I Can Only Imagine (David Guetta song)
{{Short description|2012 single by David Guetta}}
{{distinguish|text=the Christian song I Can Only Imagine (MercyMe song)}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I Can Only Imagine
| cover = David Guetta - I Can Only Imagine.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = David Guetta featuring Chris Brown and Lil Wayne
| album = Nothing but the Beat
| released = 2 May 2012
| recorded =
| studio =
- Paris, France (Gum Prod, Catfield)
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (Piano Music)
- Ibiza, Spain (Can Rocas)
- Naples, Italy (Test Pressing)
| genre =
| length = 3:29
| label =
| writer =
- Christopher Brown
- Dwayne Carter
- Jacob Luttrell
- Nasri Atweh
- David Guetta
- Giorgio Tuinfort
- Frédéric Riesterer
| producer =
- David Guetta
- Frédéric Riesterer
- Black Raw
| chronology = David Guetta
| prev_title = The Alphabeat
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Laserlight
| next_year = 2012
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Chris Brown
| type = single
| prev_title = Till I Die
| prev_year = 2012
| title = I Can Only Imagine
| year = 2012
| next_title = Put It Down
| next_year = 2012
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = Lil Wayne
| type = single
| prev_title = HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right)
| prev_year = 2012
| title = I Can Only Imagine
| year = 2012
| next_title = My Homies Still
| next_year = 2012
}}
}}
"I Can Only Imagine" is a song performed by French DJ David Guetta, featuring vocals from American singer Chris Brown and rapper Lil Wayne, from Guetta's fifth studio album Nothing but the Beat. It was released as the sixth single from the album on April 23, 2012.{{cite web|title=David Guetta : "I Can Only Imagine" (feat. Chris Brown et Lil Wayne) comme nouveau single|url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/David-Guetta/news-79100.html|publisher=Webedia|access-date=22 April 2012|language=fr|date=10 April 2012}} Prior to its official release, the song charted in the lower regions of the charts in Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Guetta, Brown and Wayne performed the song live for the first time at the 54th Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012.
Music video
The video was filmed on May 29, 2012, and premiered on July 2, 2012. It was directed by Colin Tilley. Guetta said that the video focuses more on futuristic images rather than on a plot as some of Guetta's other videos played out. It first opens up with Guetta walking into a room, and Brown appears in a mask as his eyes light up. As Brown starts singing in another scene, he is in a light-up suit. As the chorus plays, Brown is seen in a zero-gravity room. Guetta also then seen in the zero-gravity room. Wayne then is seen with a skateboard with a few other skateboarders in the background. Wayne is also located in another futuristic room. Brown is then seen in another room with a lit-up floor as he dances while he sings the chorus. Five other dancers join Brown.
Live performances
"I Can Only Imagine" was performed live by Guetta, Brown and Wayne at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite web | url=https://popcrush.com/lil-wayne-chris-brown-david-guetta-2012-grammy-dance-segment/ | title=Lil Wayne, David Guetta, Chris Brown + More Featured in 2012 Grammy Dance Segment | date=7 February 2012 }}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download{{cite web|title=I Can Only Imagine (feat. Chris Brown and Lil Wayne ) [Live At the 54th Annual Grammy Awards] - Single by David Guetta|date=26 August 2011 |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-can-only-imagine-feat.-chris/id503707259|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312094914/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-can-only-imagine-feat.-chris/id503707259|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 12, 2012|publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=22 April 2012}}
| title1 = I Can Only Imagine
| note1 = Live at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards
| length1 = 3:09
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download — EP{{cite web|title=I Can Only Imagine [What A Music]|url=http://www.beatport.com/release/i-can-only-imagine/901843|publisher=Beatport|access-date=24 April 2012}}
| title1 = I Can Only Imagine
| note1 = David Guetta and Daddy's Groove Remix
| length1 = 5:50
| title2 = I Can Only Imagine
| note2 = R3hab Remix
| length2 = 4:43
| title3 = I Can Only Imagine
| note3 = Extended Mix
| length3 = 5:31
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Promotional CD single{{cite web|url=http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=566857|title=David Guetta I Can Only Imagine UK Promo CD single (CD5 / 5") (566857)|website=eil.com}}
| title1 = I Can Only Imagine
| length1 = 3:29
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Promotional CD single{{cite web|url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHRIS-BROWN-PROMOS-DONT-WAKE-ME-UP-CAN-ONLY-IMAGINE-DAVID-GUETTA-/320989410317|title=CHRIS BROWN PROMOS DONT WAKE ME UP CAN ONLY IMAGINE DAVID GUETTA - eBay|website=www.ebay.com}}
