What If (Kate Winslet song)
| "What If" | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Single by Kate Winslet | |
| from the album Christmas Carol: The Movie soundtrack | |
| B-side | "The Coventry Carol" by The Tiffin Choir |
| Released | November 2001 |
| Format | CD |
| Genre | Soft rock |
| Length | 4:05 1:49 (film version) |
| Label | EMI/Liberty |
| Writer(s) | Steve Mac, Wayne Hector |
| Producer | Steve Mac |
"What If" is the debut single by actress Kate Winslet, released in November 2001.
The song is taken from the 2001 animated film Christmas Carol: The Movie which is based on the Charles Dickens classic novel. Winslet provided the voice of Belle in the film, which also stars Nicolas Cage, Jane Horrocks and Simon Callow.
"What If" is a ballad that follows the film's theme, and was the first and only song to be released from the official movie soundtrack. It was written and produced by Steve Mac, who has worked with Westlife, Boyzone and 5ive. The music video, which was directed by Paul Donnellon and produced by Chris Horton, shows Winslet walking around an old Victorian house, along with clips from the film.
News that Winslet was secretly recording the one-off single to vie for the 2001 UK Christmas number one spot was reported in the Daily Mirror newspaper. In the event the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 6[1], and was beaten to the Christmas top spot by Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman's version of "Somethin' Stupid". "What If" debuted at number 1 on the Irish Singles Chart on 7 December 2001[2], toppling Irish television puppet Dustin's version of "Sweet Caroline". It remained at number 1 for four weeks. The song also topped the charts in Austria and Belgium (Flanders) singles chart, was a top ten hit in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, and won the 2002 OGAE Song Contest.[3].
At Winslet's request, the proceeds from the single were given to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Sargent Cancer Care for Children.
Contents |
[edit] Cover versions
In 2004, a dance remake of the song was released by Ronny V featuring Nanda[4]. In 2008, the 2007 X-Factor finalist Rhydian Roberts included a duet of the song with American singer and Broadway actress Idina Menzel on his debut album Rhydian[5]. Britain's Got Talent 2010 semi-finalist Olivia Archbold performed this song. She came in third place in the semi-finals and lost the judges' votes to Tobias Mead. Due to the performance; What If re-entered the UK charts at #76 on 6 June 2010.
[edit] Chart performance
| Chart (2001/2002) | Peak position |
Peak Certification |
|---|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart[1] | 6 | Silver |
| Austrian Singles Chart[6] | 1 | |
| Belgian Ultratop Chart (Flanders)[7] | 1 | |
| Dutch GfK chart[8] | 3 | |
| Dutch Top 40[9] | 3 | |
| European Singles Chart | 3 | |
| German Singles Chart | 6 | |
| Irish Singles Chart[2] | 1 | |
| Swiss Singles Chart[10] | 4 |
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Chart Stats - Kate Winslet - What If". http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=29556. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b "irishcharts.ie birthday no. 1s search results". http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/number_one. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ "The winner takes it all". Ogae Song Contest. http://www.ogaesongcontest.net/winners.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
- ^ "Ronny V Featuring Nanda - What If (CD, Maxi) at Discogs". http://www.discogs.com/Ronny-V-Featuring-Nanda-What-If/release/672373. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ Whetstone, David (29 November 2009). "Perfect pitch and the Cowell factor". journallive.co.uk. http://www.journallive.co.uk/culture-newcastle/music-in-newcastle/2008/11/29/perfect-pitch-and-the-cowell-factor-61634-22365367/. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ "Kate Winslet - What If - austriancharts.at (German)". http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Kate+Winslet&titel=What+If&cat=s. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ "ultratop.be - Kate Winslet - What If". http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Kate+Winslet&titel=What+If&cat=s. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ "dutchcharts.nl - Kate Winslet - What If (Dutch)". http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Kate+Winslet&titel=What+If&cat=s. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 2 - 2002 (Dutch)". http://www.top40.nl/index.aspx?week=2&jaar=2002. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ "Kate Winslet - What If - hitparade.ch (German)". http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Kate+Winslet&titel=What+If&cat=s. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
[edit] External links
- "Winslet Records a Single" (IMDb news article)
- "Winslet Launches Festive Chart Bid" (BBC News story)
