If I Could Fly (One Direction song)

"If I Could Fly" is a song by English-Irish boy band One Direction from their fifth studio album, Made in the A.M. (2015). It was written by Harry Styles, Johan Carlsson and Ross Golan, with production handled by Carlsson.

Following the release of Made in the A.M., "If I Could Fly" debuted at number 79 on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached the Billboard Hot 100 at number 83. The song was certified silver in the United Kingdom by the BPI and gold in Mexico by the AMPROFON.

Composition and lyrics
"If I Could Fly" was written by Harry Styles, Johan Carlsson and Ross Golan, while production was handled by Carlsson. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, by Alfred Music Publishing, the track runs at 75 BPM and is in the key of F major. Musically, the track has been described as a piano-driven ballad. Lyrically, the song finds the band, "in a state of vulnerability, defenseless, and with their heart on their sleeve."

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Julian Bunetta who co-wrote songs from Made in the A.M., recalled how the song came together, "I remember when Harry first played it to me. That one I didn't write, but I remember when I first heard it. We were in Westlake Studio for a week. I kept asking why he wanted to call it 'If I Could Fly'. It's a great song, so it doesn't really matter what it's called, does it?."

Critical reception
Taylor Weatherby of Billboard stated, "it's possibly the best display of how talented the 1D guys are as singers [...] this track is probably the best way to prove that that label is simply discrediting them." In a review for Made in the A.M. writing for The Guardian, Tshepo Mokoena called the track, "downtempo Coldplay."

Cover versions
Former bassist of Panic! at the Disco, Jon Walker covered the song in January 2021.

Chart performance
"If I Could Fly" debuted at number 79 on the UK Singles Chart and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry in 2023. The song also reached number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was certified gold by the AMPROFON in 2020.

Personnel
Credits for "If I Could Fly" adapted from album's liner notes.
 * Johan Carlsson – producer, engineering, bass guitar, synth, piano, background vocals
 * Ross Golan – background vocals
 * Noah Passovoy – vocal producer
 * Tyler Shields – engineering
 * John Hanes – mixing engineer
 * Serban Ghenea – mixing engineer
 * Randy Merrill – assistant mastering engineer
 * Tom Coyne – mastering (Sterling Sound, Nashville, Tennessee)
 * David Bukovinszky – cello
 * Mattias Johansson – violin
 * Mattias Bylund – strings