I'll Remember

Album: With Honors soundtrack (1994)
Charted: 7 2
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Madonna wrote this with her frequent songwriting partner Patrick Leonard, along with Richard Page (frontman of the '80s band Mr. Mister). The tender ballad represents one of Madonna's many transformations, this time in an effort to neutralize her overtly sexual image, which was in full force two years earlier with her Erotica album and the release of her aptly titled coffee table book Sex.
  • This is the theme song to the college comedy/drama With Honors, starring Brendan Fraser as a Harvard student whose thesis is stolen by a crafty homeless man (Joe Pesci). >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Santa Barbara, CA
  • This song was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television category and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 1995. It lost to Bruce Springsteen's "Streets Of Philadelphia" for Philadelphia and Elton John's "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from The Lion King, respectively. (Springsteen's song was not up against Madonna's for the Golden Globe, however; his was eligible for nomination in 1993 and won.)
  • With Honors' director Alek Keshishian also directed the music video for this song, which showed the raven-haired Madonna performing with backup singers in a stylized recording studio. This wasn't Keshishian's first gig with Madge, though. He was also at the helm for the music video of another soundtrack hit, "This Used To Be My Playground," from A League of Their Own, and the 1991 documentary Madonna: Truth or Dare.
  • This was included on Something to Remember, Madonna's 1995 compilation of ballads.
  • Chris Colfer performed this song with the rest of the Glee cast in the 2012 episode "Goodbye."
  • The Ramones performed this as part of a "Best Song from a Movie Medley" at the MTV Movie Awards in 1995, though Stone Temple Pilots' "Big Empty" from The Crow took home the prize.

Comments: 3

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1994 {May 22nd} Madonna's "I'll Remember" peaked at #2 {for 4 weeks} on Billboard's Hot Top 100* chart, the four weeks it was at #2, the #1 record for those four weeks was "I Swear" by All-4-One...
    "I'll Remember" peaked at #1 in Italy and Canada...
    "I'll Remember" was Madonna's fifth of six of her records to peak at #2, her five other #2 records were "Material Girl" for 2 weeks in 1985, "Causing A Commotion" for 3 weeks in 1987, "Express Yourself" for 2 weeks in 1989, "Cherish" for 2 weeks in 1989, and "Frozen" for 1 week in 1998...
    Madonna, born Madonna Louise Ciccone, will celebrate her 62nd birthday in three months on August 16th, 2020...
    * And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of Billboard's Top 10 on May 22nd, 1994:
    At #3. "The Sign" by Ace Of Base
    #4. "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" by Prince
    #5. "Return To Innocence" by Enigma
    #6. "Baby I Love Your Way" by Big Mountain
    #7. "You Mean The World To Me" by Toni Braxton
    #8. "Bump 'N Grind" by R. Kelly
    #9. "I'm Ready" by Tevin Campbell
    #10. "Back & Forth" by Aaliyah
  • Leo from Westminster 1, MdMadonna Cries in I'll Remember. Only Her Artistry, Delivery and Sadness matter in the end. Her writing and voice are from her heart. Like this song cries, Madonna is never afraid to cry. That's what makes her brilliant! I'll Remember=Ciccone magic! Madonna Forever!
  • Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnSuch a tender song, Madonna's delivery is her real magic.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Lip-Synch Rebels

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

Kim Thayil of SoundgardenSongwriter Interviews

Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Tony Banks of Genesis

Tony Banks of GenesisSongwriter Interviews

Genesis' key-man re-examines his solo career and the early days of music video.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."