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If You Leave (song)

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"If You Leave"
Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album Pretty in Pink soundtrack
B-side"La Femme Accident"
Released21 April 1986[1]
Recorded1986
Genre
Length4:25
LabelVirgin (UK)
A&M (US)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark singles chronology
"La Femme Accident"
(1985) 		"If You Leave"
(1986) 		"(Forever) Live and Die"
(1986)
Music video
"If You Leave" on YouTube

"If You Leave" is a 1986 song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). It was recorded for the soundtrack to the film Pretty in Pink (1986), in which it is played prominently during the final scene. Along with 1980's "Enola Gay", the track has been described as OMD's signature song.

"If You Leave" is the group's highest-charting single on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it reached number 4 in May 1986. The song was also a Top 5 entry in Canada and New Zealand, and charted at number 15 in Australia. A defining track of the 1980s, it was described by Interview as "one of the most influential, zeitgeist-capturing songs ever to be written".

Composition

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The end of the film Pretty in Pink, set in a high school prom, was originally meant to feature the OMD song "Goddess of Love" (which the band released on The Pacific Age later in 1986.)[2] However, director John Hughes decided to change the ending to Pretty in Pink after poor test audience reactions, and felt that the new ending required a song with different lyrical content. Hughes asked OMD for a new song to match the feel of the ending, and also specified that it should be written at a tempo of 120 BPM, to match the speed of "Don't You (Forget About Me)", which the actors in the scene had danced to during filming.[3] This request came two days before OMD were due to begin a tour, and as a result "If You Leave" was written and recorded in under 24 hours.[2]

Lyrically the band has stated that the song is about "The end of high school... the ending of your childhood", elaborating that they were trying to capture "this fear of what comes next".[4] Singer Andy McCluskey later noted that an editing error meant the dancing appears out of sync despite the matched tempo.[3]

Critical reception and legacy

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"If You Leave" has garnered both praise and derision since its release. Ian Cranna in Smash Hits wrote that the song is "false and contrived and seems to last about 3 years" (but described UK B-side "88 Seconds in Greensboro" as "OMD at their blazing best").[5] On the other hand, Billboard's Brian Chin dubbed it a "magical beat/ballad" and a "key cut" from the Pretty in Pink soundtrack.[6] Retrospectively, Alfred Soto of The Village Voice said the track "starts promisingly" and features "admirably straightforward" lyrics, but concluded: "Gradually the annoyances become menaces. The parts are garish, overstated; it's a cluttered mix."[7] Trouser Press called the song a "dull ballad" that "was thankfully omitted from OMD's subsequent album, The Pacific Age".[8]

Conversely, Stereogum critic Ryan Leas considered the track to be among "the best songs of the '80s", and described its intro/chorus synthesizer melody as "one of the best sounds ever".[9] Andrew Unterberger in Stylus Magazine said that the "gorgeous" song makes the final scene of Pretty in Pink "one of the best in cinematic history".[10] AllMusic journalist Mike DeGagne named "If You Leave" as the best track from Pretty in Pink, adding that "its adult feel and smooth transition from stanza to chorus makes it [OMD's] most memorable song".[11] Critics have argued that the track was "snubbed" at the 59th Academy Awards in the Best Original Song category.[12] Country singer Blake Shelton noted that he and wife Gwen Stefani (of rock band No Doubt) "both love the song" and considered it for the first dance at their wedding.[13]

Hugo Lindgren in The New York Times Magazine suggested that the stateside popularity of "If You Leave" – as well as that of the similarly pop-oriented Crush (1985) – "obscured OMD's legacy as musical innovators" from US audiences, and marked a shift toward "making music for whoever signed the checks".[2] Listeners in OMD's native UK – where the band had gained an audience with edgy, experimental music – were particularly resistant to the track, which peaked at no. 48 on the UK Singles Chart.[14] Frontman Andy McCluskey commented: "It's a blessing to have such a big hit, but a shame that it overshadows so many other good songs for the US audience. We have many European fans who hate the song."[15] Along with 1980's "Enola Gay", "If You Leave" has been described as OMD's signature song.[16][17]

In 2016, Entertainment Weekly journalist Dana Falcone described "If You Leave" as a "now-classic tune" and "OMD's best-known song to Americans".[18] Kevin Wuench of the Tampa Bay Times dubbed the track "a signature song of the '80s that will never leave the radio",[19] while Interview called it "one of the most influential, zeitgeist-capturing songs ever to be written".[20] The track has been included in various "greatest songs" listings;[a] KOOL-FM named it the third-best new wave song of the 1980s,[21] while Time Out ranked it the 10th greatest track of 1980s cinema.[22] KROQ positioned "If You Leave" as the 16th-best song of 1986;[23] in a poll of 6,528 Slicing Up Eyeballs readers, it was voted the fifth-greatest song of the year.[24]

Track listing

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7": Virgin / VS 843 (UK)

[edit]
  1. "If You Leave" – 4:30
  2. "88 Seconds in Greensboro" – 4:20

7": A&M/Virgin / AM 8669 (US)

[edit]
  1. "If You Leave" – 4:24
  2. "Secret" – 3:57

7": A&M/Virgin / AM 2811 (US)

[edit]
  1. "If You Leave" - 4:24
  2. "La Femme Accident" - 3:58

12": Virgin / VS 843-12 (UK)

[edit]
  1. "If You Leave" (extended version) – 5:59
  2. "88 Seconds in Greensboro" – 4:20
  3. "Locomotion" (live version) – 3:50

