One Week (song)

"One Week"
Single by Barenaked Ladies
from the album Stunt
B-side	"When You Dream"
Released	September 15, 1998 (1998-09-15)[1]
Genre	Alternative rock[2][3][4] pop[5] rap rock[6] pop rock[7]
Length	2:48
Label	Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Ed Robertson
Producer(s)	Barenaked Ladies David Leonard Susan Rogers
Barenaked Ladies singles chronology
"Brian Wilson (2000)" (1997) "One Week" (1998) "It's All Been Done" (1998)
Music video
"One Week" on YouTube

"One Week" is a song by Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies released as the first single from their 1998 album, Stunt. It was written by Ed Robertson, who is featured on the lead vocal of the rapped verses. Steven Page sings lead on the song's chorus, while the two co-lead the prechoruses in harmony. The song is notable for its significant number of pop culture references and remains the band's best-known song in the United States, where it topped the Billboard Hot 100. Coincidentally, when the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, it remained in the top spot for one week.

In Canada, "One Week" reached No. 3 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks Chart, while worldwide, the song peaked within the top 10 of the charts in Iceland and the United Kingdom. The band has not equaled this level of US chart success since, though singles "It's All Been Done", from the same album, and "Pinch Me", from their subsequent album Maroon, both broke the top 50 of the US Hot 100. Apple used the song at MacWorld 1999 for presenting Mac OS X Server on a wall of 50 iMacs.^[8][9]

History

Ed Robertson wrote the ideas for the non-rap "choruses" with the concept being the structure of a fight where the protagonist knows they're wrong and is just trying to save face. Robertson wanted to come up with a rapped verse for the song but all attempts failed. Bandmate Steven Page suggested he simply improvise the rap, as the two did onstage every night. Robertson heeded the advice and set up a video camera. He improvised the song at a slower pace to make rhyming easier and arrived at about four minutes of rap. He sent it to Page, who told him not to change a word. Two minutes of the improvising was almost directly compiled (with very little, if any, tweaking) into the verses of the song. Due to its improvised nature, the rapped sections are not intended to have any direct relation to the plot of the sung sections. The lyrics in the liner notes from Stunt contain some additional lines of rap that did not make it into the recorded version.

Band members have stated that the first live run-through of "One Week" did not go well and that it took some time to get the song to sound good live. The instrumental parts are played by band members, notably Ed Robertson on guitar, and Kevin Hearn sometimes on guitar and sometimes on keyboards; as well, while Hearn was away from touring shortly after the song's release, his place at shows was taken by one of two other musicians on keyboards who each added their own unique parts to the song, helping to shape its live sound early.

The song is rife with pop culture references including Aquaman, Swiss Chalet, sushi and wasabi, Busta Rhymes, LeAnn Rimes, Bert Kaempfert, milkshakes, the film Vertigo, A Tribe Called Quest's song "Scenario", The X-Files and its character, The Smoking Man, the film Frantic and its star Harrison Ford, Sting and tantric sex, Snickers, Akira Kurosawa, golf clubs, Sailor Moon, Birchmount Stadium and its annual Robbie International Soccer Tournament.^[10] Because of the song's pop culture references and fast-paced, nearly rapped vocals, it is similar in style to "Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" by the band Reunion.

In performances starting in 2003, the band developed an acoustic, bluegrass version of the song. It is typically used in a new performance setting they developed on the Peepshow Tour that year, in which they play acoustically while they stand around and sing into one omni-directional microphone. With the departure of Steven Page in January 2009, Kevin Hearn has assumed lead vocal duties on most choruses. Hearn often sings the choruses together with drummer Tyler Stewart, who also performs the harmonies during the bridge. Both the third, last chorus and the following, ending part of the song are sung by Robertson, along with Stewart's harmonizing.

Critical reception

AllMusic's Liana Jonas called the song, "a well-crafted recording, which marries words that are funny and endearing with clever and bouncy music. Added kudos must be given to Robertson and co-frontman Steven Page for singing such a speedy mouthful without skipping a beat."^[11]

Music video

The music video was directed by McG^{[citation needed]} and begins with the band performing the song in a royal court, featuring a singing girl on a wind-up pedestal (portrayed by Kiva Dawson), similar to a scene from the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. During the interlude they make an escape and sing while driving a lookalike of the General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard (using the numbers 07 instead of 01, minus the Confederate flag on the roof, and a 1968 rather than 1969 model year) and Starsky & Hutch's Ford Gran Torino. The band drives into a suburb, where they perform a concert in front of a 1950s bus, with a female motorcyclist, dressed like Evel Knievel, performing stunts. The video ends with a shot of the cyclist stuck on a tree. The video features Carmit Bachar from The Pussycat Dolls playing an angel.^{[citation needed]}

Track listings

Canadian and US CD single, US cassette single[12][13][14] "One Week" (remix) – 2:52 "When You Dream" (home demo) – 4:22 "Shoe Box" (live) – 2:54 US 7-inch single[15] A. "One Week" (remix) – 2:52 B. "When You Dream" (home demo) – 4:22 UK CD single[16] "One Week" (remix) – 2:52 "When You Dream" (home demo) – 5:19 "Shoe Box" (live) – 2:56 UK cassette single[17] "One Week" (remix) – 2:52 "When You Dream" (home demo) – 5:19

