If I Wanted To

"If I Wanted To" is a song by American singer, Melissa Etheridge. It was released in 1995 as the final single from Etheridge's 1993 studio album, Yes I Am, and entered the top 50 in Australia, Canada, Iceland, and the United States.

"If I Wanted To"
Single by Melissa Etheridge
from the album Yes I Am
ReleasedFebruary 28, 1995
StudioA&M Studios, Los Angeles
Genre
Length
  • 3:55 (album version)
  • 3:35 (edit)
LabelIsland Records
Songwriter(s)Melissa Etheridge
Producer(s)
Melissa Etheridge singles chronology
"All American Girl"
(1994)
"If I Wanted To"
(1995)
"Your Little Secret"
(1995)

Critical reception

Fred Bronson of Billboard wrote that with the single's debut, "Melissa Etheridge continues to solidify her new status as a chart superstar with the highest-debuting single of 1995."[1]

Commercial performance

"If I Wanted To", which was released as the two-sided single "If I Wanted To / Like the Way I Do", debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1995 at No. 25, making it the highest-debuting single of 1995 at that point.[1] The single's debut was the highest for any song since Boyz II Men's "On Bended Knee" debuted at No. 14 in November 1994.[1]

This single is notable for increasing airplay for her 1988 single "Like the Way I Do", which was released on the single's b-side. Radio jockeys often flipped the single and began playing "Like the Way I Do", increasing the song's popularity and pushing the song to a new peak of #42 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995.

"If I Wanted To" peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1995.[2] Strong singles sales in March 1995 for TLC's "Red Light Special," Real McCoy's "Run Away," and The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa" prevented "If I Wanted To" from rising higher on the Hot 100 despite widespread airplay on major US radio stations.[3]

Music video

The single's music video was directed by Samuel Bayer.

Charts

References

  1. Bronson, Fred (February 18, 1995). ""Bow" Wows at No. 2; Hot Shot Melissa (page 122)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2016 via Google Books.
  2. "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  3. Elliot, Dave (March 18, 1995). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight (page 83)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2016 via Google Books.
  4. "Australian-charts.com – Melissa Etheridge – If I Wanted To". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9182." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  6. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9152." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  7. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (25.2 '95 – 3.3 '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 25, 1995. p. 24. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  8. "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  9. "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  10. "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1995". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.