# If You Buy This Record (Your Life Will Be Better)

"If You Buy This Record (Your Life Will Be Better)" (also titled without the parentheses) is a song by Italian music group the Tamperer featuring Maya. The song samples American singer Madonna's 1985 hit "Material Girl", which was the first time she allowed another artist to sample her music. It was released in Europe on 2 November 1998 and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart six days later. It also peaked within the top 10 in Denmark, Finland, Ireland and Italy. In the United States and Canada, the single was issued in 1999, becoming a dance hit in both countries.

## Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "as clever as peanut butter and chocolate, this full-on camp follow-up to (...) "Feel It" rewrites the instrumental hook of Madonna's "Material Girl" and wraps it around a super-catchy lyrical chant about how "f-f-f-f-f-f-f-fabulous" you'll be with this little ditty in hand." He noted further that "you can't deny its truth, given the adhesive sing-along verses about the improvements in life that Miss Days has seen since buying herself a piece of this musical carnival. The beat also hammers home with the potency of a massive facial tick, delivering the signature bass rollick that has ignited this group across much of Europe." He also stated that their only complaint is that "at 3:08, it's just too short", and added "take it to the beach, in the car, and impress your roommates with this care-free romp that couldn't deliver the season's fun quotient with any more good cheer."
British trade paper Music Week named "If You Buy This Record" its "Single of the Week" on their 17 October 1998 issue. Despite calling the track "cheesier than a bucket of fondue", the paper described the "Material Girl" sample as "irresistibly infectious" and referred to its title as "one of the cheekiest claims ever made".

## Chart performance

In the Tamperer's native Italy, the track peaked at number four on the Musica e dischi chart. In the United Kingdom, the single entered and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart on 8 November 1998, topping the UK Indie Chart the same week. It earned a silver certification in the UK for shipping over 200,000 units and ended 1998 as Britain's 59th-best-selling hit. In neighbouring Ireland, it reached number six on the Irish Singles Chart, while across Europe, it peaked inside the top 20 in Austria, Flanders, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it rose to number eight on 28 November 1998.
In New Zealand, "If You Buy This Record" peaked at number 11 on the New Zealand Singles Chart for two nonconsecutive weeks in February 1999, staying in the top 20 for 10 weeks and the top 50 for 16 weeks. In Australia, it repeatedly entered and exited the top 50 of the ARIA Singles Chart in early 1999, peaking at number 37 on 17 January 1999. The song was also successful on the American and Canadian dance charts, peaking in popularity in May 1999. In the former country, it reached number 15 on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart and number 16 on the Billboard Maxi-Singles Sales listing. On Canada's RPM Dance chart, the song peaked at number four on the issue of 3 May 1999.

## Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the European CD single liner notes.
Studio
* Recorded at Evento Musica and E-Mail Studio (Italy)
Personnel

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000$^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||