"If I Ain't Got You" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Alicia Keys | ||||
from the album The Diary of Alicia Keys | ||||
B-side | "You Don't Know My Name" | |||
Released | February 17, 2004 | |||
Studio | Kampo (New York City) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:48 | |||
Label | J | |||
Songwriter(s) | Alicia Keys | |||
Producer(s) | Alicia Keys | |||
Alicia Keys singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"If I Ain't Got You" on YouTube |
"If I Ain't Got You" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her second studio album The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Inspired by the 2001 death of singer Aaliyah, the 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". It was released as the second single from The Diary of Alicia Keys on February 17, 2004, by J Records. The single cover depicts Keys similarly to the subject of Man Ray's 1924 photograph Le Violon d'Ingres . [1]
"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 47th Annual Grammy Awards (2005), for Song of the Year and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, winning the latter. It was ranked at number 440 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time". [2] Since its release, Keys has said that it is one of her favorite songs. [3]
In 2023 the song was reinterpreted in a classical version by Keys and Kris Bowers for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Soundtrack, which the singer performed with a 70-piece orchestra of women of color. [4]
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." [5]
In September 2020, Keys revealed that she almost offered the song to Christina Aguilera, as the singer wanted to work with Keys. [6] She eventually wrote the song "Impossible" for Aguilera's album Stripped . [7] There is a remix of the song that features additional vocals by Usher.
"If I Ain't Got You" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number sixty-four on the issue dated March 6, 2004, [8] 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. [9] 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. [10] The single was ultimately placed at number three on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 chart of 2004. [11]
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. [12] In late September 2009, the single returned to the chart at number fifty-four. [13]
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. [14] By August 2020, the song had reached 4× Platinum certification. [15]
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. [16] The October 25, 2009 upload of the music video on YouTube prematurely ends in the final cutscene of Method Man getting out of the car, so the final chorus of the song doesn't finish. [17] Despite the fake HD remaster of the music video in April 2024, the issue was never fixed. An unofficial upload of the original video on Dailymotion, dated September 27, 2006 and clocking in at 5 minutes and 12 seconds, is the only surviving copy of the full version on any online platform currently available. [18]
Year | Ceremony | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | Grammy Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | Won | |||
Billboard Music Awards | Hot 100 Single of the Year | Nominated | ||
Hot 100 Airplay Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year | Won | |||
R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Song of the Year | Won | |||
MTV Video Music Awards | Best Female Video | Nominated | ||
Best R&B Video | Won | |||
2005 | ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year | Won | |
ASCAP Pop Awards | Most Performed Song | Won | ||
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Song | Won | ||
Outstanding Video | Won | |||
Soul Train Music Awards | Best R&B/Soul Single – Female | Won | ||
Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards | R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year | Won |
Year | Ceremony | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | MTV Video Music Awards | Video for Good | Nominated |
|
|
Personnel are adapted from the liner notes of The Diary of Alicia Keys. [35]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [67] | 4× Platinum | 280,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [68] | 4× Platinum | 320,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [69] | Gold | 150,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [70] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
Japan (RIAJ) [71] | Gold | 100,000* |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [72] | 4× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP) [73] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
South Korea (Gaon) [b] | — | 882,728 [74] |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [75] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [76] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [77] | 6× Platinum | 6,000,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [78] Mastertone | Gold | 500,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | February 17, 2004 | Digital download (EP) | J | |
February 23, 2004 | ||||
March 9, 2004 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | |||
Japan | March 24, 2004 | Maxi CD | Sony Music | |
Germany | March 29, 2004 | |||
United Kingdom | RCA | |||
United States | April 27, 2004 | Contemporary hit radio | J | |
August 9, 2004 | Adult contemporary radio | |||
France | September 28, 2004 | CD | Sony BMG |
The Diary of Alicia Keys is the second studio album by American singer Alicia Keys. It was released on December 2, 2003, by J Records. The album was recorded at several recording studios, and production was handled primarily by Keys with contributions from Kanye West and Kerry Brothers Jr., who described it as "an R&B album".
