"I'm Glad"
Single by Jennifer Lopez
from the album This Is Me... Then
ReleasedApril 7, 2003 (2003-04-07)
StudioHit Factory (New York City)
GenreR&B
Length3:42
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Troy Oliver
  • Cory Rooney
Jennifer Lopez singles chronology
"All I Have"
(2002)		 "I'm Glad"
(2003)		 "Baby I Love U!"
(2003)
Music video
"I'm Glad" on YouTube

"I'm Glad" is a song by American singer and actress Jennifer Lopez for her third studio album, This Is Me... Then (2002). It was written by Lopez, Troy Oliver, Cory Rooney, Mr. Deyo and Jesse Weaver Jr. and produced by Oliver and Rooney. It was released as the album's third single on April 7, 2003.

Background and composition

Lopez's third studio album This Is Me... Then was released in November 2002. It featured the entertainer in a more "hands-on role" than ever before, writing more material.[1] Her fiancé at the time, actor Ben Affleck, was her muse and inspiration for the album's lyrics; the title referred to "who you are at the time", and it was something Lopez wanted to look back on in the future.[2] Affleck and Lopez became a prominent supercouple in popular culture, referred to as "Bennifer" by the public.[3] "Jenny from the Block" was released as the album's lead single, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, while its second single "All I Have", topped the Hot 100. However, Lopez was initially dissatisfied with the release of both singles. She felt that the tracks were too similar to her previous singles such as "Ain't It Funny" and "I'm Real"; she felt like she was "visiting old territory".[4] She subsequently released "I'm Glad" as the album's third single, with it being serviced to Top 40 radio and Rhythmic radio on April 7, 2003.[5] The song was issued in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2003, across three formats: a CD single, and DVD single, and a cassette single.[6] In Australia, a CD single was distributed on June 23, 2003.[7]

"I'm Glad" is an uptempo R&B ballad which runs for a duration of three minutes and forty-two seconds.[8][9] Lopez wrote the song with the assistance of Troy Oliver, Cory Rooney, Andre Deyo and Schooly D, with Oliver and Rooney serving as producers. She recorded her vocals for the track with Peter Wade Keusch and Bruce Swedien at The Hit Factory recording studios in New York City, where it was also mixed. "I'm Glad" contains a sample of the 1986 Schooly D song "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?".[10] Its instrumentation consists of classical harp runs laced throughout a computer-generated beat.[11] Written in the key of Db Major, Lopez's vocal spans from an A3 to a C5. Its instrumentation includes the use of piano and guitar.[12] "I'm Glad" is about finding true love, containing lyrics such as "I think I'm in love. Damn, finally".[13] The Boston Globe noted the song's lyrics to be about her relationship with actor Ben Affleck, who served as Lopez's muse for This Is Me... Then.[11]

Reception

Steven Morse of The Boston Globe praised the song, describing it as "elegantly" structured.[11] The song was nominated for "Choice Love Song" at the 2003 Teen Choice Awards.[14] "I'm Glad" entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 64, on the issue date May 3, 2003.[15] In its fourth week on the chart, the song climbed to its peak position of number 32,[16] making it her lowest-charting single since "Feelin' So Good" (2000). However, it was more successful on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, peaking at number four on the issue date July 12, 2003.[17] The song made its peak at 11 in the UK Official Charts Company for 14 good weeks. "I'm Glad" debuted and peaked at number eight in Canada, becoming her eighth top-ten hit. It also entered the Australian Singles Chart at number ten, its peak position,[18] and was later certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association.

Music video

Development and synopsis

The music video for "I'm Glad" was filmed in February 2003.[19] When coming up with ideas for the video, Lopez's only goal was to dance by herself without the help of any other people. She hired David LaChapelle to direct, and he then came up with the idea to recreate the film Flashdance (1983). LaChapelle identically fashioned the "sets, iconography, and costuming" of Flashdance as a back-drop for Lopez to dance.[20] For the music video, Lopez sported her natural curly hair,[21] leotards and "tiny pants".[22] She spent several hours at night perfecting the music video, taking part in the editing process herself.[4]

During the music video's editing stages, Lopez wanted to make sure everything was authentic. She said, "I really worked out and did the diet thing... and then after the video...there's always that one guy who's like 'We should retouch this'. I was like, 'You're going to leave everything the way it is. That's how it wiggles and jiggles in real life, that's how they're going to see it in the video. And I noticed—[the editors] sent [the video] to me and they have shaved off a little bit of my hips and—I was like, 'That ain't me—those are not my hips. Just leave them the way they are. Do me a favor—don't touch my hips. Don't try to make me look skinnier. It's fine, it's fine the way it is'. And that's what they did."[23] Prior to the clip being released, Jon Wiederhorn of MTV News reported that it was heavily influenced by the 1980s, stating that Lopez "strikes '80s dance moves, and the color, style and camerawork have a decidedly retro vibe".[19]

