If I Never See Your Face Again

"If I Never See Your Face Again" was written by Adam Levine and James Valentine, two of the five band members from Maroon 5.{{cite AV media notes|others=Rihanna|title=Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded|year=2008|type= inlay cover|publisher=Def Jam Recordings, SRP Records|id=B0017QKHH2}} Production of the song was helmed by Mike Elizondo, Mark Endert, Mike "Spike" Stent, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Maroon 5. It was recorded by "Spike" Stent at Conway Studios, Hollywood, CA; Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, CA and Phantom Studios, Westlake Village, CA. The song was originally intended to be a duet with Janet Jackson and appear on her 2008 Discipline album, but due to label problems Rihanna later appeared on the song.

The song was included on the standard version of Maroon 5's 2007 album It Won't Be Soon Before Long without the inclusion of Rihanna, however, Levine stated in an interview with James Montgomery for MTV News whilst on set of the accompanying music video that he wanted to try something different for the album's re-release.{{cite web|last=Montgomery|first=James|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1586264/rihanna-maroon-5-team-up-magic-collaboration.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023021906/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1586264/rihanna-maroon-5-team-up-magic-collaboration.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 23, 2012|title=Rihanna, Maroon 5 Team Up For 'Magic' Collaboration, Complete With Ultra-Glam Video|publisher=MTV News. Viacom|date=2008-04-24|access-date=2012-01-28}} The singer continued, saying that he asked Rihanna to do some "bits and pieces" in the recording studio and that it came together very “quickly”. Levine stated that if there is "magic" between two artists, then "you don't even have to think about it." During the interview, Rihanna confirmed that the song would be the only one to feature a collaboration on her re-release of her 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad, entitled Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded revealing that she had always wanted to work with the group and was honored when they contacted her. "If I Never See Your Face Again" was released as a single in the United States on May 2, 2008.

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|description = "If I Never See Your Face Again" is an R&B song that incorporates a "jagged" use of synthesizers and "buzzing" guitars in its production.{{cite web|last=Flethcher|first=Alex|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a100893/maroon-5--rihanna-if-i-never-see-your-face-again.html|title=Maroon 5 & Rihanna: If I Never See Your Face Again|publisher=Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias|date=June 8, 2008|access-date=January 28, 2012}}

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"If I Never See Your Face Again" is a pop{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Gary|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/pages/maroon5x26x06x07|title=Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long Album Review|date=26 June 2007|publisher=Contactmusic.com|access-date=2012-01-28}} and R&B song,{{cite magazine|last=Drumming|first=Neil|url=https://ew.com/article/2010/11/10/loud/|title=Music Review - If I Never See Your Face Again|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=2007-05-18|access-date=2012-01-28|archive-date=October 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010085808/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20440920,00.html|url-status=live}} which lasts for 3:18 (3 minutes, 18 seconds).{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/if-i-never-see-your-face-again/279492572|title=iTunes - Music - If I Never See Your Face Again (feat. Rihanna)|publisher=iTunes Store (US). Apple|date=2008-05-02|access-date=2012-01-28}} The song was composed using common time in the key of G-sharp minor, with a moderate groove of 106 beats per minute.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0059745|title=Digital Sheet Music, 'If I Never See Your Face Again'|website=Musicnotes.com|year=2008}} Instrumentation is provided by synths,{{cite web|url=http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/790/790663p1.html|title=Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long|work=IGN|access-date=2012-01-28|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103035106/http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/790/790663p1.html|archive-date=2013-01-03|url-status=dead}} and a guitar.{{cite news|last=Blakeney|first=Jerome|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jr3n|title=Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long - Review|publisher=BBC|date=2007-05-18|access-date=2012-01-28}} A reviewer for IGN noted that "If I Never See Your Face Again" is complete with "slinky synth insinuations," whilst Jerome Blakeney for BBC wrote that it is a "guitar drenched" and "synth-crunching" song. Alex Fletcher for Digital Spy commented that the song incorporated a "jagged" use of synthesizers.{{cite web|last=Flethcher|first=Alex|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a100893/maroon-5--rihanna-if-i-never-see-your-face-again.html|title=Maroon 5 & Rihanna: If I Never See Your Face Again|work=Digital Spy|date=2008-06-08|access-date=2012-01-28}} For the most part of the song, Levine sings in his falsetto register, whilst Rihanna adopts "silky tone".

