| "If I Wanted To" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Melissa Etheridge | ||||
| from the album Yes I Am | ||||
| Released | 1994 | |||
| Studio | A&M (Hollywood) | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Island | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Melissa Etheridge | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Melissa Etheridge singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"If I Wanted To" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 1994 as the final single from her fourth studio album, Yes I Am (1993). The song entered the top 50 in Australia, Canada, Iceland, and the United States.
"If I Wanted To", which was released as a double A-side with "Like the Way I Do" in the United States, debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1995 at No. 25, making it the highest-debuting single of 1995 at that point. [1] The single's debut was the highest for any song since Boyz II Men's "On Bended Knee" debuted at No. 14 in November 1994. [1]
"If I Wanted To" peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1995. [2] Strong singles sales in March 1995 for TLC's "Red Light Special", Real McCoy's "Run Away", and The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa" prevented "If I Wanted To" from rising higher on the Hot 100 despite widespread airplay on major US radio stations. [3]
Fred Bronson of Billboard wrote that with the single's debut, "Melissa Etheridge continues to solidify her new status as a chart superstar with the highest-debuting single of 1995." [1] Fell and Rufer from the Gavin Report felt that the song "rocks with the best of her previous winners, but can also stand alone on its own merit, as it builds in intensity without losing its cool." [4] Sam Wood from Philadelphia Inquirer found that with "If I Wanted To" "she describes her own desires with a full palette of harrowing visions that never meander into prettified abstraction". [5]
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | ASCAP Pop Music Award | Most Performed Songs | Won | [6] |
The single's accompanying music video was directed by Samuel Bayer. The music video was also featured briefly in Twister (1996 film).
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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"Come to My Window" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 1993 as the second single from her fourth studio album, Yes I Am (1993). This was the first song to become a hit after Etheridge publicly announced that she was a lesbian. With the driving force of gay rights, the song gained substantial airplay on radio stations, mostly through call-in requests. The song debuted on the Billboard charts after the first week of its release, reaching number 25 on the chart, remaining on the Hot 100 for 44 weeks and being certified Gold. The song also charted in Canada, reaching number 13 on the RPM Top Singles chart. It was the second song from Etheridge that earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. In 2019, Billboard included "Come to My Window" in its list of the "30 Lesbian Love Songs".
"As I Lay Me Down" is a song composed and performed by American singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins. It was released in February 1995 by Columbia as the third single from her second album, Whaler (1994), and also appears on The Best of Sophie B. Hawkins (2002). The song is one of her two biggest hits, reaching number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for six weeks during 1995. Outside the United States, the song reached number six in Canada, number seven in Australia, number 19 in New Zealand, and number 24 in the United Kingdom. Its music video was directed by Sophie Muller.
"Bang and Blame" is a song by American alternative rock group R.E.M. It was released as the second single from their ninth studio album, Monster (1994), on October 31, 1994 by Warner Bros. Records. The song was R.E.M.'s last to reach the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 19, and was also their last number-one single on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. The single reached number one in Canada—R.E.M.'s only single to do so—and peaked inside the top 40 on the charts of Australia, Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song recorded by American hard rock band Aerosmith as the theme song for the 1998 science fiction disaster film Armageddon, in which lead singer Steven Tyler's daughter Liv starred. It is one of four songs performed by the band for the film, the other three being "What Kind of Love Are You On", "Come Together", and "Sweet Emotion". The power ballad was co-written by Diane Warren, who originally envisioned it would be performed by "Celine Dion or somebody like that", and Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry, although only Warren got songwriting credit. The song received its airplay premiere on May 12, 1998, and was officially added to radio a week later.
"Misled" is a song recorded by Canadian singer Celine Dion for her third English-language studio album, The Colour of My Love (1993). It was released as the second single from the album on 11 April 1994 by Columbia Records/Epic Records. The song was written by Peter Zizzo and Jimmy Bralower and produced by Ric Wake. "Misled" topped the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and reached number four in Canada. It also peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart and number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its music video was directed by Randee St. Nicholas.
