If You're Not the One
Encyclopedia
"If You're Not the One" is a pop
song written by Daniel Bedingfield
and produced by Mark Taylor for Bedingfield's debut album Gotta Get thru This
(2002). The song features Bedingfield singing falsetto
in the chorus, where he hits the note Eb5 (his backing vocal hits the note G5).
The song was released as the third single
from the album on 22 November 2002 (see 2002 in music
) in the United Kingdom
, following the release of "Gotta Get thru This" and "James Dean (I Wanna Know)
". The single entered the top 20 on the majority of charts that it appeared on, including being a number one hit in the UK Singles Chart
and reaching number 15 in the United States
.
"If You're Not the One" received a mixed reception from critics, with some commenting that the song was a simple piece of cheesy pop music. Others critics offered praise for the emotive feel of the song and Bedingfield's use of his full vocal range.
, when writing and recording the song. Bedingfield himself believes that the song is "cheesy." Bedingfield admitted he began writing the song because he realized that material he considered more "complex," was unlikely to get him a record deal. "Commercialism, sappy lyrics and meek tunes are the things I hate most in the universe, but I'm not sure even Bob Dylan could get record company interest without hooks these days," Bedingfield recalled in an interview with The Daily Telegraph
. "It's a different age. You need to go some kind of populist route. So, about three years ago, I sat down with a Westlife song and tried to write something similar." Bedingfield also admits that he didn't even want to put the song on his album. "I didn't want to put If You're Not The One on the album as I thought it was too cheesy. I thought it sounded like Westlife. But she [Natasha Bedingfield, his sister] loved it. Women that hear it go all soft and think it's lovely," Bedingfield recalled.
(NME), wrote "If You're Not the One [recalls] every chart-mauling uber-ballad you've ever heard". Nedd Raggett of Allmusic commented in his album review "When it comes to ballads, they work best in sudden moments - the soaring end to If You're Not the One". About.com
ranked the song at number 27 on its list of the 'Top 100 Pop Songs of 2002', two places behind the album title track. The song was again ranked at number 27 on the 2003 list, due to it being released in the United States during that year. Music Week felt that the song showed Bedingfield's "sensitive side", and that the song "showcases his vocal range to stunning effect." The magazine even considered it "beautifully crafted."
However the track also received some negative feedback. PopMatters
' Nikki Tranter wrote "surely you would think with his obviously overwhelming ability to compose utter claptrap cleverly disguised as serious prophesizing, his lyrics might contain something a little more expressive than 'If you're not the one / Why does my heart feel glad today / If you're not the one / Then why does my hand fit yours this way.' " Michael Hubbard was even less positive stating "If You're Not The One is as vomit-inducing as anything the man in the plastic mask has ever wretched forth at the world" in his review for musicOMH.
The song has been covered by Cliff Richard
for his album Love… The Album.
.
The single proved to be a successful release for Bedingfield, providing him with several worldwide number ones and reaching the top 20 in all but one of the charts that it appeared on. It debuted at number one in the UK Singles Chart
, knocking Christina Aguilera
's "Dirrty
" from the top spot.
. It video begins with a series of images of Bedingfield singing in various positions against a black backdrop. When the chorus starts he is seen singing with clouds in the background. The initial sequence is repeated for the second verse. However half-way through he starts to write on a wall. The rest of the song follows the same pattern.
, including Alistair Griffin
in 2003. Two years later, The X Factor Shayne Ward
covered the song numerous times on The X Factor
and released it as a B-side on his debut single, "That's My Goal
". Following Ward's live performance, Simon Cowell
, who judges on and produces The X Factor, said that the song is "one of the best pop songs of all time."
Cliff Richard
included a cover of the song on his 2007 album, Love… The Album. English tenor
, Jonathan Ansell
included a cover of the song on his 2008 album Forever. Also in 2008, Bedingfield re-recorded the song's vocals for Sharam's single "The One", which samples "If You're Not the One". It has also been remixed by Joachim Garraud
and David Guetta
.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
song written by Daniel Bedingfield
Daniel Bedingfield
Daniel John Bedingfield is a British singer-songwriter. He is the brother of pop singers Natasha Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle.-Music career:...
and produced by Mark Taylor for Bedingfield's debut album Gotta Get thru This
Gotta Get Thru This
Gotta Get Thru This is the first album of Daniel Bedingfield. It reached #2 on the UK Albums Chart, and is certified 5x Platinum, having sold around 1.5 million copies...
