"If You Could Only See" is a song by American rock band Tonic from their debut studio album Lemon Parade (1996). It was released to radio as the third and final single from the album on March 18, 1997, by Polydor Records. Frontman Emerson Hart is the sole writer of the song, whilst production on the song was helmed by Jack Joseph Puig. According to Hart, the song was written as a result of his family disowning him due to their disapproval of Hart's relationship with an older woman. The song is Tonic's most successful, becoming a hit in several countries, and has been described as "rock radio's most played song of 1997."[1]
In an Australian television program (Live at the Chapel), Tonic lead vocalist Emerson Hart elucidated the meaning of this song. He stated that he had been in a relationship with an older woman and that his family did not approve of that relationship, and this song was written about that situation and was directed at his family.
In another interview, Hart said, "When I was 21 or 22, I was in love with somebody who my mom did not feel was a good fit. So my family disowned me for about three years. And the last conversation I had with my mother when I was home I’d said, 'if you could only see the way she loves me, maybe you would understand.' I just wrote that song, after that phone call, literally in a matter of minutes."[2]
Recording and mixingedit
The recording sessions for "If You Could Only See" took place in Los Angeles and Hollywood, California at Sound City Studios and Devonshire Sound Studios, respectively.[3] Production on the song was helmed by Jack Joseph Puig, with Puig also acting as a recording engineer.[4] The song was recorded on a Neve Custom 8020 mixing console, using a Studer A80 tape recorder.[4] Puig was also responsible for the mixing of the track, which was made at Andora Studios in Hollywood, California.[3] Puig mixed the song on a Neve 8078 mixing console, using a Studer A800 tape recorder.[4]Bob Ludwig mastered the track at Gateway Mastering in Portland, using an Ampex 499 as the master tape.[4]WEA was responsible for the manufacturing of the single on both compact disc and cassette tape.[4]
Critical receptionedit
Shawn M. Haney of AllMusic referred to the song as "light and romantic," praising the song's texture and its slide guitars.[5]
Chart performanceedit
"If You Could Only See" was a number-one hit on the US BillboardMainstream Rock Tracks chart and reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, where it spent 63 weeks.[6][7] In Canada, the song peaked at number 18 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and topped the Alternative 30 chart, ranking number 42 on the RPM year-end chart for 1997.[8][9][10] In Australia, the song peaked at number 20 and spent 26 weeks in the top 50.[11] As a result of its longevity on the Australian chart, it ended 1997 as the nation's 88th-highest-selling single and earned a gold certification for shipments exceeding 35,000 copies.[11][12]
Music videoedit
The music video was directed by Jeff Cutter and Ramaa Mosley.[13]
^If You Could Only See (United Kingdom 7" vinyl liner notes). Tonic. Polydor Records. 1997. 571308-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^If You Could Only See (Australian CD single liner notes). Tonic. Polydor Records. 1997. 571 369 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^If You Could Only See (German CD single liner notes). Tonic. Polydor Records. 1997. 571 369-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"If You Could Only See (25th Anniversary) – Tonic". iTunes (US). May 5, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
^"Tonic – If You Could Only See" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
^"Tonic Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
^"Tonic Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
^"Tonic Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
^"Tonic Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
^"ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997". ARIA. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
^"RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Alternative Tracks". RPM. Retrieved February 1, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^"The Year in Music 1997: Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-36.
^"The Year in Music 1997: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-83.
^ ab"The Year in Music 1997". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-73.
^"Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 28, 1997. p. 38.
^"Best of '97: Triple A Tracks". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 28.
^"The Year in Music 1998: Hot 100 Singles Airplay". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-46.
^"The Year in Music 1998: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-96.
^"Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 45.
^"New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1188. March 14, 1997. p. 99.
^"New Releases: Singles". Music Week. September 13, 1997. p. 33.
