{{Short description|1989 single by Patti LaBelle}} {{Use American English|date=April 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox song | name = If You Asked Me To | cover = If You Asked Me To by Patti LaBelle US cassette.png | border = yes | type = single | artist = Patti LaBelle | album = Be Yourself'' and ''Licence to Kill | released = {{Start date|1989|6|12}} | recorded = 1989 | genre = * Pop * R&B | length = 3:58 | label = MCA | writer = Diane Warren | producer = * Stewart Levine * Aaron Zigman | prev_title = Kiss Away the Pain | prev_year = 1986 | next_title = Yo Mister | next_year = 1989 | misc = {{External music video | {{YouTube|Da-RjeCObyA|"If You Asked Me To"}} }} }}
"'''If You Asked Me To'''" is a song written by American songwriter Diane Warren and produced by Stewart Levine and Aaron Zigman. It was first recorded by American singer Patti LaBelle for her ninth studio album, ''Be Yourself'' (1989), and also appeared on the ''Licence to Kill'' soundtrack. The song was issued as the soundtrack's second single on June 12, 1989, by MCA Records. The lyrics present the perspective of a woman addressing her partner: "If you asked me to, I just might change my mind, and let you in my life forever". In 1992, Canadian singer Celine Dion recorded her own version for her self-titled second English-language studio album. Released as the album's second single, Dion's recording reached number one in Canada and peaked at number four on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100.
== Background == "If You Asked Me To" was first included on the soundtrack of the 1989 James Bond film ''Licence to Kill''. The title references dialogue from the movie. Patti LaBelle's version reached number 79 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, number 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs,<ref>{{cite book |title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=337}}</ref> and number 11 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. The song was also used in the daytime soap opera ''General Hospital'' in 1989.
== Critical reception == Pan-European magazine ''Music & Media'' described the track as "a smooth, mid-tempo ballad with a synthesizer-dominated AC production by Stewart Levine".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-08-19.pdf |title=Previews: Singles |magazine=Music & Media |date=August 19, 1989 |page=18 |access-date=September 25, 2020}}</ref>
== Commercial performance == Although the song became a top 10 hit on the US ''Billboard'' Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/1989-10-28 |title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart |website=Billboard.com |access-date=April 24, 2021}}</ref> it did not reach similar success on the pop charts until Celine Dion recorded her version three years later. In the liner notes of her 1999 ''Greatest Hits'' album, LaBelle reflected on the song's performance: "I knew the song was a hit when I recorded it, and I was happy that Celine did it and did so well with it. But the arrangements are so close and we both have pretty powerful voices... so who knows why my version didn't take off. Maybe it was timing..".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.infobuddy.com/articles/bios/pattilabellebio.html |title=Patti LaBelle Biography |website=Infobuddy.com |access-date=April 24, 2021 |archive-date=June 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630160441/http://www.infobuddy.com/articles/bios/pattilabellebio.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Music video == The music video for "If You Asked Me To" was filmed the day after the funeral of LaBelle's sister Jacqueline "Jackie" Padgett, who died of lung cancer at age 43. She was the third of LaBelle's sisters to die before age 44, after Vivian Hogan and Barbara Holte. The video's tone reflects LaBelle's grief, showing her dressed in black and singing in a church surrounded by candles and lilies, intercut with scenes of her in tears.<ref>{{cite web |title=Life Lesson Patti LaBelle Learned from Her Sisters' Deaths |website=Essence Content via Dailymotion |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8y7z0u |access-date=March 31, 2026 |quote="…and right after that I did my video of 'If You Asked Me To' and the tears were tears because that was the day that her casket was closed…"}}</ref>
== Personnel == * Patti LaBelle – lead vocals * Aaron Zigman – production, synthesizer programming, synth bass * Stewart Levine – production * Darren Klein – recordin, mixing * Michael Landau – guitars * John Robinson – drums * Lenny Castro – percussion * Bunny Hull – backing vocals * Paulette Brown – backing vocals * Valerie Pinkston-Mayo – backing vocals
== Charts == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ {{sro|Chart performance}} ! scope="col"| Chart (1989) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Australia (ARIA)<ref name="ARIA history pages">{{cite web |url=https://imgur.com/a/JRrmYzF |title=Patti LaBelle ARIA chart history to 2024 |publisher=ARIA |via=Imgur.com |access-date=July 26, 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> | 163 |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|79|artist=Patti LaBelle|rowheader=true|access-date=April 4, 2017}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|11|artist=Patti LaBelle|rowheader=true|access-date=April 4, 2017}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|10|artist=Patti LaBelle|rowheader=true|access-date=April 4, 2017}} |}
