One on One (song)

"One on One"
Single by Hall & Oates
from the album H2O
B-side "Art of Heartbreak"
Released January 29, 1983
Format
Recorded December 1981
Genre Soft rock,[1] blue-eyed soul
Length 4:17 (album version)
3:53 (single version)
5:31 (club mix)
Label RCA
Writer(s) Daryl Hall
Producer(s)
Hall & Oates singles chronology
"Maneater"
(1982)
"One on One"
(1983)
"Family Man"
(1983)

"One on One" is a song performed by American musical duo Hall & Oates. Written by member Daryl Hall, the song was released as the second single from their eleventh studio album H2O on January 29, 1983. Backed by minimalistic, synthesizer-based production, the song's lyrics incorporate various sports metaphors to describe seduction. Daryl Hall performs lead vocals, while John Oates provides backing harmony vocals.

It peaked at number seven on the United States Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of three top ten singles from H2O. The song's music video, directed by Mick Haggerty and C.D. Taylor, depicts Hall walking around a city street singing the song, interspersed with shots of him performing on a stage with Oates. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice named it the eighth-best video of the year in his ballot for the annual Pazz & Jop critics' poll.[2] "One on One" has been covered and sampled by various artists and was notably used in several commercials for the National Basketball Association.

Covers and samples

Smooth jazz saxophonist Warren Hill covered "One on One" for his fifth studio album Life Through Rose Coloured Glasses (1998).[3] The song was also covered by indie pop duo The Bird and the Bee for their Hall & Oates tribute album Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates.[4] Indie rock band Fruit Bats performed a live rendition of "One on One" for The A.V. Club's "Undercover" song series.[5] Alternative hip hop group Fun Lovin' Criminals sampled "One on One" for their song "Sugar", from their album 100% Colombian (1998).[6]

The song's popularity, along with its inherent basketball references, led to it being notably used in several National Basketball Association (NBA) commercials in the mid-1980s.[7] One such commercial featured Los Angeles Lakers small forward James Worthy performing a 360-degree spin move in slow motion during the song's sax solo.[8]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1983) Peak
position
Australia (KMR)[9] 77
Canada (RPM) Top Singles [10] 4
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[11] 2
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 21
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[13] 63
scope="row" US Billboard Hot 100[14] 7
scope="row" US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[15] 4
scope="row" US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 8

Year-end charts

Chart (1983) Rank
Canada RPM Top Singles [17] 58
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 39

References

  1. "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum. SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  2. Christgau, Robert (February 28, 1984). "Pazz & Jop 1983: Dean's List". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  3. Widran, Jonathan. "Life Thru Rose Colored Glasses – Warren Hill". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  4. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates – The Bird and the Bee". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  5. "Fruit Bats cover Hall & Oates". The A.V. Club. Chicago. March 23, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  6. Haire, Phillip. "Fun Lovin' Criminals – 100% Columbian (Capitol)". Ink 19. Melbourne. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  7. Murphy, Brian. "Welcome to Cooler Day!". ESPN. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  8. Simmons, Bill (February 15, 2007). "All-star diamond in the Emerald City". ESPN. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. "Top Singles". RPM. Toronto. 38 (6). April 9, 1983. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  11. "Adult Contemporary". RPM. Toronto. 38 (9). April 30, 1983. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  12. "Daryl Hall + John Oates – One On One (Song)". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  13. "Daryl Hall & John Oates". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  14. "Daryl Hall & John Oates – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Daryl Hall & John Oates. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  15. "Daryl Hall & John Oates – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Daryl Hall & John Oates. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  16. "Daryl Hall & John Oates – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Daryl Hall & John Oates. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  17. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6699&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062
  18. "Billboard Hot 100 1983". Billboard. New York. December 24, 1983.
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