"I'm the Only One" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge from her fourth studio album, Yes I Am (1993). It was released as the first single in September 1993, reaching No. 12 in Canada and No. 26 in the Netherlands. In the United States, it was slow to gain momentum, but after the success of "Come to My Window", it was re-released, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in January 1995. It remains Etheridge's biggest hit on either chart and earned her a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1995.
"Mother Mother" is a song by American musician Tracy Bonham from her debut album, The Burdens of Being Upright (1996). Released on March 12, 1996, it became her most successful single, topping the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, entering the top five in Australia, and finding success in several other countries, including Canada and Norway.
"Lie to Me" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on November 13, 1995, as the third single from their album These Days.
"Constant Craving" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang and Ben Mink, performed by lang and included on her second solo album, Ingénue (1992). The song was released in the United Kingdom in April 1992 and won lang a Grammy Award in the category for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1993, as well as an MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video. The accompanying music video was directed by Mark Romanek.
"No Souvenirs" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, release as the second single from her second album, Brave and Crazy, in August 1989. Despite peaking at number 95 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the song experienced more success internationally, reaching number 30 in Australia and number four in Canada, where it became Etheridge's highest-charting single until "I Want to Come Over" reached number one in 1996.
"Bring Me Some Water" is the debut single of American singer Melissa Etheridge. It was released in 1988 and became a hit in several countries, reaching the top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, and on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.
"Angels Would Fall" is a song by American musician Melissa Etheridge, released as the first single from her sixth album, Breakdown (1999), in August 1999.
"Ode to My Family" is a song by Irish band the Cranberries, released on 21 November 1994 by Island Records as the second single from their second studio album, No Need to Argue (1994). The song was written by bandmembers Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan. It was a hit in Oceania and several European countries, topping the charts in Iceland, and reaching number four in France, number five in Australia, and number eight in New Zealand. Its music video was directed by Samuel Bayer. In 2017, the song was released as an acoustic, stripped down version on the band's Something Else album.
"I Know" is a song by American R&B singer Dionne Farris. Written by Milton Davis and William DuVall, it was released in January 1995 as the first single from Farris' debut album, Wild Seed – Wild Flower (1994). The song was a hit in Farris's native United States, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending 10 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Top 40/Mainstream chart, becoming that ranking's most successful song of 1995.
"Free to Decide" is a song by Irish rock band the Cranberries, released as the second single from their third studio album, To the Faithful Departed (1996), on 1 July 1996. The song achieved minor chart success in Europe but became a top-10 hit in Canada, peaking at number two on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. In the United States, it peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eight on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. In 2017, the song was released as an acoustic version on the band's Something Else album.
"When You're Gone" is a song by Irish band the Cranberries. It is the third single from their third studio album, To the Faithful Departed (1996). The music video was directed by Karen Bellone and was released at the end of 1996. The song was first played during the North American leg of the No Need to Argue Tour in late 1994.
"Love Sneakin' Up On You" is a song by American blues singer Bonnie Raitt. Released in March 1994 from her 12th album, Longing in Their Hearts (1994), the song topped Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart for three weeks and reached number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also charted in Germany and the United Kingdom. In 1995, it was nominated for both the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Meiert Avis directed the song's music video.
"Your Little Secret" is the first single and title track from American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge's fifth studio album of the same name (1995). The song was released to US radio stations on October 9, 1995.
"I Want to Come Over" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge. It was released in late January 1996 as the second single from her fifth studio album, Your Little Secret (1995). The song was a commercial success, reaching number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 29 in both Australia and New Zealand. It also reached number one on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart in March 1996. At the end of the year, the song appeared on the American and Canadian year-end charts at numbers 79 and 11, respectively.
"Downtown Venus" is the first single released from American hip hop-R&B act P.M. Dawn's third studio album, Jesus Wept (1995). The second track on the album, the song was written by the duo's lead vocalist, Prince Be and produced by P.M. Dawn. It is built around a sample of "Hush" by Deep Purple, so writer Joe South was given a writing credit.
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