If I Never See Your Face Again
"If I Never See Your Face Again" is a song written by Maroon 5 members Adam Levine and James Valentine for Maroon 5's second studio album, It Won't Be Soon Before Long (2007). A remix of the song was recorded with extra verses sung by pop singer Rihanna, and was released as the fourth single from the album instead of the original version. The remix will be included on the re-release of It Won't Be Soon Before Long, and is featured on the re-release of Rihanna's third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). The song was produced by Mike Elizondo, Mark "Spike" Stent, and Maroon 5.
Background and single release
The original version of "If I Never See Your Face Again" was complete, but Maroon 5 enlisted Rihanna to record "bits and pieces" because they wanted to, in lead singer Adam Levine's words, "try something different".[1] James Diener, president of A&M/Octone Records, said that Maroon 5 were friends with and fans of Rihanna, having attended some of her performances, and thought that she could help them achieve Levine's goal of turning the song into a "'battle of the sexes'-style duet".[2] Because of the speed of the collaboration, Levine compared the remix of "If I Never See Your Face Again" to his experience working with rapper Kanye West on the song "Heard 'Em Say" (2005), explaining "It sounds cheesy, but if the magic is there, if the chemistry is there, you don't even have to think about it."[1]
Rihanna said she was "honored" to be approached by Maroon 5, one of her favorite bands, and made the song the only collaboration on the re-release of Good Girl Gone Bad because she had always wanted to work with them.[1] She also attributed her enthusiasm for collaborating on the remix to the song's "energy" and "badass" lyrics.[3]
"If I Never See Your Face Again" was sent to U.S. mainstream radio on May 13, 2008.[4]
Music video
The music video, directed by Anthony Mandler, was shot on an indoor soundstage in Castaic, California on April 23 2008.[1][5] One of the sets had to be repainted between takes.[5] An MTV News reporter called the video "a fairly glam affair", and Levine referred to it as "this kind of ultra-glamorous, photography-based, late-'70s/ early-'80s situation" and "really stylish and really beautiful",[1] saying that "[Rihanna's] physical presence is undeniable".[5] The Guardian wrote, "The concept appears to be high-end erotica [...] If the [smartly furnished] sets resemble the kind of rooms nobody really lives in, then Rihanna sports a selection of outfits nobody really wears".[5] The video premiered on May 13 on Total Request Live.[6]
The video features scenes in which Levine and Rihanna, according to The Guardian, "flirt professionally with each other"[5] at a table (seated opposite each other), in a bedroom and on a couch. Another setting presents Maroon 5 performing the song before Rihanna, who approaches Levine to share the microphone with him. Levine and Rihanna occasionally make violent gestures—such as scratching and hair-pulling—toward each other during the video.
Track listing
- Standard iTunes version
- "If I Never See Your Face Again" (feat. Rihanna) – 3:18
- Australia/New Zealand iTunes version - EP
- "If I Never See Your Face Again" – 3:19
- "If I Never See Your Face Again" (Remix Edit) – 3:30
- "If I Never See Your Face Again" (Live from MSN Control Room) – 4:11
Chart performance
The song debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart at number 28 on May 26, 2008. The physical single will be released on June 21. It debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at number 57. On June 8, the week that Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded was released, the song charted on the UK Singles Chart at number 29. The following week, the song fell a place but a week later it climbed back up to number 28.
Peak positions
Vorlage:Col-begin Vorlage:Col-2
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart[7] | 17 |
| Bulgaria Singles Chart[8] | 30 |
| Canadian Hot 100[9] | 12 |
| Croatia Singles Chart[10] | 18 |
| Euro Top 200[8] | 75 |
| Irish Singles Chart[11] | 16 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 16 |
| Netherlands Singles Chart[12] | 12 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[13] | 21 |
| Poland Singles Chart[14] | 41 |
| Slovenia Singles Chart[8] | 4 |
| South Africa 5FM Chart[15] | 39 |
| Turkey Top 20 Chart[16] | 5 |
| UK Singles Chart[11] | 28 |
| United World Chart[11] | 33 |
| U.S. ARC Weekly Top 40[17] | 27 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[11] | 53 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 | 36 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks | 24 |
| Venezuela Singles Chart[18] | 11 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 61 |
References
Vorlage:Maroon 5 Vorlage:Rihanna
- ↑ a b c d e Richard, Yasmine: Rihanna, Maroon 5 Team Up For 'Magic' Collaboration, Complete With Ultra-Glam Video In: MTV News, MTV Networks, April 24 2008. Abgerufen am 21. Juni 2008
- ↑ Mariel Concepcion: Rihanna And Maroon 5 Team Up For 'Again' Remix In: Billboard, Nielsen Business Media, Inc., April 29 2008. Abgerufen am 21. Juni 2008
- ↑ Rihanna Meets Maroon 5 In: IGN.com, IGN Entertainment, Inc., May 2 2008. Abgerufen am 21. Juni 2008
- ↑ FMQB: Radio Industry News
- ↑ a b c d e Dorian Lynskey: Sweetness and steel. In: The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, abgerufen am 4. Juni 2008.
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved on June 15, 2008.
- ↑ a b c Euro Top 200
- ↑ [2] Jam.canoe.ca
- ↑ Croatia Singles Chart
- ↑ a b c d "Maroon 5 ft. Rihanna - If I Never See Your Face Again global chart positions and trajectories". aCharts.us. Retrieved May 2008.
- ↑ Dutch Top 40
- ↑ New Zealand RIANZ Chart
- ↑ Polish Singles Top 50
- ↑ 5FM Chart
- ↑ Turkey Top 20 Chart Retrieved June 24 2008
- ↑ ARC Weekly Top 40
- ↑ Venezuela Singles Chart