What If (Jason Derulo song)

"What If"
Single by Jason Derulo
from the album Jason Derulo
Released	August 9, 2010
Format	CD single digital download
Recorded	2009
Length	3:22
Label	Beluga Heights Asylum Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Jason Desrouleaux Jonathan Rotem
Producer(s)	J. R. Rotem
Jason Derulo singles chronology
"Ridin' Solo" (2010) "What If" (2010) "The Sky's the Limit" (2010)

"What If" is the fourth single released by Jason Derulo on his self-titled debut album. The single was first released in the UK on July 26, 2010, where it peaked at number 12, marking Derulo's fourth consecutive Top 20 hit in the country. The piano intro in "What If" is inspired by that of "Alone" by Heart.

Music video

The music video premiered on July 12, 2010, on the music channel program The Official UK Top 40. It was revealed later that week that Ethan Lader was the director for the video.^[1] The plot of the video appears to have been inspired by the movie The Butterfly Effect.

The music video begins with Derulo and his girlfriend (actress Laura Alexandra Grau) moving in together, Derulo takes a diamond engagement ring out of the nightstand and puts it in his pocket as she comes into the room. She leaves to get the last box from the moving truck. While walking across the street, a Camry driver who is distracted by texting nearly hits her. Derulo, hearing the skid from the car, runs from the house and towards her to push her out of the way of the car. As he reaches her, the video freezes. A clock on the nightstand begins to tick slower until it eventually stops, then begins going backwards. Time begins to go in reverse, Derulo and his girlfriend's relationship is shown as if the video is being rewound. When the video shows their first meeting, time begins to go forward again. This time, as he walks past her, he does not stop and talk to her. He looks back at her before he continues walking. She disappears from his memories and from a picture. The video ends back on the street, as the car is about to hit his girlfriend, she disappears as does the moving truck and the car continues moving.^[2]

Track listing

• CD single and digital download

1. "What If" - 3:22
2. "What If" (Wideboys Radio Edit) - 3:20

• UK iTunes EP

1. "What If" (Album Version) - 3:22
2. "What If" (Wideboys Radio Edit) - 3:20
3. "What If" (Wideboys Club Mix 5) - 5:50
4. "What If" (Electric Allstars Mix) - 3:20
5. "What If" (Music Video) - 4:15

Chart performance

"What If" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 40 on July 17, 2010, following the release of the accompanying music video. The single also charted at number 18 on the UK R&B Chart that same week. The following week, the single rose 21 places to number 19, marking Derulo's fourth Top 20 single in the UK. Then the following week it rose again to number 12, marking Derulo's fourth Top 15 single in the UK. On the same week it rose to number 5 on the UK R&B Chart, marking his fourth top 5 on the R&B Chart hit member 27, 2010, "What If" debuted at number 76 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[3]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2010–11) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 32 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 35 Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[6] 8 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[7] 37 Germany (Official German Charts)[8] 48 Ireland (IRMA)[9] 16 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 18 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 27 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12] 12 UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[13] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[3] 76 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[14] 26

Certifications Region Certification Certified units/Sales United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Silver 200,000^^ ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. "Music Video: Jason Derulo – What If". TheNext2Shine. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
3. "Jason Derulo – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Jason Derulo.
4. "Australian-charts.com – Jason Derulo – What If". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
5. "Austriancharts.at – Jason Derulo – What If" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
6. "Ultratop.be – Jason Derulo – What If" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
7. "Jason Derulo – Chart history" European Hot 100 for Jason Derulo.
8. "Musicline.de – Jason Derulo Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
9. "Chart Track: Week 32, 2010". Irish Singles Chart.
10. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Jason Derulo search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
11. "Charts.org.nz – Jason Derulo – What If". Top 40 Singles.
12. "Archive Chart: 2010-07-31" UK Singles Chart.
13. "Archive Chart: 2010-07-31" UK R&B Chart.
14. "Jason Derulo – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Jason Derulo.
15. "British single certifications – Jason Derulo – What If". British Phonographic Industry. Enter What If in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search