If You Had My Love
Encyclopedia
"If You Had My Love" is a song by American recording artist and actress Jennifer Lopez
, taken from her debut studio album, On the 6
(1999). Released in 1999, the single peaked at number one in the United States, becoming Lopez's first number-one single; it also peaked at number four in the United Kingdom. The song is well known for its voyeuristic
music video
and is one of her signature songs.
, LaShawn Daniels
, and Cory Rooney
and produced by Rodney Jerkins. In her debut single, Lopez is on the brink of sealing a relationship with a man she is interested in. However, before they can become a couple, she lays out some ground terms: she will not tolerate cheating and she needs to feel true love or it's "got to end". She also wonders if he knew if his love was untrue, would he lie to her and still call her "baby". Her insecurities build up to the point where Lopez questions, "If you had my love, and I gave you all my trust, would you comfort me?"
The song is a remake and extremely similar to the same song Rodney Jerkins
wrote for Chanté Moore
similarly titled If I Gave You Love. If I Gave Love is the first song on Moore's CD, "This Moment Is Mine
, which was released on March 25, 1999, three months ahead of Lopez's CD. Moore stated Jerkins was excited by the prospect of furthering his career by working with Puffy
so he cast aside ethics and gave the same song to Lopez.
"If You Had My Love" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100
the week of May 15, 1999, jumping from number sixty-four to number eight two weeks later. The single reached the top spot on June 12, 1999, and stayed there for five consecutive weeks. The single was one of the most popular singles of the summer of 1999, remaining in the top ten for fifteen weeks.
, directed by Paul Hunter
in April 1999, begins with a man (Adam Rodriguez
) logging onto his personal computer
. When prompted by a search bar, he enters the term "Jennifer Lopez" and is redirected to a website, "Jennifer Lopez Online". Clicking on the link, he is then transported through the Internet (which is displayed by special effects emulating binary numbers
). After arriving, a figure in white walks across a room filled with cameras recording action: it turns out to be Lopez in a hallway. From the privacy of his computer, the man then redirects to a new page where Lopez is now seen in the living room and crawling over a table.
The man is not alone in his voyeuristic actions as patrons of an Internet cafe
and a little girl logging in from her own computer, watches Lopez, streaming live, on "Internet TV". The man then clicks on a room showing Lopez in the bathroom, singing whilst checking her reflection in the mirror. Worldwide, Lopez's feed is being streamed live to a nightclub and to other users with laptops. The man then clicks on the dance
option and is once again entered through the special effect binary. Lopez then proceeds to perform a series of dances (including jazz
, house
, and Latin soul
) as the song moves into a remix
ed (Pablo Flores Remix) portion. The man then zooms in on Lopez's skirt, as she dances to Latin music.
He then raises the sexual intonation again by requesting a scene in which Lopez is taking a shower (although she is never seen nude). Garage workers who had been watching this soon turn their heads to Lopez and pay no attention to their burning car as they glue their eyes to the screen. A new user is introduced, and it is implied that he throws his computer underwater to "turn down the heat" (so to speak). He then continues to watch her there.
The video received four nominations at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards
: Best Female Video
, Best Dance Video
, Best Pop Video
, and Best New Artist
.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
, taken from her debut studio album, On the 6
On the 6
On the 6 is the debut studio album by American recording artist Jennifer Lopez, released on June 1, 1999 by Work Records. It debuted at number eight on the U.S. Billboard 200 the week of June 19, 1999, with first-week sales of 112,000 copies, remaining in the top 20 for 11 weeks and on the chart...
(1999). Released in 1999, the single peaked at number one in the United States, becoming Lopez's first number-one single; it also peaked at number four in the United Kingdom. The song is well known for its voyeuristic
Voyeurism
In clinical psychology, voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other activity usually considered to be of a private nature....
music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
and is one of her signature songs.
Song information
The song was written by Rodney JerkinsRodney Jerkins
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. Jerkins received two Grammy nominations in 2011.-Biography:...
, LaShawn Daniels
LaShawn Daniels
LaShawn Ameen Daniels is an American songwriter, best known for his work with longtime colleague Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Daniels has written several of the Darkchild Team's hit songs, among them "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy & Monica, "Say My Name" and "Lose My Breath" by Destiny's Child, "You...
, and Cory Rooney
Cory Rooney
Cory Rooney is an American songwriter, record producer, and C.E.O. of Cory Rooney Group. He has written, produced, and developed many hits and careers for artists such as Mariah Carey, Mary J...
and produced by Rodney Jerkins. In her debut single, Lopez is on the brink of sealing a relationship with a man she is interested in. However, before they can become a couple, she lays out some ground terms: she will not tolerate cheating and she needs to feel true love or it's "got to end". She also wonders if he knew if his love was untrue, would he lie to her and still call her "baby". Her insecurities build up to the point where Lopez questions, "If you had my love, and I gave you all my trust, would you comfort me?"
The song is a remake and extremely similar to the same song Rodney Jerkins
Rodney Jerkins
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. Jerkins received two Grammy nominations in 2011.-Biography:...
wrote for Chanté Moore
Chanté Moore
Chanté Moore is an American R&B and jazz singer.-Biography:Born to a gospel minister, she grew up singing in the church and was heavily influenced by the music of George Duke and Lee Ritenour. While in high school, she decided to make a career of singing...
similarly titled If I Gave You Love. If I Gave Love is the first song on Moore's CD, "This Moment Is Mine
This Moment Is Mine
This Moment Is Mine is the third album released by R&B singer, Chanté Moore. It was released in 1999, four and a half years after her previous album, A Love Supreme. The album gave her her biggest hit to date, "Chante's Got a Man", which became her first top ten single on the Billboard Hot 100 as...
