“I’ll Remember” by Madonna

Madonna, the iconic singer/songwriter/actress/entrepreneur, has been known for pushing the boundaries of popular music and culture since she first skyrocketed to fame in the 1980s. Her provocative style and in-your-face sexualtiy were evident in much of her early work, including hits like “Papa Don’t Preach,” and “Like a Prayer.” But after earning some unexpected critical and popular fallout following the release of her studio album “Erotica” and her book, “Sex,” in the early 1990s, the entertainer toned down her image significantly.

One of Madonna’s first releases after her metamorphosis was the single “I’ll Remember,” an uncharacteristically subdued ballad about love and loss. The soundtrack single from the film, “With Honors,” was an immediate hit with audiences and critics alike, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was later nominated for several awards, including Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television at the 37th Grammy Awards and Best Original Song at the 52nd Golden Globe Awards.

“I’ll Remember” is a love song — a tribute to the ways in which love and kindness can change a life. Although it is ultimately about loss, it is also about the strength that comes from knowing that we were once loved. It begins:

Say good-bye to not knowing when
The truth in my whole life began
Say good-bye to not knowing how to cry
You taught me that.

Madonna Circa 2015
Credit: chrisweger via Wikimedia Commons

And I’ll remember
The strength that you gave me
Now that I’m standing on my own
I’ll remember
The way that you saved me,
I’ll remember

The lyrics also touch on the theme of impermanence and the role of memory in helping us move through grief.

I learned
To let go
Of the illusion
That we can possess
I learned to let go
I travel in stillness
And I’ll remember happiness

I’ll remember..

This is a particularly touching part of the song, in that it reminds us that no one can hold onto anything forever — that everything ends and everything dies — and yet memories can sustain us through even the most difficult times.

“I’ll Remember” is a beautiful song — simple, lyrical, sad and uplifting all at once. I can easily imagine playing it at a memorial or celebration of life for a loved one who died or listening to it as I tried to come to terms with a terrible loss.

Watch Madonna perform “I’ll Remember” in the video below.

Editor’s note: Thanks to our reader, James D Engstrom, for suggesting this beautiful song!