If I Could Fly (One Direction song)

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"If I Could Fly"
Song by One Direction
from the album Made in the A.M.
Length3:50
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Carlsson

"If I Could Fly" is a song by English-Irish boy band One Direction from their fifth studio album, Made in the A.M. (2015). It was written by Harry Styles, Johan Carlsson and Ross Golan, with production handled by Carlsson.

Following the release of Made in the A.M., "If I Could Fly" debuted at number 79 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the Billboard Hot 100 at number 83. The song was certified silver in the United Kingdom by the BPI and gold in Mexico by the AMPROFON.

Composition and lyrics[edit]

"If I Could Fly" was written by Harry Styles,[1] Johan Carlsson and Ross Golan, while production was handled by Carlsson.[2] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, by Alfred Music Publishing, the track runs at 75 BPM and is in the key of F major.[3] Musically, the track has been described as a piano-driven ballad.[4] Lyrically, the song finds the band, "in a state of vulnerability, defenseless, and with their heart on their sleeve."[5]

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Julian Bunetta who co-wrote songs from Made in the A.M., recalled how the song came together, "I remember when Harry first played it to me. That one I didn't write, but I remember when I first heard it. We were in Westlake Studio for a week. I kept asking why he wanted to call it 'If I Could Fly'. It's a great song, so it doesn't really matter what it's called, does it?."[6]

Critical reception[edit]

Taylor Weatherby of Billboard stated, "it's possibly the best display of how talented the 1D guys are as singers [...] this track is probably the best way to prove that that label is simply discrediting them."[7] In a review for Made in the A.M. writing for The Guardian, Tshepo Mokoena called the track, "downtempo Coldplay."[8]

Cover versions[edit]

Former bassist of Panic! at the Disco, Jon Walker covered the song in January 2021.[9]

Chart performance[edit]

"If I Could Fly" debuted at number 79 on the UK Singles Chart and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry in 2023.[10][11] The song also reached number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100.[12] The song was certified gold by the AMPROFON in 2020.[13]

Personnel[edit]

Credits for "If I Could Fly" adapted from album's liner notes.[2]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "If I Could Fly"
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 60
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 70
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 53
Italy (FIMI)[17] 26
France (SNEP)[18] 146
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 89
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 58
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 79
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 83

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Mexico (AMPROFON)[13] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Alex Hopper (3 December 2023). "The 4 Best Songs Harry Styles Wrote for One Direction". American Songwriter. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Made in the A.M. (CD liner). One Direction. Columbia Records. 2015. 8-88751-30792-6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ "If I Could Fly by One Direction - Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Alfred Music Publishing. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  4. ^ Madeline Roth (14 November 2015). "21 Fans Respond To One Direction's Saddest Song Ever". MTV. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  5. ^ Cillea Houghton (1 December 2023). "6 Times Harry Styles Songs Made Us Cry". American Songwriter. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  6. ^ Brittany Spanos (11 November 2015). "One Direction Collaborator Breaks Down Group's New Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  7. ^ Taylor Weatherby (13 November 2016). "Every Song on One Direction's 'Made in the A.M.,' Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  8. ^ Tshepo Mokoena (12 November 2015). "One Direction: Made in the AM review – a playful but reflective goodbye (for now)". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  9. ^ Jennifer Dill (15 January 2021). "Jon Walker Releases Intimate One Direction Cover". Second Society Report. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  10. ^ a b "One Direction: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  11. ^ a b "British single certifications – One Direction – If I Could Fly". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  12. ^ a b "One Direction Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 21 January 2024. Type One Direction in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and If I Could Fly in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  14. ^ "One Direction – If I Could Fly" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  15. ^ "One Direction Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If I Could Fly". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  17. ^ "One Direction – If I Could Fly". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  18. ^ "One Direction – If I Could Fly" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  19. ^ "One Direction – If I Could Fly" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  20. ^ "One Direction – If I Could Fly". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
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