If Your Girl Only Knew
Encyclopedia
"If Your Girl Only Knew" is a R&B
/dance-pop
song written by Missy Elliott
and Timbaland
for Aaliyah
's second studio album, One in a Million (1996). It also was produced by Timbaland, and released as the album's lead single during the third quarter of 1996 (see 1996 in music
). The song was re-released in 1998 as a limited edition double A-side single with the single, "One in a Million
". Notably, "If Your Girl Only Knew" was one of the earliest songs that showcased the production talent of Timbaland
.
chart for the week ending October 19, 1996, becoming her third single to reach the top 20. It reached the top of the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for two weeks. "If Your Girl Only Knew" was also a hit in the UK, peaking in the top thirty of the UK Singles Chart at number 21 when it was originally released by itself. It was re-issued with "One in a Million" as a double A-side and reached a new peak position of number 15. "If Your Girl Only Knew" was also a hit in many other countries.
, Timbaland
, 702
, Lil' Kim
, Ginuwine
, and her brother Rashad. The video was directed by Joseph Kahn
.
interpolated If Your Girl Only Knew on the song "Ghetto Prayer" off his album Only God Can Judge Me
.
U.S. cassette single:
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
/dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
song written by Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
and Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
for Aaliyah
Aaliyah
Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
's second studio album, One in a Million (1996). It also was produced by Timbaland, and released as the album's lead single during the third quarter of 1996 (see 1996 in music
1996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
). The song was re-released in 1998 as a limited edition double A-side single with the single, "One in a Million
One in a Million (Aaliyah song)
"One in a Million" is an R&B song by American recording artist Aaliyah from her second studio album, One in a Million . The song was the third main single from One in a Million following "Got to Give It Up", but in North America the song was the second single, because "Got to Give It Up" was not...
". Notably, "If Your Girl Only Knew" was one of the earliest songs that showcased the production talent of Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
.
Chart success
Released as the album's lead single in August 1996, it peaked at number 11 on the US 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...
chart for the week ending October 19, 1996, becoming her third single to reach the top 20. It reached the top of the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for two weeks. "If Your Girl Only Knew" was also a hit in the UK, peaking in the top thirty of the UK Singles Chart at number 21 when it was originally released by itself. It was re-issued with "One in a Million" as a double A-side and reached a new peak position of number 15. "If Your Girl Only Knew" was also a hit in many other countries.
Music video
In the video, Aaliyah, her brother, and clique appears at a party. She wears a dark leather outfit with her trademark sunglasses and bandana. Scenes include Aaliyah sitting in a futuristic chair, at a party, (the party scene is shot in black-and-white, but Aaliyah remains in colour) Aaliyah and various others in an elevator, and also a close up of Aaliyahs face. Colour editing is used on her eyes here, and they change colour towards the end of the video. Cameos include Missy ElliottMissy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
, Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, 702
702 (band)
702 , named after the area code of their hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, is an American platinum-selling R&B trio. Originally a quartet, the group became a trio, which includes sisters Irish , and LeMisha 'Misha' Grinstead, and lead singer Kameelah 'Meelah' Williams...
, Lil' Kim
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
, Ginuwine
Ginuwine
Elgin Baylor Lumpkin , better known by his stage name Ginuwine is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Signed to Epic Records since the mid-1990s, Ginuwine had released a number of multi-platinum and platinum-selling albums and singles, becoming one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990's...
, and her brother Rashad. The video was directed by Joseph Kahn
Joseph Kahn
Joseph Kahn is an American music video, advertising, and feature film director.-Early life:Kahn was born in Jersey Village, Texas, a suburb of Houston. He is of Korean ancestry. He spent part of his childhood growing up in Livorno, Italy until his family moved to Texas...
.
Interpolation
Master PMaster P
Percy Robert Miller , better known by his stage name Master P or his business name P. Miller, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor, and producer. He is the founder of the popular label No Limit Records, which went bankrupt and was relaunched as New No Limit Records through Koch...
interpolated If Your Girl Only Knew on the song "Ghetto Prayer" off his album Only God Can Judge Me
Only God Can Judge Me
Only God Can Judge Me is the eighth album by rapper Master P, released in October, 1999. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 Pop Charts. It has been certified GOLD by the RIAA and has sold over 640,000 copies in the United States and more than 1 million copies world-wide...
.
Track listings
U.S. CD single:- "If Your Girl Only Knew" (album mix) featuring Timbaland
- "If Your Girl Only Knew" (extended mix)
- "If Your Girl Only Knew" (remix) featuring Timbaland and Missy Elliott
- "If Your Girl Only Knew" (beat a pella)
- "If Your Girl Only Knew" (instrumental)
- "If Your Girl Only Knew" (The New Remix)
U.S. cassette single:
- "If Your Girl Only Knew" (radio edit)
- "If Your Girl Only Knew" (remix) featuring Timbaland and Missy Elliott
Peak positions
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japan Tokio Hot 100 | 1 |
| Sweden Top 60 Singles | 49 |
| 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 |
20 |
| UK Top 75 Singles 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 ... |
21 |
| US 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... |
11 |
| US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
1 |
| US Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1996) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 69 |
"If Your Girl Only Knew"/"One in a Million"
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Top 75 Singles 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 ... |
15 |
External links
- Watch "If Your Girl Only Knew" at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....