Upon the release of It Won't Be Soon Before Long, music critics commented on the original version of the song, which does not include guest vocals by Rihanna. Jerome Blakeney for BBC wrote that "If I Never See Your Face Again", along with another It Won't Be Soon Before Long track "Makes Me Wonder", were "monster weapons of mass-marketing aimed at the feet and riding on swathes of string-drenched, synth-crunching disco." A reviewer for IGN was complimentary of 'If I Never See Your Face Again', writing that it is hard to resist listening to the song. The reviewer also noted that Levine appeared to adopt a vocal style reminiscent of techniques employed by Justin Timberlake, writing "Like Justin Timberlake it's all about the high pitched tenor falsetto and some sinewy grooves."

Bill Lamb for About.com noted that "If I Never See Your Face Again" and "Makes Me Wonder" appeared to be inspired by British jazz funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai, writing "Any Jamiroquai fan may call foul if they listen to 'If I Never See Your Face Again' or 'Makes Me Wonder'."{{cite web|last=Lamb|first=Bill|url=http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/maroon5soonlong.htm|title=Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long|publisher=About.com|access-date=2012-01-29|archive-date=January 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130085628/http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/maroon5soonlong.htm|url-status=dead}} Sal Cinquemani was critical of the song, labeling it as "nasty."{{cite news|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/maroon-5-it-wont-be-soon-before-long/1117|title=Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long|work=Slant Magazine|date=2007-05-19|access-date=2012-01-29}} Alex Fletcher for Digital Spy disapproved of the collaboration between the band and Rihanna, with specific thoughts on Levine and Rihanna's pairing. Fletcher was critical of their vocal performance, writing that their voices clashed with one another and that "the sexual chemistry radar for the pairing registers at zero." Fletcher commented about the song further, writing that it should never have left the recording studio.

"If I Never See Your Face Again" achieved moderate chart success on singles charts around the world. It debuted on the Australian Singles Chart at number 28 June 1, 2008, and peaked at number 11 in its sixth week.{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Maroon+5+feat%2E+Rihanna&titel=If+I+Never+See+Your+Face+Again&cat=s|title=Rihanna – If I Never See Your Face Again (Song)|publisher=australian-charts.com|access-date=2012-01-29}} The song debuted on the New Zealand Singles Chart at number 37 on June 9, 2008, and peaked at number 21 the following week.{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Maroon+5+feat%2E+Rihanna&titel=If+I+Never+See+Your+Face+Again&cat=s|title=Rihanna – If I Never See Your Face Again (Song)|work=charts.nz|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=2012-01-29}} In Europe, the song debuted and peaked at number 15 on the Italian Singles Chart on July 17, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Maroon+5+feat%2E+Rihanna&titel=If+I+Never+See+Your+Face+Again&cat=s|title=Rihanna – If I Never See Your Face Again (Song)|publisher=italiancharts.com|access-date=2012-01-28}} The song remained on the chart for one week. It debuted on the Dutch Singles Chart at number 35 on June 14, 2008, and peaked at number 20 the following week.{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Maroon+5+feat%2E+Rihanna&titel=If+I+Never+See+Your+Face+Again&cat=s|title=Rihanna – If I Never See Your Face Again (Song)|publisher=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=2012-01-28}} The song fluctuated between positions in the twenties and seventies for 13 weeks. It debuted on the Danish Singles Chart at number 36 on July 27, 2008, and peaked at number 31 in its sixth week.{{cite web|url=https://danishcharts.dk/showitem.asp?interpret=Maroon+5+feat%2E+Rihanna&titel=If+I+Never+See+Your+Face+Again&cat=s|title=Rihanna – If I Never See Your Face Again (Song)|publisher=danishcharts.dk|access-date=2012-01-28}}