(2002). The song features Bedingfield singing falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
in the chorus, where he hits the note Eb5 (his backing vocal hits the note G5).
The song was released as the third 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 the album on 22 November 2002 (see 2002 in music
2002 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
) in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, following the release of "Gotta Get thru This" and "James Dean (I Wanna Know)
James Dean (I Wanna Know)
"James Dean " is the second single released by Daniel Bedingfield in 2002. The track follows the same "garage" style as his first single, "Gotta Get Thru This". It, like "Gotta Get Thru This", became a hit, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart, making it his second top 10 hit...
". The single entered the top 20 on the majority of charts that it appeared on, including being a number one hit in 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 ...
and reaching number 15 in the United States
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
"If You're Not the One" received a mixed reception from critics, with some commenting that the song was a simple piece of cheesy pop music. Others critics offered praise for the emotive feel of the song and Bedingfield's use of his full vocal range.
Background and writing
The song is written as a love ballad. Bedingfield claims to have been inspired by the band WestlifeWestlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
, when writing and recording the song. Bedingfield himself believes that the song is "cheesy." Bedingfield admitted he began writing the song because he realized that material he considered more "complex," was unlikely to get him a record deal. "Commercialism, sappy lyrics and meek tunes are the things I hate most in the universe, but I'm not sure even Bob Dylan could get record company interest without hooks these days," Bedingfield recalled in an interview with The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
. "It's a different age. You need to go some kind of populist route. So, about three years ago, I sat down with a Westlife song and tried to write something similar." Bedingfield also admits that he didn't even want to put the song on his album. "I didn't want to put If You're Not The One on the album as I thought it was too cheesy. I thought it sounded like Westlife. But she [Natasha Bedingfield, his sister] loved it. Women that hear it go all soft and think it's lovely," Bedingfield recalled.
Release history
The single was initially released in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe on 25 November 2002. It received a worldwide release on 25 March 2003.Critical reception
"If You're Not the One" received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. On the positive side, Peter Robinson, in the Gotta Get thru This album review for the New Music ExpressNME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
(NME), wrote "If You're Not the One [recalls] every chart-mauling uber-ballad you've ever heard". Nedd Raggett of Allmusic commented in his album review "When it comes to ballads, they work best in sudden moments - the soaring end to If You're Not the One". About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
ranked the song at number 27 on its list of the 'Top 100 Pop Songs of 2002', two places behind the album title track. The song was again ranked at number 27 on the 2003 list, due to it being released in the United States during that year. Music Week felt that the song showed Bedingfield's "sensitive side", and that the song "showcases his vocal range to stunning effect." The magazine even considered it "beautifully crafted."
However the track also received some negative feedback. PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
' Nikki Tranter wrote "surely you would think with his obviously overwhelming ability to compose utter claptrap cleverly disguised as serious prophesizing, his lyrics might contain something a little more expressive than 'If you're not the one / Why does my heart feel glad today / If you're not the one / Then why does my hand fit yours this way.' " Michael Hubbard was even less positive stating "If You're Not The One is as vomit-inducing as anything the man in the plastic mask has ever wretched forth at the world" in his review for musicOMH.
The song has been covered by Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
for his album Love… The Album.
Chart performance
When the song was released as a single, it was picked up by radio stations quickly. It was the most added pop song on the radio for the week of 20 February 2003. In the US, the song was the most added song in the Adult Contemporary market for the week of April 7, 2003. In the US, the song was his highest debuting single, debuting at #55 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
The single proved to be a successful release for Bedingfield, providing him with several worldwide number ones and reaching the top 20 in all but one of the charts that it appeared on. It debuted at number one in 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 ...
, knocking Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
's "Dirrty
Dirrty
"Dirrty" is a song performed by American singer Christina Aguilera featuring rapper Reggie "Redman" Noble. The song was written by Aguilera and Redman along with Jasper Cameron, Balewa Muhammad, and Rockwilder for Aguilera's fourth studio album Stripped...
" from the top spot.
Music video
The music video was produced by Mark ReadMark Read (singer)
Mark Daniel Read is a British singer/songwriter, best known as member of the boy band A1 from 1998 to 2002, and 2009–present.-Background:...
. It video begins with a series of images of Bedingfield singing in various positions against a black backdrop. When the chorus starts he is seen singing with clouds in the background. The initial sequence is repeated for the second verse. However half-way through he starts to write on a wall. The rest of the song follows the same pattern.
