If Only I Could#Charts

"If Only I Could" peaked at number-one in Belgium and entered the top 10 in Austria, France, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and West Germany, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number four. In the UK, the single reached number three on the UK Singles Chart on 1 October 1989. It spent two weeks at that position and was the 13th best-selling single of 1989. The song was also a top-20 hit in Denmark and Finland. Outside Europe, "If Only I Could" reached number 28 in New Zealand and number 122 in Australia. It earned a gold record in Austria and West Germany and a silver record in the UK.

Retrospectively, AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis viewed the song as "pure, early-'90s house".{{cite web|first=Jose F.|last=Promis|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sydney-youngblood-mw0000203084|title=Sydney Youngblood – Sydney Youngblood|publisher=AllMusic|date=|accessdate=17 February 2020}} Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard noted that the "rich-voiced crooner temporarily moves away from usual R&B arena and pumps up the bass for this tasty, deep-baked houser that splashes with a nifty Motown-flavored undercurrent and funky wah-wah guitars. The right edit could set urban and pop radio ablaze."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-12-08.pdf|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=8 December 1990|page=83|access-date=25 January 2018|author-link=Larry Flick}} A reviewer from Liverpool Echo named it "one of the nicest dance/pop records of recent months, bringing songs back into dance music. And – Sydney knows a good song when he hears one.""Sydney Youngblood: Feeling Free". Liverpool Echo. 28 October 1989. page 7. Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Finally, Youngblood has found a song good enough to take his smooth, sweet voice to the higher reaches of the charts. The song combines a variety of styles – reggae meets hip-house with a dash of lover's rock. A sympathetic production by Claus Zundell and some supremely tasteful Spanish guitar breaks make this record a melodic delight. Starting to move rapidly up the UK chart and looking likely to repeat that success across Europe."{{cite magazine|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-09-23.pdf|title=Previews: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|date=23 September 1989|access-date=26 March 2018}} David Giles from Music Week noted the song's "lush, sonorous vocal driven by a pulsating bass line", and concluded that "Youngblood looks set to become a big name on the strength of this single."{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Giles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1989/MW-1989-08-05.pdf|title=Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=5 August 1989|page=23|access-date=13 March 2023}} Jacqui Carter from Number One stated, "'If Only I Could' will be one of the 'classic cuts' this year and continually played for many years to come."{{cite magazine|first=Jacqui|last=Carter|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/46792624204/in/album-72157707928884184/|title=Albums|magazine=Number One|date=11 October 1989|page=43|access-date=12 March 2023}} Orla Swift from Record-Journal described the song as "jazzy".{{cite magazine|first=Orla|last=Swift|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4ipIAAAAIBAJ|title=Wendy & Lisa doing better than ever without Prince|magazine=Record-Journal|date=21 October 1990|access-date=13 March 2020}} Phil Cheeseman of Record Mirror wrote that single was "nice", adding that "you'll need the 12 inch to really appreciate this".{{cite magazine |last=Cheeseman |first=Phil |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/89/Record-Mirror-1989-08-05-OCR.pdf |title=45 reviewed by Phil Cheeseman |magazine=Record Mirror |date=5 August 1989 |page=28 |location=London |publisher=Spotlight Publications Ltd.|via=World Radio History |issn=0144-5804 |access-date=25 October 2021}} In the same magazine, the extended version reviewed by James Hamilton is called a "jauntily chugging 120 bpm bubbly bouncer helped in the current climate by tinkling flamenco-ish guitar and chimes (two instrumental mixes too)".{{cite magazine |last=Hamilton |first=James |author-link=James Hamilton (DJ and journalist) |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/89/Record-Mirror-1989-08-26-OCR.pdf |title=DJ directory compiled by James Hamilton – All that's upfront on the nation's hottest dancefloors |magazine=Record Mirror |date=26 August 1989 |page=47 |location=London |publisher=Spotlight Publications Ltd.|via=World Radio History |issn=0144-5804 |access-date=25 October 2021}}

A music video was produced to promote the single. It features Youngblood bouncing around a ball that resembled the earth, while donning urban clothing and traditional African clothing.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• 7-inch single

1. "If Only I Could" – 3:30
2. "Spooky" – 3:54

• 12-inch single

1. "If Only I Could" (extended version) – 6:30
2. "If Only I Could" (Pacha Garden mix) – 6:35
3. "If Only I Could" (instrumental) – 5:10

{{col-2}}

• 3-inch CD single

1. "If Only I Could" (radio edit) – 3:30
2. "If Only I Could" (extended version) – 6:30
3. "Spooky" – 3:54

• Cassette single

1. "If Only I Could" – 3:30
2. "Spookey" (Instrumental) – 3:54
3. "If Only I Could" – 3:30
4. "Spookey" (Instrumental) – 3:54

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "If Only I Could"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Sydney Youngblood|title=If Only I Could|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1989|certyear=1990|access-date=31 August 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Sydney Youngblood|title=If Only I Could|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1989|certyear=1990|access-date=31 August 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Sydney Youngblood|title=If Only I Could|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=1989|certyear=1989|id=3203-3800-1|access-date=31 August 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

{{Infobox song

| name = If Only I Could

| cover = If_Only_I_Could_by_Wendy_Matthews.png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Wendy Matthews

| album = Lily

| released = April 1993

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:55

| label = RooART

| writer =

• Claus Zundel
• Mike Staab
• Sydney Youngblood
• Ralf Hamm

| producer = T-Bone Burnett

| prev_title = Friday's Child

| prev_year = 1993

| next_title = T.K.O.

| next_year = 1993

}}

Australian recording artist Wendy Matthews released a version of the song in April 1993 as the third single from her second studio album, Lily. The song peaked at number 41 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.

1. "If Only I Could" (edit) – 3:55
2. "If Only I Could" (Timebomb mix) – 5:45
3. "Until You Say" – 4:48

{{Clear}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Wendy Matthews}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1989 singles

Category:1989 songs

Category:1993 singles

Category:English-language German songs

Category:Number-one singles in Belgium

Category:Songs written by Claus Zundel

Category:Sydney Youngblood songs

Category:Virgin Records singles

Category:Wendy Matthews songs