If I Ain't Got You

"If I Ain't Got You"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album As I Am: The Super Edition
Released	February 17, 2004
Format	CD single 12" single digital download
Recorded	Kampo Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre	R&B soul jazz
Length	3:48
Label	J
Writer(s)	Alicia Keys
Producer(s)	Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"You Don't Know My Name" (2003) "If I Ain't Got You" (2004) "Diary" (2004)
Music sample Alicia Keys – "If I Ain't Got You"

"If I Ain't Got You" is a song recorded, written, and produced by American singer Alicia Keys for her second studio album, Unplugged 2005). Inspired by the 2001 death of fellow R&B singer Aaliyah, the terrorist September 11 attacks in New York City, and other different events in the world and in Keys' life at that time, it is about "how material things don't feed the soul." Musically, the slow bluesy piano ballad features musicians Hugh McCracken on guitar and Steve Jordan on drums.

Released in February 2004 as the album's second single, the song peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became Keys' second consecutive R&B chart-topper, remaining atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for six weeks. The song received two nominations at the 2005 Grammy Awards, for Song of the Year and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, winning in the latter.

A remix featuring Usher, a Kanye West Radio Mix, and a Spanish-language version featuring Arturo Sandoval appear on the bonus CD of select international pressings of The Diary of Alicia Keys. The song is featured in the 2004 PlayStation 2 karaoke game Karaoke Revolution Volume 3.

The single cover depicts Keys similarly to the subject of Man Ray's 1924 painting Le Violon d'Ingres.^[1]

Background

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."^[2]

Commercial performance

"If I Ain't Got You" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number sixty-four on the issue dated March 6, 2004,^[3] peaking at number four, four months later, on July 3, 2004.^[4] 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.^[5] The single was ultimately placed at number three on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 chart of 2004.^[6]

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.^[7] In late September 2009, the single returned to the chart at number fifty-four.^[8]

Music video

The music video, directed by Diane Martel, is set in a wintry New York City and features a cameo by rapper and actor Method Man as Keys' on-screen boyfriend. It was actually filmed in Alaska, not New York, as widely rumored.

Cover versions

"If I Ain't Got You" has been covered five times on American Idol, by Vonzell Solomon, Kinnik Sky, Syesha Mercado, Lil Rounds, and Taylor Vaifanua. Eli Mattson also sang the song on America's Got Talent in 2008 as part of the final 20. Paije Richardson performed it on second live final of the 2010 series of the British talent show The X Factor. English indie rock band Athlete covered the song on the Live Lounge section of BBC Radio 1's The Jo Whiley Show on January 28, 2005. Live covers by American band Maroon 5 and Swedish singer Amy Diamond are included on their respective albums, Hands All Over (2010) and This Is Me Now (2005). Smooth jazz saxophonist Eric Darius recorded an instrumental cover of the song for his third album, Just Getting Started (2006).

On the March 5, 2012 episode of the American television series The Voice, contestants Anthony Evans and Jesse Campbell covered the song during their "battle round" performance. Mentor and judge Christina Aguilera chose to keep Campbell in the competition, and a studio version of him singing the song was released on iTunes the following day.

On May 16, 2013, Keke Palmer released a video showing her recording and performing a cover of the song.^[9]

In August 3, 2014, Austin French covered the song from the round of thirteen on Rising Star.

In October 13, 2014, Elyjuh René and Maiya Sykes covered as a duet battle in Season Seven of The Voice.

In October 26, 2015, Viktor Király covered the song title selection on ninth season of The Voice.

Awards

• Grammy Awards
  • Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
• Billboard Music Awards
  • R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year
  • R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Single of the Year
• MTV Video Music Awards
  • Best R&B Video
• ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards
  • Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year
• ASCAP Pop Awards
  • Most Performed Song
• NAACP Image Awards
  • Outstanding Music Video
  • Outstanding Song
• Soul Train Music Awards
  • Best R&B/Soul Single, Female
• Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
  • Best R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year
• Vibe Awards
  • Best R&B Song

Track listings

CD maxi single[10] "If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) — 3:48 "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano & Vocal Version) — 3:52 "You Don't Know My Name/Will You Ever Know It" (Reggae Mix) — 5:06 European CD maxi single[11] "If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) — 3:48 "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano/Vocal Version) — 3:54 "You Don't Know My Name/Will You Ever Know It" (Reggae Mix) — 5:06 "If I Ain't Got You" (Video) Digital download[12] "If I Ain't Got You" (The Black Eyed Peas Remix) – 3:41