Identical to the storyline in Flashdance, Lopez plays a young aspiring dancer who welds by day and dances by night at a bar.[24] The clip begins with Lopez entering a dance studio wearing a puffy jacket and scarf. She has arrived at an audition, with a table of judges present. Suddenly, the screen switches to showing different aspects of her life, including her at her modest home, riding through the neighborhood on a bike with her dog running along, as well as her role as an exotic dancer at a local bar and grill. Later, at a strip club, she is seen dancing to intricate choreography clothed in a skimpy red top. She then appears exercising and practicing her dance moves in another location. The screen then switches to before she entered the dance audition; she walks through a line of intimidating beautiful ballerinas. Lopez's dance routine in front of the judges then commences her audition, which includes her dancing on the judge's table, as they move their feet to the music.[23]

Reception

A writer from The New York Times praised the video, stating that Lopez "has taken what's thrilling about the movie - the idea of a working-class girls who makes her mark on the world - and presented it as a buffed-up fairy-tale version of her own career", calling Lopez a "pleasure to watch".[24] About.com's Jason Shawhan considered it her second best video, behind "Waiting for Tonight", and called it one of her most "interesting efforts", describing the dance work on display as "punishing".[25] Writing for the UGO Networks, K. Thor Jensen placed the video seventeenth on a list of the "50 Sexiest Music Videos of All Time", calling it a "funky" homage to Flashdance that "J-Lo in several scenes from the classic flick, dancing like her life depended on it". Jensen also wrote, "The video would earn a spot on this list just for the bit where water pours down from the ceiling on Lopez, but luckily the rest of the clip keeps the quality high."[26] Joe Usmar of the Daily Mirror regarded it as one of the "10 Sexiest Music Videos Ever Made", praising Lopez's physicality and calling its visuals "goddamn hawt".[22] Mike Nied of Idolator ranked it as Lopez's second best music video, writing: "It is hard to imagine a pop star in 2018 pulling off the choreography to Flashdance quite as flawlessly as J.Lo does here."[27]

Author Daniel Bernardi noted that "While Beal's performance was criticized for its lack of dance, Lopez's bodily performance faced scrutiny for its excess."[28] In the book Dance and the Hollywood Latina: Race, Sex, and Stardom (2011), author Priscilla Peña Ovalle observed that the music video's provocative sexual choreography "authenticated [Lopez] as a bona fide Hollywood Latina by showing her dancing in shots that tilt from face to fanny".[29] Ovalle also wrote that the storyline of Flashdance was similar to Lopez's life, and she fully embodied a "fantasy of achievement".[20] Similarly, Gary Susman of Time wrote: "In a way, of course, Lopez was re-enacting her own life story, that of the Bronx girl who’d used street moves to dance her way to fame. Unlike Flashdance, 'I’m Glad' starred a woman who could perform her own dance moves."[30] The video was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards, including Best Female Video, Best Dance Video, Best Choreography in a Video and Best Art Direction in a Video.[31][22]

Lawsuits

The recreation of dance sequences from Flashdance led the film's production company, Paramount Pictures, to sue Lopez and Sony Music over copyright infringement claims.[32] A spokesperson for Lopez said that the film is one of Lopez's favorite movies, and that clip was nothing but a tribute to it.[33] Paramount and Sony settled out of court.[30] Apart from this, Maureen Marder—whose life was the inspiration for Flashdance—sued Lopez and Sony for copyright infringement in November 2003.[34] Additionally, Marder had previously also sued Paramount for only paying her a $2,300 fee for her story, which the film adaption of grossed over $150 million at the United States box office.[35] Marder "had refused to grant sequel rights or to permit any further use of her story or identity after the film became a success" according to her attorney, Robert Hefling. Hefling stated, "She is penniless, disabled with a spinal injury, and trying to raise a teenage daughter. Now her life story is on the screen again—and other people are profiting from it—with no acknowledgment of her rights, let alone fair compensation for her contribution."[36] In June 2006, all of Marder's claims were dismissed.[35]

Live performances

Lopez performing "I'm Glad" during her MTV Video Vanguard setlist.

During the song's initial release Lopez did not perform the song live at any moment in time until her acceptance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2018 where she performed a small section of the song in her 10 minute long medley including recreating the video moment in which a bucket of water is splashed onto her from above while dancing (a hologram light replacing the water during the performance).[37] Lopez included I’m Glad in her set list for the 2021 Global Citizen Live Festival.[38]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[79] Gold 35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "I'm Glad"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States April 7, 2003 Epic [5]
Germany May 26, 2003 CD single Sony [80]
United Kingdom June 9, 2003
  • CD single
  • DVD single
  • cassette single
 [6]
Canada June 10, 2003 CD single Epic [81]
Australia June 23, 2003 CD single Sony [7]

