If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time

Last updated

"If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time"
IF I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time.jpg
Single by R. Kelly
from the album R.
ReleasedJuly 27, 1999 (1999-07-27)
Genre
Length
  • 6:17 (album and single version)
  • 4:56 (radio edit)
Label Jive
Songwriter(s) Robert Kelly
Producer(s) R. Kelly
R. Kelly singles chronology
"Did You Ever Think"
(1999)		"If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time"
(1999)		"Satisfy You"
(1999)

"If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time" is a song by American singer R. Kelly, released as the fifth single from his third album, R. (1998). [1] The song is a ballad about a man wishing he could go back in time and repair his relationship with his girlfriend.[ citation needed ] The song peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a top-10 hit across Europe, peaking at number one in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Contents

Success and legacy

The song has sold 660,000 copies in the United Kingdom and is one of R. Kelly's biggest international hits, In Belgium, the song peaked at number one in both Flanders and Wallonia and is certified triple platinum for selling over 150,000 copies. The song was certified gold in the United States in October 2001. [2]

The song has been covered by several musicians, including Ed Sheeran and talent show contestants. [3] Rapper Mims sampled the song for his debut album Music Is My Savior on the track "I Did You Wrong". [4] [ unreliable source? ]

Live performances

Kelly did not perform this song very often, he performed this song for the first time on live television when he was in England on the show Top of the Pops . [5] He seemed to perform this song more when he does a show in Europe than in the US, reason for that is that this song was highly successful there.

Charts and certifications

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria) [53] Gold25,000*
Belgium (BEA) [54] 3× Platinum150,000*
France (SNEP) [55] Gold250,000*
Germany (BVMI) [56] Platinum500,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [57] Platinum75,000^
Sweden (GLF) [58] Platinum30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [59] Gold25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [60] Platinum660,000 [61]
United States (RIAA) [2] Gold500,000 [62]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesJuly 27, 1999 Jive [63]
August 3, 1999 [64]
August 9, 1999 Adult contemporary radio [65]
September 21, 1999
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [2]
United KingdomOctober 18, 1999
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [66]

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References

  1. ↑ "R Kelly - R. CD".
  2. 1 2 3 "American single certifications – R. Kelly – If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time". Recording Industry Association of America.
  3. ↑ Ed Sheeran - If I Could Turn Back The Hands of Time (R.Kelly Cover). July 13, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 – via YouTube.
  4. ↑ "Mims's I Did You Wrong sample of R. Kelly's If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time - WhoSampled". WhoSampled.
  5. ↑ R. Kelly- If i could turn back the hands of time live at top of the pops. September 12, 2009 – via YouTube.[ dead YouTube link ]
  6. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 152.
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  32. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
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