If Only I Could is the debut single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 from artist Sydney Youngblood

Sydney Youngblood

Sydney Youngblood is an American born German singer, who had several successful dance/funk hits during the late 1980s and early 1990s.-Career:...

 and became his biggest hit. Released as a single from his album Feeling Free in 1989, the song was composed by Claus Zundel

Claus Zundel

Claus Zundel is a German composer, songwriter, producer and pianist. He has created several worldwide successful musical projects, most notable - Sacred Spirit and B-Tribe , as well as more Indie projects such as "Moroccan Spirit", "Classical Spirit", "Divine Works", Ancient Spirit and his latest...

, a producer of multi-million selling projects Sacred Spirit

Sacred Spirit

Sacred Spirit is a musical project by Claus Zundel, Ralf Hamm and Markus Staab. The music is of electronic, new age, world, ambient, house, jazz and blues genres. Sacred Spirit's total worldwide album sales estimated to be over 15 million copies...

 and B-Tribe

B-Tribe

B-Tribe, or The Barcelona Tribe of Soulsters, is a musical project of the German-born musicians and producers Claus Zundel, Markus Staab and Ralf Hamm , who are also known for their Sacred Spirit project. Driven by the use of classical Spanish guitar and other elements of flamenco music mixed with...

. It is now considered Youngblood's signature song

Signature song

A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...

 and is still popular with many of his fans. The song was a top three hit in many countries, including UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. In the UK, it was the 11th best-selling single of 1989.

It was followed by the Top 20 UK hit "Sit and Wait

Sit and Wait

"Sit and Wait" is a 1989 song recorded by German singer Sydney Youngblood. It was his second single off his debut album Feeling Free and was released in late 1989 and early 1990 in European countries...

".

Lyrcis, music and video

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 nightclub

Nightclub

A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...

s".

"If Only I Could" used the bassline

Bassline

A bassline is the term used in many styles of popular music, such as jazz, blues, funk, dub and electronic music for the low-pitched instrumental part or line played by a rhythm section instrument such as the electric bass, double bass, tuba or keyboard...

 and drumbeat from the Raze

Raze

Raze may refer to:* Demolition* Raze, Haute-Saône, a town in France* Raze * Raze * Raze , a fictional character in the Underworld films* Raze , a made for TV film aired on syfy...

 house music

House music

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...

 track, "Break For Love", and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart

UK Singles Chart

The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...

.

The video for the single featured 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

Peak positions

Chart (1989)	Peak position
Austrian Singles Chart	3
Eurochart Hot 100	4
French SNEP Singles Chart	8
German Singles Chart	3
Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...	2
Swedish Singles Chart	9
Swiss Singles Chart	3
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...	3

Certifications

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
Austria	Gold	May 15, 1990	15,000
Germany	Gold	1989	150,000
UK	Silver	October 1, 1989	200,000