If (Janet Jackson song)

Infobox Single
Name = If
Artist = Janet Jackson

| Format = CD single, CD maxi single, cassette single, cassette maxi single, 7" single, 12" maxi single
Genre = R&B, rock, new jack swing
Length = 4:31 (Album Version)
3:49 (Radio Edit)
2:59 (Short Single Edit)
Label = Virgin
Writer = Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis
Producer = Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Certification = Gold (RIAA)
Last single = "That's the Way Love Goes"
(1993)
This single = "If"
(1993)
Next single = "Again"
(1993)
Misc = Extra track listing
Album = janet.
Type = studio
prev_track = "You Want This"
prev_no = 4
this_track = "If"
track_no = 6
next_track = "This Time"
next_no = 8 Audiosample
Upper caption = Audio sample
Name = If
Audio file = Ifsample.ogg

"If" is a song by American R&B/pop singer Janet Jackson.

ong information

Released on July 13, 1993, it was the second single from Janet Jackson's fifth studio album, "janet." (1993). The song was written and produced by Jackson, James Harris III, and Terry Lewis, and became Jackson's second top five hit from the "janet." album. "If" deals with a female narrator's fantasies of being someone's girlfriend. The song contains a sample from Diana Ross & the Supremes' 1969 "Someday We'll Be Together", and is built on a heavy metal guitar riff heard throughout the song. The combination of heavy hip hop/new jack swing beats and electric guitar was a relative departure in sound for Jackson.

The single contains a B-side called "One More Chance", a cover of a song her brother Randy wrote, produced, and performed for The Jacksons' 1984 "Victory" album. Jackson performed the song as a medley with "That's The Way Love Goes" at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards, the audio recording of which appears on the limited edition double disc edition of "janet.". A remix of the song "If" (Brothers in Rhythm House Mix) appears on Jackson's second remix compilation "janet. Remixed".

Critical reception

Nicholas Jennings of "Maclean's" wrote, "One standout song [from "janet."] is the guitar-driven If, with its explicit lines. "You on the rise/as you're touching my thighs". [Citation |last=Jennings |first=Nicholas | title = Songs that scorch -- Janet. by Janet Jackson | volume= 106 | issue = 22 | pages = 54 | newspaper = Maclean's| date = 1993-05-31| year = 1993 | issn = 00249262] Craig S. Semon of the "Telegram & Gazette" commented: "One of the most exciting tracks on "janet." is the naughty seducer, "If." Jackson is consumed with sexual fantasies of a man who doesn't even know she exists. Wailing guitar chords and hip-hop programming move this punchy, fast-paced dance number as Jackson creates erotic pictures in the mind of her soon-to-be lover to get to his physique". [Citation |last=Semon |first=Craig S. | title = Janet Jackson is no longer Michael's little sister | pages = 12 | newspaper = Telegram & Gazette| date = 1993-08-01| year = 1993 | issn = 10504184]

Chart performance

"If" peaked at number four on the "Billboard" Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Music video

The song's video, directed by Dominic Sena, challenged notions of culture and sexuality in a highly-stylised and imaginative presentation with a theme of voyeurism. The video is set in an exclusive club in Asia, where entrance can only be gained via the password "if". Inside the club, Jackson performs suggestively with dancers amongst androgynous and polysexual characters. The video won the 1994 MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video. Parts of the video were edited out for general release. It is featured on the 1994 compilation "janet.", the limited bonus-DVD edition of 2001's "All for You" as well as the 2004 video compilation "". A longer alternate version of the video, the "All Dance Version" which focuses on Jackson's dance performance was exclusively released on the 1994 VHS video compilation "janet.", [ [http://www.amazon.com/Janet-Jackson/dp/6303305997 Amazon.com: Janet: Janet Jackson: Video ] ] but could later be found on YouTube. The famous dance breakdown is very popular and has been performed by many fans of Janet on YouTube, including 13 year old twins performing the routine.

Track listings and formats

;UK 7" Promo Vinyl (VS1474) [ [http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=324859 Janet Jackson If (Radio Edit) - Jukebox Issue UK 7" RECORD (324859) ] ] ;French CD Single (89206425) [ [http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=118411 Janet Jackson If France 5" CD SINGLE (118411) ] ] ;Japanese 3" CD Single (VJDP-10208) [ [http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=19278 Janet Jackson If Japan 3" CD SINGLE (19278) ] ]
# Radio Edit - 3:49
# "One More Chance" - 5:54 (non-album track)

;UK 12" Vinyl (VST 1474) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/436013 Janet Jackson - If ] ]
# Brothers In Rhythm House Mix - 7:07
# Brothers In Rhythm Dub - 7:00
# Radio Edit - 3:49
# Extended LP Mix - 5:40
# Brothers In Rhythm Swing Yo Pants Mix - 6:20
# D&D 12" Mix - 5:47

;UK CD Single (VSCDT 1474) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/165400 Janet Jackson - If ] ] ;Japanese CD Single (VJCP-12020) [ [http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=85917 Janet Jackson If Japan 5" CD SINGLE (85917) ] ]
# Radio Edit - 3:49
# Brothers In Rhythm House Mix - 7:07
# Tee's Freeze Mix - 7:17
# Brothers In Rhythm Swing Yo Pants Mix - 6:20
# Extended LP Mix - 5:40
# D&D 12" Mix - 5:47

;U.S. 2 x 12" Vinyl (SPRO-12809) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/459086 Janet Jackson - If ] ]
# Brothers In Rhythm House Mix - 7:07
# Brothers In Rhythm Dub - 7:00
# Extended LP Mix - 5:40
# Tee's Radio Mix - 4:02
# D&D 7" Mix - 4:23
# Tee's Freeze Mix - 7:17
# TNT Bass Mix - 5:36
# Brothers In Rhythm Swing Yo Pants Mix - 6:20
# D&D JDD Mix - 5:26
# Tee's Capella - 2:09;U.S. 12" Vinyl (Y-12675) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/146191 Janet Jackson - If ] ]
# Brothers In Rhythm House Mix - 7:07
# Brothers In Rhythm Swing Yo Pants Mix - 6:20
# Tee's Freeze Mix - 7:17
# Extended LP Mix - 5:40

;U.S. Promo CD Single 1(DPRO-12800) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/648162 Janet Jackson - If ] ]
# Radio Edit - 3:49
# Brothers In Rhythm Swing Yo Pants Mix - 6:20
# Extended LP Mix - 5:40
# Todd Terry's Radio Mix - 4:19
# Brothers In Rhythm House Mix - 7:07
# Short Single Edit - 2:59

;U.S. Promo CD Single 2 (DPRO-12808) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/648158 Janet Jackson - If ] ]
# D&D 7" Mix/Adult 7" Radio Mix - 4:41
# D&D 12" Mix/Adult 12" - 5:47
# D&D JDD Mix/Adult Dub - 5:26

;U.S. Maxi-CD Single (V25H-12674) [ [http://www.discogs.com/release/184806 Janet Jackson - If ] ]
# Brothers In Rhythm House Mix - 7:07
# Brothers In Rhythm Swing Yo Pants Mix - 6:20
# Tee's Freeze Mix - 7:17
# Extended LP Mix - 5:40
# TNT Bass Mix - 5:36
# D&D 12" Mix/Adult 12" - 5:47
# Short Single Edit - 2:59
# "One More Chance" - 5:54

Charts

Official remixes

* Album Version – 4:31
* Radio Edit – 3:49
* Short Single Edit – 2:59
* Extended LP Mix – 5:40
* Brothers In Rhythm House Mix – 7:10
* Brothers In Rhythm Swing Yo Pants Mix – 6:20
* Brothers In Rhythm Dub – 7:00
* Tee's Freeze Mix – 6:14
* Tee's Radio Edit – 4:02
* Tee's Capella – 2:09
* Janet's Jeep Mix – 6:26
* TNT Bass Mix – 5:36
* D&D 7" Mix/Adult 7" Radio Mix – 4:41
* D&D 12" Mix/Adult 12" – 5:47
* D&D JDD Mix/Adult Dub – 5:26
* "That's The Way Love Goes/If" Medley (Live) – 5:46

References