Each Tear

Album: Stronger With Each Tear (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Stronger With Each Tear was initially titled Stronger after "the song, which Blige recorded and released as the lead single from the soundtrack of the LeBron James' documentary More Than a Game. The reason for the renaming of the album is suspected to be the failure of "Stronger" to make an impact on the charts, resulting in this song replacing "Stronger" on the LP.
  • Blige discussed the album title with MTV News: "You gotta come from an honest place of where you are. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger in life. I don't care if you're doing great; you're gonna always have peaks and valleys. I hit a valley. And in that valley, I became stronger, because it didn't kill me. Now I'm here again, and I'm stronger. In that strength, I found that it's OK to be vulnerable. It's OK to need someone. It's OK to say, 'I don't need you.' That's what 'stronger' means. Do not box yourself in. Be free and uninhibited. That's what 'stronger' is about."
  • The song was originally sung by just Blige on the US version of her album though on the re-release and on international releases the song is a featured duet to reflect each of the international markets. Blige duets with Jay Sean for the UK release, with Tiziano Ferro for Italy; Vanessa Amorosi for Australia, Rea Garvey for Germany and K'naan for the Canadian/US re-release.
  • A video was filmed for the Blige/Jay Sean duet, which was directed by Marcus Raboy. Afterwards Sean took to his Twitter and said: "@maryjblige is so cool! For someone that has paved the way and inspired so many artists, shes so humble. Love that. Amazing2work with."
  • Blige wrote this with Mitchum Chin - a Jamaican songwriter who co-wrote Bruno Mars' "Our First Time" and "Show Me" - and the track's producer, Dwayne Chin-Quee aka Supa Dups.

Comments: 1

  • Moses Kinyua from Embu County KenyaSuch a encouraging song. Love it so much.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman Jack

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.