It was written by Gabrielle, Ben Barson of the Boilerhouse Boys, Ben Wolff and Andrew Dean.

"If You Really Cared" was released in September 1996 by Go Beat and Universal, and returned Gabrielle to the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 15.

Caitlin Moran from Melody Maker praised the song as "an inner-London C&W smooch that builds and builds into a deliciously sparse crescendo.

"[1] Another Melody Maker editor, Simon Price, named it one of the Singles of the Week, writing, "'If You Really Cared' is another gorgeous period piece (shades of Lorraine Ellison's "Stay with Me" this time).

"[2] A reviewer from Music Week gave it three out of five, adding, "Gabrielle shows her class with this timeless ballad which captures a vintage soulful sound, but remains distinctly modern.