If I Had Words
{{short description|1977 single by Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name = If I Had Words
| cover =
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| type = single
| artist = Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley
| album =
| B-side = This Time of Year
| released = {{start date|1977|11|4|df=yes}}
| recorded =
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| venue =
| genre = Pop
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=48}}
| label = Pepper
| writer = Camille Saint-Saëns
| producer = Jonathan Hodge
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"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.{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |year=2006 |isbn=1-904994-10-5 |edition=19th |location=London |page=201}}
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.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.) The lyrics and arrangement were by Jonathan Hodge, a prolific writer of television jingles and film themes, who also produced the single.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}
"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.{{Cite web |title=Yvonne Keeley & Scott Fitzgerald - If I Had Words 2010 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/25161916-Yvonne-Keeley-Scott-Fitzgerald-If-I-Had-Words-2010 |website=Discogs|access-date=21 November 2023 |language=en}}
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|date=December 2023}}
- 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.{{cite web |title=ultratop.be - Angie Gold - Der schönste Tag |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/12e634/Angie-Gold-Der-schoenste-Tag |access-date=7 December 2019 |website=Ultratop}}
- In 1999, boy band Westlife collaborated with the Vard Sisters and recorded the song.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}
Charts
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=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1978) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|first= David |last= Kent |author-link= David Kent (historian) |year= 1993 |title= Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |edition= illustrated |publisher= Australian Chart Book |location= St Ives, N.S.W. |page= 112 |isbn= 0-646-11917-6}}
|3 |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Flanders|1|artist=Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley|song=If I Had Words|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Germany|25|artist=Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley|song=If I Had Words|songid=26054|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Ireland2|9|song=If I Had Words|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch40|1|artist=Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley with the St. Thomas Moore School Choir|song=If I Had Words|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch100|1|artist=Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley|song=If I Had Words|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|New Zealand|8|artist=Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley|song=If I Had Words|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
|10 |
| {{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|3|artist=Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley|artistid=16657|rowheader=true}} |
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2010) !Peak |
| {{singlechart|Dutch100|65|artist=Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley|song=If I Had Words 2010|rowheader=true|refname=nl2010}} |
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=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1978) !Position |
| scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1978|title=Jaaroverzichten 1978|publisher=Ultratop}}
|12 |
|---|
| scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1978|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1978
|website=www.top40.nl}} |4 |
| scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url= https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1978&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten - Single 1978|website=www.dutchcharts.nl}}
|2 |
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Sales and certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley|title=If I Had Words|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1977|certyear=1978|access-date=16 July 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}