If I Ain't Got You

"If I Ain't Got You" is a song by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys from her second studio album The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Inspired by the 2001 death of singer Aaliyah, the terrorist 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." The single cover depicts Keys similarly to the subject of Man Ray's 1924 painting Le Violon d'Ingres.[1]

"If I Ain't Got You"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album The Diary of Alicia Keys
B-side	"You Don't Know My Name/Will You Ever Know It" (Reggae Mix)
Released	February 17, 2004
Recorded	June 29, 2003
Studio	Kampo (New York City)
Genre	R&B soul jazz
Length	3:48
Label	J
Songwriter(s)	Alicia Keys
Producer(s)	Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"You Don't Know My Name" (2003) "If I Ain't Got You" (2004) "Diary" (2004)
Audio sample
Alicia Keys – "If I Ain't Got You" file help
Music video
"If I Ain't Got You" on YouTube

Released in February 2004 as the album's second single, "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 2005 Grammy Awards, for Song of the Year and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, winning the latter.

A remix featuring Usher, a Kanye West Radio Mix, and a Spanish-language version featuring Arturo Sandoval appear on the bonus CD of select international pressings of The Diary of Alicia Keys.

Background

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."[2]

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,[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] The single was ultimately placed at number three on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 chart of 2004.[6]

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.[7] In late September 2009, the single returned to the chart at number fifty-four.[8]

Music video

The music video, directed by Diane Martel, is set in a wintry New York City and features a cameo by rapper and actor Method Man as Keys' on-screen boyfriend. The original video disappeared from Vevo.

Awards

• Grammy Awards
  • Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
• Billboard Music Awards
  • R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year
  • R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Single of the Year
• MTV Video Music Awards
  • Best R&B Video
• ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards
  • Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year
• ASCAP Pop Awards
  • Most Performed Song
• NAACP Image Awards
  • Outstanding Music Video
  • Outstanding Song
• Soul Train Music Awards
  • Best R&B/Soul Single, Female
• Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
  • Best R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year
• Vibe Awards
  • Best R&B Song

Track listings

CD maxi single[9] "If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) – 3:48 "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano & Vocal Version) – 3:52 "You Don't Know My Name/Will You Ever Know It" (Reggae Mix) – 5:06 European CD maxi single[10] "If I Ain't Got You" (Album Version) – 3:48 "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano/Vocal Version) – 3:54 "You Don't Know My Name/Will You Ever Know It" (Reggae Mix) – 5:06 "If I Ain't Got You" (Video) Digital download[11] "If I Ain't Got You" (The Black Eyed Peas Remix) – 3:14

Japanese CD single[12] "If I Aint Got You" "If I Aint Got You" (Piano & Vocal Only Version) "If I Aint Got You" (A cappella version) US 12" single[13] A1. "If I Ain't Got You" (Radio Mix) – 3:48 A2. "If I Ain't Got You" (Instrumental) – 3:48 B1. "If I Ain't Got You" (Radio Mix) – 3:48 B2. "If I Ain't Got You" (A cappella) – 3:36 Digital EP[14] "If I Ain't Got You" (featuring Usher) – 3:50 "If I Ain't Got You" – 3:49 "If I Ain't Got You" (Piano & Vocal Version) – 3:51

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Diary of Alicia Keys.[15]

Alicia Keys – piano, producer, background vocals, vocals Katreese Barnes – background vocals Tony Black – 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

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2004–05) Peak position Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[9] 10 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[16] 14 France (SNEP)[17] 15 Germany (Official German Charts)[18] 81 Ireland (IRMA)[19] 44 Italy (FIMI)[20] 22 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 12 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 11 Poland (Polish Singles Chart)[23] 27 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[24] 27 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 35 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 18 UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[26] 6 US Billboard Hot 100[27] 4 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[28] 12 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[29] 1 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[30] 9 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[31] 5 Chart (2012) Peak position South Korea International Singles (Gaon)[32] 49 Chart (2019) Peak position Hungary (Single Top 40)[33] 32

Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[34] 42 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 89 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 3 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[36] 1 Decade-end charts Chart (2000–09) Position US Billboard Hot 100[37] 51 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[38] 9 All-time charts Chart (1958–2018) Position US Billboard Hot 100[39] 363

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[40]	Gold	25,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[41]	Platinum	600,000
United States (RIAA)[42]	4× Platinum	1,483,003[43]
^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

See also

• Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2004
• List of number-one R&B singles of 2004 (U.S.)

References

1. "Le Violon d'Ingres (Ingres's Violin)". J. Paul Getty Museum. J. Paul Getty Trust. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
2. Osei, Anthony (June 9, 2011). "Alicia Keys Says "If I Ain't Got You" Was Inspired By Aaliyah's Death". Complex. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
3. "The Hot 100 : Mar 06, 2004". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
4. "The Hot 100 : Jul 03, 2004". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
5. "The Diary of Alicia Keys – Alicia Keys | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
6. "2004 Year End Charts – The Billboard Hot 100 Singles & Tracks". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on December 31, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
7. "2004 Top 40 Official Singles Chart UK Archive". Official Charts Company. April 10, 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
8. "Alicia Keys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
9. "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
10. "If I Ain't Got You". 15 June 2004 – via Amazon.
11. "iTunes – Music – If I Ain't Got You (Black Eyed Peas Remix) – Single by Alicia Keys". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 2014-11-23.
12. "If I Ain't Got You". 5 April 2004 – via Amazon.
13. "Alicia Keys - If I Ain't Got You". Discogs.
14. "iTunes – Music – If I Ain't Got You – EP by Alicia Keys". iTunes Store.
15. The Diary of Alicia Keys (CD liner notes). Alicia Keys. J Records. 2003. 82876 57017 2.CS1 maint: others (link)
16. "Ultratop.be – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
17. "Lescharts.com – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
19. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Alicia Keys". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
20. "Italiancharts.com – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". Top Digital Download. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 16, 2014.
22. "Dutchcharts.nl – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
23. "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on October 22, 2007.
24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
25. "Swisscharts.com – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
26. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
27. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
28. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
29. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
30. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
31. "Alicia Keys Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
32. "Gaon Digital Chart – 2012.02.19~2012.02.25". Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
33. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
34. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2004". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
35. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2004". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
36. "2004 Year End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
37. "Decade End Charts – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on March 26, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
38. "Decade End Charts – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 29, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
39. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
40. "Italian single certifications – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 6, 2017. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "If I Ain't Got You" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
41. "British single certifications – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type If I Ain't Got You in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
42. "American single certifications – Alicia Keys – If I Ain't Got You". Recording Industry Association of America. August 11, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
43. "Hip Hop Single Sales: Lil Wayne, D.R.A.M. & The Weeknd". Hip Hop DX. October 2, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2020.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics