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If I Were You (k.d. lang song)

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"If I Were You"
Single by k.d. lang
from the album All You Can Eat
B-side"Get Some"
Released18 September 1995 (1995-09-18)
StudioPlacebo Sound, Placebow Sound (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Length3:58
LabelWarner Bros.[1]
Songwriter(s)k.d. lang, Ben Mink
Producer(s)k.d. lang, Ben Mink
K.d. lang singles chronology
"Lifted by Love"
(1994)
"If I Were You"
(1995)
"You're OK"
(1996)
Music video
"If I Were You" on YouTube

"If I Were You" is a song written by Canadian songwriters k.d. lang and Ben Mink and performed by lang. It was the first single released from lang's third studio album, All You Can Eat (1995), by Warner Bros. on 18 September 1995. The single reached number 24 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number four on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. On the US Billboard charts, the single reached number 15 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and was lang's second and final number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. Overseas, "If I Were You" peaked at number 23 in Australia, number 50 in New Zealand, and number 53 in the United Kingdom. In 2017, Billboard named "If I Were You" k.d. lang's sixth-best song.[2]

Critical reception

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In his review of All You Can Eat, Steve Baltin from Cash Box wrote, "The disc kicks off with the erudite 'If I Were You', a song that more adventurous radio programmers will find friendly."[3] Dave Jennings from Melody Maker felt "she's got one of the most gorgeous and achingly sensual voices currently being committed to audio tape". He added, "'If I Were You' is, I guess, probably best described as an affectionate envy song; kd wishing that it was possible for her to be a less contentious figure, so that she could get more done. Is Madonna possibly clutching burning ears at this moment?"[4] Sylvia Patterson from NME noted its "wafty harp and moodsome reverie".[5] Another NME editor, Angela Lewis, commented, "As ever, the stretch-limousine smooth Lang voice puts one in mind of chintzy cocktail parties where 'close' pals like Cindy Crawford, David Geffen and Madonna turn up, on the spur of the moment, like."[6]

Track listings

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Credits and personnel

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Credits are lifted from the All You Can Eat album booklet.[16]

Studios

  • Recorded at Placebo Sound and Placebow Sound (Vancouver, British Columbia)
  • Mixed at Encore Studios (Burbank, California)
  • Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel

  • k.d. lang – writing, banjo, harp, production, additional recording
  • Ben Mink – writing, guitars, production, additional recording
  • David Piltch – bass guitar
  • Teddy Borowiecki – Rhodes, additional keyboards
  • Randall Stoll – drums
  • Graham Boyle – percussion
  • Marc Ramaer – co-production, recording, mixing
  • Jason Mauza – recording engineering
  • Jason Mauza – mix engineering
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering

Charts

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Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 18 September 1995
  • CD
  • cassette
Warner Bros. [27]
Japan 25 October 1995 CD
[28]
United States 21 November 1995 Warner Bros. [29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  2. ^ Dauphin, Chuck (5 October 2017). "k.d. lang's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  3. ^ Baltin, Steve (21 October 1995). "Pop Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 9. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  4. ^ Jennings, Dave (30 September 1995). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 32. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  5. ^ Patterson, Sylvia (30 September 1995). "Long Play". NME. p. 54. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  6. ^ Lewis, Angela (16 September 1995). "Singles". NME. p. 44. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  7. ^ If I Were You (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 7-17747.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ If I Were You (US CD single disc notes). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 17747-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ If I Were You (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 43624-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ If I Were You (US maxi-CD single liner notes). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 43624-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ If I Were You (UK CD single liner notes). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. W0319CD, 9362-43612-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ If I Were You (Australian CD single liner notes). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records, Sire Records. 1995. 9362436122.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ If I Were You (Japanese CD single liner notes). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records, Sire Records. 1995. 9362436122.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ If I Were You (UK cassette single sleeve). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. WO319C, 5439-17736-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ If I Were You (Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records, Sire Records. 1995. 9362436392.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ All You Can Eat (US CD album booklet). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 46034-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ "k.d. lang – If I Were You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2833." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2808." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  20. ^ "k.d. lang – If I Were You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  22. ^ "k.d. lang Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  23. ^ "k.d. lang Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  24. ^ "k.d. lang Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  25. ^ "RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1995". RPM. Retrieved 12 August 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  26. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Club Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. 28 December 1996. p. YE-44.
  27. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 16 September 1995. p. 49. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  28. ^ "あなたを夢みて | k.d.ラング" [Dreaming of You | k.d. lang] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  29. ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1121. 17 November 1995. pp. 37, 43. Retrieved 11 August 2021.