12": A&M/Virgin / SP-12176 (US)

[edit]
  1. "If You Leave" (extended version) – 5:59
  2. "La Femme Accident" (extended version) – 5:36

Personnel

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Credits sourced from "Making Music" magazine, the "Vintage Synth" forum and the original album liner notes.[31][32]

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Charts

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Other appearances

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Cover versions

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  • "If You Leave" was covered by pop-punk band Good Charlotte for the soundtrack of Not Another Teen Movie (2001), a parody on teen movies like Pretty in Pink.
  • A cover version by Nada Surf was used on an episode of The O.C. It is played as a tribute to the John Hughes film Pretty in Pink where the original OMD version of the song appeared. It was released on Music from the OC: Mix 2.
  • LMP covered the song on their album A Century of Song.
  • In 2001, "If You Leave" was covered by Seattle synthpop band Dyed Emotions on the OMD tribute compilation Messages: Modern Synthpop Artists Cover Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.
  • Indie rock band Rafter covered the song for the compilation album Guilt by Association Vol. 2, released in 2008.[47]
  • In 2021 "If You Leave" was covered by the American singer-songwriter and musician Angel Olsen for her fourth extended play, Aisles, consisting of five cover versions of popular songs from the 1980s. [48]

Notes

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  1. ^ See: [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]

References

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  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 62.
  2. ^ a b c Lindgren, Hugo (10 May 2013). "The Plot Against Rock". The New York Times Magazine. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  3. ^ a b Macantosh, Dan. "ANDY MCCLUSKY OF OMD". Songfacts. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  4. ^ Professor of rock (21 September 2020). OMD On The Story of 80s Love Song "If You Leave". YouTube. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021.
  5. ^ Cranna, Ian (7 May 1986). "Single Reviews (OMD – '88 Seconds in Greensboro')". Smash Hits. 8 (10): 41.
  6. ^ Chin, Brian (22 February 1986). "Dance Trax". Billboard. p. 57.
  7. ^ Soto, Alfred (19 June 2012). "OMD's 'If You Leave' Can't Get Out Of Here Soon Enough". The Village Voice. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  8. ^ "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark". Trouser Press. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  9. ^ Leas, Ryan (12 February 2016). "Neon Nostalgia". Stereogum. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  10. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (3 October 2003). "Top Ten Musical Moments from Pretty in Pink". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  11. ^ The Best of OMD at AllMusic.
  12. ^ Multiple sources:
  13. ^ Henni, Janine (20 May 2021). "Blake Shelton Teases '80s-Themed First Dance Song for Wedding to Gwen Stefani: We 'Love the Song'". People. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  14. ^ "If You Leave" review at AllMusic.
  15. ^ "If You Leave by OMD". Songfacts. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  16. ^ O'Brien, Jon. "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Live in Berlin". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  17. ^ "'Now I'm bored and old': 27 deliberately confounding follow-ups to popular successes". The A.V. Club. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  18. ^ Falcone, Dana (28 February 2016). "Pretty in Pink 30th anniversary: OMD 'If You Leave'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  19. ^ Wuench, Kevin (28 January 2014). "Tuesday lost and found: OMD's 'Electricity'". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  20. ^ "They Touched You Once, They'll Touch You Twice: A Renaissance for OMD". Interview. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Top 15 New Wave Songs of the '80s". KOOL-FM. 18 April 2016. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  22. ^ a b Chenr, Michael (18 March 2014). "The 50 best songs from '80s movies". Time Out. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Top 106.7 Songs of 1986". KROQ-FM. 31 December 1986. Retrieved 20 July 2022 – via RadioHitList.com.
  24. ^ a b "Top 100 Songs of 1986: Slicing Up Eyeballs' Best of the '80s Redux — Part 7". Slicing Up Eyeballs. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  25. ^ "CBS-FM's Thanksgiving 2015 Countdown of the Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". WCBS-FM. 16 November 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  26. ^ "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time". Max TV. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  27. ^ "Top 500 Songs of the 80's–00's". Blender. October 2005. 194. "If You Leave" - OMD
  28. ^ Abercrombie, Olivia; Mitchell, Matt (10 March 2024). "The 50 Best Original Songs Written for Films". Paste. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  29. ^ Terich, Terrance. The Top 200 Songs of the 80's: Part One Archived 5 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Treble. 13 February 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  30. ^ "The 1001 Greatest Songs to Download Right Now!". Blender. October 2003.
  31. ^ Bacon, Tony (November 1986). "Pacific Specifics". Making Music (Nov 1986): 24–25.
  32. ^ "Airy string sound on OMD's If you leave?". forum.vintagesynth.com. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  33. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 224. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  34. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0679." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  35. ^ "OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) – If You Leave". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  36. ^ "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts O". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  37. ^ "OMD: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  38. ^ "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  39. ^ "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  40. ^ "Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  41. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending May 31, 1986". Cash Box. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  42. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. No. 650. December 1986. Retrieved 24 January 2023 – via Imgur.
  43. ^ "Top 100 Singles of '86". RPM. Vol. 45, no. 14. 27 December 1986. p. 5. ISSN 0315-5994 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  44. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  45. ^ "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1986 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. 27 December 1986. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  46. ^ Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - If you leave. Family Guy The Horse Chooses You. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  47. ^ Matthew Solarski (19 November 2008). "My Brightest Diamond, Frightened Rabbit Do Covers". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  48. ^ Bloom, Madison (8 July 2021). "Angel Olsen Announces New EP Aisles, Shares Cover of Laura Branigan's "Gloria": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
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