If Only I Could

"If Only I Could" is a song by American-German singer-songwriter Sydney Youngblood. The track was co-written by Youngblood with Markus Friedrich Staab, Ralf Hamm, and Claus Zundel. In the song, Youngblood evokes "the world of brotherhood and love that he would like to create 'if only [he] could'". This utopian humanism is "very uncommon in the songs devoted to nightclubs".[3] "If Only I Could" uses the bassline and drumbeat from the Raze house track "Break 4 Love".

For the television series, see If Only I Could (TV series).

"If Only I Could"
Single by Sydney Youngblood
from the album Feeling Free
B-side"Spooky"
Released24 July 1989 (1989-07-24)[1]
Genre
Length3:30
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Claus Zundel
Sydney Youngblood singles chronology
"Congratulations"
(1988)		 "If Only I Could"
(1989)		 "Sit and Wait"
(1989)
Music video
"If Only I Could" on YouTube

"If Only I Could" was released on vinyl, audio cassette and compact disc in July 1989 as the lead single from Youngblood's debut album, Feeling Free (1989). It is one of his biggest hits, reaching number one in Belgium and the top three in many countries, including the United Kingdom, where it was the 13th-best-selling single of 1989.

Chart performance

"If Only I Could" peaked at number-one in Belgium and entered the top 10 in Austria, France, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and West Germany, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number four. In the UK, the single reached number three on the UK Singles Chart on 1 October 1989.[4] It spent two weeks at that position and was the 13th best-selling single of 1989. The song was also a top-20 hit in Denmark and Finland. Outside Europe, "If Only I Could" reached number 28 in New Zealand and number 122 in Australia. It earned a gold record in Austria and West Germany and a silver record in the UK.

Critical reception

Retrospectively, AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis viewed the song as "pure, early-'90s house".[5] Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard noted that the "rich-voiced crooner temporarily moves away from usual R&B arena and pumps up the bass for this tasty, deep-baked houser that splashes with a nifty Motown-flavored undercurrent and funky wah-wah guitars. The right edit could set urban and pop radio ablaze."[6] A reviewer from Liverpool Echo named it "one of the nicest dance/pop records of recent months, bringing songs back into dance music. And – Sydney knows a good song when he hears one."[7] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Finally, Youngblood has found a song good enough to take his smooth, sweet voice to the higher reaches of the charts. The song combines a variety of styles – reggae meets hip-house with a dash of lover's rock. A sympathetic production by Claus Zundell and some supremely tasteful Spanish guitar breaks make this record a melodic delight. Starting to move rapidly up the UK chart and looking likely to repeat that success across Europe."[8] David Giles from Music Week noted the song's "lush, sonorous vocal driven by a pulsating bass line", and concluded that "Youngblood looks set to become a big name on the strength of this single."[9] Jacqui Carter from Number One stated, "'If Only I Could' will be one of the 'classic cuts' this year and continually played for many years to come."[10] Orla Swift from Record-Journal described the song as "jazzy".[11] Phil Cheeseman of Record Mirror wrote that single was "nice", adding that "you'll need the 12 inch to really appreciate this".[12] In the same magazine, the extended version reviewed by James Hamilton is called a "jauntily chugging 120 bpm bubbly bouncer helped in the current climate by tinkling flamenco-ish guitar and chimes (two instrumental mixes too)".[13]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. It features Youngblood bouncing around a ball that resembled the earth, while donning urban clothing and traditional African clothing.

Track listings

Charts

Certifications
Certifications for "If Only I Could"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[35] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[36] Gold 250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] Silver 200,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Wendy Matthews version
"If Only I Could"
Single by Wendy Matthews
from the album Lily
ReleasedApril 1993
Length3:55
LabelRooART
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)T-Bone Burnett
Wendy Matthews singles chronology
"Friday's Child"
(1993)		 "If Only I Could"
(1993)		 "T.K.O."
(1993)

Australian recording artist Wendy Matthews released a version of the song in April 1993 as the third single from her second studio album, Lily. The song peaked at number 41 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.

Track listing
  1. "If Only I Could" (edit) – 3:55
  2. "If Only I Could" (Timebomb mix) – 5:45
  3. "Until You Say" – 4:48

Charts
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[38] 41

References
  1. "New Singles". Music Week. 22 July 1989. p. 32.
  2. Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Smiley Culture: Acid House and Madchester". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 633. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  3. Elia Habib, Muz hit. tubes, p. 178 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)
  4. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  5. Promis, Jose F. "Sydney Youngblood – Sydney Youngblood". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  6. Flick, Larry (8 December 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 83. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  7. "Sydney Youngblood: Feeling Free". Liverpool Echo. 28 October 1989. page 7.
  8. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 23 September 1989. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  9. Giles, David (5 August 1989). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 23. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  10. Carter, Jacqui (11 October 1989). "Albums". Number One. p. 43. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  11. Swift, Orla (21 October 1990). "Wendy & Lisa doing better than ever without Prince". Record-Journal. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  12. Cheeseman, Phil (5 August 1989). "45 reviewed by Phil Cheeseman" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 28. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved 25 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  13. Hamilton, James (26 August 1989). "DJ directory compiled by James Hamilton – All that's upfront on the nation's hottest dancefloors" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 47. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved 25 October 2021 – via World Radio History.
  14. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received July 15, 2015". Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016 – via Imgur. N.B. The #71 peak listed for the 1990 release of "If Only I Could" is for a triple A-side 12" release of the "I'd Rather Go Blind" single.
  15. "Sydney Youngblood – If Only I Could" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  16. "Sydney Youngblood – If Only I Could" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  17. Danish Singles Chart. 24 November 1989.
  18. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 42. 21 October 1989. p. IV.
  19. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Sydney Youngblood". Sisältää hitin – 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 287. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  20. "Sydney Youngblood – If Only I Could" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If Only I Could". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  22. "Sydney Youngblood – If Only I Could". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  23. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 43, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  24. "Sydney Youngblood – If Only I Could" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  25. "Sydney Youngblood – If Only I Could". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  26. "Sydney Youngblood – If Only I Could". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  27. "Top Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 7 October 1989. p. 51. Retrieved 30 August 2023 – via World Radio History.
  28. "Offiziellecharts.de – Sydney Youngblood – If Only I Could" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  29. "Jaaroverzichten 1989". Ultratop. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  30. "Eurochart Hot 100 of 1989" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. 6. Retrieved 17 January 2020 – via American Radio History.
  31. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1989". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  32. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1989". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  33. Copsey, Rob (7 May 2021). "Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1989". Official Charts. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  34. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1989" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  35. "Austrian single certifications – Sydney Youngblood – If Only I Could" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  36. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Sydney Youngblood; 'If Only I Could')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  37. "British single certifications – Sydney Youngblood – If Only I Could". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  38. "Wendy Matthew – If Only I Could". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
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