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If I Could Turn Back Time

{{Short description|1989 single by Cher}}

{{Distinguish|Turn Back Time (disambiguation){{!}}Turn Back Time|If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time|Turn Back the Hands of Time}}

{{About|the song|the album|If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}

{{Infobox song

| name = If I Could Turn Back Time

| cover = Cher-if-i-could-turn-back-time-1989-US-vinyl.jpg

| type = single

| artist = Cher

| album = Heart of Stone

| B-side = Some Guys

| released = {{start date|1989|06|20}}

| recorded =

| studio = Criterion Studios (Los Angeles, California)

| genre =

| length =

  • 4:16 (album version)
  • 4:02 (radio edit)

| label = Geffen

| writer = Diane Warren

| producer =

  • Diane Warren
  • Guy Roche

| prev_title = After All

| prev_year = 1989

| next_title = Just Like Jesse James

| next_year = 1989

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|9n3A_-HRFfc|"If I Could Turn Back Time"}}}}

}}

"If I Could Turn Back Time" is a song performed by American singer and actress Cher from her nineteenth studio album, Heart of Stone. It was released as the album's lead single in June 1989, by Geffen Records. The song was written specifically for Cher by Diane Warren, who produced it in collaboration with Guy Roche. Cher was unmoved by a demo of the song sung by Warren, but Roche insisted she record it. The lyrics talk about the feelings of remorse due to bad deeds and the willingness to reverse time to make things right.

"If I Could Turn Back Time" is a pop rock and soft rock song that features instrumentation from guitars, piano and drums. The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who applauded its overall production and Cher's vocal performance, with some considering it to be a highlight of the album. Commercially, the song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and became Cher's first number-one hit in Australia. It also reached the top 10 of the record charts in Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

The accompanying music video for "If I Could Turn Back Time", directed by Marty Callner, was shot on board of the battleship {{USS|Missouri|BB-63|6}} and portrays Cher performing for the ship's crew, wearing a leather thong that revealed her tattooed buttocks and straddling a cannon. Military personnel condemned the video, while some family groups protested against its broadcast, because they deemed it offensive for the Navy and controversial. Following these protests, MTV was forced to air the video after the 9pm watershed.

"If I Could Turn Back Time" has been performed on seven of Cher's concert tours, most recently on the Here We Go Again Tour in 2018–2020, and at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards. The song has been covered by a number of artists and has also been featured on the soundtrack of Deadpool 2 (2018), among others.

Background

The song was written by Diane Warren, who produced the song along with Guy Roche.{{cite AV media notes |title=Heart of Stone |publisher=Geffen Records |others=Cher |title-link=Heart of Stone (Cher album)|year=1989}} While the soft rock track was specifically written for Cher, the singer initially disliked the song upon hearing a demo and turned it down. Warren claimed in 1991: "I got on my knees and pleaded. I told her I wasn't going to leave the room until she said yes, and finally, just to get rid of me, she did."{{cite web|title=They're Playing Her Song|first=Cynthia|last=Sanz|work=People|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20115562,00.html|date=July 22, 1991|access-date=September 26, 2014}} In 2014, she further added: "She really hated [it], but I held her leg down during a session and said, 'You have to record it!'" According to Warren, Cher reportedly responded: "'Fuck you, bitch! You're hurting my leg! OK, I'll try it.' Once Cher sang it, she gave me this look like, 'You were right'."{{cite web|title=Diane Warren Reveals Cher's Reaction to 'If I Could Turn Back Time': 'F--- You, Bitch!'|first=Merle|last=Ginsberg|work=Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6176196/diane-warren-reveals-chers-reaction-to-if-i-could-turn-back-time-f-you-bitch|date=July 23, 2014|access-date=September 26, 2014}}

{{listen

| filename = If i could turn back time.ogg

| title = "If I Could Turn Back Time"

| description = A 30-second sample of "If I Could Turn Back Time", featuring Cher{{ffdc|1=If i could turn back time.ogg|log=2025 February 18}}

}}

Critical reception

Gary Hill of AllMusic retrospectively wrote that the song "has a crunchy texture to it, albeit in a poppy, '80s Starship sort of arrangement."[http://www.allmusic.com/album/heart-of-stone-mw0000200201 Review by Allmusic] Retrieved October 14, 2013 The Daily Vault's Mark Millan noted it as a "soft-rock anthem".{{cite web|first= Mark |last= Millan |title= Heart Of Stone – Cher |publisher= The Daily Vault |date= March 8, 2011 |access-date= November 20, 2020 |url= http://dailyvault.com/toc.php5?review=6828}} Music & Media described it as "a well-produced FM sing-along."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-09-16.pdf|title=Previews: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|date=September 16, 1989|page=20|access-date=September 25, 2020}}

