What If (Kate Winslet song) explained

What If
Cover:	What If Cover - Kate Winslett.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Kate Winslet
B-Side:	The Coventry Carol
Studio:	AIR (London) Rokstone (London)
Genre:	Pop
Length:	4:05
Label:	EMI Liberty UK
Producer:	Steve Mac

"What If" is a song performed by English actress Kate Winslet, recorded for the animated film (2001). Winslet provided the voice of Belle in the feature, which is based on the Charles Dickens classic 1843 novel and also stars Nicolas Cage, Jane Horrocks and Simon Callow. "What If" was written by Wayne Hector and Steve Mac, while production was helmed by the latter. The song is a ballad that follows the film's theme, as Belle laments the end of her and Scrooge's relationship and wonders what could have been.^[1] It was the only song to be released from the official movie soundtrack.

"What If" was released as a single in Germany on 12 November 2001 and was issued in the United Kingdom two weeks later. News that Winslet was secretly recording the one-off single to vie for the 2001 UK Christmas number one spot was reported in the Daily Mirror. In the event, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number six, its peak. Elsewhere, "What If" became a number-one hit in Austria, Flanders, and Ireland whilst also reaching the top 10 in Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Critically acclaimed, the song won the 2002 OGAE Song Contest.^[2] At Winslet's request, the proceeds from the single were given to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Sargent Cancer Care for Children.

Critical reception

Can't Stop the Pop described "What If" as a "ballad of epic proportions", and a "huge, soaring Disney-esque ballad".^[3] Barbara Ellen from The Observer said it is "a sweet, trilling, sub-Celine little ditty."^[4] British trade paper Music Week wrote that Winslet could sing the track well but noted that her divorce from Jim Threapleton would make the lyrics less "poignant".^[5]

Music video

An accompanying music video, which was directed by Paul Donnellon and produced by Chris Horton, shows Winslet walking around an old Victorian house, haunted by the ghost of a girl, along with clips from the film.

Track listings

UK CD single^[6]

1. "What If"
2. "The Coventry Carol"
3. "What If" (film version)
4. "What If" (enhanced video)

UK cassette single^[7]

1. "What If"
2. "The Coventry Carol"
3. "What If" (film version)

European CD single^[8]

1. "What If" (full version)
2. "What If" (film version)

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD single liner notes.^[6]

Studios

• Recorded at Air Lyndhurst and Rokstone Studios (London, England)

Personnel

• Kate Winslet – vocals
• Steve Mac – writing, production
• Wayne Hector – writing
• Chris Laws – engineering
• Matt Howe – engineering
• Daniel Pursey – engineering assistant
• Jason Bell – cover photography
• The Red Room – cover design
• Graeme Perkins – music supervisor for soundtrack

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2001–2002)	Peak position
Croatia (HRT)^[9]	6
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[10]	8
Romania (Romanian Top 100)^[11]	69

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)	Position
Ireland (IRMA)^[12]	12
UK Singles (OCC)^[13]	94

Chart (2002)	Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[14]	17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[15]	23
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[16]	29
Germany (Official German Charts)^[17]	35
Ireland (IRMA)^[18]	39
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[19]	29
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[20]	23
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[21]	25
UK Singles (OCC)^[22]	152

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
Germany	12 November 2001	CD	EMI	^[23]
United Kingdom	26 November 2001		Liberty UK

Cover versions

• In 2004, a dance remake of the song was released by Dutch producer Ronald Vos (under the moniker of Ronny V), with Nanda Philipse (from the Dutch gothic metal band Infinite Dawn) providing the vocals.^{[24] [25]}
• In 2008, the 2007 X-Factor finalist Rhydian Roberts included a duet of the song with American singer and Broadway actress Idina Menzel on his debut album Rhydian.^[26]
• Britain's Got Talent 2010 semi-finalist Olivia Archbold performed this song. She came in third place in the semi-finals and lost the judges' votes to Tobias Mead. Due to the performance, "What If" re-entered the UK Singles Charts at number 76 on 6 June 2010.

External links

• "Winslet Records a Single" (IMDb news article)
• "Winslet Launches Festive Chart Bid" (BBC News story)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Remembering Kate Winslet’s iconic 'What If' song from Christmas Carol: The Movie. Lovejoy. Hannah. Smooth Radio. 17 December 2021. 7 August 2023.
2. Web site: The winner takes it all. Ogae Song Contest. 3 May 2009. 12 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130812113351/http://www.ogaesongcontest.net/winners.htm. dead.
3. Web site: Kate Winslet – What If. Can't Stop the Pop. 23 November 2020. 9 December 2020.
4. Ellen, Barbara (2 December 2001). "Stars in their guises". p. 14. The Observer.
5. The Christmas Number One Race. Music Week. 21. 1 December 2001. 21 August 2021.
6. What If. Kate Winslet. 2001. UK CD single liner notes. Liberty Records UK. CDKATE 001, 7243 8 79994 0 4.
7. What If. Kate Winslet. 2001. UK cassette single sleeve. Liberty Records UK. TCKATE 001, 7243 8 79994 4 2.
8. What If. Kate Winslet. 2001. European CD single liner notes. EMI Records. 7243 8 79994 2 6.
9. Web site: Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija. https://web.archive.org/web/20020209142243/http://www.hrt.hr:80/hr/top20/maineng.html. dead. February 9, 2002. Croatian Radiotelevision. 14 April 2023.
10. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 20. 4. 19. 19 January 2002. 10 February 2020.
11. Web site: Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 7, saptamina 18.02-24.02, 2002. Romanian Top 100. ro. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050214115557/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10008.html. 14 February 2005. 7 May 2020.
12. Web site: Best of Singles 2001. IRMA. 10 December 2017.
13. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2001. UKChartsPlus. 26 May 2018.
14. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 2002. de. 22 October 2015.
15. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2002. Ultratop. nl. 26 May 2018.
16. Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002. Music & Media. 21. 2–3. 14. 11 January 2003. 10 February 2020.
17. Web site: Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2002. GfK Entertainment. de. 22 November 2015.
18. Web site: Top 100 Songs of 2002. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2002. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20040602113021/http://www.rte.ie/2fm/charts/top100_2002.html. 2 June 2004. 16 March 2022.
19. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2002. Dutch Top 40. 28 January 2020.
20. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2002. MegaCharts. nl. 26 May 2018.
21. Web site: Jahrescharts 2002. de. 10 October 2015.
22. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2002. UKChartsPlus. 28 March 2020.
23. Web site: Kate Winslet: What If. EMI Germany. de. https://web.archive.org/web/20020321025835/http://www.emimusic.de/xml/1/3250477/. 21 March 2002. 28 December 2023.
24. Web site: Ronny V Featuring Nanda – What If (CD, Maxi) at Discogs. . 28 March 2006 . 3 August 2009.
25. Web site: What If. YouTube. 28 January 2022.
26. Web site: Perfect pitch and the Cowell factor. Whetstone. David. journallive.co.uk. 29 November 2009. 3 August 2009. 13 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120213082250/http://www.journallive.co.uk/culture-newcastle/music-in-newcastle/2008/11/29/perfect-pitch-and-the-cowell-factor-61634-22365367/. dead.