What If (Kate Winslet song)

"What If" is a song performed by English actress Kate Winslet, recorded for the animated film Christmas Carol: The Movie (2001). Winslet provided the voice of Belle in the feature, which is based on the Charles Dickens classic 1843 novel and also stars Nicolas Cage, Jane Horrocks and Simon Callow. "What If" was written by Wayne Hector and Steve Mac, while production was helmed by the latter. The song is a ballad that follows the film's theme, as Belle laments the end of her and Scrooge's relationship and wonders what could have been.[2] It was the only song to be released from the official movie soundtrack.

"What If"
Single by Kate Winslet
from the album Christmas Carol: The Movie soundtrack
B-side"The Coventry Carol"
Released26 November 2001 (2001-11-26)[1]
StudioAir Lyndhurst, Rokstone (London, England)
GenrePop
Length4:05
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Steve Mac

News that Winslet was secretly recording the one-off single to vie for the 2001 UK Christmas number one spot was reported in the Daily Mirror. In the event, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number six, its peak. Elsewhere, "What If" was released to even bigger success; it became a number-one hit in Austria, Flanders, and Ireland whilst also reaching the top ten in Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Critically acclaimed, the song won the 2002 OGAE Song Contest.[3] At Winslet's request, the proceeds from the single were given to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Sargent Cancer Care for Children.

Critical reception

Can't Stop the Pop described "What If" as a "ballad of epic proportions", and a "huge, soaring Disney-esque ballad".[4] Barbara Ellen from The Observer said it is "a sweet, trilling, sub-Celine little ditty."[5] British trade paper Music Week wrote that Winslet could sing the track well but noted that her divorce from Jim Threapleton would make the lyrics less "poignant".[1]

Music video

An accompanying music video, which was directed by Paul Donnellon and produced by Chris Horton, shows Winslet walking around an old Victorian house, haunted by the ghost of a girl, along with clips from the film.

Track listings

UK CD single[6]

  1. "What If"
  2. "The Coventry Carol"
  3. "What If" (film version)
  4. "What If" (enhanced video)

UK cassette single[7]

  1. "What If"
  2. "The Coventry Carol"
  3. "What If" (film version)

European CD single[8]

  1. "What If" (full version)
  2. "What If" (film version)

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD single liner notes.[6]

Studios

Personnel

  • Kate Winslet – vocals
  • Steve Mac – writing, production
  • Wayne Hector – writing
  • Chris Laws – engineering
  • Matt Howe – engineering
  • Daniel Pursey – engineering assistant
  • Jason Bell – cover photography
  • The Red Room – cover design
  • Graeme Perkins – music supervisor for Christmas Carol: The Movie soundtrack

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[32] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[33] Gold 250,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[34] Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Silver 200,000^

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

Cover versions
  • In 2004, a dance remake of the song was released by Dutch producer Ronald Vos (under the moniker of Ronny V), with Nanda Philipse (from the Dutch gothic metal band Infinite Dawn) providing the vocals.[36][37]
  • In 2008, the 2007 X-Factor finalist Rhydian Roberts included a duet of the song with American singer and Broadway actress Idina Menzel on his debut album Rhydian.[38]
  • Britain's Got Talent 2010 semi-finalist Olivia Archbold performed this song. She came in third place in the semi-finals and lost the judges' votes to Tobias Mead. Due to the performance, "What If" re-entered the UK Singles Charts at number 76 on 6 June 2010.[20]

References
  1. "The Christmas Number One Race" (PDF). Music Week. 1 December 2001. p. 21. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  2. Lovejoy, Hannah (17 December 2021). "Remembering Kate Winslet's iconic 'What If' song from Christmas Carol: The Movie". Smooth Radio. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  3. "The winner takes it all". Ogae Song Contest. Archived from the original on 12 August 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  4. "Kate Winslet – What If". Can't Stop the Pop. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  5. Ellen, Barbara (2 December 2001). "Stars in their guises". p. 14. The Observer.
  6. What If (UK CD single liner notes). Kate Winslet. Liberty Records UK. 2001. CDKATE 001, 7243 8 79994 0 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. What If (UK cassette single sleeve). Kate Winslet. Liberty Records UK. 2001. TCKATE 001, 7243 8 79994 4 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. What If (European CD single liner notes). Kate Winslet. EMI Records. 2001. 7243 8 79994 2 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. "Kate Winslet – What If" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  10. "Kate Winslet – What If" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  11. "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on 9 February 2002. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  12. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 4. 19 January 2002. p. 19. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  13. "Kate Winslet – What If" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Kate Winslet". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  15. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  16. "Kate Winslet – What If" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  17. "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 7, saptamina 18.02-24.02, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 14 February 2005. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  19. "Kate Winslet – What If". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  21. "Best of Singles 2001". IRMA. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  22. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  23. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2002" (in German). Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  24. "Jaaroverzichten 2002" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  25. "Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 2–3. 11 January 2003. p. 14. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  26. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2002" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  27. "Top 100 Songs of 2002". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2002. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  28. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2002". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  29. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2002" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  30. "Jahrescharts 2002" (in German). Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  31. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  32. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2002". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  33. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Kate Winslet; 'What If')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  34. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Kate Winslet; 'What If')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  35. "British single certifications – Kate Winslet – What If". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  36. "Ronny V Featuring Nanda – What If (CD, Maxi) at Discogs". Discogs. 28 March 2006. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  37. "What If". YouTube. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  38. Whetstone, David (29 November 2009). "Perfect pitch and the Cowell factor". journallive.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
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