It was released on December 1, 2009, as the fourth single from his third studio album Shock Value II (2009).

The song features singer Katy Perry and served as the album's second worldwide single.

"If We Ever Meet Again" reached number one in the Czech Republic and New Zealand while peaking within the top 10 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The song was later included on the deluxe edition of Perry's third studio album, Teenage Dream.

Timbaland told MTV News that will.i.am's work on "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas 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.

As the jewel thief leaves the police station, the art thief is waiting for him outside, and the two join forces (dressed in black clothes and masks) to steal the original necklace and painting from the beginning of the video.

It has peaked at number 37 in the United States, making it the third highest-charting single on the album.