| title1 = I Can Only Imagine
| length1 = 3:29
| title2 = I Can Only Imagine
| note2 = David Guetta and Daddy's Groove Remix
| length2 = 5:50
| title3 = I Can Only Imagine
| note3 = R3hab Remix
| length3 = 4:43
| title4 = I Can Only Imagine
| note4 = Extended Mix
| length4 = 5:31
| title5 = I Can Only Imagine
| note5 = Instrumental
| length5 = 3:29
}}
Charts and certifications
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (2011–12)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Australia|47|artist=David Guetta feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne|song=I Can Only Imagine}} |
| {{single chart|Austria|17|artist=David Guetta feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne|song=I Can Only Imagine}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|7|artist=David Guetta feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne|song=I Can Only Imagine}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia Tip|1|artist=David Guetta feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne|song=I Can Only Imagine}} |
| {{single chart|Canada|35|artist=David Guetta|artistid={{BillboardID|David Guetta}}}} |
| {{single chart|Czech Republic|46|year=2012|week=41}} |
| {{single chart|France|40|artist=David Guetta feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne|song=I Can Only Imagine}} |
| {{single chart|Germany|32|artist=David Guetta feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne|song=I Can Only Imagine|songid=884419}} |
| {{single chart|Hungarytop10|2|artist=David Guetta feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne|song=I Can Only Imagine|year=2012|week=35}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|18|artist=David Guetta featuring Chris Brown & Lil Wayne|song=I Can Only Imagine|access-date=20 January 2020}} |
| Italy (FIMI){{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/ricerca#/type:artists/show:charts/keyword:David+Guetta+Feat.+Chris+Brown+&+Lil+Wayne/page:0|title=FIMI - Database Top of the music - FIMI|website=www.fimi.it}}
| style="text-align:center;"|59 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2000/week-18|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 18, 2000| publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=March 12, 2023}}
|style="text-align:center;"|4 |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|98|artist=David Guetta feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne|song=I Can Only Imagine}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|28|artist=David Guetta feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne|song=I Can Only Imagine}} |
| Romania (Romanian Top 100){{cite web|url=http://www.kissfm.ro/emisiuni/54/Airplay-100.html |title=Official Romania chart |access-date=November 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426043304/http://www.kissfm.ro/emisiuni/54/Airplay-100.html |archive-date=April 26, 2013 }}
| style="text-align:center;"|36 |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|15|artist=David Guetta feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne|song=I Can Only Imagine}} |
| {{single chart|UK|18|artist=David Guetta|song=I Can Only Imagine|date=2012-07-28|access-date=2012-07-23}} |
| {{single chart|UKdance|2|artist=David Guetta feat. Chris Brown & Lil Wayne|song=I Can Only Imagine|date=2012-07-28}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|44|artist=David Guetta|artistid={{BillboardID|David Guetta}}}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceairplay|14|artist=David Guetta|artistid={{BillboardID|David Guetta}}}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|10|artist=David Guetta|artistid={{BillboardID|David Guetta}}}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|20|artist=David Guetta|artistid={{BillboardID|David Guetta}}}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|9|artist=David Guetta|artistid={{BillboardID|David Guetta}}}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (2012)
! Position |
|---|
| France (SNEP){{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-singles-annee/?categorie=Top%20Single%20de%20l%E2%80%99ann%C3%A9e&annee=2012|title=Top de l'année Top Singles 2012|publisher=SNEP|language=fr|access-date=20 August 2020}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 165 |
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|relyear=2012|certyear=2012|title=I Can Only Imagine|artist=David Guetta feat. Chris Brown and Lil Wayne|type=single|award=Gold}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|format=3col | nosales=true}}
{{col-end}}
Release history
References
{{Reflist}}
{{David Guetta singles}}
{{Chris Brown singles}}
{{Lil Wayne singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by David Guetta
Category:Songs written by Lil Wayne
Category:Music videos directed by Colin Tilley
Category:Songs written by Nasri (musician)
Category:Songs written by Chris Brown
Category:Songs written by Frédéric Riesterer
Category:Songs written by Giorgio Tuinfort