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If I Ain't Got You
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = If I Ain't Got You
| cover = Alicia Keys - If I Ain't Got You (single cover).jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Alicia Keys
| album = The Diary of Alicia Keys
| B-side = "You Don't Know My Name/Will You Ever Know It" (Reggae Mix)
| released =
| recorded =
| studio = Kampo (New York City)
| genre =
| length = 3:48
| label = J
| writer = Alicia Keys
| producer = Alicia Keys
| prev_title = You Don't Know My Name
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = Diary
| next_year = 2004
| misc =
}}
"'If I Ain't Got You'" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys from her second studio album 'The Diary of Alicia Keys' (2003). Inspired by the 2001 death of singer Aaliyah, the terrorist September 11 attacks, and other events in the world and in Keys' life, the song is about "how material things don't feed the soul." The single cover depicts Keys similarly to the subject of Man Ray's 1924 painting 'Le Violon d'Ingres'.
Released on February 23, 2004, as the album's second single, "If I Ain't Got You" peaked at number four on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 and became Keys' second consecutive R&B chart-topper, remaining atop of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart 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 the latter. It was ranked No. 440 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time". Keys herself said that it is one of her favorite songs.
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 was covered by singer Jordan Feliz in 2016.
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 mewhat matters, and what doesn't."
In September 2020, Keys revealed that she almost offered the song to Christina Aguilera, as the singer wanted to work with Keys. She eventually wrote the song "Impossible" for Aguilera's album 'Stripped'.
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, peaking at number four, four months later, on July 3, 2004. It spent twenty non-consecutive weeks in the top ten, one of the longest stays of any song that year and outlasting many number one singles. 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. The single was ultimately placed at number three on the 'Billboard' Year-End Hot 100 chart of 2004.
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. In late September 2009, the single returned to the chart at number fifty-four.
In September 2016, Keys appeared on 'The Voice' as a coach, with a contestant singing the song, and it made a new entry into the R&B/Hip Hop singles charts, driving total sales up to 1.5 million units. By August 2020, the song had reached 4 Platinum certification.
Music video
The music video for "If I Ain't Got You", directed by Diane Martel, was filmed in Harlem, New York City, and features a cameo by rapper and actor Method Man as Keys' on-screen boyfriend.
Awards
*Grammy Awards
**Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
*Billboard Music Awards
**R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year
**R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Single of the Year
*MTV Video Music Awards
**Best R&B Video
*ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards
**Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year
*ASCAP Pop Awards
**Most Performed Song
*NAACP Image Awards
**Outstanding Music Video
**Outstanding Song
*Soul Train Music Awards
**Best R&B/Soul Single, Female
*Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
**Best R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year
*Vibe Awards
**Best R&B Song
Track listings and formats
*'European CD single'
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) 3:54
# "You Don't Know My Name/Will You Ever Know It" (Reggae Mix) 5:06
*'European CD Maxi-single'
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) 3:48
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano/Vocal Version) 3:54
# "You Don't Know My Name/Will You Ever Know It" (Reggae Mix) 5:06
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Video)
*'European CD single (Remix)'
# "If I Ain't Got You" (featuring Usher) 3:52
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) 3:51
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano/Vocal Version) 3:51
*'Japanese CD single'
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) 3:49
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano + Vocal Only Version) 3:49
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Acappella Version) 3:33
*'US promotional CD single'
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Radio Edit) 3:48
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Instrumental) 3:48
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Call Out Hook) 0:10
*'US 7" single'
:A. "If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) 3:48
:B. "Diary" (Album Version) (featuring Tony! Toni! Ton!) 3:43
*'US 12" single'
: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" (Acappella) 3:36
*'US / European promotional 12" single'
:A1. "If I Ain't Got You" (Main) 3:48
:A2. "If I Ain't Got You" (Instrumental) 3:48
:B1. "If I Ain't Got You" (Main) 3:48
:B2. "If I Ain't Got You" (Acappella) 3:36
*'Digital EP'
# "If I Ain't Got You" (featuring Usher) 3:51
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Radio Edit) 3:51
# "If I Ain't Got You" (featuring Arturo Sandoval) (Spanish Version) 3:51
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Kanye West Radio Mix #1) 3:47
# "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano & Vocal Version) 3:51
# "If I Ain't Got You" (The Black Eyed Peas Remix) 3:14
*'Digital download'
# "If I Ain't Got You" (The Black Eyed Peas Remix) 3:14
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of 'The Diary of Alicia Keys'.
* Alicia Keys piano, producer, background vocals, vocals
* Katreese Barnes background vocals
* Tony Black engineering
* Kerry Brothers Jr. digital programming
* Fred Cash Jr. bass
* Darryl Dixon horn
* L. Green background vocals
* Steve Jordan drums
* Manny Marroquin mixing
* Hugh McCracken guitar
* Cindy Mizelle background vocals
* Herb Powers Jr. mastering
* Joe Romano horn
* Arcell Vickers organ
* David Watson horn
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
Certifications
Release history
See also
* Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2004
* List of number-one R&B singles of 2004 (U.S.)
References
Category:2000s ballads
Category:2003 songs
Category:2004 singles
Category:Alicia Keys songs
Category:Contemporary R&B ballads
Category:J Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Diane Martel
Category:Songs written by Alicia Keys
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