On December 21 1996, Madonna’s You Must Love Me (the lead single from EVITA) spent its final week on Billboard’s Hot 100 Airplay Chart in the USA. The hit single spent a total of 9 weeks on the chart.
Peter Keough of the Boston Phoenix had this to say about the song:
“You Must Love Me is an aching farewell that dispels the illusion of a romance-of-convenience to reveal the inescapable love and tragedy beneath”.
On November 16 1996, Madonna’s You Must Love Me debuted at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA. You Must Love Me was the first single released from the EVITA soundtrack. The track was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
Jay’s Note: The success of this single is proof that Madonna’s power over radio and sales was un-stoppable. Imagine a song like this becoming a hit at radio and retail today? Not possible!
On October 27 1996, Madonna’s You Must Love Me (the lead single from Evita) was released.
Kathleen Guerdo’s review for Billboard:
“Madonna delivers what is by far one of the strongest vocal performances of her career, comfortably scaling to the song’s demanding soprano heights while infusing it with delicate, heart-rending emotion. This bodes well for the creative potency of the rest of the soundtrack, which is due Nov. 14. Prepare for wall-to-wall airplay of this flawless ballad on pop and AC radio.”
On October 8 1996, Madonna’s You Must Love Me music video premiered on MTV.
You Must Love Me was released by Warner Bros. as the first single from the Evita soundtrack. The song was written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, and it won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1997.
Madonna filmed the music video for You Must Love Me on 31 August 1996 in California, while she was eight months pregnant with her daughter Lourdes. Madonna stood behind a piano to hide her pregnancy.
On October 27 1996, Madonna’s You Must Love Me (the lead single from Evita) was released.
Kathleen Guerdo’s review for Billboard:
“Madonna delivers what is by far one of the strongest vocal performances of her career, comfortably scaling to the song’s demanding soprano heights while infusing it with delicate, heart-rending emotion. This bodes well for the creative potency of the rest of the soundtrack, which is due Nov. 14. Prepare for wall-to-wall airplay of this flawless ballad on pop and AC radio.”
On October 22 1996, Madonna’s You Must Love Me (the lead single from Evita) reached #18 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The lyrics:
Where do we go from here?
This isn’t where we intended to be
We had it all, you believed in me
I believed in you
Certainties disappear
What do we do for our dream to survive?
How do we keep all our passions alive
As we used to do?
Deep in my heart I’m concealing
Things that I’m longing to say
Scared to confess what I’m feeling
Frightened you’ll slip away
You must love me
You must love me
Why are you at my side?
How can I be any use to you now?
Give me a chance and I’ll let you see how
Nothing has changed
Deep in my heart I’m concealing
Things that I’m longing to say
Scared to confess what I’m feeling
Frightened you’ll slip away
You must love me
You must love me
You must love me
On March 25 1997, Madonna performed You Must Love Me at the 68th Academy Awards. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Kathleen Guerdo from Billboard said that “Madonna delivers what is by far one of the strongest vocal performances of her career, comfortably scaling to the song’s demanding soprano heights while infusing it with delicate, heart-rending emotion.”
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