If I Had Words

"If I Had Words"
Single by Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley
B-side	"This Time of Year"
Released	4 November 1977 (1977-11-04)
Genre	Pop
Length	3:48
Label	Pepper
Songwriter(s)	Camille Saint-Saëns
Producer(s)	Jonathan Hodge

"If I Had Words" is a duet by Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley, released as a single in November 1977. It was a top-ten hit in several countries and sold more than one million copies worldwide. The backing was by the St Thomas More Roman Catholic School Choir in London.^[1]

Composition and release

The tune was taken from the main theme of the maestoso section of Saint-Saëns' Symphony No.3 in C minor (Symphony with organ) with an added reggae beat. (In the symphony, the theme used in the song is first exposed by the strings section in the second movement; it is later also played by the organ.^[2]) The lyrics and arrangement were by Jonathan Hodge, a prolific writer of television jingles and film themes, who also produced the single.^{[citation needed]}

"If I Had Words" topped the charts in the Netherlands and Belgium upon its release and peaked at number three in the UK and Australia. Its popularity in the Netherlands saw it certified platinum. It was also re-recorded by Fitzgerald and Keeley in 2010 and released as a charity single in the Netherlands in support of the Foundation KiKa.^[3]

In popular culture

The song was heard in the 1995 film Babe, sung both by Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell) and by a trio of mice for a sped-up version. It was also partially incorporated into the film's suite (instrumental). It was also featured in the film's sequel, Babe: Pig in the City.^{[citation needed]}
The song was covered in German by Angie Gold. Her version, titled "Der schönste Tag" (English translation: "The most beautiful day"), was released as a single in Germany on Polydor in 1978.^[4]
In 1999, boy band Westlife collaborated with the Vard Sisters and recorded the song.^{[citation needed]}

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[5]	3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[6]	1
Germany (Official German Charts)^[7]	25
Ireland (IRMA)^[8]	9
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[9]	1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[10]	1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[11]	8
Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)^[12]	10
UK Singles (OCC)^[13]	3

Chart (2010)	Peak position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[14]	65

Year-end charts

Chart (1978)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)^[15]	12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[16]	4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[17]	2

Sales and certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI)^[18]	Platinum	150,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 201. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^ Saint-Saëns, Camille (19--). Symphony no. 3 in C minor, opus 78, for orchestra and organ. Available at: http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/aef8378/index.html, New York, N.Y.: International Music Co., pp. 126–129.
^ "Yvonne Keeley & Scott Fitzgerald - If I Had Words 2010". Discogs. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
^ "ultratop.be - Angie Gold - Der schönste Tag". Ultratop. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 112. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
^ "Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If I Had Words". Irish Singles Chart.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley with the St. Thomas Moore School Choir" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
^ "Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words". Top 40 Singles.
^ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
^ "Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
^ "Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words 2010" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "Jaaroverzichten 1978". Ultratop.
^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1978". www.top40.nl.
^ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1978". www.dutchcharts.nl.
^ "Dutch single certifications – Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 16 July 2022. Enter If I Had Words in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1978 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".

This page was last edited on 27 December 2023, at 02:35

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