One on One (song)

"One on One"
Single by Daryl Hall & John Oates
from the album H2O
B-side	"Art of Heartbreak"
Released	January 1983
Recorded	December 1981
Studio	Electric Lady, New York City
Genre	Soft rock[1] blue-eyed soul
Length	4:17 (album version) 3:53 (single version) 5:31 (club mix)
Label	RCA Records
Songwriter(s)	Daryl Hall
Producer(s)	Daryl Hall John Oates
Daryl Hall & John Oates singles chronology
"Maneater" (1982) "One on One" (1983) "Family Man" (1983)
Music video
"One on One" on YouTube

"One on One" is a song performed by American duo Daryl Hall & John Oates. Written by member Daryl Hall, the song was released as the second single from their eleventh studio album H₂O in January 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 US Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of three top ten singles from H₂O.

Music video

The song's music video, directed by Mick Haggerty and C.D. Taylor, depicts Hall walking around a New York 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]

Reception

Cash Box praised the "straightforward vocals", "church-like synthesizer portion and a steady drum beat."^[3] Billboard praised "Hall's convincing solo vocal."^[4]

"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).^[5] 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.^[6] Indie rock band Fruit Bats performed a live rendition of "One on One" for The A.V. Club's "Undercover" song series.^[7] Alternative hip hop group Fun Lovin' Criminals sampled "One on One" for their song "Sugar", from their album 100% Colombian (1998).^[8]

The song's popularity and various lyrical references to basketball led to it being notably used in several National Basketball Association (NBA) commercials in the mid-1980s.^[9] One such commercial featured Los Angeles Lakers small forward James Worthy performing a 360-degree spin move in slow motion during the song's saxophone solo.^[10]

Chart performance

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "One on One" Chart (1983) Peak position Australia (KMR)[11] 77 Canada (RPM) Top Singles [12] 6 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[13] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 21 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[15] 63 US Billboard Hot 100[16] 7 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[17] 4 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] 8 US Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay Chart[19][20] 2

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "One on One" Chart (1983) Rank Canada RPM Top Singles [21] 58 US Billboard Hot 100[22] 39 US Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay Chart[23] 20 US Radio & Records Black Radio Airplay Chart[24] 64

References

1. "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum. 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. "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. January 29, 1983. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
4. "Top Single Picks". Billboard. January 29, 1983. p. 83. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
5. Widran, Jonathan. "Life Thru Rose Colored Glasses – Warren Hill". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
6. 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.
7. "Fruit Bats cover Hall & Oates". The A.V. Club. Chicago. March 23, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
8. Haire, Phillip. "Fun Lovin' Criminals – 100% Columbian (Capitol)". Ink 19. Melbourne. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
9. Murphy, Brian. "Welcome to Cooler Day!". ESPN. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
10. Simmons, Bill (February 15, 2007). "All-star diamond in the Emerald City". ESPN. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
11. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
12. "Top Singles". RPM. 38 (6). Toronto. April 9, 1983. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
13. "Adult Contemporary". RPM. Vol. 38, no. 9. Toronto. April 30, 1983. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
14. "Daryl Hall + John Oates – One On One (Song)". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
15. "Daryl Hall & John Oates". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
16. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
17. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
18. "Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
19. "Hall + Oates".
20. "One on one".
21. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-10-21.
22. "Billboard Hot 100 1983". Billboard. New York. December 24, 1983.
23. "Radio & Records Contemporary Hit Radio 1983 Year-End Chart".
24. "Radio & Records Black Radio 1983 Year-End Chart".