music.wikisort.org - Composition

"If I Had Words" is a 1977 song by Scott Fitzgerald as a duet with Yvonne Keeley. In 1978, it reached number 3 on the UK charts and number 3 on the Australian charts.[1] It sold more than one million copies worldwide. It was also a hit in Ireland (number 9), New Zealand, Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.

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 TV jingles and movie themes, who also produced the single.

The backing was by the St Thomas More Roman Catholic School Choir in Chelsea, London.[3]

In popular culture/cover versions

• 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.
• 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]
• The song was covered by Hawaiian musician Kealiʻi Reichel in the 1997 album ʻE O Mai.
• In 1999, boy band Westlife collaborated with the Vard Sisters and recorded the song.
• In 2014, Taiwanese-American singer-songwriter Joanna Wang covered the song on her album Midnight Cinema.

Sales and certifications

Certifications for If I Had Words

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI)[5]	Platinum	150,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

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