If Only (KT Tunstall song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“If Only”
“If Only” cover
Single by KT Tunstall
from the album Drastic Fantastic
B-side "Walk Like an Egyptian"
"The Prayer"
Released March 3, 2008 (2008-03-03)
Format CD single, Digital download, Vinyl single
Genre Pop, Rock, Alternative
Length 3:46
Label Relentless, Virgin
Writer(s) KT Tunstall, Jimmy Hogarth
Producer Steve Osborne
KT Tunstall singles chronology
"Saving My Face"
(2007)
"If Only"
(2008)

"If Only" is an alternative rock song performed by Scottish singer KT Tunstall. The song was written by Tunstall and Jimmy Hogarth for Tunstall's third album Drastic Fantastic (2007). It was released as the album's third single in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2008.[1] "If Only" reached number forty-five on the UK singles chart.

Contents

[edit] History

"If Only" first appeared as a track on Tunstall's second unreleased demo album, Toons March '03. The demo version of "If Only" is markedly different from the version found on Drastic Fantastic, with a mellower sound and slightly slower tempo and Tunstall having a slightly higher tone to her voice. For a period of time, prior to the release of Eye to the Telescope, the demo versions of "If Only" and "Other Side of the World" were available for download free of charge on Tunstall's website.

"If Only" is reportedly one of KT Tunstall's favorite songs on Drastic Fantastic. [2]

[edit] Music video

The music video for "If Only" was directed by James Caddick and filmed at the Olympic Ski Jumping Hill (Lysgårdsbakken) in Lillehammer, Norway.[3] The video features Tunstall as a ski jumper who fails to complete an important jump. The video concludes with an injured Tunstall bleeding from the nose being helped up, smiling to the camera.

[edit] Critical reception

"If Only" has received mixed reviews from music critics. Reviewers for Channel 4 praised the song for its "chirpy chorus and beaming harmonies" and gave it eight stars out of ten. [4] Christopher Hammer of AllGigs.co.uk gave it three stars out of five, calling it an "[almost] perfect song for a lazy Sunday afternoon drive". [5] Sarah Walters of the Manchester Evening News was less impressed, viewing the song's "chart-ready pop" sound and "bah-bah-bah backing vocals" as a step backwards from her earlier hits such as "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree", and gave it two stars out of five. [6]

[edit] Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of single releases of "If Only".

UK CD single
(Released March 3, 2008 (2008-03-03))

  1. "If Only"
  2. "Walk Like An Egyptian" (Live in Liverpool)

7" vinyl single
(Released March 3, 2008)

  1. "If Only"
  2. "The Prayer" (Radio 1 Live Lounge)

Digital download
(Released March 3, 2008 (2008-03-03))

  1. "If Only"
  2. "Walk Like An Egyptian" (Live in Liverpool)

[edit] Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position[7]
UK Singles Chart 45

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ The Evening Standard "KT Tunstall - My London". Retrieved February 15, 2008.
  2. ^ NPR: KT Tunstall Performs Live on the BPP. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
  3. ^ Nyhagen, Alexander. "Se premieren på KT Tunstalls «norske» video". VG Nett. February 27, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  4. ^ Channel 4 "If Only" single review. Retrieved on April 4, 2008.
  5. ^ Hammer, Christopher. [1]. Retrieved April 3, 2008.
  6. ^ Walters, Sarah. [2]. Retrieved April 3, 2008.
  7. ^ "KT Tunstall - If Only World Chart Positions". aCharts.us. Retrieved March 9, 2008.