Like You'll Never See Me Again

2008 single by Alicia Keys
"Like You'll Never See Me Again"
Single by Alicia Keys
from the album As I Am
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2008 (2008-01-22)
Studio
Genre
  • Soul
  • R&B
Length
  • 5:15 (album version)
  • 4:07 (radio edit)
LabelJ
Songwriter(s)
  • Alicia Keys
  • Kerry Brothers Jr.
Producer(s)
  • Alicia Keys
  • Kerry "Krucial" Brothers
Alicia Keys singles chronology
"No One"
(2007) 		"Like You'll Never See Me Again"
(2008) 		"Teenage Love Affair"
(2008)
Music video
"Like You'll Never See Me Again" on YouTube

"Like You'll Never See Me Again" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her third studio album As I Am (2007). Written and produced by Keys and Kerry Brothers Jr., it was first heard on October 25, 2007, on Atlanta's V103 WVEE radio station. Subsequently, it was released as the second single from As I Am on January 22, 2008, by J Records.

"Like You'll Never See Me Again" peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became Keys' second consecutive R&B chart-topper, remaining atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for seven weeks and dislodging Keys' previous single "No One" from the top position. In 2008, the song won two NAACP Image Awards, for Outstanding Music Video and Outstanding Song, and an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Award for Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song.[1]

Composition

"Like You'll Never See Me Again" was written and produced by Keys and Kerry Brothers Jr. Keys explained to MTV News that the song is "about living every moment as if it's your last. Because if it's our last time to say, 'I love you,' then let it be that we didn't forget that."[2]

Critical reception

"Like You'll Never See Me Again"
Alicia Keys's "Like You'll Never See Me Again" from As I Am
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The song received critical acclaim. Nate Chinem from New York Times wrote that the song is "a distant cousin to Prince’s 'Purple Rain'."[3] J. Freedom du Lac from Washington Post agreed, writing that "the sexy, Prince-ly track is by far the album's best track.[4] Rodney Dugue from Spin wrote that the song is a "dreamy lullaby, where she ponders whether she'll be appreciated after a lover stops calling her name."[5] Edna Gundersen from USA Today praised the track, referring to it as an "instant and enchanting classic, where Keys simply dazzles, demonstrating her lock on the future regardless of the industry's fate."[6] Stephanie Merrit from The Observer called it a "sweet, caramel-smooth track."[7]

Nick Levine wrote for Digital Spy a very positive review, writing that it is "a smoochy, seductive soul ballad, built around a delicate, Oriental-sounding piano riff, it gives Keys plenty of chance to show off her breathy, Mariah-esque upper register. Best of all, like all Keys' most impressive moments, its melody has a timeless quality that allows it to transcend its modish R&B production."[8]

Commercial performance

"Like You'll Never See Me Again" debuted at number 37 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs as the Hot Shot debut of the week, jumping to number 22 in its second week, number 15 in its third week, and to then number nine in its fourth. After climbing to number three in its fifth week, the song reached number two in its sixth week, and then rose to number one in its ninth week, beating off Keys' own song "No One"; this made Keys the second artist since the R&B chart began using Nielsen SoundScan data in 1992 to succeed herself at number one, as "Like You'll Never See Me Again" jumped from number two to number one and traded places with "No One", which had topped the chart for 10 weeks. Rapper Nelly accomplished this feat in 2002 with "Hot in Herre" and "Dilemma".[9] The song spent seven weeks atop the chart, after which it remained at number two for six weeks thereafter. As of the charting week of September 13, 2008, "Like You'll Never See Me Again" has remained on the chart for 45 consecutive weeks, all of them inside the top 50. Additionally, the song topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs year-end chart of 2008.[10] On the Billboard Hot 100, it debuted at number 93, jumped to number 45 in its second week, and subsequently peaked at number 12.

"Like You'll Never See Me Again" was released on February 25, 2008, in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 53 on the UK Singles Chart. In Australia, it debuted and peaked at number 77 on the ARIA Singles Chart, number 44 on the Physical Singles Chart, and number 19 on the Urban Singles Chart the week of April 14, 2008.

Music video

The music video for "Like You'll Never See Me Again", directed by Diane Martel, features cameos by Common (with whom Keys had previously worked with in the 2007 motion picture Smokin' Aces) as Keys' love interest who is critically injured in a motorcycle accident and Keys' mother Terri Augello as a hospital medic. It tells the story backwards, and the viewer learns that the couple had been arguing. The video premiered on November 13, 2007, on MTV's Total Request Live and BET's 106 & Park. It debuted at number two on VH1's VSpot Top 20 Countdown on February 23, 2008. Keys described the video as "heart-wrenching. If your heart doesn't feel me, then you are dead!".[2]

