the album a positive review, stating that, 'the album moves like a forest fire: ruthless, wide-ranging, and blunt.'^[16] Matt Bauer of Exclaim! praised the lyrics, and called it Blige's best work in over a decade, but criticizing songs such as 'Glow Up', and 'Smile'.^[13] In a positive review, Julianne Shepherd of Pitchfork considered the album a relief from Blige's previous album, The London Sessions, along with Blige sticking to what makes her unique.^[17] In a positive review, Andy Kellman of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 stars, calling some of the songs clichéd, however, praising the anthems on the album.^[11] Kate Hutchinson of The Guardian gave a mixed review of the album, criticizing the song 'Glow Up', calling it too similar to other artists such as Rihanna, and Beyoncé. Despite these complaints, she praised the anthems included on the album.^[14] In another mixed review, Andy Gill of The Independent found the album using a generic R&B theme, however, stating that some songs included on the album are able to do it well, such as 'Set Me Free'.^[15]

Track listing[edit]

Charts[edit]

Personnel[edit]

Credits for Strength of a Woman adapted from AllMusic.^[31]

• Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – conductor, harp arrangement, soloist, string arrangements
• Derrick Baker – composition
• Derrick 'Bigg D' Baker – guitar
• Vincent Berry – composition
• Alison Bjorkedal – harp
• Mary J. Blige – composition, executive production, vocals
• David D. Brown – composition, production, backing vocals
• Gerry Brown – string engineering
• Marshall Bryant – engineering
• Caroline Buckman – viola
• Richard Butler – composition
• Daniel Caesar – backing vocals
• Darhyl 'DJ' Camper Jr. – composition, drums, fender rhodes, organ, piano, production
• Paul Cartwright – violin
• Louis Celestin – composition
• Louis Kevin Celestin – drums, percussion, synthesizer bass
• Maddox Chhim – assistance
• Thomas Cullison – assistance
• Eric Dawkins – composition
• Ayanna Depas – assistance
• DJ Khaled – vocals
• Aaron Draper – percussion
• Missy Elliott – composition, vocals
• Davion Farris – composition, engineering
• Theron Feemster – composition, production
• Eddie 'A&R Eddie' Fourcell – A&R
• Vanessa Freebairn-Smith – cello
• Michael Frenke – engineering
• Yesseh Furaha-Ali – alto sax
• John Goodison – composition
• Eric Gorfain – violin
• Cameron Graham – engineering
• Chester Hansen – composition, synthesizer
• Jaymz Hardy-Martin III – engineering, mixing, vocal mixing
• Charles Hinshaw – composition
• Dave Hoddell – composition
• Spike Hoddell – composition
• Brandon Hodge – composition
• Brandon 'B.A.M.' Hodge – composition, production
• Chauncey Hollis – composition
• Jean-Marie Horvat – mixing
• Elizabeth Isik – A&R
• Peter Jacobson – cello
• Hotae Alexander Jang – string engineering
• Jaycen Joshua – mixing
• Cortni Elisa Jordan – composition
• Leah Katz – viola
• Kaytranada – vocals
• David Kim – assistance, mixing assistance
• Steven 'Q-Beatz' Kubie – programming
• Marisa Kuney – violin
• Dave Kutch – mastering
• Cainon Lamb – composition
• Songa Lee – violin
• Dennis Leupold – photography
• Timothy Loo – cello
• Quavious Marshall – composition
• Lucia Micarelli – violin
• David Nakaji – assistance
• Dwayne Nesmith – composition
• Jon Nettlesbey – assistance
• Tremaine Neverson – composition
• Prince Charlez – vocals
• Quavo – vocals
• Dexter Randall – assistance
• Frank Rein – trombone
• Priscilla Renea – composition
• Teddy Riley – production
• Elese Teyonie Russell – composition
• Stuart Schenk – mixing
• Ashton Simmonds – composition
• Mary Kathleen Sloan – violin
• Alexander Sowinski – clapping, composition, piano
• Dexter Story – contractor
• Jazmine Sullivan – composition, backing vocals
• Jenny Takamatsu – violin
• Matthew Tavares – composition, engineering
• Gavin Taylor – art direction, design
• Thomas Lea – viola
• Sergio 'Sergical' Tsai – engineering
• William Tyler – composition
• Ina Veli – violin
• Phil Wainman – composition
• Kanye West – composition, vocals
• Eric Whatley – bass
• Chris Woods – violin
• Kevin Woods – flugelhorn, trumpet
• Benjamin Wright – composition, horn arrangements, string arrangements

