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If I Was

March 16, 2024

"If I Was" is a song by Scottish musician Midge Ure. It was co-written by Ure and Danny Mitchell (of Ultravox's tour opening band Messengers) and released as the first single from Ure's debut solo studio album, The Gift (1985). The song reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for one week in September 1985. The track also reached number one in Ireland and peaked within the top 20 in eight other countries.

"If I Was"
Single by Midge Ure
from the album The Gift
B-side
Released2 September 1985 (1985-09-02)[1]
StudioMusic Fest (London)
GenreNew wave[2]
Length
  • 5:20 (album version)
  • 4:46 (single version)
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)
  • Danny Mitchell
  • Midge Ure
Producer(s)Midge Ure
Midge Ure singles chronology
"After a Fashion"
(1983) 		"If I Was"
(1985) 		"That Certain Smile"
(1985)

Background edit

In the sleeve notes for the 2001 compilation If I Was: The Very Best of Midge Ure & Ultravox Ure wrote:

"This song is pure Danny Mitchell. I found a demo of it on a cassette Danny had sent me for his band The Messengers. I grabbed it with both hands, messed around with it, sprinkled it with fairy dust and the rest is history."

Ure played all instruments on the song except bass guitar, which was played by Mark King of Level 42.

Music video edit

The music video featured Ure's face and body patterns on a Pin Art pinscreen.

B-sides edit

The instrumental "Piano" was released on the B-side of the 7-inch and 12-inch singles. The 12-inch single includes a second track: a cover version of David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World", an earlier version of which was originally released on the film soundtrack of Party Party (1983). Both songs were added as bonus tracks to the CD reissue of The Gift in 1996.

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Silver 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. 31 August 1985. p. 14.
  2. ^ "MUSICBIRD ACQUIRES THE CATALOGUE OF MIDGE URE". MusicBird.
  3. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 318. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. ^ "Midge Ure – If I Was" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  5. ^ "Midge Ure – If I Was" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 11. 15 March 1986. p. 92.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0643." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9430." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  9. ^ "European Top 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 2, no. 43. 28 October 1985. p. 12.
  10. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If I Was". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 46, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  12. ^ "Midge Ure – If I Was" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Midge Ure – If I Was". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  14. ^ "Midge Ure – If I Was". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  15. ^ "Midge Ure: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Midge Ure – If I Was" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  17. ^ "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. 18 January 1986. p. 10.
  18. ^ "British single certifications – Midge Ure & Ultravox – If I Was". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 May 2023.

External links edit

  • "If I Was" at Discogs (list of releases)

March 16, 2024
song, scottish, musician, midge, written, danny, mitchell, ultravox, tour, opening, band, messengers, released, first, single, from, debut, solo, studio, album, gift, 1985, song, reached, singles, chart, week, september, 1985, track, also, reached, number, ire. If I Was is a song by Scottish musician Midge Ure It was co written by Ure and Danny Mitchell of Ultravox s tour opening band Messengers and released as the first single from Ure s debut solo studio album The Gift 1985 The song reached No 1 on the UK Singles Chart for one week in September 1985 The track also reached number one in Ireland and peaked within the top 20 in eight other countries If I Was Single by Midge Urefrom the album The GiftB side Piano The Man Who Sold the World Released2 September 1985 1985 09 02 1 StudioMusic Fest London GenreNew wave 2 Length5 20 album version 4 46 single version LabelChrysalisSongwriter s Danny Mitchell Midge UreProducer s Midge UreMidge Ure singles chronology After a Fashion 1983 If I Was 1985 That Certain Smile 1985 Contents 1 Background 2 Music video 3 B sides 4 Charts 4 1 Weekly charts 4 2 Year end charts 5 Certifications 6 References 7 External linksBackground editIn the sleeve notes for the 2001 compilation If I Was The Very Best of Midge Ure amp Ultravox Ure wrote This song is pure Danny Mitchell I found a demo of it on a cassette Danny had sent me for his band The Messengers I grabbed it with both hands messed around with it sprinkled it with fairy dust and the rest is history Ure played all instruments on the song except bass guitar which was played by Mark King of Level 42 Music video editThe music video featured Ure s face and body patterns on a Pin Art pinscreen B sides editThe instrumental Piano was released on the B side of the 7 inch and 12 inch singles The 12 inch single includes a second track a cover version of David Bowie s The Man Who Sold the World an earlier version of which was originally released on the film soundtrack of Party Party 1983 Both songs were added as bonus tracks to the CD reissue of The Gift in 1996 Charts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1985 1986 Peak positionAustralia Kent Music Report 3 10Austria O3 Austria Top 40 4 6Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 5 9Canada The Record 6 12Canada Top Singles RPM 7 13Canada Adult Contemporary RPM 8 8Europe European Top 100 Singles 9 9Ireland IRMA 10 1Netherlands Dutch Top 40 11 16Netherlands Single Top 100 12 12New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 13 8Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 14 16UK Singles OCC 15 1West Germany Official German Charts 16 2 Year end charts edit Chart 1985 PositionUK Singles OCC 17 27Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units salesUnited Kingdom BPI 18 Silver 250 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone References edit New Singles Music Week 31 August 1985 p 14 MUSICBIRD ACQUIRES THE CATALOGUE OF MIDGE URE MusicBird Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 318 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Midge Ure If I Was in German O3 Austria Top 40 Retrieved 28 June 2010 Midge Ure If I Was in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved 15 May 2023 Hits of the World Canada Billboard Vol 98 no 11 15 March 1986 p 92 Top RPM Singles Issue 0643 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 15 May 2023 Top RPM Adult Contemporary Issue 9430 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 15 May 2023 European Top 100 Singles Music amp Media Vol 2 no 43 28 October 1985 p 12 The Irish Charts Search Results If I Was Irish Singles Chart Retrieved 15 May 2023 Nederlandse Top 40 week 46 1985 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 28 June 2010 Midge Ure If I Was in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved 15 May 2023 Midge Ure If I Was Top 40 Singles Retrieved 28 June 2010 Midge Ure If I Was Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved 28 June 2010 Midge Ure Artist Chart History Official Charts Company Retrieved 16 May 2023 Offiziellecharts de Midge Ure If I Was in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved 14 March 2019 Top 100 Singles Music Week 18 January 1986 p 10 British single certifications Midge Ure amp Ultravox If I Was British Phonographic Industry Retrieved 16 May 2023 External links edit If I Was at Discogs list of releases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title If I Was amp oldid 1187968145, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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