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"If We Ever Meet Again" is the fourth U.S. single and second internationally from Timbaland's third studio album, Shock Value II. The song features Katy Perry as Timbaland's duet partner. Timbaland's brother, Sebastian, is also featured at the end of the song, but is uncredited.
Background
Timbaland told MTV News that will.i.am's work on "I Gotta Feeling" inspired him to make "If We Ever Meet Again": "When I did this song, I was in love with this record called ... you're gonna be surprised. The record didn't have anything to do with ['If We Ever Meet Again'], but when I heard [the Black Eyed Peas'] 'I Gotta Feeling,' I said, 'I want a record just like that on my album.' I said, 'I gotta do me a "I Gotta Feeling" record.' Me and one of my producers, Jim Beanz, we came up with this concept. I said, '["I Gotta Feeling"] is happy, but I like it.' It gives a good feeling".
On the record, Timbaland decided to sing rather than rap. He said this about his desiction: "It's not like it's incredible singing, but it made sense for me and it fits my voice," Timbaland explained. "To get somebody else to sing it, it might sound too overdone. I like it better with mistakes — I make mistakes. With me singing it, it gives it a different kind of swagger to it."
Lyrics
What is someone like you doin in a place like this?
Say Did you come alone or did you bring all your friends?
Say whats your name, What are you drinking
Think I know what are you thinking
Baby whats your sign tell me yours and ill tell you mine
Say Whats somebody like you doin in a place like this
Ill never be the same if we ever meet again
Whooooon't let you get awaaay
Say if we ever meet again,
This free-falls, got mee sooo, kiss me all,
Night, Don't ever let me go
Ill never be the same if we ever meet again
Do you come here much? I swear ive seen your face before.
Hope You don't see me flash but I cant help but want you more, more
Baby tel me whats your story I aint shy don't you worry
Im flirtin' with my eyes, I wanna leave with you tonight.
Do you come here much? ive gotta see your face some more
(some more caause baby i)
I'll never be the same - if we ever meet again
Won't let you get away-ay - say, if we ever meet again
This free fall's, got me so
Kiss me all night, don't ever let me go
I'll never be the same
If we ever meet again
If we ever meet again
I'll have so much more to say (if we ever meet again)
If we ever meet again
I wont let you go away (said if we ever meet again)
If we ever meet again
I'll have so much more to say (say if we ever meet again)
If we ever meet again
I wont let you go away-ay-ay
I'll never be the same - if we ever meet again
Won't let you get away-ay - say, if we ever meet again
This free fall's, got me so
Kiss me all night, don't ever let me go
I'll never be the same
If we ever meet again
I'll never be the same - if we ever meet again
Won't let you get away-ay - say, if we ever meet again
This free fall's, got me so
Kiss me all night, don't ever let me go
I'll never be the same
If we ever meet again
Music video
Timbaland - If We Ever Meet Again ft. Katy Perry
The official video.
The music video was shot in December 2009. It was directed by Paul "Coy" Allen. Timbaland told MTV that he wanted the video to be serious and maybe have Perry playing his guardian angel:
| “ | I wanna make something deep, I don't know if I wanna make it like a relationship. I wanna make it like she saved my life with whatever depression I was going through, whether it be drug depression, weight-loss depression — something. ... Will she be around if I go through this again? | ” |
—Timbaland | ||
The video premiered on January 18, 2010 and from January 19 is showing on UK music channels, charting at number one on many of the music channel video charts.
Synopsis
The video focuses on the love story between a jewel thief (played by Julian Graham) and an art thief (played by Nadine Heimann), interspersed with performance pieces from Perry and Timbaland. In the original video Katy Perry appears in black girdle and black leather as an underwear, while Timbaland in some parts of the clip was in a brown Jacket and with a flat cap on his head. Other scenes had Perry dressed in white, sitting at a table where the story is still taking place around her, while Timbaland is also seen wearing a suit. The video ends with a group of thieves stealing all the artworks and jewels that the jewel thief and the art thief have taken.