UK and European CD single
- "If You're Not the One" (album version)
- "James Dean (I Wanna Know)" (acoustic version)
- "If You're Not the One" (Metro mix)
- "If You're Not the One" CD-ROM video
U.S. CD single
- "If You're Not the One" (radio edit)
- "If You're Not the One" (Metro edit)
- Album snippets medley
Credits and personnel
- Lead vocals: Daniel Bedingfield
- Audio mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
: Mark Taylor - DrumDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
s: Danny Cummings - EngineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
s: Steve Pryce, Mat Bartram (assistant) - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
: Adam Philips
- KeyboardMusical keyboardA musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
s: Mark Taylor - ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
: Mark Taylor - Additional production: Christian Saint Val
- Orchestral contractorOrchestraAn orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
: Isobel Griffiths - Recorded at Angel Recording Studios (strings).
Charts and certifications
The song has sold 515,000 copies in the UK according to the Official UK Charts Company.Weekly charts
| Chart (2002)/(2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 14 |
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
6 |
| Danish Singles Chart Tracklisten Tracklisten is a Danish top 40 record chart that is presented every Thursday midnight at .The weekly Danish Singles Chart also known as Track Top-40 combines the 40 best selling tracks from legal music downloads and the sales of music singles on either CD or vinyl... |
1 |
| Dutch Singles Chart Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
11 |
| European Top 100 Singles | 8 |
| French SNEP Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... Singles Chart |
18 |
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
38 |
| 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 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... Singles Chart |
2 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
4 |
| Swedish Singles Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
4 |
| 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 ... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
15 |
| U.S. Mainstream top 40 | 8 |
Decade charts
| Chart (2000–2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| 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 ... |
78 |
Certifications
Chart proccession and succession
Cover versions
The song has been sung by contestants on several British music talent programmes. Bedingfield performed the song with contestants on the BBC talent show Fame AcademyFame Academy
Fame Academy is a televised competition to search for and educate new musical talents. The winner received a chance to become a successful music artist. The prize consisted of a £1m recording contract with a major record company, plus the use of a luxury apartment in London and a sports car for one...
, including Alistair Griffin
Alistair Griffin
Alistair Richard Griffin is an English singer/songwriter and musician. Already an established songwriter, he first became famous as a solo artist through his appearances on the BBC television show Fame Academy 2 in 2003, where he was "spotted" and championed by Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees...
in 2003. Two years later, The X Factor Shayne Ward
Shayne Ward
Shayne Thomas Ward is an English pop singer who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor. He has sold over 3 million records worldwide and has had number one albums and singles in 9 countries.During The X Factor competition, Ward was mentored by manager Louis Walsh...
covered the song numerous times on The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
and released it as a B-side on his debut single, "That's My Goal
That's My Goal
"That's My Goal" is a song, released in 2005 as the first single by Shayne Ward, the winner of the second series of X Factor. The song was first heard in the final of the aforementioned series, where it was performed by both Ward and X Factor runner up, Andy Abraham. The single was rush-released on...
". Following Ward's live performance, Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
, who judges on and produces The X Factor, said that the song is "one of the best pop songs of all time."
Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
included a cover of the song on his 2007 album, Love… The Album. English tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
, Jonathan Ansell
Jonathan Ansell
Jonathan Mark Ansell is an English singer, formerly the high tenor of the vocal group G4.Jonathan Ansell was born in Bognor Regis in 1982, where both his parents were primary school teachers. Influenced by his mother’s tapes of Pavarotti and the Three Tenors, Jonathan joined the West Sussex Boys'...
included a cover of the song on his 2008 album Forever. Also in 2008, Bedingfield re-recorded the song's vocals for Sharam's single "The One", which samples "If You're Not the One". It has also been remixed by Joachim Garraud
Joachim Garraud
Joachim Garraud, was born in 1968 in Nantes, is a French DJ, but he is also a remixer and producer. He is the producer of stars such as Geyster, Paul Johnson, Deep Dish, David Bowie, OMD, Kylie Minogue, Mylène Farmer, Cassius, Belamour, Kid Vicious, Saffron Hill and Culture Club.Known for his many...
and David Guetta
David Guetta
Pierre David Guetta , known professionally as David Guetta , is a French house music producer and DJ. Originally a DJ at nightclubs during the 1980s and 1990s, he co-founded Gum Productions and released his first album, Just a Little More Love, in 2002. Later, he released Guetta Blaster and Pop Life...
.