If You Met Me First

"If You Met Me First" is a song recorded by Canadian country artist Eric Ethridge. The song was written by Jennifer Denmark, Tiffany Gross, and William Tyler Graham.[1] It was the fourth single released from Ethridge's 2018 debut self-titled extended play.[2] The song was Ethridge's first single to be released to country radio after signing a record deal with red dot.[3]

"If You Met Me First"
Single by Eric Ethridge
from the EP Eric Ethridge
ReleasedMay 6, 2019 (2019-05-06)
GenreCountry pop
Length3:13
LabelRed Dot
Songwriter(s)
  • Jennifer Denmark
  • Tiffany Gross
  • William Tyler Graham
Eric Ethridge singles chronology
"California"
(2018)		 "If You Met Me First"
(2019)		 "Dream Girl"
(2020)
Music video
"If You Met Me First" on YouTube

Background

Jennifer Denmark, one of the co-writers of the song, sought to analyze some of her favourite songs, beginning with Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me".[4] She stated that the raw emotion of loving someone and not being loved in return in the song was how she felt people connected with the song, and that the "only thing sadder than that would be to love someone who also loves you back and there's nothing you can do about it". This is the feeling she sought to capture when writing "If You Met Me First.[4] Songtell described the song as "[exploring] the complex interplay between timing, unrequited love, and the desire to rewrite the past".[5]

After the 2018 release of Ethridge's extended play, "If You Met Me First" achieved immense support from fans on streaming and digital music services in both Canada and the United States. Its success led to him signing a record deal with ole Management's red dot label in the United States.[6] Ethridge celebrated the official release of the song as a single to radio at a show at The Aeolian Hall in London, Ontario in May 2019.[7]

Critical reception

Annie Reuter of Billboard described the song as a "soaring ballad", noting Ethridge's "smooth vocals" and the use of "light piano and guitar".[4]

Commercial performance

"If You Met Me First" peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Canada Country chart for the week of June 22, 2019.[8] Despite the lack of support at radio, the song was later certified Gold by Music Canada.[9]

Music video

The official music video for "If You Met Me First" was directed by Ryan Hamblin and premiered on Billboard on May 9, 2019.[4] It was later uploaded to YouTube the next day.[10]

Charts
Chart performance for "If You Met Me First"
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Canada Country (Billboard)[8] 42

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[9] Gold 40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "If You Met Me First - Song by Eric Ethridge". Spotify. red dot, a division of ole Media Management L.P. July 6, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  2. "Eric Ethridge Releases Video For "If You Met Me First" Off Self-Titled EP". The Country Note. May 10, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  3. Morden, Paul (November 30, 2018). "Sarnia's Eric Ethridge signs record deal". Sarnia Observer. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  4. Reuter, Annie (May 5, 2019). "Eric Ethridge Pines For What Could Have Been in 'If You Met Me First' Video: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  5. "Meaning of If You Met Me First by Eric Ethridge". Songtell. July 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  6. Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (May 10, 2023). "Interview: Eric Ethridge discusses new EP Forever With You, If You Met Me First success and the challenges of the pandemic". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  7. "Eric Ethridge "If You Met Me First" Single Release". The Aeolian Hall. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  8. "Canada Country chart for a June 22, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  9. "Canadian single certifications – Eric Ethridge – If You Met Me First". Music Canada. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  10. "Eric Ethridge - If You Met Me First (Official Music Video)" (video). YouTube. May 10, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
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