Music video

File:Cher If I Could Turn Back Time Video.jpgThe music video for "If I Could Turn Back Time", directed by American television director Marty Callner, takes place on board the battleship {{USS|Missouri|BB-63|6}}. It depicts Cher and her band performing a concert for a couple hundred of the ship's enthusiastic crew in white ceremonial dress uniform.{{cite web |title=How The U.S.S. Missouri — One Of The World's Greatest Battleships — Connected Harry Truman To Cher |url=https://www.kcur.org/show/up-to-date/2019-12-07/how-the-u-s-s-missouri-one-of-the-worlds-greatest-battleships-connected-harry-truman-to-cher |website=KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR |publisher=KCUR-FM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222030907/https://www.kcur.org/show/up-to-date/2019-12-07/how-the-u-s-s-missouri-one-of-the-worlds-greatest-battleships-connected-harry-truman-to-cher |archive-date=February 22, 2024 |language=en |date=December 7, 2019 |url-status=live}} The video was filmed in Los Angeles in the middle of the night around Friday June 30, 1989, while the ship was stationed at the former Long Beach Naval Shipyard at Pier D. In the video, the band plays under the main guns on the foredeck, and the ship is rigged with spotlights, light racks and strobes. Cher's son, Elijah Blue Allman, 12 at the time, appears as one of the band's guitarists wearing dark glasses and a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt.

The Department of the Navy had granted permission for the music video shoot because of its potential for boosting Navy recruitment;{{cite web |last1=Fiore |first1=Faye |title=In Video, the Navy Sees More of Cher Than It Foresaw |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-17-me-1483-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240704232157/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-17-me-1483-story.html |archive-date=July 4, 2024 |date=17 November 1989 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |author1=JACK ANDERSON and DALE VAN ATTA |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1990/01/05/chers-dirty-dance-embarrasses-navy//c7676fce-b1d3-44a8-8e5f-bfce3ebd952a/ |title=CHER'S DIRTY DANCE EMBARRASSES NAVY |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240924024544/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1990/01/05/chers-dirty-dance-embarrasses-navy/c7676fce-b1d3-44a8-8e5f-bfce3ebd952a/ |archive-date=September 24, 2024 |date=January 4, 1990 |url-status=live}} at the time (1989) the Navy did not have a budget for TV ads. The Navy initially selected the battleship {{USS|New Jersey|BB-62|6}} for the video. However, New Jersey was out to sea when Callner needed to do an initial site survey, so he toured her sister ship, Missouri, instead. During Callner's visit, Missouri{{'}}s public affairs officer, Lieutenant Mark Walker, convinced him to change the filming location to Missouri.Source: Interview with Lt. Mark Walker

Cher's Bob Mackie-designed{{cite web |last1=Tangcay |first1=Jazz |title=Cher's 10 Best Looks of All Time, Hand-Picked by Bob Mackie |url=https://variety.com/lists/chers-10-best-outfits-bob-mackie/after-all/ |publisher=Variety |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316231748/https://variety.com/lists/chers-10-best-outfits-bob-mackie |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |date=20 May 2021 |quote=number 10 |url-status=live}} outfit for the original video, a fishnet body stocking under a black one-piece bathing suit that left most of her buttocks (and a tattoo of a butterfly) exposed, proved controversial, and many television networks refused to show the video.{{cite web |last1=Rossen |first1=Jake |title=Too Hot for MTV: When Cher's Backside Caused a Major Backlash In 1989 |url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/649572/cher-mtv-ban |website=Mental Floss |date=26 August 2021}}{{cite web |title=Aug 20, 1989, page 6 - Sunday News at Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/597888685/?terms=%22If%20I%20Could%20Turn%20Back%20Time%22%20MTV&match=1 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}} MTV first banned the video, and later played it only after 9 PM. A second version of the video was made, including new scenes and less overtly sexual content than the original. The outfit and risque nature of the video were a complete surprise to the Navy, who expected Cher to wear a jumpsuit for the concert, as presented on storyboards during original discussions with producers. The sailors were already in place and the band had begun playing when Cher emerged in her outfit. Lieutenant Commander Steve Honda from the Navy's Hollywood Liaison office requested Callner briefly suspend shooting and convince Cher to change into more conservative attire, but Callner refused.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

The Navy received criticism for allowing the video shoot, especially from World War II veterans who saw it as a desecration of a national historic site that should be treated with reverence: USS Missouri was the site of the Empire of Japan's surrender on September 2, 1945, thus ending World War II.