Track listings

  • European / Australian CD single[11]
  1. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Album Version) – 5:15
  2. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Seiji Club Mix) – 6:56
  • European promotional CD Maxi-single[12]
  1. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Radio Edit) – 4:07
  2. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Seiji Remix) – 3:43
  3. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Jony Rockstar Remix) – 3:50
  4. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Video)
  • US / European promotional CD single[13]
  1. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Radio Edit) – 4:07
  2. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Instrumental) – 5:14
  3. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Call Out Hook) – 0:10
  • Japanese promotional CD single[14]
  1. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Main)
  2. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Jony Rockstar Remix)
  3. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Seiji Remix)
  4. "No One" (Main)
  • Digital download[15]
  1. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (Remix) (featuring Ludacris) – 3:57

Credits and personnel

Production

  • Seth Waldmann – assistant engineer
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Jared Robbins – mix assistant

Musicians

  • Alicia Keys – vocals, piano, lead Moog, virtual synthesizers
  • Steve Mostyn – bass guitar
  • John "Jubu" Smith – lead guitar, rhythm guitar

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2007–2008) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 77
Australia Urban (ARIA)[17] 19
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[18] 17
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[19] 6
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[20] 46
Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 63
Ireland (IRMA)[22] 48
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 20
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 84
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[25] 97
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[26] 100
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 57
UK Singles (OCC)[28] 53
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[29] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[30] 12
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[31] 1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[32] 25
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[33] 32
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[34] 4
US Smooth Jazz Songs (Billboard)[35] 19

Year-end charts

Chart (2008) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[36] 47
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[10] 1
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[37] 32

Decade-end charts

Chart (2000–2009) Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[38] 10

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[39] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Like You'll Never See Me Again"
Region Date Version(s) Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 22, 2008 Original Contemporary hit radio J
March 11, 2008 Remix Digital download
Australia April 7, 2008 Original CD Sony BMG
Germany May 9, 2008

See also

  • List of number-one R&B/hip-hop songs of 2008 (U.S.)

References

  1. ^ "22nd Annual ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards". ASCAP. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Like You'll Never See Me Again by Alicia Keys Songfacts". Songfacts. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  3. ^ Chinen, Nate. Review: As I Am. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2012-03-13.
  4. ^ Lac, J. Freedom du. Review: As I Am. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2012-03-13.
  5. ^ Dugue, Rodney. "Review: As I Am". Spin: 120. December 2007.
  6. ^ Gundersen, Edna. Review: As I Am. USA Today. Retrieved on 2012-03-13.
  7. ^ Merritt, Stephanie. Review: As I Am. The Observer. Retrieved on 2012-03-13.
  8. ^ Levine, Nick (25 February 2008). "Alicia Keys: 'Like You'll Never See Me Again' - Music Singles Review - Digital Spy". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  9. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (December 27, 2007). "Flo Rida Bumps Keys From Atop Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  10. ^ a b "Year End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.biz. 2008. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  11. ^ Like You'll Never See Me Again (European / Australian CD single liner notes). Alicia Keys. J Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment. 2008. 88697 23399 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Like You'll Never See Me Again (European promotional CD Maxi-single liner notes). Alicia Keys. J Records. 2008. 88697 271712.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Like You'll Never See Me Again (US / European promotional CD single liner notes). Alicia Keys. J Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment. 2007. 88697-20104-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Like You'll Never See Me Again (Japanese promotional CD single liner notes). Alicia Keys. J Records, BMG. 2008. None.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ "Like You'll Never See Me Again (Remix) [feat. Ludacris] - Single by Alicia Keys". Apple Music.
  16. ^ "The ARIA Report: Issue 946" (PDF). The ARIA Report (946): 2. April 14, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-23. Retrieved February 11, 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "ARIA Urban Singles Chart – Week Commencing 14th April 2008" (PDF). The ARIA Report (946): 18. April 14, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-23. Retrieved February 11, 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Alicia Keys – Like You'll Never See Me Again" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  19. ^ "Alicia Keys – Like You'll Never See Me Again" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  20. ^ "Alicia Keys Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Alicia Keys – Like You'll Never See Me Again" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  22. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Alicia Keys". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  23. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Alicia Keys" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  24. ^ "Alicia Keys – Like You'll Never See Me Again" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  25. ^ "Romanian Top 100 – Issue nr: 23/2008 (16 Iunie – 22 Iunie 2008)" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on June 26, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  26. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200822 into search. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  27. ^ "Alicia Keys – Like You'll Never See Me Again". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  28. ^ "Alicia Keys: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  29. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  30. ^ "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  31. ^ "Alicia Keys Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  32. ^ "Alicia Keys Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  33. ^ "As I Am – Alicia Keys | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  34. ^ "Alicia Keys Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  35. ^ "Alicia Keys Chart History (Smooth Jazz Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  36. ^ "Year End Charts – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard.biz. 2008. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  37. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  38. ^ "Decade End Charts – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard.biz. 2009. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  39. ^ "American single certifications – Alicia Keys – Like You'll Never See Me Again". Recording Industry Association of America. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  40. ^ "Available for Airplay". FMQB. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  41. ^ "Like You'll Never See Me Again (Remix) [feat. Ludacris] – Single by Alicia Keys". United States: Apple Music. March 11, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  42. ^ "New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 7th April 2008" (PDF). The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. April 7, 2008. p. 32. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 23, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2022 – via Pandora archive.
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