References

  1. ↑ Moss, Corey (September 27, 2012). "J. Lo Sets Release Date For LP After Song Leaks Out". MTV News. Viacom International Inc. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  2. ↑ "J.Lo: The Rock And The Block". MTV. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Neologisms. These are neologisms collected by an undergraduate linguistics class at Rice University during the fall of 2003". ruf.rice.edu. Retrieved June 22, 2007.
  4. 1 2 Vibe. Vibe Media Group. 11 (7). July 2003. ISSN 1070-4701. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. 1 2 "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1498. April 4, 2003. p. 28. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "New Releases – For Week Starting 9 June 2003: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. June 7, 2003. p. 23. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 23rd June 2003" (PDF). ARIA. June 23, 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2003. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  8. ↑ Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "This Is Me... Then". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  9. ↑ Brown, G. (November 25, 2012). "Strike up the brand". The Denver Post. MediaNews Group: 1. ISSN 1930-2193. 1123213.
  10. ↑ This Is Me... Then (Media notes). Jennifer Lopez. New York, NY: Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 2002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. 1 2 3 Morse, Steve (November 29, 2002). "Jennifer Lopez This Is Me... Then". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company: 16. ISSN 0743-1791.
  12. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez "I'm Glad" Sheet Music". Musicsheets.com. July 14, 2003. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  13. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (February 4, 2003). "Made in Manhattan". The Village Voice. Voice Media Group. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Lopez, Eminem Lead 'Teen Choice' Nominees". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  15. ↑ "The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 18. May 3, 2003. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510.
  16. ↑ "The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 21. May 24, 2003. p. 61. ISSN 0006-2510.
  17. ↑ "Billboard Hot Dance Music". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 28. July 12, 2003. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510.
  18. ↑ "Billboard Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 28. July 12, 2003. p. 44. ISSN 0006-2510.
  19. 1 2 Wiederhorn, Jon (March 25, 2003). "J. Lo Is Jenny From The Past In Clip For 'I'm Glad'". MTV News. Viacom International, Inc. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  20. 1 2 Ovalle 2011, p. 131
  21. ↑ Jennifer Lopez – The Reel Me (Media notes). Epic Records. 2003.
  22. 1 2 3 Usmar, Joe (April 3, 2012). "The top 10 sexiest music videos ever". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  23. 1 2 Ovalle 2011, p. 133
  24. 1 2 "Meet Jenny From the Steel Mill". New York Times. May 11, 2003. Archived from the original on April 13, 2004. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  25. ↑ Shawhan, Jason. "Jennifer Lopez - The Reel Me". About.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  26. ↑ Jensen, K. Thor (July 22, 2008). "50 Sexiest Music Videos". UGO Networks. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 25, 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  27. ↑ Nied, Mike (August 1, 2018). "From 'Jenny From The Block' To 'Get Right,' Jennifer Lopez's 20 Best Videos". Idolator. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  28. ↑ Bernardi 2013, p. 40
  29. ↑ Ovalle 2011, p. 134
  30. 1 2 Susman, Gary (April 14, 2013). "Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Glad" video". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  31. ↑ "2003 MTV Video Music Awards Nominees". Billboard. July 25, 2003. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  32. ↑ "J.Lo To Star In Flashdance Remake?". Take 40. MCM Media. May 8, 2013. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  33. ↑ "J Lo's Got a New Flash Dance". The Hot Hits. MCM Media Brand. 2003. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  34. ↑ Haberman, Lia (November 13, 2013). "The News in Brief, November 13, 2003". E! Online. NBCUniversal. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  35. 1 2 Herel, Suzanne (June 13, 2006). "Inspiration for 'Flashdance' loses appeal for more money". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Communications. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  36. ↑ "J. Lo Sued Over 'Flashdance'-Inspired Video". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2003. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  37. ↑ Renfro, Kim. "J.Lo blew everyone out of the water with a 10-minute medley of her greatest hits at the VMAs". Insider. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  38. ↑ Arnold, Chuck. "Global Citizen Live 2021: Jennifer Lopez brings the world to her block". New York Post. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  39. ↑ "I'm Glad" (CD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. United States: Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 2003. 34K 79868.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  40. ↑ "I'm Glad" (12-inch single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. United States: Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 2003. 49 79952.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  41. ↑ "I'm Glad" (DVD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. United States: Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 2003. 34D 79927.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  42. ↑ "I'm Glad" (CD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. Europe: Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 2003. 673863 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  43. ↑ "I'm Glad The Club Remixes" (CD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. United Kingdom: Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 2003. 674015 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  44. ↑ "I'm Glad" (Cassette single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. United Kingdom: Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 2003. 674015 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  45. ↑ "I'm Glad" (DVD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. United Kingdom: Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 2003. 674015 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  46. ↑ "I'm Glad" (CD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. Australia: Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 2003. 673829 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  47. ↑ "I'm Glad" (CD single liner notes). Jennifer Lopez. Australia: Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. 2003. 673829 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  49. ↑ "Issue 697" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  50. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez – I'm Glad" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  51. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez – I'm Glad" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  52. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez – I'm Glad" (in French). Ultratop 50.
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  63. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
  64. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez – I'm Glad" Canciones Top 50.
  65. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez – I'm Glad". Singles Top 100.
  66. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez – I'm Glad". Swiss Singles Chart.
  67. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  68. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
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  70. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  71. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  72. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  73. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  74. ↑ "Jennifer Lopez Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  75. ↑ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  76. ↑ "Year in Music: Hot Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 52. December 27, 2003. p. YE-66.
  77. ↑ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 14.
  78. ↑ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 26.
  79. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
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Bibliography

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