| "If I Ain't Got You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Alicia Keys | ||||
| from the album The Diary of Alicia Keys | ||||
| B-side | "You Don't Know My Name" | |||
| Released | February 17, 2004 | |||
| Studio | Kampo (New York City) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:48 | |||
| Label | J | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Alicia Keys | |||
| Producer(s) | Alicia Keys | |||
| Alicia Keys singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "If I Ain't Got You" on YouTube | ||||
"If I Ain't Got You" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her second studio album The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Inspired by the 2001 death of singer Aaliyah, the 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". It was released as the second single from The Diary of Alicia Keys on February 17, 2004, by J Records. The single cover depicts Keys similarly to the subject of Man Ray's 1924 photograph Le Violon d'Ingres.[1]
"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 47th Annual Grammy Awards (2005), for Song of the Year and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, winning the latter. It was ranked at number 440 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Best Songs of All Time".[2] Since its release, Keys has said that it is one of her favorite songs.[3]
In 2023 the song was reinterpreted in a classical version by Keys and Kris Bowers for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Soundtrack, which the singer performed with a 70-piece orchestra of women of color.[4]
- ^ "Le Violon d'Ingres (Ingres's Violin)". J. Paul Getty Museum. J. Paul Getty Trust. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ^ "'The Voice' Coach Alicia Keys Reveals How Aaliyah's Death Inspired 'If I Ain't Got You': Exclusive Video". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ Reilly, Nick (4 May 2023). "Alicia Keys on revamping 'If I Ain't Got You' for 'Queen Charlotte' soundtrack". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 4 May 2023.