If I Ain't Got You

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"If I Ain't Got You" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her second studio album The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Inspired by the 2001 death of singer Aaliyah, the September 11 attacks, and other events in the world and in Keys' life, the song is about "how material things don't feed the soul". It was released as the second single from The Diary of Alicia Keys on February 17, 2004, by J Records. The single cover depicts Keys similarly to the subject of Man Ray's 1924 photograph Le Violon d'Ingres.[1]

"If I Ain't Got You" peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became Keys' second consecutive R&B chart-topper, remaining atop of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for six weeks. The song received two nominations at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards (2005), for Song of the Year and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, winning the latter. It was ranked at number 440 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".[2] Since its release, Keys has said that it is one of her favorite songs.[3]

In 2023 the song was reinterpreted in a classical version by Keys and Kris Bowers for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Soundtrack, which the singer performed with a 70-piece orchestra of women of color.[4]

Background and composition

Keys said that the idea of the song was inspired by Aaliyah's death: "The song idea came together right after Aaliyah passed away. It was such a sad time and no one wanted to believe it. It just made everything crystal clear to me—what matters, and what doesn't."[5]

In September 2020, Keys revealed that she almost offered the song to Christina Aguilera, as the singer wanted to work with Keys.[6] She eventually wrote the song "Impossible" for Aguilera's album Stripped.[7] There is a remix of the song that features additional vocals by Usher.

Critical reception

"If I Ain't Got You" received generally positive reviews from music critics.[8][9][10] Ranking "The 100 Greatest Songs of 2004" Billboard listed the song at 16, describing it as an "instant-classic love song boils true romance down to one simple phrase" finding it "timeless and lived-in that was also a perfect hit for modern pop and R&B", thanks to "her signature piano playing and yearning vocal".[11] Matthew Singer of Time Out wrote that the song "is a reminder to live in the present, and hold the one we love close as everything is transient", finding it congruent with the inspiration at the death of Aaliyah.[12] In February 2025, Billboard ranked the song at number thirteen on their list of The Top 50 R&B Love Songs of All Time.[13]

Commercial performance

"If I Ain't Got You" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number sixty-four on the issue dated March 6, 2004,[14] peaking at number four, four months later, on July 3, 2004. It spent twenty non-consecutive weeks in the top ten, one of the longest stays of any song that year and outlasting many number-one singles.[15] The song topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs on May 1, 2004, and spent six non-consecutive weeks atop the chart. It was also successful on Billboard component charts, reaching number five on the Rhythmic Top 40 and number nine on the Mainstream Top 40.[16] The single was ultimately placed at number three on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 chart of 2004.[17]

In the United Kingdom, "If I Ain't Got You" debuted and peaked at number eighteen on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending April 10, 2004.[18] In late September 2009, the single returned to the chart at number fifty-four.[19]

In September 2016, Keys appeared on The Voice as a coach, with a contestant singing the song, and it made a new entry into the R&B/Hip Hop singles charts, driving total sales up to 1.5  million units.[20] By August 2020, the song had reached 4× Platinum certification.[21]

Music video

The music video for "If I Ain't Got You", directed by Diane Martel, was filmed in Harlem, New York City, and features a cameo by rapper and actor Method Man as Keys' on-screen boyfriend.[22] The October 25, 2009 upload of the music video on YouTube prematurely ends in the final cutscene of Method Man getting out of the car, so the final chorus of the song doesn't finish.[23] Despite the fake HD remaster of the music video in April 2024, the issue was never fixed. An unofficial upload of the original video on Dailymotion, dated September 27, 2006 and clocking in at 5 minutes and 12 seconds, is the only surviving copy of the full version on any online platform currently available.[24]

Accolades

Award nominations for "If I Ain't Got You"
Year Ceremony Award Result Ref.
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Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Template:Win
Billboard Music Awards Hot 100 Single of the Year Template:Nom
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2005 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year Template:Win
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NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Song Template:Win
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Soul Train Music Awards Best R&B/Soul Single – Female Template:Win
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Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year Template:Win
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Award nominations for "If I Ain't Got You (Orchestral)"
Year Ceremony Award Result Ref.
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Track listings and formats

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Personnel

Personnel are adapted from the liner notes of The Diary of Alicia Keys.[41] Template:Div col

  • Alicia Keys – piano, producer, background vocals, vocals
  • Katreese Barnes – background vocals
  • Adamo Simione – engineering
  • Kerry Brothers Jr. – digital programming
  • Fred Cash Jr. – bass
  • Darryl Dixon – horn
  • L. Green – background vocals
  • Steve Jordan – drums
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Hugh McCracken – guitar
  • Cindy Mizelle – background vocals
  • Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
  • Joe Romano – horn
  • Arcell Vickers – organ
  • David Watson – horn

Template:Div col end

Charts

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Certifications

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Release history

Release dates and formats for "If I Ain't Got You"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States February 17, 2004 Digital download (EP)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". J
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February 23, 2004 Template:Hlist
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March 9, 2004 Rhythmic contemporary radio
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Japan March 24, 2004 Maxi CD Sony Music
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Germany March 29, 2004
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United Kingdom RCA
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United States April 27, 2004 Contemporary hit radio J
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August 9, 2004 Adult contemporary radio
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France September 28, 2004 CD Sony BMG
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Notable covers

  • In 2015, James Bay covered the song as part of his James Bay Spotify Session 2015. The song was certified Gold by Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ) in 2024.[64]

See also

References

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