Only You (Yazoo song)

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"Only You"
YazooOnly you.jpg
Single by Yazoo
from the album Upstairs at Eric's
B-side
  • "Situation" (UK)
  • "Winter Kills" (US)
Released15 March 1982
RecordedJanuary 1982
GenreSynth-pop, new wave
Length3:11
LabelMute
Songwriter(s)Vince Clarke
Producer(s)
Yazoo singles chronology
"Only You"
(1982) 		"Don't Go"
(1982)
Music video
"Only You" (1999 remix) on YouTube

"Only You" is the debut single by English synth-pop duo Yazoo. It was written by member Vince Clarke, while he was still with Depeche Mode, but recorded in 1982 after he formed Yazoo with Alison Moyet. It was released as Yazoo's first single on 15 March 1982 in the United Kingdom, and became an instant success on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 2 on 16 May 1982.[1] It would also reach the top 10 in neighbouring Ireland as well as Australia. In the US, "Only You" was released as the band's second single in November 1982 and charted at number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also made the US Adult Contemporary chart (number 38).

A remix of "Only You" made the UK top 40 again in 1999, while reaching number 16 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. The music video for the new version was created using the Houdini 3D animation software package.[2]

In September 2015, Moyet performed "Only You" as part of a four-song set at the Burberry Woman's Spring/Summer 2016 Collection Fashion Show in London. The performance was later released on Alison Moyet – Live for Burberry EP.[3] Audience members included Anna Wintour, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paloma Faith and Kate Moss. The performance featured a live orchestra as accompaniment.[4]

An orchestral remix of "Only You" was created for the Boots 2017 Christmas advert on British TV. Yazoo released the track on their YouTube channel on 17 November 2017, promising that it would be released as a single-track download the following week. The remix features Moyet's original vocal with a brand new orchestral backing track.

The Flying Pickets recorded an a cappella cover of "Only You" which was the Christmas number one in the UK in December 1983. It also reached number 17 in Canada in April 1984.[5]

Recording[]

In 1981, English musician Vince Clarke left the electronic band Depeche Mode, citing touring fatigue and disdain for pop stardom as his reasons for the departure.[6] Clarke was worried Mute Records would drop him as a result, and decided to write for the label a song called "Only You".[7] Clarke originally wrote the music for the song on a guitar, and transposed the riff into synthesizer notes. While writing the lyrics, Clarke remarked "It was a very simple arrangement. I just formed words on a piece of paper. I was just hoping Daniel Miller, Mute Records founder, would like it".[8] Before Clarke presented the song to Miller, he offered it to Andy Fletcher and Martin Gore of Depeche Mode, although the two declined.[9]

Clarke had written "Only You" as a sentimental ballad, and wanted to find a vocalist who could sing with emotion.[6] Around this time, the rhythm and blues band The Screamin' Ab Dabs split, and singer Alison Moyet placed an ad in Melody Maker looking for a new band.[10] Clarke had heard Moyet perform with a few other bands in the pub circuit, and felt she was a good fit for the song. He responded to the ad and asked Moyet if she was interested in singing for a demo.[8] Moyet was reluctant at first, as she never aspired to perform pop songs, and noted "A part of me was thinking I'll never hear the end of it if I go and sing with this pretty boy". She eventually agreed, saying she needed the money and had no way of making a demo on her own.[8]

Clarke recorded the demo of "Only You" on a four-track tape recorder, and had already finished the backing track when Moyet arrived.[6] Once the demo was finished, Clarke presented it to Miller, who at first found it to be uninteresting. That evening, publishing associates from Scandinavia heard the demo and liked it, which Clarke noted may have influenced Miller's opinion of the song.[8] About a week later, Miller called Clarke and told him that he and Moyet should rerecord the song as a group and release it as a single. Moyet was surprised by the news, as neither she nor Clarke had intended to start a band together. The two knew virtually nothing about each other besides musical abilities, and Moyet described the pairing as "almost like an arranged marriage".[7] Regardless, the newly formed duo recorded "Only You" at Blackwing Studios. Eric Radcliffe produced the song, along with Clarke and Miller.[11]

Composition[]