^Magrino, Tom (October 19, 2009). "Band Hero full setlist revealed". CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
External linksedit
"If You Could Only See" Official music video on YouTube
April 10, 2024
could, only, song, american, rock, band, tonic, from, their, debut, studio, album, lemon, parade, 1996, released, radio, third, final, single, from, album, march, 1997, polydor, records, frontman, emerson, hart, sole, writer, song, whilst, production, song, he. If You Could Only See is a song by American rock band Tonic from their debut studio album Lemon Parade 1996 It was released to radio as the third and final single from the album on March 18 1997 by Polydor Records Frontman Emerson Hart is the sole writer of the song whilst production on the song was helmed by Jack Joseph Puig According to Hart the song was written as a result of his family disowning him due to their disapproval of Hart s relationship with an older woman The song is Tonic s most successful becoming a hit in several countries and has been described as rock radio s most played song of 1997 1 If You Could Only See Single by Tonicfrom the album Lemon ParadeReleasedMarch 18 1997 1997 03 18 StudioSound City Los Angeles Length4 21 album version 4 07 single version LabelPolydorSongwriter s Emerson HartProducer s Jack Joseph PuigTonic singles chronology Casual Affair 1997 If You Could Only See 1997 You Wanted More 1999 Music video If You Could Only See on YouTube Contents 1 Background and writing 2 Recording and mixing 3 Critical reception 4 Chart performance 5 Music video 6 Track listings and formats 7 Credits and personnel 8 Charts 8 1 Weekly charts 8 2 Year end charts 9 Certifications 10 Release history 11 In popular culture 12 References 13 External linksBackground and writing editIn an Australian television program Live at the Chapel Tonic lead vocalist Emerson Hart elucidated the meaning of this song He stated that he had been in a relationship with an older woman and that his family did not approve of that relationship and this song was written about that situation and was directed at his family In another interview Hart said When I was 21 or 22 I was in love with somebody who my mom did not feel was a good fit So my family disowned me for about three years And the last conversation I had with my mother when I was home I d said if you could only see the way she loves me maybe you would understand I just wrote that song after that phone call literally in a matter of minutes 2 Recording and mixing editThe recording sessions for If You Could Only See took place in Los Angeles and Hollywood California at Sound City Studios and Devonshire Sound Studios respectively 3 Production on the song was helmed by Jack Joseph Puig with Puig also acting as a recording engineer 4 The song was recorded on a Neve Custom 8020 mixing console using a Studer A80 tape recorder 4 Puig was also responsible for the mixing of the track which was made at Andora Studios in Hollywood California 3 Puig mixed the song on a Neve 8078 mixing console using a Studer A800 tape recorder 4 Bob Ludwig mastered the track at Gateway Mastering in Portland using an Ampex 499 as the master tape 4 WEA was responsible for the manufacturing of the single on both compact disc and cassette tape 4 Critical reception editShawn M Haney of AllMusic referred to the song as light and romantic praising the song s texture and its slide guitars 5 Chart performance edit If You Could Only See was a number one hit on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart where it spent 63 weeks 6 7 In Canada the song peaked at number 18 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and topped the Alternative 30 chart ranking number 42 on the RPM year end chart for 1997 8 9 10 In Australia the song peaked at number 20 and spent 26 weeks in the top 50 11 As a result of its longevity on the Australian chart it ended 1997 as the nation s 88th highest selling single and earned a gold certification for shipments exceeding 35 000 copies 11 12 Music video editThe music video was directed by Jeff Cutter and Ramaa Mosley 13 Track listings and formats editEuropean CD single 14 If You Could Only See LP version 4 21 Open Up Your Eyes live at Melkweg Amsterdam 7 04United Kingdom 7 inch vinyl 15 If You Could Only See edit 4 07 If You Could Only See acoustic version 4 17 Australian and German CD single 16 17 If You Could Only See LP version 4 21 Open Up Your Eyes live at Melkweg Amsterdam 7 04 Thick live at Melkweg Amsterdam 4 53 Casual Affair live at Melkweg Amsterdam 4 05Digital download 18 If You Could Only See 25th Anniversary 4 26Credits and personnel editCredits and personnel are adapted from the Lemon Parade album liner notes 3 Emerson Hart writer vocals rhythm guitar slide percussion Jeff Russo lead guitar rhythm guitar backing vocals slide percussion Dan Rothchild bass backing vocals slide Kevin Shepard drums backing vocals Lenny Castro percussion Jack Joseph Puig production recording and mixing at