{{Short description|1997 single by Enya}} {{For|the 2014 video game|Only If (video game)}} {{Infobox song | name = Only If... | cover = File:Only If (single)- Enya.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Enya | album = Paint the Sky with Stars | B-side = * "Willows on the Water" * "Oíche Chiún (Silent Night)" | released = {{start date|1997|11|10|df=y}} | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres --> | length = 3:18 | label = * WEA * Reprise | writer = * Enya * Roma Ryan | producer = Nicky Ryan | prev_title = On My Way Home | prev_year = 1996 | next_title = Only Time | next_year = 2000 | misc = {{External music video| {{YouTube|2C68nicab4s|"Only If"}} }} }} "'''Only If...'''" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Enya, released on 10 November 1997, by WEA and Reprise Records, as the first single from her first greatest hits compilation, ''Paint the Sky with Stars'' (1997). The song charted in several countries, and its accompanying music video was noted for its creative direction. Enya promoted the song with interviews and performances on ''The Rosie O'Donnell Show'', ''Late Show with David Letterman'' and Royal Variety Performance.
==Critical reception== Larry Flick from ''Billboard'' magazine wrote, "Enya delivers yet another great single. 'Only If' is as peaceful and memorably melodic as any other of her inspirational, soul-purifying songs, which traditionally are etched with a unique combination of background voices with drums and violin lines. It's a combination that makes all her songs seem antique, almost, if not angelic. Enya can many times take her listeners into another dimension altogether, and this single is a fine example of that."<ref>{{cite magazine|author= Flick, Larry|author-link= Larry Flick|title= Reviews & Previews: Singles |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1997/Billboard-1997-12-06.pdf |magazine= Billboard |date= 6 December 1997 |page= 85 |access-date= 4 December 2020}}</ref> British magazine ''Music Week'' gave the song three out of five, noting that it "is the closest Enya has come to a traditional pop arrangement, though the trademark orchestral layers and oceanic sonics are still in place."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-11-08.pdf|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=8 November 1997|page=14|accessdate=20 September 2022}}</ref>
==Track listings== {{Track listing | headline = UK and US CD single, US cassette single<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Only If...|year=1997|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=WEA|id=WEA143CD, 3984 21009 2}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Only If...|year=1997|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=Reprise Records|id=9 17266-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Only If...|year=1997|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Reprise Records|id=9 17266-4}}</ref> | title1 = Only If... | length1 = 3:18 | title2 = Willows on the Water | length2 = 3:02 | title3 = Oíche Chiún (Silent Night) | length3 = 3:45 }} {{Track listing | headline = UK cassette single and US 7-inch single<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Only If...|year=1997|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=WEA|id=WEA143C, 3984 21010 4}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Only If...|year=1997|type=US 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Reprise Records|id=7-17266}}</ref> | title1 = Only If... | length1 = 3:18 | title2 = Oíche Chiún (Silent Night) | length2 = 3:45 }}
==Charts== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Weekly chart performance for "Only If..." !scope="col"|Chart (1997–1998) !scope="col"|Peak<br/>position |- !scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref> |94 |- {{single chart|Flanders Tip|16|artist=Enya|song=Only If...|rowheader=true|access-date=7 October 2020}} |- !scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref>{{cite book |url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=74|first=Timo |last=Pennanen |year=2021 |title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 |section=Enya|page=74|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava |location=Helsinki|access-date=17 May 2022}}</ref> |23 |- {{single chart|Germany|68|artist=Enya|song=Only If...|songid=38655|rowheader=true|access-date=7 October 2020|refname="ger"}} |- !scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2962609?iabr=on#page/n7/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (4.12.–11.12.1997)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=30|date=5 December 1997|access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref> |30 |- !scope="row"|Italy Airplay (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1998/MM-1998-01-24.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay: Italy|magazine=Music & Media|volume=15|issue=4|page=43|date=24 January 1998}}</ref> |6 |- !scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Tipparade 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/enya/enya-only-if-16861|title=Enya - Only If...|language=nl|website=Dutch Top 40|access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> |19 |- {{single chart|Dutch100|78|artist=Enya|song=Only If...|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Poland (''Music & Media'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-11-29.pdf|title=Major Market Airplay – Week 48/1997|magazine=Music & Media|volume=14|issue=48|page=27|date=29 November 1997|access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref> |4 |- {{single chart|Scotland|44|date=19971213|rowheader=true|access-date=7 October 2020}} |- {{single chart|UK|43|date=19971213|rowheader=true|access-date=7 October 2020}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|88|artist=Enya|rowheader=true|access-date=7 October 2020}} |}
==Release history== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+Release dates and formats for "Only If..." !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|Europe |10 November 1997 |rowspan="2"|CD |rowspan="2"|WEA |<ref name="ger"/> |- !scope="row"|Japan |25 November 1997 |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/50256/products/307130/1/|title=オンリー・イフ {{!}} エンヤ|trans-title=Only If {{!}} Enya|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Enya}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Enya songs Category:1997 singles Category:1997 songs Category:Reprise Records singles Category:Songs with music by Enya Category:Warner Music Group singles