"If I Ever Fall in Love" is the debut single by American R&B-

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

quartet

Shai Shai (also spelt Sai, occasionally Shay, and in Greek, Psais) was the deification of the concept of fate in Egyptian mythology. As a concept, with no particular reason for associating one gender over another, Shai was sometimes considered femal ...

, released by Gasoline Alley and

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc. established in 1972, though MCA had released recordings under that name in the UK from the 1960s. The label achieved success in the 1970s through the 1980s, often by acquiring other ...

in September 1992 from their debut album of the same name (1992). The song, both written and produced by Carl "Groove" Martin, reached number two on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1992 and peaked at number one on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' Hot R&B Singles chart. It spent eight weeks at number two on the Hot 100, which at the time was the second-most number of weeks that a song held the position without topping the chart, behind Foreigner's " Waiting for a Girl Like You". The song was also their only top-40 hit in the UK, peaking at number 36.

Critical reception

Paul Lester from ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. In January 2001, it was merged into "long-standing rival" (and IPC Media sister publicatio ...

'' declared "If I Ever Fall in Love" as "a kind of

doo wop Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, ...

teen-love weepathon" in the mould of

Boyz II Men Boyz II Men ( ) is an American vocal harmony group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. Formed in 1985, they have been a trio composed of baritone Nathan Morris, tenor Wanya Morris, Wanyá Mo ...

's " End of the Road".

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Certifications

East 17 and Gabrielle version

"If I Ever Fall in Love" was covered in 1996 as a duet between British boy band

East 17 East 17 are an English pop boy band started by Tony Mortimer, Brian Harvey, John Hendy, and Terry Coldwell in 1991. They are best known for their 1994 hit single " Stay Another Day", which was the UK Christmas number one that year. The g ...

and singer-songwriter Gabrielle, completed with a backing track. Renamed "If You Ever" and released by

London Records London Recordings (or London Records and London Music Stream) is a British record label that marketed records in the United States, Canada, and Latin America for Decca Records from 1947 to 1980 before becoming semi-independent. The London nam ...

, the cover peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and also peaked within the top 10 of the charts in Ireland and Sweden. The song received a platinum certification from the

British Phonographic Industry BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) Limited, trading as British Phonographic Industry (BPI), is the British recorded music industry's trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards; is home to the Mercury Prize; co-owns the Official Charts C ...

in September 2019 for sales and streams exceeding 600,000. The song was the first single from East 17's first Greatest Hits compilation, '' Around the World Hit Singles: The Journey So Far'' (1996), and was also the fourth single from Gabrielle's second self-titled album (1996). It was the highest-charting single from both aforementioned albums.

Critical reception

Kristy Barker from ''

'' complimented "If You Ever" as "gorgeous" and "lovely". Kevin Courtney from ''

Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It was launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is Ireland's leading n ...

'' wrote, "The

Walthamstow Walthamstow ( or ) is a town within the London Borough of Waltham Forest in east London. The town borders Chingford to the north, Snaresbrook and South Woodford to the east, Leyton and Leytonstone to the south, and Tottenham to the west. At ...

wideboys and the pirate patched

queen team up for this fairly run of the mill

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

.. At least it's a more appropriate pairing than

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and

Take That Take That are an English pop group formed in Manchester in 1990. The group currently consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen. The original line-up also featured Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. Barlow is the group's lead singer ...

Relight My Fire"">Relight My Fire#Take That version">Relight My Fire" On the sleeve art, the numeral 17 has been replaced by the spelled out version, perhaps a sign that the Easties are making a subtle bid for a more "mature" audience. Why not go all the way and change their name to East Thirtysomething?"

Track listings

* UK CD1 and Japanese CD single # "If You Ever" (Smoove 7-inch mix) # "If You Ever" (Ruff mix) # "

Deep Deep or The Deep may refer to: Places United States * Deep Creek (Appomattox River tributary), Virginia * Deep Creek (Great Salt Lake), Idaho and Utah * Deep Creek (Mahantango Creek tributary), Pennsylvania * Deep Creek (Mojave River tributary ...

" (live at Wembley Arena, 28 May 1995) # "

Steam Steam is water vapor, often mixed with air or an aerosol of liquid water droplets. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization. Saturated or superheated steam is inv ...

" (live) * UK CD2 # "If You Ever" (Smoove 7-inch mix) # " Stay Another Day" (live) # " Around the World" (live) # " It's Alright" (live) * UK cassette single and European CD single # "If You Ever" (Smoove 7-inch mix) # "If You Ever" (Simple Simon's Pieman remix)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

External links

Shai"If I Ever Fall in Love" on VevoGabrielle"If You Ever" (with East 17) on YouTube
{{Authority control 1990s ballads 1992 songs 1992 debut singles 1996 singles A cappella songs Contemporary R&B ballads Shai (band) songs East 17 songs Gabrielle (singer) songs London Records singles MCA Records singles Male–female vocal duets