If I Had Words

Last updated
"If I Had Words"
Single by Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley
B-side "This Time of Year"
Released4 November 1977 (1977-11-04)
Genre Pop
Length3:48
Label Pepper
Songwriter(s) Camille Saint-Saëns
Producer(s) Jonathan Hodge

"If I Had Words" is a duet by Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley, released as a single in November 1977. It was a top-ten hit in several countries and sold more than one million copies worldwide. The backing was by the St Thomas More Roman Catholic School Choir in London. [1]

Contents

Composition and release

The tune was taken from the main theme of the maestoso section of Saint-Saëns' Symphony No.3 in C minor (Symphony with organ) with an added reggae beat. (In the symphony, the theme used in the song is first exposed by the strings section in the second movement; it is later also played by the organ. [2] ) The lyrics and arrangement were by Jonathan Hodge, a prolific writer of TV jingles and movie themes, who also produced the single.

"If I Had Words" topped the charts in the Netherlands and Belgium upon its release and peaked at number three in the UK and Australia. Its popularity in the Netherlands saw it certified platinum. It was also re-recorded by Fitzgerald and Keeley in 2010 and released as a charity single in the Netherlands in support of the Foundation KiKa. [3]

Charts

Sales and certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI) [18] Platinum150,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 201. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  2. ↑ Saint-Saëns, Camille (19--). Symphony no. 3 in C minor, opus 78, for orchestra and organ. Available at: http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/aef8378/index.html, New York, N.Y.: International Music Co., pp. 126–129.
  3. ↑ "Yvonne Keeley & Scott Fitzgerald - If I Had Words 2010". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  4. ↑ "ultratop.be - Angie Gold - Der schönste Tag". Ultratop . Retrieved 2019-12-07.
  5. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 112. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  6. ↑ "Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  7. ↑ "Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  8. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If I Had Words". Irish Singles Chart.
  9. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley with the St. Thomas Moore School Choir" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  10. ↑ "Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  11. ↑ "Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words". Top 40 Singles.
  12. ↑ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  13. ↑ "Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  14. ↑ "Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words 2010" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  15. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1978". Ultratop.
  16. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1978". www.top40.nl.
  17. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1978". www.dutchcharts.nl.
  18. ↑ "Dutch single certifications – Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved July 16, 2022.Enter If I Had Words in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1978 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
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