== Celine Dion version == {{Infobox song | name = If You Asked Me To | cover = IYAMT.jpg | border = yes | type = single | artist = Celine Dion | album = Celine Dion | B-side = Love You Blind | released = {{Start date|1992|3}} | studio = {{flatlist| * Criterion * The Village * Music Grinder * Ocean Way }} | genre = Pop | length = 3:55 | label = * Columbia * Epic | writer = Diane Warren | producer = Guy Roche | prev_title = Je danse dans ma tête | prev_year = 1992 | next_title = Nothing Broken but My Heart | next_year = 1992 | misc = {{External music video | {{YouTube|1bKuXbnGDqI|"If You Asked Me To"}} }} }}
Celine Dion's recording of "If You Asked Me To" was issued by Columbia and Epic Records as the second single from her 1992 self-titled studio album. Produced by Guy Roche, it was released in Canada and the United States in March 1992, followed later that year by international distribution.<ref name="glatzer">{{cite book |last=Glatzer |first=Jenna |title=Céline Dion: For Keeps |url=https://archive.org/details/celinedionforkee0000glat |url-access=registration |publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing |year=2005 |isbn=0-7407-5559-5}}</ref> The single includes a non-album B-side, "Love You Blind", written by Sheryl Crow and Jay Oliver and produced by Walter Afanasieff. "If You Asked Me To" was later added to the North American editions of Dion's greatest hits albums ''All the Way... A Decade of Song'' (1999) and ''My Love: Essential Collection'' (2008).
=== Critical reception === AllMusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine described "If You Asked Me To" as one of the album's standout tracks, along with "Beauty and the Beast" (with Peabo Bryson) and "Love Can Move Mountains".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/celine-dion-mw0000071377 |title=Celine Dion - Céline Dion | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic |access-date=April 24, 2021 |website=AllMusic}}</ref> A ''Billboard'' editor called it a "lush" and "dramatic" ballad.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Album Reviews |magazine=Billboard |date=April 11, 1992 |page=43 |access-date=October 24, 2020 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-04-11.pdf}}</ref> Another ''Billboard'' editor, Larry Flick, wrote that Dion reinterprets Patti LaBelle's hit "with highly positive results", adding that "she proves she is on the road to developing a fine and distinctive vocal style".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-04-04.pdf |title=Single Reviews |magazine=Billboard |date=April 4, 1992 |access-date=February 12, 2020 |page=67}}</ref> Randy Clark and Bryan DeVaney from ''Cashbox'' wrote, "Now that the world knows who this Canadian songstress is", and described the song as "powerful and emotional".<ref>{{cite magazine |first1=Randy |last1=Clark |first2=Bryan |last2=DeVaney |title=Music Reviews: Singles |magazine=Cashbox |date=April 18, 1992 |page=5 |access-date=November 1, 2020 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1992/CB-1992-04-18.pdf}}</ref> ''Dayton Daily News'' called it "hauntingly beautiful".<ref>"Recordings On Review". ''Dayton Daily News''. November 19, 1999.</ref> Dave Sholin from the ''Gavin Report'' wrote that Dion "deserves all the accolades she's gotten the past few years, and surely her rendition of this touching Diane Warren ballad [...] takes her to a new level".<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Dave |last=Sholin |title=Gavin Picks > Singles |magazine=Gavin Report |issue=1899 |date=April 3, 1992 |page=52 |access-date=April 16, 2018 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/92/Gavin-1992-04-03.pdf}}</ref> Other ''Gavin Report'' editors, Diane Rufer and Ron Fell, wrote that Dion "makes it fresh and uniquely her own".<ref>{{cite magazine |first1=Diane |last1=Rufer |first2=Ron |last2=Fell |title=A/C: Reviews |magazine=Gavin Report |date=April 3, 1992 |page=22 |access-date=October 17, 2020 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/92/Gavin-1992-04-03.pdf}}</ref> Geoff Edgers from ''Salon Magazine'' argued that "If You Asked Me To", "with Dion's moaning, pleading, screaming take-me vocals, works when reassessed as a chunk of modern soul as worthy as anything recorded by Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey".<ref>{{cite web |first=Geoff |last=Edgers |title=Arts & Entertainment >> Music |work=Salon Magazine |date=December 1, 1999 |access-date=April 21, 2020 |url=http://www.salon.com/ent/music/review/1999/12/01/celine/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115063059/http://www.salon.com/ent/music/review/1999/12/01/celine/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 15, 2009}}</ref> Jonathan Bernstein from ''Spin'' called the song "sensational", adding that it "proves that astringency, urgency, and dressing down may win out over homogeneity, artifice, and insincerity, but a good Diane Warren hook lives forever".<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Jonathan |last=Bernstein |title=The Year In Pop |magazine=Spin |date=December 1992 |page=42 |access-date=January 25, 2023 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uZFqiGmZIPAC}}</ref>
=== Commercial performance === The single was successful in the United States and Canada. "If You Asked Me To" reached numbers four and five on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and ''Cash Box'' Top 100, and performed even better on the ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary chart, spending three weeks at number one. In Canada, it also reached number one. The single achieved moderate results in other territories. In the United Kingdom, it was issued twice: first in June 1992, when it peaked at number 60 on the UK Singles Chart, and again in December 1992, when it reached number 57.
