If You Ever Get Lonely
{{Infobox song
| name = If You Ever Get Lonely
| cover = IfYouEverGetLonely.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Love and Theft
| album = Love and Theft
| released = {{Start date|2013|06|03}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Country
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=49}}
| label = RCA Nashville
| writer = {{flatlist|
- Kyle Cook
- Lisa Drew
- Michael Dulaney
- Steven Dale Jones
- John Waite
}}
| producer = Josh Leo
| prev_title = Runnin' Out of Air
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Night That You'll Never Forget
| next_year = 2014
}}
"If You Ever Get Lonely" is a song written by Kyle Cook, Lisa Drew, Michael Dulaney, Steven Dale Jones and John Waite. It was originally recorded by Waite on his 2011 album Rough & Tumble and released as the album's first single.{{cite news|last=Graff|first=Gary|title=John Waite Unearths Old Tunes, 'Punk Energy' for New Album|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/948616/john-waite-unearths-old-tunes-punk-energy-for-new-album|accessdate=November 26, 2013|newspaper=Billboard|date=December 30, 2010}} It was covered by American country music duo Love and Theft on their second studio album, Love and Theft, in 2012 and released as the album's third single in June 2013.{{cite news|last=Dauphin|first=Chuck|title=John Waite Talks New Live Album, Co-Writing Love and Theft's 'If You Ever Get Lonely'|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-615/5564341/john-waite-talks-new-live-album-co-writing-love-and-thefts-if-you|accessdate=November 26, 2013|newspaper=Billboard|date=August 2, 2013}}
Critical reception
Markus Papadatos of Digital Journal described the song favorably, saying that "is one of Love and Theft’s best singles that they have released in their career". He described the music video as "melancholic" and praised Liles' lead vocals.{{cite web|url=http://digitaljournal.com/article/354402|title=Country duo Love and Theft soar on 'If You Ever Get Lonely'|last=Papadatos|first=Markos|date=14 July 2013|work=Digital Journal|accessdate=26 November 2013}} Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the song one star out of five, stating that "Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson do little to put their individual marks on the story or production." Dukes wrote that "vocally, Love and Theft spend so much time at their high end, one loses appreciation for it" and "an overripe guitar solo further brings one back to the early ’90s, a time not proudly remembered as bringing the best in pop ballads.{{cite news|last=Dukes|first=Billy|title=Love and Theft, 'If You Ever Get Lonely' – Song Review|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/love-and-theft-if-you-ever-get-lonely/|accessdate=November 26, 2013|newspaper=Taste of Country|date=June 9, 2013}}
Music video
The music video was directed by Mason Dixon and premiered in July 2013. Filmed entirely in black-and-white, it features footage of the duo on their 2013 tour, as well as them performing the song both on stage, and in the empty audience stands. There is also a subplot of Gunderson texting his wife at home and getting encouragement from Liles to let it go. The duo are also seen in some shots playing rock-paper-scissors in their dressing room.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/videos/love-and-theft/934638/if-you-ever-get-lonely.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729001918/http://www.cmt.com/videos/love-and-theft/934638/if-you-ever-get-lonely.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 29, 2013|title=CMT : Videos : Love and Theft : If You Ever Get Lonely|work=Country Music Television|accessdate=November 26, 2013}}
Chart performance
"If You Ever Get Lonely" debuted at number 53 on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of June 22, 2013.{{cite news|last=Morris|first=Edward|title=Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw Still Topping Country Charts|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1709060/blake-shelton-tim-mcgraw-still-topping-country-charts.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618213734/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1709060/blake-shelton-tim-mcgraw-still-topping-country-charts.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 18, 2013|accessdate=November 26, 2013|newspaper=Country Music Television|date=June 15, 2013}} It also debuted at number 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of November 16, 2013.
| class="wikitable sortable"
!align="left"|Chart (2013) !align="center"|Peak |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcountryairplay|34|artist=Love and Theft}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|43|artist=Love and Theft}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{John Waite}}
{{Love and Theft (band)}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Love and Theft (duo) songs
Category:RCA Records Nashville singles
Category:Songs written by Michael Dulaney
Category:Songs written by Steven Dale Jones