If You Ever Leave Me
"If You Ever Leave Me" is a vocal duet between Barbra Streisand and Vince Gill. The song was written by Richard Marx and produced by David Foster and Richard Marx. It first appeared as a single on Streisand's 1999 album, A Love Like Ours. The single was released as an international CD single that included three additional tracks, two of which were recorded during the A Love Like Ours sessions but were not included on the album.[1] The song appears on Barbra Streisand's Duets album, released in 2002.[2]
"If You Ever Leave Me" | ||||
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Single by Barbra Streisand (duet with Vince Gill) | ||||
Released | 1999 | |||
Recorded | February 22, 1999 | |||
Genre | Easy listening | |||
Length | 4:38 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Richard Marx | |||
Producer(s) | ||||
Barbra Streisand singles chronology | ||||
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Vince Gill singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"If You Ever Leave Me" on YouTube |
Critical reception
Chuck Taylor from Billboard described the song as a "luscious power ballad", and noted further that "it's hard to imagine a better combination of mature voices than that on this tantalizing song about needing to spend every minute with the one you love". He also added that "thanks to silken production from [Richard] Marx and David Foster, this one ranks up there with classics like "Comin' In And Out Of Your Life" and "Woman In Love"".[3] Drogheda Independent commented, "The it Vince Gill meets the technical precision of Barbra Streisand. Magic. Two singers from very different genres come together for the duet of the year." They noted that "this is a beautiful love song that gets better the more you play it."[4] People Magazine stated in their review of A Love Like Ours, that songs like "If You Ever Leave Me" "stand out simply because they don't drip with sentimentality and because Streisand allows a bit of blues to creep into her vocals."[5]
Chart performance
"If You Ever Leave Me" was released to country radio and peaked at #62 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks.[6] On December 5, 1999, it became the third most played video on CMT.[7] It also peaked at #26 in the UK.[8]
Production[1]
- Producers and arrangers: David Foster and Richard Marx
- Orchestra arranger and conductor: William Ross (composer)
- Engineer: Felipe Elgueta and Humberto Gatica
- Mixer: Mick Guzauski
- Mastering: Vlado Meller at Sony Music Studios, Santa Monica, CA
- Executive Producers: Barbra Streisand and Jay Landers
Track listing[1]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "If You Ever Leave Me" | Richard Marx | 4:36 |
2. | "Just Because" | Jeremy Lubbock, Mervyn Warren | 3:25 |
3. | "Let's Start Right Now" | Abel Silva, Cristóvão Bastos, Roxanne Seeman | 4:59 |
4. | "At The Same Time" | Ann Hampton Callaway | 4:16 |
Charts
Chart (1999) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA Charts) | 92 |
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) | 29 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] | 90 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] | 82 |
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[11] | 26 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 26 |
US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 62 |
References
- "Barbra Streisand / Vince Gill - If You Ever Leave Me". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- "Duets by Barbra Streisand on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 1999-10-23. p. 31. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
- "ALSO ON RELEASE". Drogheda Independent. 1999-10-29. p.69. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- "Picks and Pans Review: A Love Like Ours". People. 1999-10-25. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
- Inc, Nielsen Business Media (2000-01-29). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
- Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1999-12-18). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
- "barbra-streisand | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
- "Barbra Streisand with Vince Gill - If You Ever Leave Me". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-07-03.