If Your Girl Only Knew

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"If Your Girl Only Knew" is a song written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland for Aaliyah's second studio album, One in a Million (1996). It also was produced by Timbaland, and released as the album's lead single during the third quarter of 1996 (see 1996 in music). The song was re-released in 1998 as a limited edition double A-side single with the single, "One in a Million".

Video If Your Girl Only Knew

Background

In an interview with Billboard, Aaliyah stated: "I wanted to maintain my smooth street musical image but wanted to be funky and hot yet sophisticated". The song was described by Atlantic product development director Eddie Santiago as "a very funky mid-tempo track with lots of heavy keyboard and organ work along with live drums and a thumping bass line". The song was produced by Timbaland.

Maps If Your Girl Only Knew

Chart performance

Released as the album's lead single in August 1996, it peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week ending October 19, 1996, becoming her third single to reach the top 20. It reached the top of the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for two weeks. The single sold 600,000 copies domestically. "If Your Girl Only Knew" was also a hit in the UK, peaking in the top thirty of the UK Singles Chart at number 21 when it was originally released by itself. It was re-issued with "One in a Million" as a double A-side and reached a new peak position of number 15. "If Your Girl Only Knew" was also a hit in other countries including Japan, where the song peaked at number four on the Tokio Hot 100 chart.

CarÃ¡tula Trasera de Aaliyah - If Your Girl Only Knew (Cd Single ...

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Music video

In the video, Aaliyah, her brother, and clique appear at a party. She wears a dark leather outfit with her trademark sunglasses and bandana. Scenes include Aaliyah sitting in a futuristic chair, at a party, (the party scene is shot in black-and-white, but Aaliyah remains in color) Aaliyah and various others in an elevator, and also a close-up of Aaliyah's face. Color editing is used on her eyes here, and they change color towards the end of the video. The video was directed by Joseph Kahn and features cameos from Missy Elliott, Timbaland, 702, Lil' Kim, and her brother Rashad.

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Critical reception

In his review of the song, Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "wickedly infectious jeep chugger" and felt that Aaliyah's break from public view in between albums was "well spent". He also praised Aaliyah's vocal styling, saying: "She reveals a more assured and fully realized vocal style as well as a more flexible note range". Dimitri Ehrlich of Entertainment Weekly described the song as a "low-key funk tune" and commended the overall message of the song, writing: "The message is an enduring one and the sparse, robotic rhythm is entrancing". In a review of One in a Million, Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times called the song "teasingly witchy".