2004 single by Alicia Keys
"If I Ain't Got You " is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her second studio album The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Inspired by the 2001 death of singer Aaliyah , the September 11 attacks , and other events in the world and in Keys' life, the song is about "how material things don't feed the soul". It was released as the second single from The Diary of Alicia Keys on February 17, 2004, by J Records . The single cover depicts Keys similarly to the subject of Man Ray 's 1924 photograph Le Violon d'Ingres .[ 1]
"If I Ain't Got You" peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became Keys' second consecutive R&B chart-topper, remaining atop of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for six weeks. The song received two nominations at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards (2005), for Song of the Year and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance , winning the latter. It was ranked at number 440 on Rolling Stone ' s "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".[ 2] Since its release, Keys has said that it is one of her favorite songs.[ 3]
In 2023 the song was reinterpreted in a classical version by Keys and Kris Bowers for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Soundtrack , which the singer performed with a 70-piece orchestra of women of color.[ 4]
Background and composition
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."[ 5]
In September 2020, Keys revealed that she almost offered the song to Christina Aguilera , as the singer wanted to work with Keys.[ 6] She eventually wrote the song "Impossible" for Aguilera's album Stripped .[ 7] There is a remix of the song that features additional vocals by Usher .
"If I Ain't Got You" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number sixty-four on the issue dated March 6, 2004,[ 8] peaking at number four, four months later, on July 3, 2004. It spent twenty non-consecutive weeks in the top ten, one of the longest stays of any song that year and outlasting many number-one singles.[ 9] 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 .[ 10] The single was ultimately placed at number three on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 chart of 2004 .[ 11]
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.[ 12] In late September 2009, the single returned to the chart at number fifty-four.[ 13]
In September 2016, Keys appeared on The Voice as a coach, with a contestant singing the song, and it made a new entry into the R&B/Hip Hop singles charts, driving total sales up to 1.5 million units.[ 14] By August 2020, the song had reached 4× Platinum certification.[ 15]
Music video
The music video for "If I Ain't Got You", directed by Diane Martel , was filmed in Harlem , New York City, and features a cameo by rapper and actor Method Man as Keys' on-screen boyfriend.[ 16]
Accolades
"If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) – 3:54
"You Don't Know My Name /Will You Ever Know It" (Reggae Mix) – 5:06
European CD maxi-single [ 26]
"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)
European CD single (Remix) [ 27]
"If I Ain't Got You" (featuring Usher ) – 3:52
"If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) – 3:51
"If I Ain't Got You" (Piano/Vocal Version) – 3:51
"If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) – 3:49
"If I Ain't Got You" (Piano + Vocal Only Version) – 3:49
"If I Ain't Got You" (Acappella Version) – 3:33
A. "If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) – 3:48
B. "Diary " (Album Version) (featuring Tony! Toni! Toné! ) – 3:43
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" (Acappella) – 3:36
"If I Ain't Got You" (featuring Usher) – 3:51
"If I Ain't Got You" (Radio Edit) – 3:51
"If I Ain't Got You" (featuring Arturo Sandoval ) (Spanish Version) – 3:51
"If I Ain't Got You" (Kanye West Radio Mix #1) – 3:47
"If I Ain't Got You" (Piano & Vocal Version) – 3:51
"If I Ain't Got You" (The Black Eyed Peas Remix) – 3:14
"If I Ain't Got You" (The Black Eyed Peas Remix) – 3:14
Personnel
Personnel are adapted from the liner notes of The Diary of Alicia Keys .[ 33]
Alicia Keys – piano, producer , background vocals, vocals
Katreese Barnes – background vocals
Adamo Simione – engineering
Kerry Brothers Jr. – digital programming
Fred Cash Jr. – bass
Darryl Dixon – horn
L. Green – background vocals
Steve Jordan – drums
Manny Marroquin – mixing
Hugh McCracken – guitar
Cindy Mizelle – background vocals
Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
Joe Romano – horn
Arcell Vickers – organ
David Watson – horn
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
Certifications
^ Sales from 2010 onwards
Release history
See also
References
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^ " 'The Voice' Coach Alicia Keys Reveals How Aaliyah's Death Inspired 'If I Ain't Got You': Exclusive Video" . Billboard . Retrieved 15 June 2021 .
^ Reilly, Nick (4 May 2023). "Alicia Keys on revamping 'If I Ain't Got You' for 'Queen Charlotte' soundtrack" . Rolling Stone UK . Retrieved 4 May 2023 .
^ 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 .
^ Lavin, Will (September 19, 2020). "Alicia Keys' 'If I Ain't Got You' was almost a Christina Aguilera song" . NME . Retrieved August 9, 2023 .
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^ Reid, Shaheem (January 22, 2004). "Alicia Keys Gets Method Man For 'If I Ain't Got You' Video" . MTV News. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022 .
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^ "If I Ain't Got You" . 15 June 2004 – via Amazon.
^ If I Ain't Got You (European CD single (Remix) liner notes). Alicia Keys . J Records , MBK Entertainment. 2004. 82876 655372.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ "If I Ain't Got You" . 5 April 2004 – via Amazon.
^ If I Ain't Got You (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Alicia Keys . J Records . 2004. 82876-59965-7.{{cite AV media notes }}
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^ If I Ain't Got You (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Alicia Keys . J Records . 2004. 82876-59351-1.{{cite AV media notes }}
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Awards for "If I Ain't Got You"
1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Between 2007–2018, the category was retired.
Song (1971–2015) Contemporary (2016–2019) Traditional (2016–2019) Soul/R&B (2020–present) Hip Hop/Rap (2020–present) International (2020–present)