No Navy officials were disciplined for their role in supporting the video, although reportedly the Secretary of the Navy briefly considered firing the captain of USS Missouri. Other parts of the Navy commended the event.

In 2021, the video appeared on a "Sexiest Music Videos of All Time" list by Rolling Stone magazine.{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Maura |title=The 30 Sexiest Music Videos of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-30-sexiest-music-videos-of-all-time-202547/cher-if-i-could-turn-back-time-196083/ |publisher=Rolling Stone |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230205214428/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-30-sexiest-music-videos-of-all-time-202547/cher-if-i-could-turn-back-time-196083/ |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |date=19 June 2021 |url-status=live}}

In 2003, Cher released her Living Proof: Farewell Tour concert on DVD which included an official "If I Could Turn Back Time" remix video.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Live performances

File:Cher TBT D2K.jpg.]]

Cher performed the song on the following concert tours:

Track listings

  • US and European 7-inch and cassette single
  1. "If I Could Turn Back Time" (remix) – 3:59
  2. "Some Guys" – 3:59
  • European 12-inch single
  1. "If I Could Turn Back Time" (rock guitar version) – 4:06
  2. "Some Guys" – 3:59
  3. "Kiss to Kiss" – 4:23
  • European CD single
  1. "If I Could Turn Back Time" (rock guitar version) – 4:06
  2. "If I Could Turn Back Time" (7-inch version) – 3:59
  3. "I Found Someone" (7-inch version) – 3:42

Personnel

Production

  • Arranged and produced by Diane Warren and Guy Roche
  • Recorded by Frank Wolf, with assistance from Guy Roche
  • Mixed by Frank Wolf
  • Published by Realsongs

Charts and certifications

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1989–1990)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|1|artist=Cher|song=If I Could Turn Back Time|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
{{single chart|Austria|14|artist=Cher|song=If I Could Turn Back Time|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
{{single chart|Flanders|6|artist=Cher|song=If I Could Turn Back Time|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|2|chartid=6564|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|1|chartid=6561|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
Canada (The Record){{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-10-21.pdf|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 2, 2015}}

|align="center"|7

Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-11-25.pdf|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 2, 2015}}

|align="center"|16

Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-9904|title=Cher - Top Titel|language=de|publisher=GfK Entertainment|access-date=November 2, 2015}}

|align="center"|16

{{single chart|Ireland2|6|song=If I Could Turn Back Time|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
Italy (Musica e Dischi){{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=Musica e Dischi|language=it|access-date=30 May 2022}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Cher".

| align="center"|25

{{single chart|Dutch40|6|year=1989|week=42|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|4|artist=Cher|song=If I Could Turn Back Time|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|3|artist=Cher|song=If I Could Turn Back Time|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
Quebec (ADISQ){{cite web|url=http://www.banq.qc.ca/collections/collections_patrimoniales/musique/collection_numerique/bd_specialisee/palmares/|title=Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec|publisher=BAnQ|language=fr|access-date=September 11, 2019|archive-date=August 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809215510/http://www.banq.qc.ca/collections/collections_patrimoniales/musique/collection_numerique/bd_specialisee/palmares/|url-status=dead}}

| style="text-align:center;"|8

Spain Top 40 Radio (Promusicae){{cite book|first=Fernando|last=Salaverri|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}

|align="center"|39

{{single chart|Sweden|11|artist=Cher|song=If I Could Turn Back Time|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|6|artistid=11931|artist=Cher|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|3|artist=Cher|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=Cher|access-date=November 2, 2015}}
US Cash Box Top 100[https://web.archive.org/web/20150603134241/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19891230.html Cash Box Top 100 Singles, December 30, 1989]

|align="center"|3

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (2021–2022)

!Peak
position

Canadian Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/cher/chart-history/cns/ |title= Cher's Canadian Digital Song Sales history|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 15, 2021}}

|align="center"|28

{{single chart|Poland|74|chartid=3635|year=2021|access-date=January 18, 2021}}
{{single chart|UKdownload|71|date=20220304|access-date=10 June 2022}}
{{single chart|Billboarddigitalsongs|37|artist=Cher|song=If I Could Turn Back Time|access-date=March 15, 2021}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1989)