Japanese CD single[13] "If I Aint Got You" "If I Aint Got You" (Piano & Vocal Only Version) "If I Aint Got You" (A cappella version) US 12" single[14] A1. "If I Ain't Got You" (Radio Mix) — 3:48 A2. "If I Ain't Got You" (Instrumental) — 3:48 B1. "If I Ain't Got You" (Radio Mix) — 3:48 B2. "If I Ain't Got You" (A cappella) — 3:36 Digital EP[15] "If I Ain't Got You" (featuring Usher) – 3:50 "If I Ain't Got You" – 3:49 "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano & Vocal Version) – 3:51

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Diary of Alicia Keys.^[16]

Alicia Keys – lead vocals, backing vocals, piano, production Katreese Barnes – backing vocals Tony Black – engineering Kerry "Krucial" Brothers – digital programming Fred Cash, Jr. – bass Darryl Dixon – horn L. Green – backing vocals

Steve Jordan – drums Manny Marroquin – mixing Hugh McCracken – guitar Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals Herb Powers Jr. – mastering Joe Romano – horn Arcell Vickers – organ David Watson – horn

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2004–05) Peak position scope="row" Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[10] 10 scope="row" Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[17] 14 scope="row" France (SNEP)[18] 15 scope="row" Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 81 scope="row" Ireland (IRMA)[20] 44 scope="row" Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 12 Poland (Polish Singles Chart)[22] 27 scope="row" Scotland (Official Charts Company)[23] 27 scope="row" Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 35 scope="row" UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 18 scope="row" US Billboard Hot 100[25] 4 scope="row" US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[26] 12 scope="row" US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[27] 1 scope="row" US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[28] 9 scope="row" US Rhythmic (Billboard)[29] 5 Chart (2012) Peak position South Korea International Singles (Gaon)[30] 49

Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 42 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 3 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[32] 1 Decade-end charts Chart (2000–09) Position US Billboard Hot 100[33] 51 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[34] 9

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
United Kingdom (BPI)[35]	Silver	200,000
United States (RIAA)[36]	Gold	500,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

See also

• Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2004
• List of number-one R&B singles of 2004 (U.S.)

References

1. "Le Violon d'Ingres (Ingres's Violin)". J. Paul Getty Museum. J. Paul Getty Trust. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
2. Osei, Anthony (June 9, 2011). "Alicia Keys Says "If I Ain't Got You" Was Inspired By Aaliyah's Death". Complex. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
3. "The Hot 100 : Mar 06, 2004". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
4. "The Hot 100 : Jul 03, 2004". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
5. "The Diary of Alicia Keys - Alicia Keys | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
6. "2004 Year End Charts – The Billboard Hot 100 Singles & Tracks". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on December 31, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
7. "2004 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive". Official Charts Company. April 10, 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
8. "Alicia Keys: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
9. "Keke Palmer Covers Alicia Keys "If I Ain't Got You"".
10. "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
11. http://www.amazon.com/If-I-Aint-Got-You/dp/B0001N1RWQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1308985917&sr=1-2
12. "iTunes - Music - If I Ain't Got You (Black Eyed Peas Remix) - Single by Alicia Keys". iTunes Store.
13. http://www.amazon.com/If-I-Aint-Got-You/dp/B0001IW2R0/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1308985917&sr=1-5
14. http://www.discogs.com/Alicia-Keys-If-I-Aint-Got-You/release/2192014
15. "iTunes - Music - If I Ain't Got You - EP by Alicia Keys". iTunes Store.
16. The Diary of Alicia Keys (CD liner notes). Alicia Keys. J Records. 2003. 82876 57017 2.
17. "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
18. "Lescharts.com – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
20. "Chart Track: Week 14, 2004". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 16, 2014.
22. "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 2008-05-08.
23. "Archive Chart: April 04, 2004". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
24. "Swisscharts.com – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
25. "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
26. "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
27. "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
28. "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
29. "Alicia Keys – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Alicia Keys. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
30. "Gaon Digital Chart – 2012.02.19~2012.02.25". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
31. "Jaargang 40, 2004" (in Dutch). Top 40. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
32. "2004 Year End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
33. "Decade End Charts – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on March 26, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
34. "Decade End Charts – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 29, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
35. "British single certifications – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". British Phonographic Industry. Enter If I Ain't Got You in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
36. "American single certifications – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". Recording Industry Association of America. November 18, 2004. Retrieved 29 December 2013. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics