If I Wanted To
| "If I Wanted To" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Melissa Etheridge | ||||
| from the album Yes I Am | ||||
| Released | February 1995 | |||
| Recorded | A&M Studios, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Rock, Pop | |||
| Length | 3:55 (Album Version) 3:35 (Edit) | |||
| Label | Island Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Melissa Etheridge | |||
| Producer(s) | Melissa Etheridge Hugh Padgham | |||
| Melissa Etheridge singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"If I Wanted To" is a song by American singer, Melissa Etheridge. It was released in 1995 as the final single from Etheridge's 1993 studio album, Yes I Am.
"If I Wanted To", which was released as the two-sided single "If I Wanted To / Like the Way I Do", debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1995 at No. 25, making it the highest-debuting single of 1995.[1] The single's debut was the best for any song since Boyz II Men's "On Bended Knee" debuted at No. 14 in November 1994.[1] Fred Bronson of Billboard wrote, at the time, that with the single's record debut, "Melissa Etheridge continues to solidify her new status as a chart superstar with the highest-debuting single of 1995."[1]
"If I Wanted To" peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1995.[2] Strong singles sales in March 1995 for TLC's "Red Light Special," Real McCoy's "Run Away," and The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa" prevented "If I Wanted To" from rising higher on the Hot 100, despite widespread airplay on major U.S. radio stations.[3]
Music video
The single's music video was directed by Samuel Bayer.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "If I Wanted To" | Billboard Hot 100 | 16[2] |
| 1995 | "If I Wanted To" | Adult Contemporary | 17 |
| 1995 | "If I Wanted To" | Top 40 Mainstream | 10 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1995) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] | 91 |
References
- ^ a b c Bronson, Fred (1995-02-18). ""Bow" Wows at No. 2; Hot Shot Melissa (page 122)". Billboard (Google Books). Retrieved 2016-04-16.
- ^ a b "Melissa Etheridge Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
- ^ Elliot, Dave (1995-03-18). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight (page 83)". Billboard (Google Books). Retrieved 2016-04-16.
- ^ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1995". RPM. Retrieved November 26, 2017.