"If You Go" is a song written by Cuban-born American singer-songwriter Jon Secada and Miguel Morejon, recorded for Secada's second English-language album, Heart, Soul & a Voice (1994). The song's lyrics detail a desire that a female subject not leave the singer, for, if she does, "there'll be something missing in [his] life." A Spanish version, "Si te vas", was also released for the Spanish-language market.
The song was released as a single on April 26, 1994, by SBK Records, peaking at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and becoming Secada's last top-10 single on the chart. In Canada, it topped The Records singles chart and the RPM Adult Contemporary chart. The music video for the Spanish version was nominated for a Lo Nuestro Award for Video of the Year at the 7th Lo Nuestro Awards. Secada sung "If You Go" at the 1994 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.Jon Secada at the opening ceremony
Critical reception Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Any similarity between this first offering from Secada's new Heart, Soul & a Voice and his first top 40 hit, 'Just Another Day', is probably anything but a coincidence. From the swelling choir of inspirational backing vocals to the shuffling pop beat, this song oozes with familiarity. That is not likely to stop radio programmers or consumers from gobbling this up in a flash. Secada's flexing vocal has a degree of sincerity that contributes to making this a guilty pleasure."
Track listings
US and Australian CD single "If You Go" – 3:45 "Si te vas" – 3:45 "If You Go / Si te vas" (Spanglish) – 3:45 "If You Go" (West End mix) – 6:28 "If You Go" (Clapapella mix) – 3:17
US and Canadian cassette single "If You Go" – 3:45 "Si te vas" – 3:45
Japanese mini-CD single "If You Go" "If You Go" (Spanish version) "If You Go / Si te vas" (Spanglish version)
UK CD single "If You Go" "If You Go" (Spanish version) "If You Go / Si te vas" (Spanglish version) "If You Go" (dance mix)
UK 7-inch and cassette single; European CD single "If You Go" (radio edit) "If You Go" (Spanish version)
European maxi-CD single "If You Go" (radio edit) "If You Go" (Spanish version) "If You Go" (dance mix) "La La La" (album version)
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1994–1995)PeakpositionCanada Retail Singles (The Record) 1Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 78Europe (European Hit Radio) 6Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 11Israel (Israeli Singles Chart) Search "If You Go" for Israeli chart history. 4UK Airplay (Music Week) 26
Year-end charts Chart (1994)PositionCanada Top Singles (RPM) 18Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 5Europe (European Hit Radio) 31Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 87US Billboard Hot 100 23US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 6US Hot Latin Tracks (Billboard) 5US Cash Box Top 100 12 Chart (1995)PositionUS Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 32
Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999)PositionCanada (Nielsen SoundScan) 37
Release history RegionVersionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United States"If You Go"April 25–26, 1994SBKBothApril 26, 1994CDUnited Kingdom"If You Go"May 2, 1994United States"Si te vas"May 10, 1994Latino radioBothMay 24, 1994CDJapan"If You Go"June 17, 1994Mini-CDAustraliaJune 27, 1994
See also Lo Nuestro Award for Video of the Year
References