American singer Mariah Carey has released 88 official singles, 22 promotional singles, and has made 30 guest appearances. Her self-titled debut album in 1990 yielded four number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, the first being "Vision of Love", a song credited with revolutionizing the usage of distinguished vocal stylings, predominantly the practice of melisma, and effectively influencing virtually every female R&B performer since the 1990s. Subsequent singles "Emotions" (1991) and Carey's cover of the Jackson 5 track "I'll Be There" (1992) continued the singer's streak of US number-one singles, with the latter becoming her fourth chart-topper in Canada and first in the Netherlands. With the release of Carey's third studio album, Music Box (1993), the singer's international popularity surged upon release of "Hero" and the album's third single, her cover of Harry Nilsson's "Without You", which became the singer's first number-one single in several countries across Europe.
"Let Me Love You" is a song by American singer Mario, released by J Records on October 4, 2004, as the lead single from his second studio album, Turning Point (2004). The song was written by then-unknown American singer Ne-Yo, Kameron Houff, and Scott Storch, while production was handled by the latter. The song garnered Mario a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2006 and peaked atop five international music charts: the Billboard Hot 100, Canada's Radio & Records, Official German Charts, Dutch Top 40, and Recorded Music NZ.
"Oh" is a song by American singer, Ciara who wrote the song with Ludacris, Andre Harris, and Vidal Davis. "Oh" was produced by Harris and Davis, who work as Dre & Vidal. The song was released on March 1, 2005, as the third single from her debut album, Goodies. The downtempo R&B song features hip-hop elements and a heavy bassline, and can be seen as an anthem to her hometown, Atlanta, Georgia. Ciara sings about the many things the city has to offer, while Ludacris raps the third verse.
"Fallin'" is the debut single of American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys from her debut studio album, Songs in A Minor (2001). Written and produced by Keys, "Fallin'" is generally considered her signature song. It was released as the lead single from Songs in A Minor on April 2, 2001, by J Records. The official remix features rappers Busta Rhymes and Rampage.
American singer Alicia Keys has released nine studio albums, eight live albums, one remix album, six reissue albums, four extended plays, seven box sets, 47 singles as lead artist, and six promotional singles. Throughout her career, Keys has sold over 65 million records worldwide. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Keys is the top certified female R&B artist of the millennium, with 20 million certified albums and 38 million certified digital singles in the United States. Billboard ranked her as the second top female artist of the 2000s decade, fourth top R&B/hip-Hop female artist of the 2010s decade and the 60th Greatest Artist of all time.
"A Woman's Worth" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her debut studio album Songs in A Minor (2001). A soul-R&B ballad, it was written by Keys and Erika Rose and produced by Keys. The song was released as the second single from Songs in A Minor on September 25, 2001, by J Records, following the worldwide success of her debut single "Fallin'".
"Diary" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys from her second studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Written by Keys and Kerry Brothers, Jr. and produced by Keys, the song features the American group Tony! Toni! Toné! on bass, piano, guitar, organ and Wurlitzer, while Jermaine Paul provides uncredited additional vocals. It was released on May 24, 2004, as the album's third single. At one time, "Diary" had been released as a double A-side with "If I Ain't Got You".
"You Don't Know My Name" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, issued by J Records as the lead single from her second studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Written by Keys, Kanye West and Harold Lilly, its production, handled by the former two, is based on a sample of the 1975 song "Let Me Prove My Love to You", written by J. R. Bailey, Mel Kent and Ken Williams, and performed by The Main Ingredient.
"Unbreakable" is a song by American R&B-soul singer Alicia Keys, released by J Records on September 6, 2005 as the lead single from her live album, Unplugged (2005). Written by Keys, Kanye West, and Harold Lilly, the track features a Wurlitzer riff, and is built around a sample of Eddie Kendricks' 1977 song "Intimate Friends", written by Garry Glenn. Due to its inclusion on a live album, album producer Alex Coletti is credited with the song's production, although the beat composition was helmed by West.
"My Boo" is a duet between American R&B singers Usher and Alicia Keys, written by the artists alongside Adonis Shropshire, Manuel Seal, and Jermaine Dupri, the latter of whom produced it with No I.D.—who is uncredited. It was included on the re-release of Usher's fourth studio album, Confessions (2004). The song was released as the album's fourth single on August 29, 2004.