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abc'Strength of a Woman'. iTunes. Apple (DE). Retrieved March 31, 2017.
2. ^'WCW: Mary J. Bilge Returns With 'The Strength of a Woman''. Cabrera, Esther. April 26, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
3. ^'Strength of a Woman - Mary J. Blige'. AllMusic. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
4. ^Billboard (magazine). 3 November 2016 https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7565535/mary-j-blige-thick-of-it-fastest-climb-to-no-1-adult-rb-songs.Text ' Mary J. Blige's 'Thick of It' Has Fastest Climb to No. 1 in Over 20 Years on Adult R&B Songs' ignored (help); Text 'Billboard' ignored (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
5. ^'Mary J. Blige Releases 'U + Me (Love Lesson)' [New Music]'. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
6. ^'Love Yourself'. Google Play Music. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
7. ^ ^ab'ASAP Rocky Joins Mary J. Blige In The 'Love Yourself' Video'. The Fader. May 26, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
8. ^'Mary J. Blige Picks 'Glow Up' as Next Single'. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
9. ^ ^abCaulfield, Keith (May 8, 2017). 'Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.' No. 1 for Third Week on Billboard 200, Gorillaz Bow at No. 2'. Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
10. ^ ^ab'Strength of a Woman by Mary J. Blige Reviews and Tracks'. Metacritic. April 28, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
11. ^ ^abKellman, Andy (May 9, 2017). 'Strength of a Woman – Mary J. Blige – Songs, Reviews, Credits'. AllMusic. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
12. ^Kalia, Ammar (April 28, 2017). 'Mary J Blige - Strength Of A Woman'. Clash. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
13. ^ ^abBauer, Matt (April 27, 2017). 'Mary J. Blige Strength Of A Woman'. Exclaim!. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
14. ^ ^abHutchinson, Kate (April 27, 2017). 'Mary J Blige: Strength of a Woman review – R&B star conjures some of her old magic'. The Guardian. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
15. ^ ^abGill, Andy (May 3, 2017). 'Album reviews: Kasabian, Blondie, Mary J Blige, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds'. The Independent. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
16. ^ ^abCaramanica, Jon (April 26, 2017). 'For Mary J. Blige, Pain Leads to Beauty'. The New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
17. ^ ^abShepherd, Julianne (May 1, 2017). 'Mary J. Blige: Strength of a Woman Album Review'. Pitchfork. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
18. ^Stutz, Colin (March 29, 2017). 'Mary J. Blige's 'Strength of a Woman' Track List Features Kanye West, Missy Elliott, DJ Khaled & More'. Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
19. ^Mary J Blige – Strength of a Woman (CD, Album) at Discogs
20. ^'ARIA Chart Watch #419'. auspOp. May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
21. ^'Ultratop.be – Mary J Blige – Strength of a Woman' (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
22. ^'Ultratop.be – Mary J Blige – Strength of a Woman' (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
23. ^'Billboard Canadian Albums'. FYIMusicNews. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
24. ^'Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums – SNEP (Week 18, 2017)'. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
25. ^'Swisscharts.com – Mary J Blige – Strength of a Woman'. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
26. ^'Official Albums Chart Top 100'. Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
27. ^'Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40'. Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
28. ^'Mary J. Blige Chart History (Billboard 200)'. Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
29. ^'Mary J. Blige Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)'. Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
30. ^'Mary J. Blige's 'Strength of a Woman' Tops R&B Albums Chart'. Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
31. ^'Strength of a Woman – Mary J. Blige – Credits'. AllMusic. April 28, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2018.

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