"If I Never See Your Face Again" debuted on the Swiss Singles Chart at number 61 on June 29, 2008, and peaked at number 52 the following week, where it remained in its third week.{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Maroon+5+feat%2E+Rihanna&titel=If+I+Never+See+Your+Face+Again&cat=s|title=Rihanna – If I Never See Your Face Again (Song)|publisher=hitparade.ch|access-date=2012-01-29|language=de}} It debuted on the Austrian Singles Chart at number 67 on September 5, 2008, and peaked at number 54 the following week.{{cite web|url=http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Maroon+5+feat%2E+Rihanna&titel=If+I+Never+See+Your+Face+Again&cat=s|title=Rihanna – If I Never See Your Face Again (Song)|publisher=austriancharts.at|access-date=2012-01-29}} "If I Never See Your Face Again" debuted and peaked on the UK Singles Chart at number 28 on June 14, 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20080622/7501/|title=2006 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive 28th June 2008|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=2008-01-29|access-date=2012-01-29}} Over the following two weeks, the song descend down the top-forty, before falling out in its third week. The song made a re-entry on the chart at number 36 on July 7, 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20080608/7501/|title=2006 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive 14th June 2008|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=2008-01-29|access-date=2012-01-29}} In the United States, the song peaked at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on July 26, 2008.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=maroon 5|chart=all}}|title=If I Never See Your face Again - Maroon 5 - Chart History|magazine=Billboard|date=2008-06-28|access-date=2012-01-29}} It peaked at number 10 on the Adult Pop Songs chart; number 30 on the Pop Songs chart and 21 on the Hot Digital Songs chart.

File:Maroon5ftRihanna.jpg

The song's accompanying music video was directed by Anthony Mandler,{{cite news|last=Lynskey|first=Dorian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/may/23/urban|title=Sweetness and steel|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media|date=2008-05-03|access-date=2012-01-29}} and shot on an indoor soundstage in Castaic, California on April 23, 2008. The concept for the video was "high-end erotica". In an interview with James Montgomery for MTV News whilst on set of the music video, Levine provided a summary of what the video would entail, saying: "It's this kind of ultra-glamorous, photography-based, late-'70s/ early-'80s situation. It's really stylish and really beautiful ... It's the most choreographed thing I've ever done, because usually I just get up there and screw around. But with Rihanna, it's completely different and so cool." In response, Rihanna continued to say that "I don't do a lot of videos where I have so much chemistry with the other artist, and this is only my second duet in a video ... It's really intense, because you have to work with each other so much. It's new for me, but I'm enjoying it."

The video was made available to download digitally via iTunes on May 13, 2008.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/music-video/if-i-never-see-your-face-again/280754759|title=iTunes - Music Videos - If I Never See Your Face Again (feat. Rihanna)|publisher=iTunes Store (US). Apple|date=2008-05-13|access-date=2012-01-29}}

The video begins with the sound of a ticking clock and Levine and Rihanna sitting opposite each other at a table, tapping their hands and staring at one another. Maroon 5 start to play their instruments as Rihanna sits and watches them. The table and band scenes are intercut with each other for the first verse and chorus. In the second verse, Levine and Rihanna appear to argue and try to ignore the other's advances. Rihanna lies suggestively on a bed while Levine sits on a chair with his head turned in the opposite direction for the bridge. For the final chorus, the pair appear to reconcile, ending with Levine finally giving in to temptation. He walks to the end of the table where Rihanna sits and caresses her neck, causing her to lean towards him seductively. The two nearly kiss as the video ends.

