"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]
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. [33]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [64] | 4× Platinum | 280,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [65] | 4× Platinum | 320,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [66] | Gold | 150,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [67] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
Japan (RIAJ) [68] | Gold | 100,000* |
Portugal (AFP) [69] | Platinum | 40,000‡ |
South Korea (Gaon) [lower-alpha 2] | — | 882,728 [70] |
United Kingdom (BPI) [71] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [72] | 6× Platinum | 6,000,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [73] 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".
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