If Only I Could

"If Only I Could" is a 1989 song by American-German singer Sydney Youngblood. Released as the lead single from his album Feeling Free, the song was composed by Claus Zundel, a producer of multi-million selling projects Sacred Spirit and B-Tribe. It was released on vinyl, audio cassette and compact disc, and is now considered Youngblood's signature song, being his biggest hit and remaining popular with many of his fans. The song reached number-one in Belgium and was a Top 3 hit in many countries, including the UK,[1] where it was the 11th best-selling single of 1989. In the song, Youngblood evokes "the world of brotherhood and love that he would like to create 'if only he could'". This utopian humanism is "very uncommon in the songs devoted to nightclubs".[2] "If Only I Could" uses the bassline and drumbeat from the Raze house track "Break 4 Love".

For the television series, see If Only I Could (TV series).
"If Only I Could"
Single by Sydney Youngblood
from the album Feeling Free
B-side"Spooky"
Released1989
Recorded1989
GenreDance
Length3:30
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Claus Zundel
Sydney Youngblood singles chronology
"Congratulations"
(1988)		 "If Only I Could"
(1989)		 "Sit and Wait"
(1989)
Music video
"If Only I Could" on YouTube

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis described the song as "pure, early-'90s house" in his review of Sydney Youngblood.[3] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "rich-voiced crooner temporarily moves away from usual R&B arena and pumps up the bass for this tasty, deep-baked houser that splashes with a nifty Motown-flavored undercurrent and funky wah-wah guitars. The right edit could set urban and pop radio ablaze."[4] Liverpool Echo said the song "was one of the nicest dance/pop records of recent months, bringing songs back into dance music. And - Sydney knows a good song when he hears one."[5] Music & Media commented that "finally, Youngblood has found a song good enough to take his smooth, sweet voice to the higher reaches of the charts. The song combines a variety of styles - reggae meets hip-house with a dash of lover's rock. A sympathetic production by Claus Zundell and some supremely tasteful Spanish guitar breaks make this record a melodic delight. Starting to move rapidly up the UK chart and looking likely to repeat that success across Europe."[6] Orla Swift from Record-Journal noted the song as "jazzy".[7]

Chart performance

"If Only I Could" was very successful on the charts in Europe, becoming the singer's biggest hit to date. It peaked at number-one in Belgium and managed to reach the Top 10 also in Austria, France, Germany, Ireland (number 2), Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number 4. In the UK, the single hit number 3 at the UK Singles Chart on October 1, 1989.[8] It spent two weeks at that position and was the 11th best-selling single of 1989. Outside Europe, "If Only I Could" reached number 28 in New Zealand and number 122 in Australia. It earned a gold record in both Austria and Germany, with a sale of 15,000 and 250,000 singles, and a silver record in the UK, after 200,000 units were sold there.

Music video

A music video was made to accompany the song. It features Youngblood bouncing around a ball that resembled the earth, while donning urban clothing and traditional African clothing.

Track listings
7" single
  1. "If Only I Could" — 3:30
  2. "Spooky" — 3:54
3" CD single
  1. "If Only I Could" (radio edit) — 3:30
  2. "If Only I Could" (extended version) — 6:30
  3. "Spooky" — 3:54

Charts and sales

Cover versions

Australian singer Wendy Matthews released a cover version in 1992 that reached number 41 on the Australian Singles Chart.[18]

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 616. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. Elia Habib, Muz hit. tubes, p. 178 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)
  3. "Sydney Youngblood - Sydney Youngblood". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  4. "Billboard: Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 8 December 1990. p. 83. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  5. "Sydney Youngblood: Feeling Free". Liverpool Echo. 28 October 1989. page 7. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  6. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 23 September 1989. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  7. "Wendy & Lisa doing better than ever without Prince". Record-Journal. 21 October 1990. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 01 October 1989 - 07 October 1989". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  9. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received July 15, 2015". imgur.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2016. N.B. The #71 peak listed for the 1990 release of "If Only I Could" is for a triple A-side 12" release of the "I'd Rather Go Blind" single.
  10. "If Only I could", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 15, 2008)
  11. Danish Singles Chart 24 November 1989
  12. Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie Archived 2010-01-05 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved February 15, 2008)
  13. UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved August 11, 2008)
  14. "Eurochart Hot 100 of 1989" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6 no. 51. 23 December 1989. p. 6. Retrieved 17 January 2020 – via American Radio History.
  15. Austrian certifications ifpi.at Archived 2010-02-01 at WebCite (Retrieved August 11, 2008)
  16. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('If+Only+I+Could')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved August 11, 2008.
  17. UK certifications Bpi.co.uk (Retrieved August 11, 2008)
  18. "Australian-charts.com – Wendy Matthews – If Only I Could". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
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