Another music video for the song's original version titled "Japan Tour 2008", was released on July 11, 2008 by Amnesty International.{{cite web|url=http://www.maroon5.com/news/detail/amnesty_video_debut/|title=Amnesty Video Debut|website=Maroon 5.com|date=July 11, 2008|access-date=March 21, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004121958/http://www.maroon5.com/news/detail/amnesty_video_debut/|archive-date=October 4, 2008}} The video which is mainly an animated slideshow with photographs of Maroon 5 heading to Japan, during the It Won't Be Soon Before Long Tour in March 2008. This video was directed by Bob Carmichael.{{cite web|url=https://www.maroon5.com/videos/maroon-5-japan|title=Maroon 5 – If I Never See Your Face Again (Japan Tour 2008)|website=Maroon 5.com|access-date=May 29, 2020|archive-date=March 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321185231/https://www.maroon5.com/videos/maroon-5-japan|url-status=dead}}

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• Album versions{{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/it-wont-be-soon-before-long/id254675920|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121193751/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/it-wont-be-soon-before-long/id254675920|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 21, 2009|title=iTunes - Music - It Won't Be Soon Before Long|publisher=iTunes Store (US). Apple|date=2007-05-22|access-date=2012-01-29}}

1. "If I Never See Your Face Again" – 3:21
2. "If I Never See Your Face Again" (feat. Rihanna) – 3:18

• Digital download

1. "If I Never See Your Face Again" (feat. Rihanna) – 3:18

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• Australian extended play (EP){{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/if-i-never-see-your-face-again/id282881568 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624192557/https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/if-i-never-see-your-face-again/id282881568 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 24, 2016 |title=iTunes - Music - If I Never See Your Face Again|publisher=iTunes Store (AU). Apple|date=2007-05-22|access-date=2012-01-29}}

1. "If I Never See Your Face Again" – 3:18
2. "If I Never See Your Face Again" (Paul Oakenfold Remix Edit) – 3:30
3. "If I Never See Your Face Again" (Live from MSN Control Room) – 4:11

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Recording

• Recorded at Conway Studios, Hollywood, CA; Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, CA; Phantom Studios, Westlake Village, CA; House of Blues Studios, Encino, CA and Henson Studios, Hollywood, CA.
• Mixed at Scream Studios, Miami, FL.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded, Def Jam Recordings.

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• Songwriting – Adam Levine, James Valentine
• Production – Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Mike Elizondo, Mark Endert, Mark "Spike" Stent, Maroon 5
• Recording – Mark "Spike" Stent

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• Mixing – Mike Endert
• Mixing assistant – Doug Johnson
• Adam Levine - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• James Valentine - lead guitar, backing vocals
• Mickey Madden - bass guitar
• Matt Flynn - drums, percussion

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "If I Never See Your Face Again"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2008|certyear=2014|access-date=June 21, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Maroon 5|title=If I Never See Your Face Again|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2008|certyear=2024|access-date=May 2, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Maroon 5|title=If I Never See Your Face Again|award=Gold|relyear=2008|certyear=2014|digital=true}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Maroon 5|title=If I Never See your Face Again|award=Platinum|relyear=2008|certyear=2018|digital=true|access-date=August 19, 2014|salesamount=1,109,000|salesref={{cite magazine | url =http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6121401/ask-billboard-magics-rude-revives-reggae?page=0%2C1 | title = Ask Billboard: MAGIC!'s 'Rude' Revives Reggae | author =Trust, Gary|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media| date = June 15, 2014}}}}

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{{Reflist}}

{{Maroon 5}}

{{Rihanna songs}}

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Category:2008 singles

Category:Maroon 5 songs

Category:Music videos directed by Anthony Mandler

Category:Rihanna songs

Category:Songs written by Adam Levine

Category:Songs written by James Valentine (musician)

Category:Song recordings produced by Spike Stent

Category:2007 songs

Category:A&M Octone Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Elizondo

Category:Torch songs

Category:Male–female vocal duets