If You Could Only See

"If You Could Only See" is a song by the American rock band Tonic. It was released in April 1997 as the third and final single from the band's debut album, Lemon Parade. The song was Tonic's most successful and has been described as "rock radio's most played song of 1997."[1]

"If You Could Only See"
Single by Tonic
from the album Lemon Parade
ReleasedApril 30, 1997
Recorded1995
GenreAlternative rock, post-grunge
Length
  • 4:21 (album version)
  • 4:07 (radio edit)
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Emerson Hart
Producer(s)Jack Joseph Puig
Tonic singles chronology
"Casual Affair"
(1996)		 "If You Could Only See"
(1997)		 "You Wanted More"
(1999)

"If You Could Only See" was a number-one hit on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, where it spent 63 weeks on the chart. In Australia, the song climbed to number 20 and spent 26 weeks in the top 50. As a result of its longevity on the Australian chart, it ended 1997 as the nation's 88th highest-selling single and earned a Gold certification for sales exceeding 35,000 copies. In Canada, the single peaked at number 18 on the RPM Top Singles chart and topped the Alternative 30 chart, ranking number 42 on the RPM year-end chart for 1997.

Background and writing

In an Australian show (Live At The Chapel), Tonic lead vocalist Emerson Hart elucidated the meaning of this song. He stated that he had been in a relationship with an older woman and that his family did not approve of that relationship, and this song was written about that situation and was directed at his family.

In another interview, Hart said, "When I was 21 or 22, I was in love with somebody who my mom did not feel was a good fit. So my family disowned me for about three years. And the last conversation I had with my mother when I was home I’d said, 'if you could only see the way she loves me, maybe you would understand.' I just wrote that song, after that phone call, literally in a matter of minutes."[2]

Music video

The music video was directed by Jeff Cutter and Ramaa Mosley.[3]

Track listing
  1. "If You Could Only See" (Radio Edit)
  2. "If You Could Only See" (Live Acoustic Version)
  3. "If You Could Only See" (Adult Version)
  4. "If You Could Only See" (Album Version)

Charts and certifications

"If You Could Only See" is featured in the video games Karaoke Revolution Party and Band Hero.[18]

References
  1. "BMG". BMG. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  2. Weiss, Dan (March 21, 2014). "Single Again: Tonic – "If You Could Only See"". radio.com. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  3. "If You Could Only See – Tonic". Vevo. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  4. "Australian-charts.com – Tonic – If You Could Only See". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3245." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  6. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3266." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  7. "Dutchcharts.nl – Tonic – If You Could Only See" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  8. "Tonic Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  9. "Tonic Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  10. "Tonic Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  11. "Tonic Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  12. "Tonic Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  13. "Tonic Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  14. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1997". ARIA. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  15. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  16. "RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Alternative Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  17. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  18. Magrino, Tom (October 19, 2009). "Band Hero full setlist revealed". CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
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