Australian and Japanese CD EP[18][19] "One Week" (remix) "The Old Apartment" "Brian Wilson" (live) "Be My Yoko Ono" "Alternative Girlfriend" Australian remix CD single[20] "One Week" (Dave's big beat remix) – 3:22 "One Week" (Pull's Break remix) – 3:21 "One Week" (original radio remix) – 2:52 "One Week" (Dave's big beat extended remix) – 6:14

Personnel

• Ed Robertson – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
• Steven Page – vocals
• Jim Creeggan – electric upright bass
• Kevin Hearn – keyboards, electric guitar
• Tyler Stewart – drums

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998–1999) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[21] 16 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[22] 3 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[23] 5 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[24] 23 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[25] 5 Ireland (IRMA)[26] 29 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 79 Scotland (OCC)[28] 5 UK Singles (OCC)[29] 5 US Billboard Hot 100[30] 1 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[31] 2 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[32] 2 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[33] 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[34] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Australia (ARIA)[35] 71 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[36] 27 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[37] 19 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[38] 84 US Billboard Hot 100[39] 51 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[40] 20 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[41] 22 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[42] 10 US Triple-A (Billboard)[43] 11 Chart (1999) Position UK Airplay (Music Week)[44] 41 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[45] 42 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[46] 72

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[47]	Gold	35,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[48]	Platinum	600,000^‡
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	June 2, 1998	Modern rock triple A radio	Reprise	[49]
Canada	June 9, 1998	Radio		[49]
United States	July 21, 1998	Contemporary hit radio		[50]
	September 15, 1998	CD		[1]
Canada				[51]
United Kingdom	February 8, 1999	CD cassette		[52]
Japan	February 24, 1999	CD		[53]

In popular culture

The song appears as a recurring element of the mashup album Mouth Moods by American musician Neil Cicierega.^[54]

The song was used in a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer commercial in which a number of young people sing along with the song as it presumably plays on the radio and they drive around a parking structure. ^[55]

References

1. Sandiford-Waller, Theda (September 19, 1998). "Hot 100 Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 38. p. 105. After it arrives at retail Tuesday (15), expect Barenaked Ladies' 'One Week'...
2. Cosores, Philip (October 25, 2018). "88 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1998". Spin. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
3. "Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best". Consequence. July 4, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
4. Ygelsias, Matthew (May 21, 2007). "The Ultimate Nineties Alt-Rock Playlist". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
5. Pelley, Rich (August 16, 2021). "Barenaked Ladies: how we made One Week". The Guardian. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
6. Schonfeld, Zach (July 23, 2018). "Barenaked Ladies on 20 Years of 'Stunt' and Why They Stopped Recording Songs Naked". Newsweek. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
7. Cridlin, Jay (July 11, 2012). "Barenaked Ladies bassist talks fame, ice cream before gig at Gary Amphitheatre". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
8. "Mac OS X Server at Macworld SF '99". Archived from the original on December 12, 2021 – via YouTube.
9. "Macworld 1999 - all about Steve Jobs.com". January 7, 1999. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
10. "Barenaked Ladies: How we made One Week". TheGuardian.com. August 16, 2021.
11. Jonas, Liana. "Barenaked Ladies – One Week Review by Liana Jonas". AllMusic. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
12. One Week (Canadian CD single disc notes). Barenaked Ladies. Reprise Records. 1998. CD 17174.
13. One Week (US CD single disc notes). Barenaked Ladies. Reprise Records. 1998. 9 17174-2.
14. One Week (US cassette single cassette notes). Barenaked Ladies. Reprise Records. 1998. 9 17174-4.
15. One Week (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Barenaked Ladies. Reprise Records. 1998. 7-17174.
16. One Week (UK CD single disc notes). Barenaked Ladies. Reprise Records. 1998. W468CD, 9362 44559-2.
17. One Week (UK cassette single sleeve). Barenaked Ladies. Reprise Records. 1998. 7-17174.
18. One Week (Australian CD EP liner notes). Barenaked Ladies. Reprise Records. 1998. 9362-47089-2.
19. One Week (Japanese CD EP liner notes). Barenaked Ladies. Reprise Records. 1998. WPCR-10063.
20. One Week (Australian remix CD single liner notes). Barenaked Ladies. Reprise Records. 1998. 9362446092.
21. "Barenaked Ladies – One Week". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
22. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7044." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
23. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7075." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
24. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 9. February 27, 1999. p. 18. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
25. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (24.9–1.10. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). September 25, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
26. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – One Week". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
27. "Barenaked Ladies – One Week" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
28. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
30. "Barenaked Ladies Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
31. "Barenaked Ladies Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
32. "Barenaked Ladies Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
33. "Barenaked Ladies Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
34. "Barenaked Ladies Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
35. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
36. "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63, no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
37. "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved August 29, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
38. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1999. p. 34. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
39. "Billboard Top 100 – 1998". Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
40. "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-96.
41. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 45.
42. "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-84.
43. "Best of '98: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 35.
44. "Most Broadcast of 1999: Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 31. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
45. "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 47.
46. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 54.
47. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
48. "British single certifications – Barenaked Ladies – One Week". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
49. LeBlanc, Larry (June 20, 1998). "Radio Leaps for Ladies". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 25. pp. 13, 18.
50. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1257. July 17, 1998. p. 80.
51. "Album Releases: September 1998". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
52. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. February 6, 1999. p. 23. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
53. "BNL-EP | ベアネイキッド・レディース" [BNL-EP | Barenaked Ladies] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
54. Rife, Katie (January 26, 2017). "Neil Cicierega is here to reclaim the internet with his new album Mouth Moods". A.V. Club. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
55. 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Commercial. YouTube.