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If I Was

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"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)
Music video
Midge Ure - If I Was (Official Music Video) on YouTube

"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.

Background

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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

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

B-sides

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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

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Certifications

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

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  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.
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