=== Music video === The music video for "If You Asked Me To" was directed by Dominic Orlando and filmed in Chatsworth and Hollywood, Los Angeles. Released in April 1992, it was later included on Dion's 2001 DVD collection ''All the Way... A Decade of Song & Video''.
In the video, Dion performs the song inside a manor. It opens with her sitting alone in a room by a large window. One scene shows a hand touching her cheek. Other scenes depict her in a white dress surrounded by mirrors. Outdoor shots show her walking around the property. The video ends with a man holding her as she sits in the room.
=== Accolades === In 1993, "If You Asked Me To" received an ASCAP Pop Award for most performed song in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards: 1993 |publisher=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000044/1993 |access-date=February 15, 2014}}</ref> It was also nominated for the ''Billboard'' Music Award for Hot Adult Contemporary Single of the Year and the Juno Award for Single of the Year (the latter won by Dion and Bryson's "Beauty and the Beast" at the Juno Awards of 1993).<ref>{{cite web |title=Awards: Artist Summary |publisher=CARAS |url=http://junoawards.ca/awards/artist-summary/?artist_name=celine+dion&submit=Search |access-date=January 8, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108144327/http://junoawards.ca/awards/artist-summary/?artist_name=celine+dion&submit=Search |archive-date=January 8, 2014}}</ref> About.com placed the song at number one in its 2017 ranking of "Top 10 Celine Dion Songs", describing it as a "big midtempo ballad".<ref>{{cite web |author=Lamb, Bill |url=https://www.liveabout.com/top-celine-dion-songs-4032852 |title=Top 10 Celine Dion Songs |publisher=About.com |date=November 24, 2017 |access-date=April 7, 2020}}</ref>
=== Personnel === * Celine Dion – vocals * Guy Roche – production, synthesizer * Michael Thompson – guitar * John Robinson – drums * Jean McClain – background vocals * Larry Jacobs – background vocals * Terry Wood – background vocals
=== Formats and track listing === * '''7-inch, cassette, 3-inch CD, and CD single''' # "If You Asked Me To" – 3:55 # "Love You Blind" – 4:35
* '''US 7-inch and CD single''' # "If You Asked Me To" – 3:55 # "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" – 4:33
* '''European CD single''' # "If You Asked Me To" – 3:55 # "Love You Blind" – 4:35 # "Halfway to Heaven" – 5:05
* '''UK CD single''' # "If You Asked Me To" – 3:55 # "Where Does My Heart Beat Now" – 4:33 # "Love You Blind" – 4:35
=== Charts === {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
==== Weekly charts ==== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ {{sro|Weekly chart performance}} ! scope="col"| Chart (1992) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite book |author=Gavin Ryan |title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 |year=2011 |publisher=Moonlight Publishing |location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref> | 52 |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|chartid=2151|rowheader=true|access-date=September 3, 2014}} |- {{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|1|chartid=2166|rowheader=true|access-date=September 3, 2014}} |- ! scope="row"| Canada Retail Singles (''The Record'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-06-27.pdf |title=Hits of the World |magazine=Billboard |page=40 |date=June 27, 1992 |access-date=June 2, 2015}}</ref> | 3 |- ! scope="row"| Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (''The Record'')<ref>{{cite book |author=Nanda Lwin |author-link=Nanda Lwin |title=Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide |publisher=Music Data Canada |year=1999 |isbn=1-896594-13-1}}</ref> | 1 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|27|year=1992|week=36|rowheader=true|access-date=September 4, 2014}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|28|artist=Céline Dion|song=If You Asked Me To|rowheader=true|access-date=September 26, 2014}} |- {{single chart|New Zealand|26|artist=Céline Dion|song=If You Asked Me To|rowheader=true|access-date=September 26, 2014}} |- ! scope="row"| Quebec Radio Songs (ADISQ)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.banq.qc.ca/collections/collections_patrimoniales/musique/collection_numerique/bd_specialisee/palmares/ |title=Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec |publisher=BAnQ |language=fr |access-date=March 17, 2019 |archive-date=August 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809215510/http://www.banq.qc.ca/collections/collections_patrimoniales/musique/collection_numerique/bd_specialisee/palmares/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> | 1 |- {{single chart|UK|57|date=19921227|rowheader=true|access-date=September 4, 2014}} |- ! scope="row"| UK Airplay (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-07-18.pdf |title=Top 50 Airplay Chart |magazine=Music Week |date=July 18, 1992 |page=14 |access-date=November 2, 2025}}</ref> | 47 |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|4|artist=Celine Dion|rowheader=true|access-date=September 9, 2014}} |- {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=Celine Dion|rowheader=true|access-date=September 9, 2014}} |- ! scope="row"| US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Cash Box Charts – Top 100 Pop Singles |magazine=Cash Box |page=4 |date=July 18, 1992 |volume=LV |issue=47 |issn=0008-7289 |location=New York, NY}}</ref> | 5 |} {{col-2}}
