If I Ain't Got You

"If I Ain't Got You" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys from her second studio album The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Inspired by the 2001 death of singer Aaliyah, the terrorist 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." The single cover depicts Keys similarly to the subject of Man Ray's 1924 painting Le Violon d'Ingres.[1]

"If I Ain't Got You"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album The Diary of Alicia Keys
B-side"You Don't Know My Name/Will You Ever Know It" (Reggae Mix)
ReleasedFebruary 17, 2004
RecordedJune 29, 2003
StudioKampo (New York City)
Genre
Length3:48
LabelJ
Songwriter(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)
Audio sample
Alicia Keys – "If I Ain't Got You"
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Music video
"If I Ain't Got You" on YouTube

Released in February 2004 as the album's second single, "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 2005 Grammy Awards, for Song of the Year and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, winning 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.

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]

In September 2020 Keys revealed to Stereogum that she almost offered the song to Christina Aguilera, as the singer wanted to work with Keys on her upcoming album, Stripped. She later wrote a song called "Impossible" for Aguilera.[3]

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,[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] The single was ultimately placed at number three on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 chart of 2004.[7]

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.[8] In late September 2009, the single returned to the chart at number fifty-four.[9]

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. The original video disappeared from Vevo.

Awards

Track listings

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Diary of Alicia Keys.[15]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[42] Gold 25,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[44] 4× Platinum 1,483,003[45]

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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. Gracie, Bianca (September 19, 2020). "We've Got A File On You: Alicia Keys". Stereogum. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  4. "The Hot 100 : Mar 06, 2004". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  5. "The Hot 100 : Jul 03, 2004". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  6. "The Diary of Alicia Keys – Alicia Keys | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  7. "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.
  8. "2004 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive". Official Charts Company. April 10, 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  9. "Alicia Keys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  10. "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  11. "If I Ain't Got You". 15 June 2004 – via Amazon.
  12. "iTunes – Music – If I Ain't Got You (Black Eyed Peas Remix) – Single by Alicia Keys". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 2014-11-23.
  13. "If I Ain't Got You". 5 April 2004 – via Amazon.
  14. "iTunes – Music – If I Ain't Got You – EP by Alicia Keys". iTunes Store.
  15. The Diary of Alicia Keys (CD liner notes). Alicia Keys. J Records. 2003. 82876 57017 2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  17. "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1561. June 25, 2004. p. 30. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  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 June 5, 2019.
  20. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Alicia Keys". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  21. "Italiancharts.com – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". Top Digital Download. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  23. "Dutchcharts.nl – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  24. "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on October 22, 2007.
  25. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  26. "Swisscharts.com – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  27. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  28. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  29. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  30. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  31. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  32. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  33. "Gaon Digital Chart – 2012.02.19~2012.02.25". Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  34. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  35. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2004". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  36. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2004". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  37. "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.
  38. "Top AFP – Audiogest – Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  39. "Decade End Charts – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on March 26, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  40. "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.
  41. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  42. "Italian single certifications – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 6, 2017. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "If I Ain't Got You" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
  43. "British single certifications – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type If I Ain't Got You in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  44. "American single certifications – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". Recording Industry Association of America. August 11, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  45. "Hip Hop Single Sales: Lil Wayne, D.R.A.M. & The Weeknd". Hip Hop DX. October 2, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
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