"Only You" is a synth-pop song with a tempo of 108 beats per minute.[12][13] The song features an arpeggio chord progression, and is composed in the key of A major.[13] When asked about the song, Moyet said: "'Only You' has a nursery rhyme simplicity and a lack of pretension. You don't need to be a great instrumentalist to play it. It's a universal, everyman song."[8] Marcos Hassan of Tiny Mix Tapes agreed with this statement. He wrote that although "Only You" is a traditional synth-pop song, its softer and intimate sound is more reminiscent of Motown records, and ultimately described the song as "a warm and familiar extraterrestrial creature".[14] Stewart Mason of AllMusic noted the use of layered melodies performed on multiple monophonic synthesizers, which add what he called "depth and melodic substance" to the song.[12]

Lyrically, "Only You" is a torch song about the resignation of a relationship.[15] The singer knows the conflict laden relationship is over, but desperately wants to be proven wrong.[14] NME's Priva Elan wrote that the song may have initially been about Clarke's uneasy relationship with Depeche Mode, but Moyet turned the lyrics into the story of a person "looking through a scrapbook of photo-like memories".[16] Moyet's soulful, almost masculine vocals span a tonal range of F♯3 to D4.[13][16] Mason compared Moyet's vocals to those of 1970s singer Ann Peebles.[12]

Release and reception[]

"Only You" was released in March 1982, as a 7" and 12" single.[11] It was the first single from their debut album Upstairs at Eric's, and was paired with the B-side; 'Situation' /> The cover art for "Only You" featured an illustration of an American football player running with the ball.[11]

"Only You" debuted at number seventy-two on the UK singles chart, on 11 April.[17] Over the next few weeks, the song steadily climbed the chart, and on 16 May peaked at number two, only behind the Eurovision winning song "A Little Peace".[18] "Only You" stayed within the top ten for the next three weeks, after which it began to drop in position. It spent fourteen weeks on the chart, and last appeared on 11 July.[17] During its chart run, "Only You" was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry, denoting shipments of 250,000 copies.[19]

In the United States, "Only You" debuted at number ninety on the Billboard Hot 100 on 26 February 1983.[20] The song slowly rose in positions, and on 19 March peaked at number sixty-seven, where it remained for three weeks.[21] It spent eight weeks on the chart, and last appeared on 16 April.[22]

The song was ranked at number 7 among the top ten "Tracks of the Year" for 1982 by NME, [23] and in 2012 the website ranked it at number 8 of their Greatest Pop Songs in History list.[24]

Track listing[]

7"
Mute/7 MUTE 20 (UK)
  1. "Only You" – 3:10
  2. "Situation" – 2:22
7"
Sire/9 2-98447 (US)
  1. "Only You" – 3:10
  2. "Winter Kills" – 4:01
12"
Mute/12 MUTE 20 (UK)
  1. "Only You" – 3:10
  2. "Situation" (extended version) – 5:20
CD
Mute/CD MUTE 20 (UK)
  1. "Only You" – 3:10
  2. "Situation" – 2:26
  3. "Situation" (extended version) – 5:20

(*) CD released on 30 September 1996

Charts[]

Chart (1982) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[25] 6
Belgian Singles Chart (Ultratip Flanders)[26] 39
German Singles Chart[27] 72
Irish Singles Chart[28] 5
UK Singles Chart[17] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 67
US Adult Contemporary Chart[citation needed] 38

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Gold 400,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Use in film and television[]

The song features in the film Can't Hardly Wait, and in the closing scenes of the final episode of the British TV series The Office.[31] The song is also heard in the closing scene of The Americans episode "Dimebag",[32][33] in the closing scene of Lucifer episode "High School Poppycock",[34] the Once Upon a Time episode "The Price", Fringe episode "Transilience Thought Unifier Model-11",[35] and over the closing scenes and credits of episode 3 of the BBC/Hulu mini-series Normal People.[36][37]

The song is a central plot point in the 2012 romantic horror film Jack & Diane.