==== Year-end charts ==== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ {{sro|Year-end chart performance}} ! scope="col"| Chart (1992) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+56-No.+25-December+19%2C+1992.pdf |title=The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992 |magazine=RPM |volume=56 |issue=25 |page=8 |date=December 19, 1992 |access-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225045251/http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+56-No.+25-December+19%2C+1992.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> | 4 |- ! scope="row"| Canada Adult Contemporary (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.1824&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.1824.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.1824 |title=The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1992 |work=RPM |date=December 19, 1992 |access-date=September 9, 2014}}</ref> | 3 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="usyearend">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1992-12-26.pdf |title=The Year in Music: 1992 |magazine=Billboard |date=December 26, 1992 |access-date=May 16, 2015}}</ref> | 28 |- ! scope="row"| US Adult Contemporary (''Billboard'')<ref name="usyearend" /> | 3 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1992/CB-1992-12-26.pdf#page=8 |title=Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles |magazine=Cash Box |issue=18 |volume=LVI |date=December 26, 1992 |page=8 |access-date=November 23, 2025}}</ref> | 18 |}
==== All-time charts ==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ {{sro|All-time chart performance}} ! scope="col"| Chart (1975–2000) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web |last=Lwin |first=Nanda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812023426/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100cds.html |archive-date=August 12, 2004 |url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100cds.html |title=Top 100 Cdn. Singles of all time |website=Jam! |date=July 1, 2000 |access-date=March 31, 2022}}</ref> | 35 |} {{col-end}}
=== Release history === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ {{sro|Release history}} ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row"| Canada | rowspan="2"| March 1992 | Cassette | Columbia | <ref>{{cite magazine |title=Celine Dion |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/RPM/90s/1992/RPM-1992-03-28.pdf |magazine=RPM |date=March 28, 1992 |volume=55 |issue=14 |page=1 |access-date=April 4, 2026}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| United States | {{hlist|7-inch vinyl|cassette|CD}} | Epic | <ref>{{cite magazine |title=Remember the Name, Because You'll Never Forget the Voice |magazine=Gavin Report |issue=1899 |date=April 3, 1992 |page=55 |access-date=April 4, 2026 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/92/Gavin-1992-04-03.pdf}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Japan | May 21, 1992 | 3-inch CD | SMEJ | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/98172/products/107754/1/ |title=イフ・ユー・アスクト・ミー・トゥ |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=December 27, 2022}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Australia | June 1, 1992 | {{hlist|Cassette|CD}} | rowspan="2"| Epic | <ref>{{cite magazine |title=New Release Summary – Product Available from : 01/06/92: Singles |magazine=The ARIA Report |issue=112 |page=19 |date=May 31, 1992}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| United Kingdom | June 22, 1992 | {{hlist|7-inch vinyl|cassette|CD}} | <ref>{{cite magazine |title=New Releases: Singles |magazine=Music Week |page=19 |date=June 20, 1992}}</ref> |}
== See also == * Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1992 * List of Billboard Hot 100 top-ten singles in 1992 * List of Hot Adult Contemporary number ones of 1992 * List of number-one singles of 1992 (Canada)
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Discogs master|90730|If You Asked Me To|type=single}}
{{Patti LaBelle}} {{Celine Dion songs}} {{James Bond music}} {{Licence to Kill}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1980s ballads Category:1989 singles Category:1989 songs Category:1992 singles Category:Celine Dion songs Category:Columbia Records singles Category:Epic Records singles Category:Licence to Kill Category:MCA Records singles Category:Music videos directed by Dominic Orlando Category:Music videos shot in the United States Category:Patti LaBelle songs Category:Pop ballads Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles Category:Songs from James Bond films Category:Songs written by Diane Warren