If I Were You (k.d. lang song) explained

If I Were You
Cover:	If_I_Were_You_(k.d._lang_song).jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	k.d. lang
Album:	All You Can Eat
B-Side:	Get Some
Studio:	Placebo Sound, Placebow Sound (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Length:	3:58
Label:	Warner Bros.
Producer:	k.d. lang, Ben Mink
Prev Title:	Lifted by Love
Prev Year:	1994
Next Title:	You're OK
Next Year:	1996

"If I Were You" is a song written by Canadian songwriters k.d. lang and Ben Mink and performed by lang. It was the first single released from lang's third studio album, All You Can Eat (1995), by Warner Bros. on 18 September 1995. The single reached number 24 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and number four on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. On the US Billboard charts, the single reached number 15 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and was lang's second and final number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. Overseas, "If I Were You" peaked at number 23 in Australia, number 50 in New Zealand, and number 53 in the United Kingdom. In 2017, Billboard named "If I Were You" k.d. lang's sixth-best song.^[1]

Critical reception

In his review of All You Can Eat, Steve Baltin from Cash Box wrote, "The disc kicks off with the erudite 'If I Were You', a song that more adventurous radio programmers will find friendly."^[2] Dave Jennings from Melody Maker felt "she's got one of the most gorgeous and achingly sensual voices currently being committed to audio tape". He added, "'If I Were You' is, I guess, probably best described as an affectionate envy song; kd wishing that it was possible for her to be a less contentious figure, so that she could get more done. Is Madonna possibly clutching burning ears at this moment?"^[3] Sylvia Patterson from NME noted its "wafty harp and moodsome reverie".^[4] Another NME editor, Angela Lewis, commented, "As ever, the stretch-limousine smooth Lang voice puts one in mind of chintzy cocktail parties where 'close' pals like Cindy Crawford, David Geffen and Madonna turn up, on the spur of the moment, like."^[5]

Track listings

• US 7-inch and CD single^{[6] [7]}

1. "If I Were You" – 3:38
2. "Get Some" – 3:37

• US 12-inch single^[8]

A1. "If I Were You" (main mix) – 6:11

A2. "If I Were You" (Junior's X-Beat mix) – 7:28

A3. "Get Some" – 3:37

B1. "If I Were You" (Junior's X-Beat Miss Queen dub) – 9:27

B2. "If I Were You" (main mix dub) – 11:04

• US maxi-CD single^[9]

1. "If I Were You" (album edit) – 3:38
2. "If I Were You" (Smokin' Lounge mix) – 4:10
3. "If I Were You" (main mix) – 5:59
4. "If I Were You" (Junior's X-Beat mix) – 7:28
5. "Get Some" – 3:37

• UK, Australian, and Japanese CD single^{[10] [11] [12]}

1. "If I Were You" – 3:58
2. "Get Some" – 3:37
3. "What's New Pussycat" (live) – 2:44

• UK cassette single^[13]

1. "If I Were You" – 3:58
2. "What's New Pussycat" (live) – 2:44

• Australian maxi-CD single^[14]

1. "If I Were You" (album version)
2. "If I Were You" (Close to the Groove edit)
3. "If I Were You" (Smokin' Lounge mix)
4. "If I Were You" (Junior's X-Beat mix)
5. "If I Were You" (album edit)
6. "What's New Pussycat" (live)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the All You Can Eat album booklet.^[15]

Studios

• Recorded at Placebo Sound and Placebow Sound (Vancouver, British Columbia)
• Mixed at Encore Studios (Burbank, California)
• Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel

• k.d. lang – writing, banjo, harp, production, additional recording
• Ben Mink – writing, guitars, production, additional recording
• David Piltch – bass guitar
• Teddy Borowiecki – Rhodes, additional keyboards
• Randall Stoll – drums
• Graham Boyle – percussion
• Marc Ramaer – co-production, recording, mixing
• Jason Mauza – recording engineering
• Jason Mauza – mix engineering
• Bob Ludwig – mastering

Charts

Year-end charts

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United Kingdom	18 September 1995		Warner Bros.	^[18]
Japan	25 October 1995	CD		^[19]
United States	21 November 1995		Warner Bros.	^[20]

See also

• List of number-one dance singles of 1996 (U.S.)

Notes and References

1. k.d. lang's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks. Dauphin. Chuck. Billboard. 5 October 2017. 17 July 2018.
2. Steve. Baltin. Pop Albums. Cash Box. 21 October 1995. 9. 8 November 2022.
3. Dave. Jennings. Singles. Melody Maker. 30 September 1995. 32. 13 March 2024.
4. Sylvia. Patterson. Long Play. NME. 30 September 1995. 54. 13 March 2024. Sylvia Patterson.
5. Angela. Lewis. Singles. NME. 16 September 1995. 44. 13 March 2024.
6. If I Were You. k.d. lang. 1995. US 7-inch single vinyl disc. Warner Bros. Records. 7-17747.
7. If I Were You. k.d. lang. 1995. US CD single disc notes. Warner Bros. Records. 9 17747-2.
8. If I Were You. k.d. lang. 1995. US 12-inch single vinyl disc. Warner Bros. Records. 9 43624-0.
9. If I Were You. k.d. lang. 1995. US maxi-CD single liner notes. Warner Bros. Records. 9 43624-2.
10. If I Were You. k.d. lang. 1995. UK CD single liner notes. Warner Bros. Records. W0319CD, 9362-43612-2.
11. If I Were You. k.d. lang. 1995. Australian CD single liner notes. Warner Bros. Records, Sire Records. 9362436122.
12. If I Were You. k.d. lang. 1995. Japanese CD single liner notes. Warner Bros. Records, Sire Records. 9362436122.
13. If I Were You. k.d. lang. 1995. UK cassette single sleeve. Warner Bros. Records. WO319C, 5439-17736-4.
14. If I Were You. k.d. lang. 1995. Australian maxi-CD single liner notes. Warner Bros. Records, Sire Records. 9362436392.
15. All You Can Eat. All You Can Eat (k.d. lang album). k.d. lang. 1995. US CD album booklet. Warner Bros. Records. 9 46034-2.
16. RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1995. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 12 August 2019.
17. The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Club Play Singles. Billboard. 108. 52. YE-44. 28 December 1996.
18. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 49. 16 September 1995. 29 July 2021.
19. Web site: あなたを夢みて k.d.ラング. Dreaming of You k.d. lang. Oricon. ja. September 13, 2023.
20. Selected New Releases. Radio & Records. 1121. 37, 43. 17 November 1995. 11 August 2021.