"Roses" is a song by American hip hop duo OutKast. It was released on March 1, 2004, as the third single from their 2003 double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It appears on André 3000's The Love Below disc and is the only track on his disc to feature Big Boi. The track was largely popular in the United Kingdom and the United States, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart and number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. It also found popularity in Australia, reaching number two on the Australian Singles Chart. It was their fourth and final top-10 song in the United States.
"Karma" is a song by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys, taken from her second studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Written by Keys, Kerry Brothers, Jr., and Taneisha Smith, the song takes influence from hip hop and classical music. It was released as the album's fourth and final single on November 1, 2004, by J Records. Peaking at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 17 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, it's the album's only single not to top a Billboard chart. A mashup of "Karma" with Stevie Wonder's 1972 hit "Superstition" titled "Karmastition", produced by Go Home Productions, was also released.
"Hotel" is a song by American rapper Cassidy, released by J Records and Swizz Beatz's Full Surface Records as his commercial debut single on September 29, 2003. The song also serves as the lead single from his debut album, Split Personality. The track was produced by Swizz Beatz and features R. Kelly on featured vocals. "Hotel" reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the UK Singles Chart.
"No One" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her third studio album As I Am (2007). It was written and produced by Keys and Kerry Brothers Jr., with additional writing by DJ Dirty Harry. The song was released as the lead single from As I Am on October 9, 2007, by J Records.
"Like You'll Never See Me Again" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her third studio album As I Am (2007). Written and produced by Keys and Kerry Brothers Jr., it was first heard on October 25, 2007, on Atlanta's V103 WVEE radio station. Subsequently, it was released as the second single from As I Am on January 22, 2008, by J Records.
"Empire State of Mind" is a song performed by American rapper Jay-Z featuring American singer Alicia Keys from the former's eleventh studio album, The Blueprint 3 (2009). It was released by his then-newfound record label Roc Nation and Atlantic Records on October 20, 2009. Produced by Al Shux, the song features a music sample of "Love on a Two-Way Street" performed by The Moments. Angela Hunte and Janet Sewell-Ulepic originally wrote it as a tribute to their hometown, New York City. The following month, they submitted it to Roc Nation, whose reviews were discouraging. They later took the suggestion of an EMI Music Publishing associate and resubmitted it to Jay-Z, who kept the "New York" singing part on the hook, changed the verses, and recorded it. The song's title, similar to "New York State of Mind" by Billy Joel and "N.Y. State of Mind" by Nas, is a play on and tribute to New York's nickname "Empire State".
"Doesn't Mean Anything" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys. It written and produced by Keys and longtime partner Kerry "Krucial" Brothers for her fourth studio album The Element of Freedom (2009), with its lyrics speaking about the importance of love against materialism and fake needs. The song was released as the lead single from The Element of Freedom on September 15, 2009, by J Records.
American singer Keyshia Cole has released seven studio albums, one extended play, two mixtapes, 24 singles and 31 music videos. Cole's debut single, "Never", peaked at number 71 on the United States Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and became Cole's first entry on a national record chart. She was later featured on "Let's Get Blown", a 2004 single by American West Coast hip hop rapper Snoop Dogg – it peaked at number 54 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Cole released her debut album The Way It Is on June 21, 2005, through A&M Records. The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 89,000 copies. The Way It Is was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It produced the four singles "I Changed My Mind", "(I Just Want It) To Be Over", "I Should Have Cheated", and "Love", of two of which reached the top ten of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
"Girl on Fire" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her fifth studio album of the same name. Keys co-wrote and co-produced the R&B ballad with Jeff Bhasker and Salaam Remi. The song contains an interpolation of the drums from the 1980 song "The Big Beat" by American rock guitarist Billy Squier, who received a writing credit on "Girl on Fire". Released on September 4, 2012, as the lead single from the album, "Girl on Fire" is Keys' first release under RCA Records following the closure of J Records, after a reorganization at Sony Music Entertainment.
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