, which was released on March 25, 1999, three months ahead of Lopez's CD. Moore stated Jerkins was excited by the prospect of furthering his career by working with Puffy
Puffy
Puffy can refer to one of the following:* Puffy or Puffy AmiYumi , a Japanese pop duo** Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, animation series about fictional adventures of Puffy AmiYumi** Puffy: P.S...
so he cast aside ethics and gave the same song to Lopez.
"If You Had My Love" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
the week of May 15, 1999, jumping from number sixty-four to number eight two weeks later. The single reached the top spot on June 12, 1999, and stayed there for five consecutive weeks. The single was one of the most popular singles of the summer of 1999, remaining in the top ten for fifteen weeks.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, directed by Paul Hunter
Paul Hunter (director)
Paul Hunter is a music video director known for his high-budget, visually distinctive videos for popular music singles. He has directed over 100 music videos, many television advertisements and was nominated for an Emmy for Nike's Freestyle commercial...
in April 1999, begins with a man (Adam Rodriguez
Adam Rodriguez
Adam Michael Rodríguez is an American actor and director. He is best known for his long running role as Eric Delko on CSI: Miami.-Life and career:...
) logging onto his personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
. When prompted by a search bar, he enters the term "Jennifer Lopez" and is redirected to a website, "Jennifer Lopez Online". Clicking on the link, he is then transported through the Internet (which is displayed by special effects emulating binary numbers
Binary numeral system
The binary numeral system, or base-2 number system, represents numeric values using two symbols, 0 and 1. More specifically, the usual base-2 system is a positional notation with a radix of 2...
). After arriving, a figure in white walks across a room filled with cameras recording action: it turns out to be Lopez in a hallway. From the privacy of his computer, the man then redirects to a new page where Lopez is now seen in the living room and crawling over a table.
The man is not alone in his voyeuristic actions as patrons of an Internet cafe
Internet cafe
An Internet café or cybercafé is a place which provides internet access to the public, usually for a fee. These businesses usually provide snacks and drinks, hence the café in the name...
and a little girl logging in from her own computer, watches Lopez, streaming live, on "Internet TV". The man then clicks on a room showing Lopez in the bathroom, singing whilst checking her reflection in the mirror. Worldwide, Lopez's feed is being streamed live to a nightclub and to other users with laptops. The man then clicks on the dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
option and is once again entered through the special effect binary. Lopez then proceeds to perform a series of dances (including jazz
Jazz dance
Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance—modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance...
, house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
, and Latin soul
Brown-eyed soul
Brown-eyed soul is a subgenre of soul music or rhythm and blues created in the United States mainly by Latino in Southern California during the 1960s, continuing through to the early 1980s. The genre of soul music occasionally draws from Latin, and often contains rock music influences...
) as the song moves into a remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed (Pablo Flores Remix) portion. The man then zooms in on Lopez's skirt, as she dances to Latin music.
He then raises the sexual intonation again by requesting a scene in which Lopez is taking a shower (although she is never seen nude). Garage workers who had been watching this soon turn their heads to Lopez and pay no attention to their burning car as they glue their eyes to the screen. A new user is introduced, and it is implied that he throws his computer underwater to "turn down the heat" (so to speak). He then continues to watch her there.
The video received four nominations at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards
1999 MTV Video Music Awards
The 1999 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 9, 1999, honoring the best music videos from June 13, 1998, to June 11, 1999. The show was hosted by Chris Rock at Metropolitan Opera House in New York City....
: Best Female Video
MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video is one of the original general awards that has been handed out every year since the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984. In 2007, however, the award was briefly renamed Female Artist of the Year, and it awarded the artist's whole body of work...
, Best Dance Video
MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video was first awarded in 1989, and it was one of the original four genre categories that were added to the MTV Video Music Awards that year. With a revamp of the awards in 2007, the category was cut out along with several others, yet it returned for the...
, Best Pop Video
MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video was first given out in , as MTV began to put several teen pop acts in heavy rotation. Nominations, however, were not just limited to pop acts, as dance, R&B, pop/rock, and, most recently, reggaeton artists have also received Best Pop Video nominations...
, and Best New Artist
MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist
The MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist is one of the four original general categories that have been given out since the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984...
.
Critical reviews
Most of the critical reviews of the song were mixed to positive. The song had high demand when it had radio airplay.Track listings
US CD/cassette single- "If You Had My Love" – 4:25
- "No Me AmesNo Me Ames"No me ames" is a song by American recording artists Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, from Lopez's debut studio album, On the 6...
" (Tropical Remix) (duet with Marc AnthonyMarc AnthonyMarc Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads...
) – 5:03
MTV Video Music Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | If You Had My Love | Best Female Video | |
| If You Had My Love | Best Dance Video | ||
| If You Had My Love | Best Pop Video |
Peak positions
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Denmark (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
10 |
| Ireland (IRMA Irish Recorded Music Association Irish Recorded Music Association is the Irish record industry association. IRMA is a non-profit association set up to manage and control the music industry in the Republic of Ireland.-Goals and activities:... ) |
8 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification |
|---|---|
| Australia Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
Platinum |
| France Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
Gold |
| Germany Bundesverband Musikindustrie The Bundesverband Musikindustrie or simply BVMI represents the music industry in Germany. The association represents the interests of nearly 350 labels and music industry related enterprises.... |
Gold |
| New Zealand Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
Gold |
| Switzerland | Gold |
| United States Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Platinum |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 16 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 12 |
Decade-end charts
| Chart (1990–99) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 46 |