"If I Was" is a 1985 song by 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 first solo album The Gift. It reached #1 on the UK singles chart for one week in September 1985.[1]
"If I Was" | ||||
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Single by Midge Ure | ||||
from the album The Gift | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 2 September 1985 | |||
Recorded | July 1985 | |||
Genre | Synthpop, new wave | |||
Length | 4:46 (single version) 5:20 (album version) 6:45 (extended mix) | |||
Label | Chrysalis | |||
Songwriter(s) | Danny Mitchell, Midge Ure | |||
Producer(s) | Midge Ure | |||
Midge Ure singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
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In the sleeve notes for the 2001 compilation If I Was: The Very Best of Midge Ure & Ultravox Ure wrote:
Ure played all instruments on the song except bass guitar, which was played by Mark King of Level 42.
The music video featured Ure's face patterns on a Pin Art pinscreen.
The instrumental "Piano" was released on the B-side of the 7" and 12" singles. The 12" single featured a second track: a cover 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).[2] Both songs were added as bonus tracks to the CD reissue of The Gift in 1996.[3]
Chart (1985/1986) | Peak position |
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UK Singles (OCC)[4] | 1 |
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] | 10 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] | 6 |
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[7] | 9 |
Canada (RPM)[8] | 13 |
Ireland (IRMA)[9] | 1 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] | 12 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] | 8 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] | 16 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[13] | 2 |
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Studio albums | |
Compilation albums |
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Singles |
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Related articles |
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Authority control ![]() |
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