A cover version of the song by the Norwegian band Flunk is used in the Designated Survivor episode "Line of Fire".[citation needed]

Cover versions[]

The Flying Pickets version[]

"Only You"
Onlyyouflyingpickets.jpg
Single by the Flying Pickets
from the album Lost Boys
ReleasedDecember 1983
Recorded1983
GenreA cappella
Length3:15
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Vince Clarke
Producer(s)The Flying Pickets, John Sherry Sonet
The Flying Pickets singles chronology
"Only You"
(1983) 		"When You're Young and in Love"
(1984)
Audio
"Only You" on YouTube

An a cappella version by the Flying Pickets was even more successful than the 1982 original on the UK Singles Chart, being released towards the end of the following year and becoming the Christmas number one in 1983. It spent five weeks at the top.[38] This made "Only You" the first a cappella chart-topper in the UK.[39] The song was also the 1983 Christmas number one in Ireland. It was released on overseas markets the following year.

The Flying Pickets version went on to become a number one hit on the German Singles Chart in 1984,[40] and also charted in Canada,[41] though it did not chart in the United States. The song is also used at the end of Wong Kar-wai's 1995 film Fallen Angels.[42][43]

The Flying Pickets version was reportedly one of Margaret Thatcher's favourite songs, a fact that has been noted with irony, due to the band's socialist views.[44]

Track listing
7" single 10,106,103 (1983)
7" single 10 TEN 14 (1983)
  1. "Only You" – 3:20
  2. "Disco Down" – 3:27

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1983–1984) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[45] 61
Austrian Singles Chart[46] 3
Belgian Singles Chart (Ultratop Flanders)[47] 3
Canadian Singles Chart[5] 17
Dutch Singles Chart[48] 5
German Singles Chart[27] 1
Irish Singles Chart[28] 1
New Zealand Singles Chart[49] 9
Polish Airplay Chart[50] 15
Swedish Singles Chart[51] 3
Swiss Singles Chart[52] 2
UK Singles Chart[53] 1

Enrique Iglesias version[]

"Sólo En Tí"
Solo en ti single.jpg
Single by Enrique Iglesias
from the album Vivir
Released17 February 1997 (1997-02-17)
Recorded1996
Genre
Length3:31
LabelFonovisa
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rafael Pérez-Botija
Enrique Iglesias singles chronology
"Enamorado Por Primera Vez"
(1996) 		"Sólo En Tí"
(1997) 		"Miente"
(1997)

Spanish singer-songwriter Enrique Iglesias recorded a Spanish version of the song, which was featured on his second studio album Vivir (1997), released by Fonovisa on 17 February 1997 (see 1997 in music). The track was released as the second single from the album and debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart on 3 May 1997 (his second in a row, and the first artist to do so),[54] and spent ten non-consecutive weeks at the top.[55] Iglesias also recorded the song in English, which is included on the album Bailamos Greatest Hits (1999).

Track listing
  1. Only You (English) 3:30
  2. Solo En Ti (Spanish) 3:29
  3. Solo En Ti /Only You (Spanglish) 3:30
Charts
Chart (1997) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Tracks[55] 1
U.S. Billboard Latin Pop Airplay[56] 1
U.S. Billboard Latin Regional Mexican Airplay[57] 4
U.S. Billboard Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay[58] 6

Kylie Minogue version[]

"Only You"
Kylie Minogue - Only You.png
Single by Kylie Minogue with James Corden
from the album Kylie Christmas
Released9 November 2015 (2015-11-09)
Recorded2015
GenreChristmas
Length3:05
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)Vince Clarke
Producer(s)Steve Anderson
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"The Other Boys"
(2015) 		"Only You"
(2015) 		"100 Degrees"
(2015)
James Corden singles chronology
"Shout"
(2010) 		"Only You"
(2015) 		"The Greatest Gift"
(2016)
Music video
"Only You" on YouTube

"Only You" is the lead single from Kylie Minogue's 2015 album, Kylie Christmas. Minogue and James Corden (who have been friends since 2009) reportedly saw the duet as a novelty inclusion for the album. However, it was elevated to single status.[59]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[60] 22
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[61] 40
Scotland (OCC)[62] 74
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[63] 155
UK Download (OCC)[64] 59

Release history[]

Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Worldwide 9 November 2015 Digital download Parlophone [65][66]

Selena Gomez version[]

"Only You"
Song by Selena Gomez
from the album 13 Reasons Why (A Netflix Original Series Soundtrack)
Released30 March 2017
Length3:04
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Eskmo