!Position

Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/1989/singles-chart|title=ARIA End of Year Singles 1989|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=1990|access-date=January 26, 2018}}

|align="center"|5

Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1989|title=Jaaroverzichten 1989|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=November 2, 2015}}

|align="center"|53

Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6684&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6684.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6684|title=Top 100 Singles of '89|work=RPM|date=July 17, 2013 |access-date=November 2, 2015}}

|align="center"|19

Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=http://www.top40.nl/pdf/top100/top100-1989.pdf |title=Single Top 100 Van 1989 |language=nl |publisher=Stichting Nederlandse Top 40 |access-date=November 2, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622013916/http://www.top40.nl/pdf/top100/top100-1989.pdf |archive-date=June 22, 2013 }}

|align="center"|62

Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1989&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten - Single 1989|publisher=Hung Medien|language=nl|access-date=November 2, 2015}}

|align="center"|37

UK Singles (Official Charts Company){{cite web|url=http://www.mostynhouseschool.com/pg/80/top50/uk89.htm|title=End of Year Chart - Top 50 Singles of 1989|publisher=OCC|access-date=November 2, 2015}}

|align="center"|43

US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-12-23.pdf|title=The Year in Music: 1999|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 2, 2015}}

|align="center"|35

US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)

|align="center"|21

{{col-end}}

Certifications and sales

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry | region=Australia | title=If I Could Turn Back Time | artist=Cher | type=single | award=Platinum | number=2 | relyear=1989 | certyear=1990|access-date=August 8, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry | region=Denmark | title=If I Could Turn Back Time | artist=Cher | type=single | award= Gold | relyear=1989 | certyear=2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Cher|title=If I Could Turn Back Time|award=Platinum|relyear=1989|id=/2024/00/00/single-cert-search/|source=Radioscope|note=digital|access-date=December 13, 2024|certyear=2021|certref={{cite web|url=https://www.radioscope.co.nz/2024/00/00/single-cert-search/|title=New Zealand single certifications|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=December 13, 2024}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry | region=United Kingdom | title=If I Could Turn Back Time | artist=Cher | type=single | award= Platinum | relyear=1989 | certyear=2022|note=sales since 2004|id=15142-885-1|access-date=December 18, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry | region=United States | title=If I Could Turn Back Time | artist=Cher | type=single | award= Gold | relyear=1989 | certyear=1989 | refname="RIAA"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States| title=Believe | artist=Cher |type=single|nocert=true|relyear=1998|salesref={{cite magazine | title=Ask Billboard: Cher Information, Yes? | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/465290/ask-billboard-twice-is-nice-twice-for-adele?page=0%2C1 | magazine=Billboard | date=November 5, 2011 | access-date=March 11, 2012}}|salesamount=394,000|note=digital}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

Appearances in the media

The song is featured in a post-credit scene in the 2018 film Deadpool 2, on which the titular character goes on a time traveling spree to change events of the past, such as averting the deaths of Vanessa and X-Force member Peter, and killing his counterpart from X-Men Origins: Wolverine and actor Ryan Reynolds.

In the film Walking on Sunshine, there is a version of this song performed by the protagonists Taylor (Hannah Arterton) and Raf (Giulio Berruti).

The song was used in the 2019 commercial for Luminess Silk Foundation makeup products.{{cite web|url= https://www.ispot.tv/ad/Zgbv/luminess-silk-turn-back-time-song-by-cher |title= Silk TV Commercial, Turn Back Time Song by Cher |publisher=ispot.tv|access-date=May 17, 2020}} In 2025 it was used in an Uber Eats commercial in which Cher herself appeared.Billboard [https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/cher-turns-back-time-uber-eats-ad-1235886729/ Watch Cher’s Time Travel Trip to the ’80s Go Terribly Wrong in Hilarious Commercial]

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Cher (navbox)}}

{{Cher songs part 1}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1989 songs

Category:1989 singles

Category:Cher songs

Category:Number-one singles in Australia

Category:Songs written by Diane Warren

Category:Music videos directed by Marty Callner

Category:Geffen Records singles

Category:Music video controversies

Category:Obscenity controversies in music

Category:Rock ballads

Category:1980s ballads

Category:American soft rock songs