"If You Love Me" is a song by American R&B group Brownstone, released on October 24, 1994, by MJJ Music and Epic Records. It is the second single from their debut album, From the Bottom Up (1995). The song was written by Gordon Chambers, Nichole Gilbert, and Dave Hall, and features a sample from "Spellbound" (1990) by American rapper K-Solo. "If You Love Me" was nominated for a Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards in 1996, losing to "Creep" by TLC.
"If You Love Me" peaked at number eight on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart as well as number two on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. It topped the New Zealand Singles Chart for five weeks and reached the top 20 in Australia, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The music video for the Remix features rapper Craig Mack. In 2015, Canadian singer Tory Lanez sampled the song for his hit single "Say It". Billboard magazine named the song number 84 on their list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".
Critical reception Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian complimented the song's "memorable chorus".Sullivan, Caroline (April 28, 1995). "Music: Your essential guide to the new CDs - Pop". The Guardian. Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel noted its "mellow seduction".Campbell, Chuck (January 27, 1995). "Brownstone Effort Muddied By Producers". Knoxville News Sentinel. Geoffrey Himes from The Washington Post declared the song as "a firm demand for commitment from a lover." He explained, "It begins with Gilbert and her two partners, Charmayne "Maxee" Maxwell and Monica "Mimi" Doby, singing slow, swooning harmonies over producer Dave Hall's piano. Having established the romantic mood, Gilbert lays down her conditions to a catchy melodic chant and the beat of an insistent drum machine: "If you want my heart/ Then it's time that you start/ To act like you're mine/ In the light and the dark." It's a great single, and it sets the pattern for an album that celebrates the intoxication of romance but demands respect as well."Himes, Geoffrey (April 16, 1995). "Rock-Solid Debut for Brownstone". The Washington Post. p. G11.
Track listings
US maxi-CD single "If You Love Me" (Smooth Out remix extended version) – 5:45 "If You Love Me" (If You Jazz Me remix extended version) – 5:45 "If You Love Me" (Characters Funk remix extended version) – 5:45 "If You Love Me" (LP version radio edit) – 3:43 "If You Love Me" (Soft Touch Mix radio edit) – 3:44 "If You Love Me" (a cappella) – 3:42
US 12-inch single A1. "If You Love Me" (LP version) – 5:04 A2. "If You Love Me" (LP version a cappella) – 3:42 B1. "If You Love Me" (Smooth Out remix extended version) – 5:45 B2. "If You Love Me" (If You Jazz Me remix extended version) – 5:45 B3. "If You Love Me" (Characters Funk remix extended version) – 5:45
US and UK cassette single; European CD single A. "If You Love Me" (LP version radio edit) – 3:43 B. "If You Love Me" (Soft Touch mix radio edit) – 3:44
US maxi-cassette single A1. "If You Love Me" (Smooth Out remix radio edit) A2. "If You Love Me" (If You Jazz Me remix radio edit) A3. "If You Love Me" (Characters Funk remix radio edit) B1. "If You Love Me" (Smooth Out remix extended version) B2. "If You Love Me" (If You Jazz Me remix extended version) B3. "If You Love Me" (Characters Funk remix extended version)
UK CD1 "If You Love Me" (album version radio edit) – 3:43 "If You Love Me" (Smooth Out remix radio edit) – 4:14 "If You Love Me" (If You Jazz Me remix radio edit) – 4:21 "If You Love Me" (Characters Funk remix radio edit) – 4:14 "If You Love Me" (Soft Touch Mix radio edit) – 3:44 "If You Love Me" (acapella) – 3:42
UK CD2 "If You Love Me" (Channel 9 mix) – 7:33 "If You Love Me" (Uno Clip dub) – 6:57 "If You Love Me" (Smooth Out remix extended) – 5:45 "If You Love Me" (If You Jazz Me remix extended) – 5:45 "If You Love Me" (Characters Funk remix extended) – 5:45
Australian maxi-CD single "If You Love Me" (Smooth Out remix extended) – 5:45 "If You Love Me" (If You Jazz Me remix extended) – 5:45 "If You Love Me" (Characters Funk remix extended) – 4:13 "If You Love Me" (LP version radio edit) – 3:43 "If You Love Me" (Soft Touch Mix radio edit) – 3:44 "If You Love Me" (a cappella) – 3:42
Personnel Produced by Dave "Jam" Hall for Untouchables Entertainment, Inc. Additional production and remixes by The Characters: Troy Taylor & Charles Farrar for Character Music Corporation Uno Clio
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1995)PeakpositionCanada Retail Singles (The Record) 12Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 12Europe (European Dance Radio) 9Europe (European Hit Radio) 16UK Airplay (Music Week) 8UK Pop Tip Club Chart (Music Week) 35US Cash Box Top 100Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996 2
Year-end charts Chart (1995)PositionAustralia (ARIA) 60France (SNEP) 63New Zealand (RIANZ) 16UK Singles (OCC) 71UK Airplay (Music Week) 41US Billboard Hot 100 34US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) 4US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard) 13US Cash Box Top 100 36
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesOctober 24, 1994AustraliaMarch 3, 1995United KingdomMarch 20, 1995March 27, 1995CD2
References