If Time Is All I Have
Encyclopedia
"If Time is All I Have" is the third single from English singer-songwriter James Blunt
's third studio album, Some Kind of Trouble
. The single was released as a digital download
single in the United Kingdom
on 4 April 2011. The single failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart
, similar to the album's previous single, So Far Gone. The song was released in Australia
as the album's second single and has charted on the ARIA Charts
at number 64. The single features similar artwork to that used for So Far Gone, however, used a red-based background instead of a black-based background. Both releases have an image of the child from the Some Kind of Trouble artwork on the disc.
. The British songwriter is best known for his contributions to Will Young
's Ivor Novello
winning hit "Leave Right Now
" and Adele
's international smash, "Chasing Pavements
." Blunt admitted in an interview with The Daily Telegraph
that his songs of regret are always about the same girl. He said: "Your first love is probably the most idealistic. I probably do have a sense of romantic yearning, but I'm really a failed romantic, as the songs attest." The girl in question is thought to be Dixie Chassay, a casting director who has worked on the Harry Potter
movies, whom Blunt dated long before he became famous. Blunt mentions her in the liner notes on his first album and it is believed she was the ex who inspired him to write "You're Beautiful
."
said that: "If Time Is All I Have cranks up the pathos in James's trademark tremulous vocal, but the song sadly wafts away on the over-emotive hot air."
. The video features Blunt walking through the streets of New York, witnessing life-changing incidents which reflect the lyrics of the song. The original concept of the video was to feature Blunt at his own funeral, which later prompts him to make the decision to change his lifestyle. This video was dropped in favour of the final video. The video for the track is available to download for free on Blunt's official website.
James Blunt
James Hillier Blount , better known by his stage name James Blunt, is an English singer-songwriter and musician, and former army officer, whose debut album, Back to Bedlam and single releases, including "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover", brought him to fame in 2005...
's third studio album, Some Kind of Trouble
Some Kind of Trouble
Some Kind of Trouble is the third studio album from British singer-songwriter James Blunt. The album was released on 8 November 2010. On December 6, 2011, a deluxe version of the album will be released, entitled Some Kind Of Trouble: Revisted....
. The single was released as a digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
single in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 4 April 2011. The single failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, similar to the album's previous single, So Far Gone. The song was released in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as the album's second single and has charted on the ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
at number 64. The single features similar artwork to that used for So Far Gone, however, used a red-based background instead of a black-based background. Both releases have an image of the child from the Some Kind of Trouble artwork on the disc.
Background
Blunt penned this stark, heartfelt ballad of regret with Eg WhiteEg White
Francis Anthony "Eg" White is a British musician, songwriter and producer. White is primarily known for his work with successful commercial pop acts such as Adele, Duffy, Will Young and James Morrison...
. The British songwriter is best known for his contributions to Will Young
Will Young
William Robert "Will" Young is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominenceafter winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise...
's Ivor Novello
Ivor Novello
David Ivor Davies , better known as Ivor Novello, was a Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. Born into a musical family, his first successes were as a songwriter...
winning hit "Leave Right Now
Leave Right Now
"Leave Right Now" is a popular song written by Eg White and performed by Will Young. It appears on Young's second album, Friday's Child, and was released as the first single from the album, and Young's fifth overall. The single went to number one in the UK Singles Chart, selling 117,700 in its...
" and Adele
Adele (singer)
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins , known professionally as Adele, is an English singer-songwriter. She was the first recipient of the Brit Awards Critics' Choice and was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2008 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2008...
's international smash, "Chasing Pavements
Chasing Pavements
"Chasing Pavements" is the second single from soul singer Adele. Adele performed the song on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 7 December 2007....
." Blunt admitted in an interview with The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
that his songs of regret are always about the same girl. He said: "Your first love is probably the most idealistic. I probably do have a sense of romantic yearning, but I'm really a failed romantic, as the songs attest." The girl in question is thought to be Dixie Chassay, a casting director who has worked on the Harry Potter
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
movies, whom Blunt dated long before he became famous. Blunt mentions her in the liner notes on his first album and it is believed she was the ex who inspired him to write "You're Beautiful
You're Beautiful
"You're Beautiful" is a pop rock song co-written by British singer James Blunt, Sacha Skarbek, and Amanda Ghost for Blunt's debut album Back to Bedlam . It was released as the third single from the album in 2005. In the UK and Australia the song reached number one and number two respectively...
."
Critical reception
Colin Somerville from ScotsmanScotsman
Scotsman may mean:* a man from Scotland, in common parlance - see also Scottish people.* No true Scotsman, a common logical fallacy.*The Scotsman, a national newspaper based in Edinburgh, Scotland....
said that: "If Time Is All I Have cranks up the pathos in James's trademark tremulous vocal, but the song sadly wafts away on the over-emotive hot air."
Music video
The video was released on 16 March 2011. The video premiered on YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. The video features Blunt walking through the streets of New York, witnessing life-changing incidents which reflect the lyrics of the song. The original concept of the video was to feature Blunt at his own funeral, which later prompts him to make the decision to change his lifestyle. This video was dropped in favour of the final video. The video for the track is available to download for free on Blunt's official website.
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| ARIA Australian Singles Chart | 64 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 21 December 2010 | Digital Download (Amazon Amazon.com Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and... ) |
| United Kingdom | 4 April 2011 | Digital Download (Official) |