Sound City Los Angeles and Devonshire Studios Hollywood Bob Ludwig mastering at Gateway Mastering Portland Charts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1997 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 11 20Canada Top Singles RPM 8 18Canada Rock Alternative RPM 9 1Netherlands Single Top 100 19 100US Radio Songs Billboard 7 11US Adult Alternative Songs Billboard 20 10US Adult Top 40 Billboard 21 7US Alternative Airplay Billboard 22 3US Mainstream Rock Billboard 6 1US Mainstream Top 40 Billboard 23 11 Year end charts edit Chart 1997 PositionAustralia ARIA 24 88Canada Top Singles RPM lt 10 42Canada Rock Alternative RPM 25 20US Hot 100 Airplay Billboard 26 37US Adult Top 40 Billboard 27 25US Mainstream Rock Tracks Billboard 28 1US Modern Rock Tracks Billboard 28 7US Top 40 Mainstream Billboard 29 44US Triple A Billboard 30 25Chart 1998 PositionUS Hot 100 Airplay Billboard 31 30US Adult Top 40 Billboard 32 17US Mainstream Top 40 Billboard 33 56Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units salesAustralia ARIA 12 Gold 35 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone Release history editRegion Date Format s Label s Ref United States March 18 1997 Contemporary hit radio Polydor 34 United Kingdom September 15 1997 7 inch vinylCD 35 In popular culture edit If You Could Only See is featured in the video games Karaoke Revolution Party and Band Hero 36 References edit BMG BMG Retrieved April 24 2020 Weiss Dan March 21 2014 Single Again Tonic If You Could Only See radio com Retrieved March 21 2014 a b c Lemon Parade CD liner notes Tonic Polydor 1996 31453 1042 2 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link a b c d e Production Credits Billboard July 19 1997 p 54 Haney Shawn M July 15 1996 Lemon Parade Tonic AllMusic Retrieved December 24 2021 a b Tonic Chart History Mainstream Rock Billboard Retrieved July 15 2019 a b Tonic Chart History Radio Songs Billboard Retrieved July 15 2019 a b Top RPM Singles Issue 3245 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved February 1 2019 a b Top RPM Rock Alternative Tracks Issue 3266 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved February 1 2019 a b RPM 97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks RPM Retrieved February 1 2019 via Library and Archives Canada a b c Tonic If You Could Only See ARIA Top 50 Singles Retrieved February 1 2019 a b ARIA Charts Accreditations 1997 Singles PDF Australian Recording Industry Association Retrieved February 1 2019 If You Could Only See Tonic Vevo Retrieved February 6 2010 If You Could Only See European CD single liner notes Tonic Polydor Records 1997 571 368 2 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link If You Could Only See United Kingdom 7 vinyl liner notes Tonic Polydor Records 1997 571308 7 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link If You Could Only See Australian CD single liner notes Tonic Polydor Records 1997 571 369 2 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link If You Could Only See German CD single liner notes Tonic Polydor Records 1997 571 369 2 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link If You Could Only See 25th Anniversary Tonic iTunes US May 5 2021 Retrieved December 24 2021 Tonic If You Could Only See in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved February 1 2019 Tonic Chart History Adult Alternative Songs Billboard Retrieved July 15 2019 Tonic Chart History Adult Pop Songs Billboard Retrieved July 15 2019 Tonic Chart History Alternative Airplay Billboard Retrieved July 15 2019 Tonic Chart History Pop Songs Billboard Retrieved July 15 2019 ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997 ARIA Retrieved March 22 2021 RPM 97 Year End Top 50 Alternative Tracks RPM Retrieved February 1 2019 via Library and Archives Canada The Year in Music 1997 Hot 100 Airplay Billboard Vol 109 no 52 December 27 1997 p YE 36 The Year in Music 1997 Hot Adult Top 40 Singles amp Tracks Billboard Vol 109 no 52 December 27 1997 p YE 83 a b The Year in Music 1997 Billboard Vol 109 no 52 December 27 1997 p YE 73 Best of 97 Top 40 Mainstream Singles Airplay Monitor Vol 5 no 52 December 28 1997 p 38 Best of 97 Triple A Tracks Airplay Monitor Vol 5 no 52 December 26 1997 p 28 The Year in Music 1998 Hot 100 Singles Airplay Billboard Vol 110 no 52 December 26 1998 p YE 46 The Year in Music 1998 Hot Adult Top 40 Singles amp Tracks Billboard Vol 110 no 52 December 26 1998 p YE 96 Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998 Airplay Monitor Vol 6 no 52 December 25 1998 p 45 New Releases Radio amp Records No 1188 March 14 1997 p 99 New Releases Singles Music Week September 13 1997 p 33 Magrino Tom October 19 2009 Band Hero full setlist revealed CBS Interactive Inc Retrieved November 8 2009 External links edit If You Could Only See Official music video on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title If You Could Only See amp oldid 1192827296, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
