It was a radical change in image and style for Madonna, who had received huge backlash due to the release of her book Sex, the studio album Erotica and the film Body of Evidence.

Warner Bros. decided to release the song for the film after noting most of her previous soundtrack singles had achieved commercial success.

"I'll Remember" was also a commercial success, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming her fourth number-one hit on the Adult Contemporary chart.

The music video of "I'll Remember", directed by Alek Keshishian, portrayed Madonna singing the song in a stylized recording studio.

[1] Madonna's fifth studio album Erotica and the film Body of Evidence were released at the same time; both failed to garner critical and commercial acclaim.

The ballad was initially a collaboration between musician Richard Page and Patrick Leonard, before Madonna reworked the track for Alek Keshishian's film With Honors (1994).

"[2] Regarding her feelings for the song, Madonna commented, "I think most of the time when my records come out, people are so much distracted by so much fanfare and controversy that nobody pays attention to the music.

[1] According to author Rikky Rooksby, the song is written in the style of Album-oriented rock (AOR) by bands like Boston or Foreigner.

It is slowed down from the tempo of rock songs and utilizes a steadily reverberating synth keyboard to bring on the effect of a heartbeat.

[4] According to Alex Balk from The Awl, the lyrics were inspirational, especially the line "I learned to let go of the illusion that we can possess", which is answered by Madonna herself that "I remember, happiness".

According to Jose F. Promis from AllMusic, "the mixes of [the song] were conjured by William Orbit, giving each version an ethereal, spacey, and very mellow feel".

[8] Larry Flick stated that it finds Madonna "inside an easy-paced pop chugger that is etched with slightly Caribbean percussion.

"[9] Troy J. Augusto from Cash Box said that "this tender, down-tempo stroll that will serve to re-introduce the ambitious one to her old friends at top 40 radio—folks who, based on some of her recent, questionable material, might have wondered if the girl’s best work was well behind her.

Actually, the sky’s the limit with this smoothly textured, deliberately paced song (produced by Patrick Leonard and Madonna) that will perform well in all hit and adult formats.

"[12] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update deemed it a "sweetly warbled quovery slow roller".

[13] John Kilgo from The Network Forty said that the song is "compared as a half-beat faster than the earlier Madonna smash, "Live To Tell," the production grooves while the lyrics are ballad-like.

[20][21] Robbie Daw from Idolator listed it as one of "Madonna’s 10 Best Songs That Radio Forgot", saying that "Madge has lost many friends and lovers over the years, but here she turns lemons into lemonade by cherishing the good times and learning from 'the way that you changed me'.

[24] While ranking Madonna's singles, in honor of her 60th birthday, The Guardian's Jude Rogers placed "I'll Remember" at number 42, praising its "atmospheric" verses.

[30] The single spent a total of 26 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 14, 1994.

[42] The video featured production credits by Diane Greenwalt, editing by Patrick Sheffield and photography by Stephen Ramsey.

[45] Her look in the video, consists of blue-black icy hair, bright blue eyes and a long dark dress with a beaded necklace around her neck.

[47] Feminist writer Martha Leslie Allen lauded the video, as well as Madonna, "for breaking free of the conventional portrayal of women yet again, and displaying their duality.