If You Leave
Encyclopedia
"If You Leave" is a 1986 song by the British synthpop
group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
. It was recorded for the soundtrack
to the film Pretty in Pink
where it was played prominently during the final scene. It became the group's biggest hit in the U.S., reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100
chart, but was not a major hit in the UK, where it only reached number 48 on the UK Singles Chart
.
, which is known for naming each episode after 1980s hit songs, named an episode after this song.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
. It was recorded for the soundtrack
Pretty in Pink (soundtrack)
The Pretty in Pink soundtrack album was released in 1986 for the John Hughes film Pretty in Pink, a now classic coming-of-age film about teenage love and social cliques in a 1980s American high school....
to the film Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink is a 1986 American teen romantic comedy-drama film about teenage love and social cliques in 1980s American high schools. It is one of a group of John Hughes films starring Molly Ringwald, and is commonly identified as a "Brat Pack" film...
where it was played prominently during the final scene. It became the group's biggest hit in the U.S., reaching number four on the 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...
chart, but was not a major hit in the UK, where it only reached number 48 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 ...
.
12": Virgin / VS 843-12 (UK)
- "If You Leave" (Extended Version) - 5:59
- "88 Seconds in Greensboro" - 4:20
- "LocomotionLocomotion (OMD song)"Locomotion" is a hit single recorded and released by British band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, and is also the first single taken from their 1984 album, Junk Culture...
" (Live Version) - 3:50
12": A&M / SP-12176 (US)
- "If You Leave" (Extended Version) - 5:59
- "La Femme Accident" (Extended Version) - 5:36
Legacy
The hit Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next GenerationDegrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series set in the Degrassi universe, which was created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. Degrassi is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, and follows The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, and...
, which is known for naming each episode after 1980s hit songs, named an episode after this song.
Chart positions
| Chart (1986) | Peak 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 ... |
48 |
| 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... |
4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States... |
24 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 31 |
Other appearances
- The OMD greatest hits albumsGreatest hitsA greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
The Best of OMDThe Best of OMDThe Best of OMD is a compilation album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1988. Despite the band's waning popularity both in the UK and abroad, it sold extremely well....
and The OMD SinglesThe OMD SinglesThe OMD Singles is a singles compilation album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1998. It reached #16 in the UK charts. Originally, the compilation was to include a second disc of new remixes; however, this idea was abandoned due to budget limitations. The few remixes that were... - "If You Leave" was featured in the compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Lost & Found: Reconstruction. - On Modern FamilyModern FamilyModern Family is an American television comedy series created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, which debuted on ABC on September 23, 2009. Lloyd and Levitan serve as showrunner and executive producers, under their Levitan-Lloyd Productions label...
, "If You Leave" is Phil and Claire Dunphy's song, however Clair forgets this and thinks their song is True by Spandau BalletSpandau BalletSpandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
; Phil claims never to have mentioned the band over the entire course of their relationship.
Cover versions
- "If You Leave" was covered by pop-punk band Good CharlotteGood CharlotteGood Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 1998, the band's constant members have been lead vocalist Joel Madden, lead guitarist and back-up vocalist Benji Madden, bass guitarist Paul Thomas and rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Billy Martin...
for the soundtrack of Not Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen MovieNot Another Teen Movie is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Joel Gallen, released on December 14, 2001 by Columbia Pictures. It is a parody of teen movies which have accumulated in Hollywood over the last few decades...
, a parody on teen moviesTeen filmTeen films is a film genre targeted at teenagers and young adults in which the plot is based upon the special interests of teenagers, such as coming of age, first love, rebellion, conflict with parents, teen angst, and alienation...
like Pretty in Pink.
- A cover version by Nada SurfNada SurfNada Surf is an American alternative rock band. Formed in 1992, the New York band consists of Matthew Caws , Ira Elliot and Daniel Lorca .-Early years:...
was used on an episode of The O.C.The O.C.The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
It is played as a tribute to the John Hughes film Pretty in Pink where the original OMD version of the song appeared. It was released on Music from the OC: Mix 2.
- LMPLa Musique PopulaireLa Musique Populaire is an American indie pop band.Members Ryan Bassler and Eric Haugen formed a band called Lorenzo Music in 1992, but faced with legal action from the actor of the same name they changed it to La Musique Populaire, more commonly shortened to LMP.Likened to Ween, The Raspberries...
covered the song on their album A Century of SongA Century of Song- Disc Two 1923-1939 :- Disc Three 1940-1959 :- Disc Four 1960-1981 :- Disc Five 1981-2000 :- Disc Six 'holus-bolus' :...
.
- Indie rockIndie rockIndie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band RafterRafter (band)Rafter is the performing name of musician and producer Rafter Roberts. He also owns his own studio, Singing Serpent, in San Diego.- CD/LP :* Sweaty Magic * Sex Death Cassette...
covered the song for the compilation album Guilt by Association Vol. 2Guilt by Association Vol. 2Guilt by Association Vol. 2 is a compilation album released November 18, 2008 by Engine Room Recordings. Like its predecessor, Guilt by Association Vol. 1, it features indie rock artists covering well-known pop and R&B songs.-Overview:...
, released in 2008.
- It was also covered by Tom RacerTom RacerTom Racer was a band that originated in the Los Angeles in 1997. The band was formed by Mike Elliot and Erik Newton with Jon Elliot on drums. They opened for acts such as Jimmy Eat World, Marcy Playground, and Ash. Aaron Emil joined the band and Jared Summerell replaced Jon Elliot on drums...
on the compilation album Isn't She Still... the Pretty in Pink Soundtrack Revisited