It Ain't Over 'til It's Over
"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" is a song recorded, written, and produced by American musician Lenny Kravitz for his second studio album, "Mama Said" (1991). Released as the album's second single in June 1991, the song is a mid-tempo ballad, musically inspired by Motown, Philly soul, and Earth, Wind & Fire (particularly "That's the Way of the World"). The horn line at the end is performed by the Phenix Horns from Earth, Wind & Fire. "That song just came out one day, and I knew it had a  classic vibe. And I still love that song very much today," Kravitz said in an interview for VivaMusic.com in 2000. The line is based on a Yogiism, or quotation from Yogi Berra: "It ain't over 'til it's over." It was Kravitz's first top 10 hit on the "Billboard" Hot 100 of his career, reaching No. 2, behind Bryan Adams' smash hit "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You", and his highest peak in the chart. British singer Mutya Buena's 2007 song "Real Girl" contains a sample from "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over . Background. The song was written by Kravitz while dealing with a struggling marriage to his then wife, Lisa Bonet, and was an attempt to rekindle the relationship. Kravitz has described his thinking at that time as not just a depression, but a fog. I didn’t know which way was up". Initially Kravitz, realizing the hit potential of the song, did not want to release the song himself, wishing to remain an underground artist, thinking instead of giving the song to Smokey Robinson. His label however eventually persuaded him to include it on the album. Critical reception. Christopher A. Daniel  from Albumism said that the song "marries his Curtis Mayfield-inspired falsetto with chunky Stax Records guitars and a lush MFSB-flavored (possibly Love Unlimited Orchestra) string arrangement." Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic noted its "swirling Philly soul", describing the song as "instantly addictive". Carla Hay of AXS stated, "Kravitz has said he wrote this song about the breakdown of his marriage to actress Lisa Bonet (they eventually divorced), and the heartbreak is oozing all over this song." She added, "With a Motown-ish 1960s vibe, this ballad (from 1991’s "Mama Said" album) is one of Kravitz’s best  ballads. It remains his highest-charting hit of his career in the U.S., where it peaked at No. 2 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart." Larry Flick from "Billboard" called it a "delicious slice of Philly soul/pop, flavored with lush strings, understated funk bass and guitar riffs, and Kravitz's engaging falsetto vocal. Could be a sleeper smash." Alex Henderson from "Cashbox" picked the song as one of the "goodies" from the album, describing it as "uptown soul"-flavoured. Pan-European magazine "Music & Media" commented that the singer "sings in smooth tones, reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield and the Style Council . Soultime on EHR." Also "Sunday Tribune"'s reviewer noted that Paul Weller and Mayfield are "echoed" in the song. Chart performance. "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" is Kravitz's most successful single on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100 chart to date, peaking at number two, but it was prevented from the number-one position by Bryan Adams' hit "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You". It also reached number two on the Canadian "RPM" Top Singles chart, behind Adams' hit as well. It was also popular in the United Kingdom, where it peaked number 11 on  the UK Singles Chart. Music video. The music video, directed by Jesse Dylan, features Kravitz and his band performing the song. Different kinds of background lighting colors were featured in the video.