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, and his highest peak in the chart. English singer Mutya Buena's 2007 song "Real Girl" contains a sample from "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over".

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 behind Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You". It was also popular in the United Kingdom, where it reached number eleven.

Music video
The music video, directed by Jesse Dylan, features Kravitz and his band performing the song. It also featured a violin section, which performs the main song riff. In the studio, Kravitz plays all the instruments, apart from the string and horn sections. Different kinds of background lighting colors were featured in the video.

Personnel

 * Lenny Kravitz – vocals, guitar, electric piano, bass, drums
 * Phenix Horns – horns

Track listings and formats

 * CD single and 12" single
 * 1) "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" – 3:55
 * 2) "I'll Be Around" – 2:52
 * 3) "The Difference Is Why" – 4:48


 * 7" single
 * 1) "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" – 3:55
 * 2) "The Difference Is Why" – 4:48