If I Ain't Got You

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"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 (2004). 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.

Cover versions

"If I Ain't Got You" has been covered five times on American Idol, by Vonzell Solomon, Kinnik Sky, Syesha Mercado, Lil Rounds, and Taylor Vaifanua. Eli Mattson also sang the song on America's Got Talent in 2008 as part of the final 20. Paije Richardson performed it on second live final of the 2010 series of the British talent show The X Factor. English indie rock band Athlete covered the song on the Live Lounge section of BBC Radio 1's The Jo Whiley Show on January 28, 2005. Live covers by American band Maroon 5 and Swedish singer Amy Diamond are included on their respective albums, Hands All Over (2010) and This Is Me Now (2005). Smooth jazz saxophonist Eric Darius recorded an instrumental cover of the song for his third album, Just Getting Started (2006).

On the March 5, 2012 episode of the American television series The Voice, contestants Anthony Evans and Jesse Campbell covered the song during their "battle round" performance. Mentor and judge Christina Aguilera chose to keep Campbell in the competition, and a studio version of him singing the song was released on iTunes the following day.

On May 16, 2013, Keke Palmer released a video showing her recording and performing a cover of the song.[9]

In August 3, 2014, Austin French covered the song from the round of thirteen on Rising Star.

In October 13, 2014, Elyjuh René and Maiya Sykes covered as a duet battle in Season Seven of The Voice.

In October 26, 2015, Viktor Király covered the song title selection on ninth season of The Voice.

Awards

Track listings

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Diary of Alicia Keys.[16]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[36] Gold 500,000

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Alicia Keys: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  11. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/If-I-Aint-Got-You/dp/B0001N1RWQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1308985917&sr=1-2
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/If-I-Aint-Got-You/dp/B0001IW2R0/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1308985917&sr=1-5
  14. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Alicia-Keys-If-I-Aint-Got-You/release/2192014
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 14, 2004". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ "Archive Chart: April 04, 2004". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 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
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH

External links

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