If I Never Sing Another Song
{{Short description|Song written by Don Black & Udo Jürgens}}
{{Infobox song
| name = If I Never Sing Another Song
| type = song
| language = German, English
| genre = Traditional Pop, Vocal
| length =
| label =
| writer = Alexandra (Illusionen) (In German)
| lyricist = Don Black, Udo Jürgens
}}
"If I Never Sing Another Song" is a pop ballad written originally by Alexandra. She named it “Illusionen” (Translation from German to English; Illusions). Contributions and changes were made later by Don Black and Udo Jürgens.{{Citation |title=If I Never Sing Another Song by Matt Monro |url=https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/540315/all |access-date=2024-12-24 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Office |first=Library of Congress Copyright |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0VshAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22&pg=PA454 |title=Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series |date=1977 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Silva |first=George Batista Da |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oQs1EAAAQBAJ&dq=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22&pg=PA38 |title=Matt Monro No Vinil |date=2021-06-13 |publisher=Clube de Autores |language=en}} English singer Matt Monro was the first to record and release the song in English, with John Burgess producing it.{{Cite web |title=Tracks on If I Never Sing Another Song - Matt Monro (1979) {{!}} SecondHandSongs |url=https://secondhandsongs.com/release/165283 |access-date=2024-12-24 |website=secondhandsongs.com}}{{Cite book |last=Monro |first=Michele |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sDu_BgAAQBAJ&dq=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22&pg=PT967 |title=Matt Monro: The Singer's Singer |date=2011-09-23 |publisher=Titan Books |isbn=978-1-84856-950-8 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Vladimir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LXfEDgAAQBAJ&dq=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22&pg=PA324 |title=Soldiers of Peace: A Love Chronicle of Moscow and London |date=2017-04-18 |publisher=Educreation Publishing |language=en}}
Background
The song was first written in German in 1967 by Alexandra, who sang the song herself.{{Cite book |last=Bendig |first=Volker |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3RaMEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22alexandra%22%20%22Illusionen%22&pg=PA490 |title=Improvisatorisches und kreatives Klavierspiel: Eine Einführung für die Vokalpraxis mit zahlreichen Hör- und Notenbeispielen |date=2022-09-26 |publisher=UTB |isbn=978-3-8252-5769-9 |language=de}}
The meaning behind the song is about a "superstar who has enjoyed the spotlight and heard all the applause the world has ever made" but being okay with not being able to reach the heights again as he "has tasted everything that fame could bring".{{Cite book |last=Company |first=Johnson Publishing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xMwDAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22if+i+never+sing+another+song%22&pg=PA1 |title=Ebony |date=July 1989 |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company |language=en}} It encapsulates being in the twilight of a singers' career.{{Cite book |last=M.D |first=Ariston P. Awitan Jr |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j9gzEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22&pg=PT85 |title=The Autobiography of Ariston P. Awitan, Jr., M.D.: Which Prevailed, the Son's Goal or the Father's Dream? |date=2021-06-10 |publisher=Xlibris Corporation |isbn=978-1-6641-7984-4 |language=en}}{{Infobox song
| name = If I Never Sing Another Song
| type = single
| artist = Matt Monro
| album = "If I Never Sing Another Song" (Album)
| language = English
| genre = pop, easy-listening, Vocal
| length = 3:48
| label = Columbia Records
| producer = John Burgess
}}
Matt Monro version
In 1977, Don Black translated the lyrics in English and reworked it. He had previously worked with Monro and had written them originally for him, with help from Udo Jürgens. It was first offered to Frank Sinatra, who turned it down.{{Cite book |last=Leigh |first=Spencer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BBm6CgAAQBAJ&dq=%22if%20i%20never%20sing%20another%20song%22&pg=PT530 |title=Frank Sinatra: An Extraordinary Life |date=2015-09-25 |publisher=McNidder and Grace Limited |isbn=978-0-85716-088-1 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&dq=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22&pg=PA2002-IA224 |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2011-05-27 |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8 |language=en}}
Matt Monro sang the song on Saturday Night At The Mill in February 1978,{{cite web | url=https://mattmonro.com/discography-dvds/ | title=Discography DVD's – Matt Monro }} prior to its official release in March 1979, when Matt Monro released the album "If I Never Sing Another Song".{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eo09AQAAIAAJ&q=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22 |title=The Gramophone |date=1979 |publisher=C. Mackenzie |language=en}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XC4cAQAAIAAJ&q=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22 |title=New West |date=1976 |publisher=New West Communications Corporation |language=en}}
The Matt Monro version was released on his March 1979 album "If I Never Sing Another Song" with great success.{{Cite web |title=When did Matt Monro release "If I Never Sing Another Song"? |url=https://genius.com/Matt-monro-if-i-never-sing-another-song-lyrics/q/release-date |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Genius}}
Other versions
In 1980, Joe Longthorne created his own version of the song, becoming one of his most famous songs.{{Cite book |last=McGregor |first=Jackie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H467DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22&pg=PT145 |title=They Can't Take That Away from Me: Musical Memories That Colour Our Lives |date=2013-01-31 |publisher=Headline |isbn=978-1-909520-91-2 |language=en}} A production was made by Vegas Films, which was written and produced by Film director Paul Lacovou.{{Cite book |last=Longthorne |first=Joe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=timcEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22if%20i%20never%20sing%20another%20song%22&pg=PA221 |title=Joe Longthorne - Sugar in the Morning: The Autobiography |date=2015-12-03 |publisher=Kings Road Publishing |isbn=978-1-78418-718-7 |language=en}}
In 1995, Matt Monro's son, Matt Monro Jnr, released his own version of "If I Never Sing Another Song".{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} He released it alongside a collection of Matt Monro songs, such as On Days Like These, as rearranged duets of himself and his father.{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 2 - The Matt Monro Playlist |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000pv8z |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}
Shirley Bassey had performed first in 1976 and continued to perform her version of it.{{Cite book |last=Fiol |first=J. L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uPCOCwAAQBAJ&dq=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22&pg=PT72 |title=Interface |date=2016-02-03 |publisher=AuthorHouse |isbn=978-1-5049-9880-2 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Cowan |first=Andy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LYC_EAAAQBAJ&dq=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22&pg=PT260 |title=B-Side: A Flipsided History of Pop |date=2023-06-06 |publisher=SCB Distributors |isbn=978-1-915316-14-1 |language=en}}
"If I Never Sing Another Song" was first sung in English by Connie Francis.{{Cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&dq=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22&pg=RA2-PA1834 |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2011-05-27 |publisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8 |language=en}}
Singers who would also sing "If I never Sing Another Song, usually as their closing number, are Sammy Davis Jr, Johnnie Ray and Frankie Laine.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eJwwAQAAIAAJ&q=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22 |title=TV Guide |date=1981 |publisher=Triangle Publications |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Black |first=Don |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4QGmDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22If%20I%20Never%20Sing%20Another%20Song%22&pg=PT185 |title=The Sanest Guy in the Room: A Life in Lyrics |date=2020-07-23 |publisher=Little, Brown Book Group |isbn=978-1-4721-3292-5 |language=en}}