If I Ain't Got You

"If I Ain't Got You"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album The Diary of Alicia Keys
Released February 17, 2004
Format
Recorded Kampo Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre
Length 3:48
Label J
Writer(s) Alicia Keys
Producer(s) Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"You Don't Know My Name"
(2003)		 "If I Ain't Got You"
(2004)		 "Diary"
(2004)
Music sample
Alicia Keys – "If I Ain't Got You"

"If I Ain't Got You" is a song recorded, written, and produced by American singer Alicia Keys for her second studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys. Inspired by the 2001 death of fellow R&B singer Aaliyah, the terrorist September 11 attacks in New York City, and other different events in the world and in Keys' life at that time, it is about "how material things don't feed the soul." Musically, the slow bluesy piano ballad features musicians Hugh McCracken on guitar and Steve Jordan on drums.

Released in February 2004 as the album's second single, the song peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became Keys' second consecutive R&B chart-topper, remaining atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for six weeks. The song received two nominations at the 2005 Grammy Awards, for Song of the Year and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, winning in the latter.

A remix featuring Usher, a Kanye West Radio Mix, and a Spanish-language version featuring Arturo Sandoval appear on the bonus CD of select international pressings of The Diary of Alicia Keys. The song is featured in the 2004 PlayStation 2 karaoke game Karaoke Revolution Volume 3.

The single cover depicts Keys similarly to the subject of Man Ray's 1924 painting Le Violon d'Ingres.[1]

Background

Keys said that the idea of the song was inspired by Aaliyah's death: "The song idea came together right after Aaliyah passed away. It was such a sad time and no one wanted to believe it. It just made everything crystal clear to me—what matters, and what doesn't."[2]

Commercial performance

"If I Ain't Got You" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number sixty-four on the issue dated March 6, 2004,[3] peaking at number four, four months later, on July 3, 2004.[4] The song topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs on May 1, 2004 and spent six non-consecutive weeks atop the chart. It was also successful on Billboard component charts, reaching number five on the Rhythmic Top 40 and number nine on the Mainstream Top 40.[5] The single was ultimately placed at number three on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 chart of 2004.[6]

In the United Kingdom, "If I Ain't Got You" debuted and peaked at number eighteen on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending April 10, 2004.[7] In late September 2009, the single returned to the chart at number fifty-four.[8]

Music video

The music video, directed by Diane Martel, is set in a wintry New York City and features a cameo by rapper and actor Method Man as Keys' on-screen boyfriend. It was actually filmed in Alaska, not New York, as widely rumored.

Awards

Track listings

  • CD maxi single[9]
  1. "If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) – 3:48
  2. "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano & Vocal Version) – 3:52
  3. "You Don't Know My Name/Will You Ever Know It" (Reggae Mix) – 5:06
  • European CD maxi single[10]
  1. "If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) – 3:48
  2. "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano/Vocal Version) – 3:54
  3. "You Don't Know My Name/Will You Ever Know It" (Reggae Mix) – 5:06
  4. "If I Ain't Got You" (Video)
  • Digital download[11]
  1. "If I Ain't Got You" (The Black Eyed Peas Remix) – 3:14
  • Japanese CD single[12]
  1. "If I Aint Got You"
  2. "If I Aint Got You" (Piano & Vocal Only Version)
  3. "If I Aint Got You" (A cappella version)
A1. "If I Ain't Got You" (Radio Mix) – 3:48
A2. "If I Ain't Got You" (Instrumental) – 3:48
B1. "If I Ain't Got You" (Radio Mix) – 3:48
B2. "If I Ain't Got You" (A cappella) – 3:36
  1. "If I Ain't Got You" (featuring Usher) – 3:50
  2. "If I Ain't Got You" – 3:49
  3. "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano & Vocal Version) – 3:51

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Diary of Alicia Keys.[15]

  • Alicia Keys – lead vocals, backing vocals, piano, production
  • Katreese Barnes – backing vocals
  • Tony Black – engineering
  • Kerry "Krucial" Brothers – digital programming
  • Fred Cash, Jr. – bass
  • Darryl Dixon – horn
  • L. Green – backing vocals
  • Steve Jordan – drums
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Hugh McCracken – guitar
  • Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals
  • Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
  • Joe Romano – horn
  • Arcell Vickers – organ
  • David Watson – horn

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2004–05) Peak
position
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[9] 10
scope="row"Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[16] 14
scope="row"France (SNEP)[17] 15
scope="row"Germany (Official German Charts)[18] 81
scope="row"Ireland (IRMA)[19] 44
scope="row"Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 12
Poland (Polish Singles Chart)[21] 27
scope="row"Scotland (Official Charts Company)[22] 27
scope="row"Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 35
scope="row"UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 18
scope="row"US Billboard Hot 100[24] 4
scope="row"US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[25] 12
scope="row"US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] 1
scope="row"US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[27] 9
scope="row"US Rhythmic (Billboard)[28] 5
Chart (2012) Peak
position
South Korea International Singles (Gaon)[29] 49

Year-end charts

Chart (2004) Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 42
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 3
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[31] 1

Decade-end charts

Chart (2000–09) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[32] 51
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[33] 9

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Silver 200,000^
United States (RIAA)[35] Gold 1,483,003[36]^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Le Violon d'Ingres (Ingres's Violin)". J. Paul Getty Museum. J. Paul Getty Trust. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
  2. ↑ Osei, Anthony (June 9, 2011). "Alicia Keys Says "If I Ain't Got You" Was Inspired By Aaliyah's Death". Complex. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  3. ↑ "The Hot 100 : Mar 06, 2004". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  4. ↑ "The Hot 100 : Jul 03, 2004". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  5. ↑ "The Diary of Alicia Keys – Alicia Keys | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  6. 1 2 "2004 Year End Charts – The Billboard Hot 100 Singles & Tracks". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on December 31, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  7. ↑ "2004 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive". Official Charts Company. April 10, 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Alicia Keys: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  10. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/If-I-Aint-Got-You/dp/B0001N1RWQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1308985917&sr=1-2
  11. ↑ "iTunes – Music – If I Ain't Got You (Black Eyed Peas Remix) – Single by Alicia Keys". iTunes Store.
  12. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/If-I-Aint-Got-You/dp/B0001IW2R0/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1308985917&sr=1-5
  13. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Alicia-Keys-If-I-Aint-Got-You/release/2192014
  14. ↑ "iTunes – Music – If I Ain't Got You – EP by Alicia Keys". iTunes Store.
  15. ↑ The Diary of Alicia Keys (CD liner notes). Alicia Keys. J Records. 2003. 82876 57017 2.
  16. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 14, 2004". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 2007-10-22.
  22. ↑ "Archive Chart: April 04, 2004". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Gaon Digital Chart – 2012.02.19~2012.02.25". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Jaargang 40, 2004" (in Dutch). Top 40. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  31. ↑ "2004 Year End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Decade End Charts – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on March 26, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Decade End Charts – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 29, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  34. ↑ "British single certifications – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". British Phonographic Industry. Enter If I Ain't Got You in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  35. ↑ "American single certifications – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". Recording Industry Association of America. November 18, 2004. Retrieved 29 December 2013. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  36. ↑ "Hip Hop Single Sales: Lil Wayne, D.R.A.M. & The Weeknd". Hip Hop DX. October 2, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.