If We Ever Meet Again

For 1977 song, see Phillip Goodhand-Tait.

"If We Ever Meet Again"
Single by Timbaland and Katy Perry
from the album Shock Value II
Released	January 18, 2010 (2010-01-18)
Format	CD single, digital download
Recorded	2009
Genre	Dance-pop R&B
Length	4:52
Label	Blackground Interscope
Writer(s)	James Washington, T. Mosley, busbee
Producer(s)	Jim Beanz, Timbaland
Timbaland singles chronology
"Get Involved" (2010) "If We Ever Meet Again" (2010) "Marchin On" (2010)
Katy Perry singles chronology "Starstrukk" (2009) "If We Ever Meet Again" (2010) "California Gurls" (2010) Audio sample noicon file info · help Music video "If We Ever Meet Again ft. Katy Perry" on YouTube

"If We Ever Meet Again" is the fourth single from American rapper Timbaland's third studio album Shock Value II. The song duets pop singer Katy Perry and served as the album's second worldwide single. Timbaland's brother Sebastian is also featured at the end of the song, but is uncredited.

Background

Timbaland told MTV that will.i.am's work on "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas inspired him to make "If We Ever Meet Again": "When I did this song, I was in love with this record called..... you're gonna be surprised. The record didn't have anything to do with ['If We Ever Meet Again'], but when I heard [the Black Eyed Peas'] "I Gotta Feeling", I said, 'I want a record just like that on my album.' I said, 'I gotta do me a "I Gotta Feeling" record.' Me and one of my producers, Jim Beanz, we came up with this concept. I said, '["I Gotta Feeling"] is happy, but I like it.' It gives a good feeling". On the record, Timbaland sings, instead of raps: "It's not like it's incredible singing, but it made sense for me and it fits my voice," he explained. "To get somebody else to sing it, it might sound too overdone. I like it better with mistakes — I make mistakes. With me singing it, it gives it a different kind of swagger to it". Katy Perry sang the second verse, while Timbaland sang the first verse. In the chorus, both of them sang together. The last rap verse is performed by Timbaland's brother Sebastian, but he is uncredited.

Music video

File:Timbo katy musicvideo.jpg

Timbaland and Katy Perry singing together

The music video was filmed in December 2009. It was directed by Paul "Coy" Allen, who directed "Morning After Dark" and "Say Something". Timbaland told MTV that he wanted the video to be serious and maybe have Perry playing his guardian angel: "I wanna make something deep, I don't know if I wanna make it like a relationship. I wanna make it like she saved my life with whatever depression I was going through, whether it be drug depression, weight-loss depression — something..... Will she be around if I go through this again?". The song debuted with its video premiere on January 18, 2010 on UK music channels, charting at number one on many of the music channel video charts. The video, rather than focusing on a serious relationship, as mentioned above, focuses on the love story between a jewel thief (Julian Graham) and an art thief (Nadine Heimann), interspersed with Perry and Timbaland singing. In the original video Katy Perry appears in black girdle and black leather as in underwear, while Timbaland in the whole part of the clip was in a brown Jacket and with a flat cap on his head. The jewel thief and art thief take note of each other when both are present at an art exhibit opening. The jewel thief steals a necklace, but caches it (rather than trying to remove it from the premises). The jewel thief is later taken in by police for questioning about an art theft, but is released when the art thief secretly returns what she has stolen. As the jewel thief leaves the police station, the art thief is waiting for him outside, and the two join forces (dressed in black clothes and masks) to steal the original necklace and painting from the beginning of the video.

Track listing

CD single (UK & Europe)

1. "If We Ever Meet Again" (international radio edit) - 3:58
2. "If We Ever Meet Again" (Digital Dog radio remix) - 3:35

UK digital download E.P.

1. "If We Ever Meet Again" (international radio edit) - 3:58
2. "If We Ever Meet Again" (Digital Dog radio remix) - 3:26
3. "If We Ever Meet Again" (Chew Fu Deja fix) - 5:07
4. "If We Ever Meet Again" (Starsmith remix) - 5:21

US digital download E.P.

1. "If We Ever Meet Again" (radio edit) - 3:58
2. "If We Ever Meet Again" (album version) - 4:53
3. "If We Ever Meet Again" (instrumental) - 4:21

Credits and Personnel

• Timbaland & Katy Perry- Lead Vocals
• T. Mosley, James Washington, busbee - Songwriters
• Jim Beanz, Timbaland - Producer

Chart performance

In the Republic of Ireland, "If We Ever Meet Again" entered at number 15 on January 28, 2010, and week later rose to a current peak of number three.

Similarly, in the United Kingdom, the single entered at number 17 on January 31, 2010, and one week later jumped to its peak of number three. The single reached number one in New Zealand on February 15, 2010, ending Stan Walker's 10-week number one reign with "Black Box". The song was at number one for 4 weeks, before it was replaced at number one by J.Williams with "You Got Me".

The song originally peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 98, but then re-entered at number 96 on the issue date April 10, 2010. It has peaked at number 37 in the United States, making it the third highest-charting single on the album.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2009/2010)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	12
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)	8
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)	4
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)	1
Denmark (Tracklisten)	22
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)	10
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)	11
France (SNEP)	5
France (SNEP) Download Chart	4
Germany (Official German Charts)	9
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)	33
Ireland (IRMA)	3
Israel (Media Forest)	2
Italy (FIMI)	10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	27
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)	1
Norway (VG-lista)	7
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)	3
Poland (Dance Top 50)	21
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)	6
Spain (PROMUSICAE)	7
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	7
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)	3
US Billboard Hot 100	37
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)	25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	11

Year-end charts

Chart (2010)	Position
Australian Singles Chart	58
Austrian Singles Chart (Ö3 Austria Top 75)	49
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart	80
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart	53
Canadian Hot 100	29
European Hot 100 Singles	31
Germany (Media Control AG)	70
Irish Singles Chart	18
Italian Singles Chart	37
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)	52
New Zealand Singles Chart	9
Romania (Romanian Top 100)	98
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)	32

Certifications

Country	Certification
Australia	Platinum
Italy	Gold
New Zealand	Platinum
Switzerland	Gold
United Kingdom	Gold

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by "Black Box" by Stan Walker	New Zealand Singles Chart number-one single February 15, 2010 — March 15, 2010	Succeeded by "You Got Me" by J. Williams featuring Scribe
Preceded by "Alors on danse" by Stromae	Czech Republic (IFPI) June 23, 2010 – June 30, 2010	Succeeded by "Alors on danse" by Stromae

Release history

Date	Country
February 15, 2010	United Kingdom
February 16, 2010	United States
February 22, 2010	France
February 26, 2010	Germany

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics