If I Were You (k.d. lang song)

"If I Were You"
Single by k.d. lang
from the album All You Can Eat
B-side	"Get Some"
Released	18 September 1995 (1995-09-18)
Studio	Placebo Sound, Placebow Sound (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Length	3:58
Label	Warner Bros.[1]
Songwriter(s)	k.d. lang, Ben Mink
Producer(s)	k.d. lang, Ben Mink
K.d. lang singles chronology
"Lifted by Love" (1994) "If I Were You" (1995) "You're OK" (1996)
Music video
"If I Were You" on YouTube

"If I Were You" is a song written by Canadian songwriters k.d. lang and Ben Mink and performed by lang. It was the first single released from lang's third studio album, All You Can Eat (1995), by Warner Bros. on 18 September 1995. The single reached number 24 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number four on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. On the US Billboard charts, the single reached number 15 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and was lang's second and final number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. Overseas, "If I Were You" peaked at number 23 in Australia, number 50 in New Zealand, and number 53 in the United Kingdom. In 2017, Billboard named "If I Were You" k.d. lang's sixth-best song.^[2]

Critical reception

In his review of All You Can Eat, Steve Baltin from Cash Box wrote, "The disc kicks off with the erudite 'If I Were You', a song that more adventurous radio programmers will find friendly."^[3] Dave Jennings from Melody Maker felt "she's got one of the most gorgeous and achingly sensual voices currently being committed to audio tape". He added, "'If I Were You' is, I guess, probably best described as an affectionate envy song; kd wishing that it was possible for her to be a less contentious figure, so that she could get more done. Is Madonna possibly clutching burning ears at this moment?"^[4] Sylvia Patterson from NME noted its "wafty harp and moodsome reverie".^[5] Another NME editor, Angela Lewis, commented, "As ever, the stretch-limousine smooth Lang voice puts one in mind of chintzy cocktail parties where 'close' pals like Cindy Crawford, David Geffen and Madonna turn up, on the spur of the moment, like."^[6]

Track listings

US 7-inch and CD single[7][8] "If I Were You" – 3:38 "Get Some" – 3:37 US 12-inch single[9] A1. "If I Were You" (main mix) – 6:11 A2. "If I Were You" (Junior's X-Beat mix) – 7:28 A3. "Get Some" – 3:37 B1. "If I Were You" (Junior's X-Beat Miss Queen dub) – 9:27 B2. "If I Were You" (main mix dub) – 11:04 US maxi-CD single[10] "If I Were You" (album edit) – 3:38 "If I Were You" (Smokin' Lounge mix) – 4:10 "If I Were You" (main mix) – 5:59 "If I Were You" (Junior's X-Beat mix) – 7:28 "Get Some" – 3:37

UK, Australian, and Japanese CD single[11][12][13] "If I Were You" – 3:58 "Get Some" – 3:37 "What's New Pussycat" (live) – 2:44 UK cassette single[14] "If I Were You" – 3:58 "What's New Pussycat" (live) – 2:44 Australian maxi-CD single[15] "If I Were You" (album version) "If I Were You" (Close to the Groove edit) "If I Were You" (Smokin' Lounge mix) "If I Were You" (Junior's X-Beat mix) "If I Were You" (album edit) "What's New Pussycat" (live)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the All You Can Eat album booklet.^[16]

Studios

• Recorded at Placebo Sound and Placebow Sound (Vancouver, British Columbia)
• Mixed at Encore Studios (Burbank, California)
• Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel

• k.d. lang – writing, banjo, harp, production, additional recording
• Ben Mink – writing, guitars, production, additional recording
• David Piltch – bass guitar
• Teddy Borowiecki – Rhodes, additional keyboards
• Randall Stoll – drums
• Graham Boyle – percussion
• Marc Ramaer – co-production, recording, mixing
• Jason Mauza – recording engineering
• Jason Mauza – mix engineering
• Bob Ludwig – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995–1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[17] 23 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18] 24 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[19] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 50 Scotland (OCC)[21] 43 UK Singles (OCC)[1] 53 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[22] 15 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[23] 1 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[24] 15

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[25] 46 Chart (1996) Position US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[26] 31

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	18 September 1995	CD cassette	Warner Bros.	[27]
Japan	25 October 1995	CD	Warner Bros. Sire	[28]
United States	21 November 1995	Rhythmic contemporary contemporary hit radio	Warner Bros.	[29]

See also

• List of number-one dance singles of 1996 (U.S.)

References

1. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
2. Dauphin, Chuck (5 October 2017). "k.d. lang's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
3. Baltin, Steve (21 October 1995). "Pop Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 9. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
4. Jennings, Dave (30 September 1995). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 32. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
5. Patterson, Sylvia (30 September 1995). "Long Play". NME. p. 54. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
6. Lewis, Angela (16 September 1995). "Singles". NME. p. 44. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
7. If I Were You (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 7-17747.
8. If I Were You (US CD single disc notes). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 17747-2.
9. If I Were You (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 43624-0.
10. If I Were You (US maxi-CD single liner notes). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 43624-2.
11. If I Were You (UK CD single liner notes). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. W0319CD, 9362-43612-2.
12. If I Were You (Australian CD single liner notes). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records, Sire Records. 1995. 9362436122.
13. If I Were You (Japanese CD single liner notes). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records, Sire Records. 1995. 9362436122.
14. If I Were You (UK cassette single sleeve). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. WO319C, 5439-17736-4.
15. If I Were You (Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records, Sire Records. 1995. 9362436392.
16. All You Can Eat (US CD album booklet). k.d. lang. Warner Bros. Records. 1995. 9 46034-2.
17. "k.d. lang – If I Were You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
18. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2833." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
19. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2808." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
20. "k.d. lang – If I Were You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
21. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
22. "k.d. lang Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
23. "k.d. lang Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
24. "k.d. lang Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
25. "RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1995". RPM. Retrieved 12 August 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
26. "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Club Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. 28 December 1996. p. YE-44.
27. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 16 September 1995. p. 49. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
28. "あなたを夢みて | k.d.ラング" [Dreaming of You | k.d. lang] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
29. "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1121. 17 November 1995. pp. 37, 43. Retrieved 11 August 2021.