I Am Blessed

"I Am Blessed"
Single by Eternal
from the album Power of a Woman
Released27 November 1995
Genre
Length4:21
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ronnie Wilson
  • Dennis Charles
Eternal singles chronology
"Power of A Woman"
(1995) 		"I Am Blessed"
(1995) 		"Good Thing"
(1996)
Alternative cover
UK CD2

"I Am Blessed" is a song by British girl group Eternal written by hit songwriter Mark Mueller and Marsha Malamet. An R&B and gospel ballad, it was released as the second single from the group's second studio album, Power of a Woman (1995), and peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. It was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments over 200,000 copies in the UK. It also reached number seven in Ireland, becoming the group's second top-10 hit in that country. Eternal performed "I Am Blessed" for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 1995.[1]

Critical reception

James Masterton for Dotmusic described the song as one of the group's "softer, slushier records".[2] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Another possible chart-buster from the creme of British R&B. The religious undertones are very suitable for the Christmas season, just like the extra track Oh Happy Day, a wonderfully updated version of the gospel traditional with a jazzy rhythm guitar and a midtempo beat."[3] A reviewer from Music Week rated it three out of five, adding that "this silky smooth ballad has hints of I Will Always Love You, with Easther living up to Houston's standards. A hit, but not a monster."[4]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the Power of a Woman album booklet.[10]

Studio

  • Mastered at The Master Room (London, England)

Personnel

  • Mark Mueller – writing
  • Marsha Malamet – writing
  • Clem Clempson – guitar
  • Dave Phillips – keyboards
  • Peter Oxendale – keyboards
  • Nick Ingman – string arrangements
  • Ronnie Wilson – production
  • Dennis Charles – production
  • Simon Climie – additional production and remix
  • Nick Hopkins – recording engineer
  • Andy Bradfield – mix engineering
  • Ashley Alexander – assistant engineering
  • Paul Meehan – programming
  • Sam Noel – technician
  • Arun Chakraverty – mastering

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Malatji, Malla (3 December 2014). "Where Did They Go: Eternal". wedoitfortheloveofmusic.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  2. ^ Masterton, James (3 December 1995). "Week Ending December 9th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  3. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 23 December 1995. p. 7. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 11 November 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  5. ^ I Am Blessed (UK CD1 liner notes). Eternal. EMI United Kingdom, 1st Avenue Records. 1995. CDEM 408, 7243 8 82573 2 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ I Am Blessed (Australian CD single liner notes). Eternal. EMI Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1995. 8825732.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ I Am Blessed (UK CD2 liner notes). Eternal. EMI United Kingdom, 1st Avenue Records. 1995. CDEMS 408, 7243 8 82572 2 0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ I Am Blessed (UK cassette single sleeve). Eternal. EMI United Kingdom, 1st Avenue Records. 1995. TCEM 408, 7243 8 82572 4 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ I Am Blessed (European CD single liner notes). Eternal. EMI Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1995. 7243 8 82590 2 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Power of a Woman (UK CD album booklet). Eternal. EMI United Kingdom, 1st Avenue Records. 1995. CDEMD 1090, 7243 8 36354 2 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ "Eternal – I Am Blessed". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 51/52. 23 December 1995. p. 9. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (6.1. '96 – 12.1. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 6 January 1996. p. 32. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  14. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Eternal". Irish Singles Chart.
  15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 8, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Eternal – I Am Blessed" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  17. ^ "Eternal – I Am Blessed". Top 40 Singles.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  19. ^ "Eternal: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  20. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  21. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.
  22. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015 – via Imgur.
  23. ^ "British single certifications – Eternal – I Am Blessed". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 March 2021.