Synopsis

Chrisette Michele stars in a polished, performance-driven video that presents her as a poised and self-assured romantic heroine. Moving through stylized settings and intimate close-ups, she sings about desiring a man while choosing to wait until she is ready to take their relationship further. The visual approach favors mood, glamour, and Michele's expressive delivery over a detailed storyline, reflecting the song's balance of sensuality, restraint, faith, and personal discipline.

Factoids & Trivia

• "If I Have My Way" was released as the lead single from Michele's 2007 debut album, "I Am."

• The video premiered on VH1 Soul, helping introduce Michele's understated, jazz-influenced R&B style to music-video audiences.

• Michele described the song as being about abstinence, but also emphasized that its broader subject was discipline and making difficult personal choices.

• The song was written by Chrisette Michele, David Lee Stewart, and Kevin Randolph. Stewart and Randolph also produced the recording.

• The track earned Michele a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in 2008.

• "If I Have My Way" became one of the early signature songs of Michele's career and reached the top 30 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.