A cover version performed by Selena Gomez was included on the soundtrack for 13 Reasons Why (2017), a series adaptation of the eponymous book.[67] Its official lyric video was uploaded to Gomez's Vevo account on 18 April 2017.[68]

Charts[]

Chart (2017) Peak
position
Swedish Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[69] 12

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 75 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. ^ Moltenbrey, Karen (April 2002). Broadcast Retrospective 25th Anniversary: Part 4. Computer Graphics World. Accessed 26 February 2006.
  3. ^ "Alison Moyet – Live for Burberry EP". Discogs. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  4. ^ Burberry (2 September 2015), Alison Moyet performs 'Only You' Live at The Burberry S/S16 Womenswear Show, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 19 February 2019
  5. ^ a b "RPM Top 50 Singles – April 14, 1984" (PDF).
  6. ^ a b c Freeman, John (23 August 2012). "Synthesizer Soul: Yazoo's Upstairs At Eric's 30 Years On". The Quietus. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  7. ^ a b Burt, Kate (8 June 2008). "How We Met: Alison Moyet & Vince Clarke". The Independent. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e Majewski, Lori; Bernstein, Jonathan (2014). Mad World, An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs That Defined the 1980s. Abrams Books. pp. 162–164. ISBN 978-1-6131-2666-0.
  9. ^ Yazoo: 2 Albums, 4 Singles, and That Was It... (Documentary). Mute Records. 2008.
  10. ^ Lowrey, Nick (4 May 2011). "Alison Moyet Interviewed: Only You – The Story & End Of Yazoo". The Quietus. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "Only You" (7"). Yazoo. Mute Records. 1982.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ a b c Mason, Stewart. "Yazoo – Only You". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "Only You by Yazoo". Music Notes. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  14. ^ a b Hassan, Marcos (21 February 2012). "1982: Yazoo – 'Only You'". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  15. ^ Dimery, Robert (2010). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. HarperCollins. p. 517. ISBN 978-1-84403-736-0.
  16. ^ a b Elan, Priya (3 February 2012). "The Greatest Pop Songs In History – No 8: Yazoo, 'Only You'". NME. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
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  29. ^ "Yas Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
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  31. ^ "Song of the Day: "Only You" by Yazoo (The Office UK)". Earnthis.net. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  32. ^ Rivera, Joshua (19 February 2015). "'The Americans' recap: 'Dimebag'". ew.com. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  33. ^ Collins, Sean T. (31 May 2018). "The 10 Best Musical Moments in The Americans". vulture.com. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  34. ^ "La classifica dei 5 momenti più romantici di Lucifer" (in Italian).
  35. ^ "Resolving the Sonic Themes on Fringe". disquiet.com. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  36. ^ Kemp, Ella (28 April 2020). "'Normal People' soundtrack: all the songs played on Sally Rooney's hit drama". nme.com. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  37. ^ McHenry, Jackson (1 May 2020). "How Normal People Chose 13 Key Songs for Marianne and Connell". vulture.com. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  38. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 430–1. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  39. ^ Leigh, Spencer (19 June 2012). "Brian Hibbard: Singer and actor who formed the Flying Pickets". The Independent. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  40. ^ "German Top 10 – Top 300 Of The Decade, The 80s". Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  41. ^ "Kylie Minogue records cover of Yazoo's Only You with James Corden". New!. 10 November 2015. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2017. The Flying Pickets' version of the electronic pop ballad was also a huge hit in Germany and Canada...
  42. ^ Nochimson, Martha P., ed. (2 January 2016). A Companion to Wong Kar-wai (2016 ed.). West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. p. 451. ISBN 9781118424247. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  43. ^ "Wong Kar Wai's needle-drops: a journey through his melancholic soundscapes". BFI. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
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  63. ^ "Only You". Zobbel. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
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  66. ^ "Kylie Christmas by Kylie Minogue". iTunes. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  67. ^ Kendall Fisher (31 March 2017). "Selena Gomez releases Emotional Cover of "Only You"". E! Online. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  68. ^ Mike Wass (19 April 2017). "Selena Gomez's "Only You" Gets A Suitably Emotional Lyric Video".
  69. ^ "eckolista Heatseeker, vecka 14, 2017" (in Swedish). Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
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