If You Go Away (New Kids on the Block song)

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"If You Go Away"
If You Go Away single.jpg
Single by NKOTB
from the album H.I.T.S./Face the Music
ReleasedDecember 2, 1991 (1991-12-02) [1]
Genre R&B, pop, soul
Length5:28
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) John Bettis, Trey Lorenz, Walter Afanasieff
Producer(s) Walter Afanasieff
NKOTB singles chronology
"Baby, I Believe in You"
(1991)
"If You Go Away"
(1991)
"Dirty Dawg"
(1993)

"If You Go Away" is a song by American pop group New Kids on the Block (although the group was credited under the moniker of NKOTB on the jacket.) Released as a stand-alone single on 1992, the only new song on the compilation H.I.T.S. , it was later included on their 1994 album Face the Music . Written by John Bettis, Trey Lorenz and Walter Afanasieff, the latter of whom also served as the songs producer. Lead vocals are shared by Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre, with a spoken word by Danny Wood. It was, at that point, the first song the group put out after having split with longtime manager and producer Maurice Starr.

Contents

Reception

The song returned the group to the US top twenty, peaking at number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the UK Singles Chart, and was a commercial rebound for the group after having seen its three previous songs all fail to reach the Billboard Hot 100. The group performed the song on The Arsenio Hall Show , while addressing an alleged lip-synching controversy. The single was the group's last hit until the release of the top 40 hit "Summertime" in 2008, and to date remains its final top twenty entry.

Personnel

Track listings

UK Vinyl, 7"

  1. If You Go Away – 4:00
  2. Call It What You Want [C&C Pump It Up 7" Mix] – 4:12

Maxi-CD

  1. If You Go Away – 4:00
  2. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind) – 4:24
  3. Please Don't Go Girl – 4:30
  4. I'll Be Loving You (Forever) – 4:22

Charts

Chart (1992)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [2] 26
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [3] 25
Canada ( The Record ) [4] 6
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [5] 33
Germany (Official German Charts) [6] 34
Ireland (IRMA) [7] 26
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [8] 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [9] 10
Norway (VG-lista) [10] 4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [11] 25
UK Singles (OCC) [12] 9
US Billboard Hot 100 [13] 16

Related Research Articles

References

  1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . November 30, 1991. p. 21.
  2. "New Kids on the Block – If You Go Away". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  3. "New Kids on the Block – If You Go Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  4. "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard . Vol. 104, no. 18. May 2, 1992. p. 55.
  5. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media . Vol. 9, no. 3. January 18, 1992. p. 31.
  6. "NKOTB – If You Go Away" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If You Go Away". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  9. "New Kids on the Block – If You Go Away" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  10. "New Kids on the Block – If You Go Away". VG-lista. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  11. "New Kids on the Block – If You Go Away". Singles Top 100. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  13. "New Kids on the Block Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2016.