If It Happens Again
{{short description|1984 single by UB40}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = If It Happens Again
| cover =
| alt =
| caption =
| type = single
| artist = UB40
| album = Geffery Morgan
| B-side = Nkomo A Go-Go
| released = {{start date|1984|9|10|df=yes}}{{cite magazine|date=1 September 1984|title=Doling it out|magazine=Record Mirror|page=4}}
| studio =
| recorded =
| venue =
| genre = Reggae fusion
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=39}}
| label =
| writer = UB40
| producer =
- UB40
- Howard Gray
| prev_title = Cherry Oh Baby
| prev_year = 1984
| next_title = Riddle Me
| next_year = 1984
}}
"If It Happens Again" is a song and single written and performed by British group, UB40.{{cite web|title=If It Happens Again|date=10 September 1984 |url=http://www.discogs.com/UB40-If-It-Happens-Again/release/1207114|publisher=www.discogs.com|access-date=13 June 2013}} It was featured on their album Geffery Morgan and was released in 1984 reaching 9, on the UK charts, staying for eight weeks.{{cite web | url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/ub40/ | title=UK Official charts - UB40 | publisher=www.officialscharts.com | access-date=13 June 2013}} It also made 9 on the Irish charts{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=4 |title=UB40 chart history - Ireland |publisher=www.irishcharts.ie |access-date=13 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928105317/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=4 |archive-date=28 September 2011 }} and 8 on the Dutch charts.{{cite web | url=http://dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?search=UB40&cat=s | title=UB 40 Chart History - Netherlands | publisher=Dutchcharts.nl | access-date=13 June 2013}}
"If It Happens Again" was originally an instrumental called "Bouncing Around" dating back to when the band formed in 1978.{{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=Ali |title=Blood and Fire: The Autobiography of the UB40 Brothers |last2=Campbell |first2=Robin |date=2006 |publisher=Arrow |isbn=978-0-09-947654-2 |pages=104 |language=en}} The lyrics were later written as the group's response to Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party's victory in the 1983 UK election. It contains the lines "If it happens again I'm leaving, I'll pack my things and go... I won't say I told you so" and is considered a protest song of the time.{{cite web |date=11 April 2013 |title=Thatcher's pop legacy - protest songs or the charity single? |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/margaret-thatcher-pop-music-band-aid-geldof-protest-songs |access-date=13 June 2013 |publisher=www.channel4.com}}
Track listing
7": DEP International / DEP 11
- "If It Happens Again" – 3:39
- "Nkomo A Go-Go" – 3:14
12": DEP International / DEP 10-12
- "If It Happens Again" (Dance Mix) – 6:26
- "Nkomo A Go-Go" (Dance Mix) – 4:56
12": A&M / SP-12112 (US)
- "If It Happens Again" (Extended Version) – 6:25
- "If It Happens Again" (Single Version) – 3:40
- "Nkomo A Go-Go" – 4:56
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (1984) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St. Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|edition=Illustrated|page=316|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
|55 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Flanders|11|artist=UB40|song=If It Happens Again|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|56|artist=UB40|song=If It Happens Again|chartid=9590|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Ireland2|9|song=If It Happens Again|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|7|year=1984|week=41|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|8|artist=UB40|song=If It Happens Again|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|28|artist=UB40|song=If It Happens Again|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|9|artist=UB40|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|69|artist=UB40|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021|note=If It Happens Again / Nkomo A Go-Go}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1984)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1984|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984|publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=10 September 2021}}
| 57 |
| scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1984&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984|website=dutchcharts.nl|access-date=10 September 2021}}
| 64 |
{{col-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{UB40}}
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