One in a Million (Aaliyah song)

"One in a Million"
Single by Aaliyah
from the album One in a Million
Released	December 10, 1996 (1996-12-10)
Format	CD single 12" single cassette
Recorded	1996[1] Pyramid Studios (Ithaca, New York)
Genre	R&B
Length	4:30
Label	Blackground Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Melissa Elliott Tim Mosley
Producer(s)	Timbaland
Aaliyah singles chronology
"If Your Girl Only Knew" (1996) "One in a Million" (1996) "4 Page Letter" (1997)
"If Your Girl Only Knew" (1996) "One in a Million" (1996) "4 Page Letter" (1997)

"One in a Million" is a song by American singer Aaliyah from her second studio album of the same name (1996). The song was the third main single from One in a Million following "Got to Give It Up", but in North America the song was the second single, because "Got to Give It Up" was not released until 1998 in the US.

Composition

According to Complex, "One in a Million" was influenced by drum and bass and features "shimmering" synths and crickets within its production.^[2] Billboard described one in a million as "a twitchy, booming slow jam that sounded both lush and minimal, expansive and intimate, alien and sexy"..^[3]

Critical reception

Khal from Complex felt that the left field composition of the song was "the perfect vibe to propel Aaliyah to the top of the R&B crop". Khal also mentioned how the song showcased a new way that a slow song could sound like. According to Khal, "One in a Million showcased an unstoppable trio, with Aaliyah being a perfect muse for the futuristic vibes that Missy and Timbaland were creating, and truthfully helped change the game. No longer did your slow songs have to have slow drum beats; you could establish that vibe and throw as many fills and skittery hi-hats into the track and make it something unique instead of the flavor of the week (although being so future means that everyone was in demand)". ^[4]

Chart performance

The song became a US hit on the Billboard R&B charts, reaching number one on the R&B Airplay Chart for six weeks; it also became a US airplay hit based on its R&B and Rhythmic airplay, propelling the song to peak within the top thirty of the Hot 100 Airplay Chart at number twenty-five. It was also a top twenty hit in the UK, reaching number fifteen as part of a double A-side with the re-release of "If Your Girl Only Knew".

Live performances

On February 17, 1997 Aaliyah performed One In A Million on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.^[5][6] The next day on February 18, 1997 Aaliyah performed "One In A Million"^[7] on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.^[8] In March of 1997 Aaliyah made an appearance at MTV's annual spring break celebration in Panama City, Florida ^[9] and during MTV spring break Aaliyah performed One in a Million.^[10] Later on that year on September 20, 1997 Aaliyah performed One in a Million on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show All That^[11]

Music video

The music video for "One in a Million" was directed by Paul Hunter.^[12] An extended version of the video was used for the remix which features Ginuwine, Timbaland, and Missy Elliott in 1997. The video starts with Aaliyah lying on top of a black Ford Mustang with Missy Elliott and Timbaland sitting inside of it. Soon, several reporters and fans rush to the car. Then the scene switches to a dark room where Aaliyah is sitting as Ginuwine approaches her. The scene bears a striking resemblance to the set of 12 Monkeys. In another scene she is watching him in an off white-colored room via security camera. The scene shifts to a completely white room where Aaliyah is dancing with another male and then to the scene where Ginuwine is looking at the security camera. In the latter scene, Aaliyah enters the room and reveals a tattoo of her name on Ginuwine's arm. Once again, the scene goes back to the dark room, but this time Aaliyah is standing up and performing in a white bodysuit. The video ends with Aaliyah riding in a motorcycle with eighteen-year-old DEALZ, son of Jackie Jackson. In a 1997 article discussing the One in a Million music video MTV felt that Aaliyah getting "all grown up and steamy in the video".^[13]

Other cover versions and interpolations

In 2010, singer/songwriter The-Dream recorded a cover of the song^[14] and R&B artist Omarion covered the song for his mixtape as a tribute to Aaliyah.^[15] Also, Canadian singer/songwriter Keshia Chante who was once set to play as Aaliyah in her biopic movie, did a cover of the song for the late singer's 10 year anniversary as a tribute.^[16]

On August 25, 2012, hip hop artist Blizzy Ballard and former Aaliyah collaborator Smoke E. Digglera, lead singer of R&B group Playa, released a tribute cover of the song. Later that year Danny! incorporated the drum pattern, as well as the chirping crickets and ad-libs from Elliott, into his song "Far Away" as homage to both the late singer and the production duo of Elliott and Mosley.^[17]

It is sampled on Iggy Azalea's "Backseat Trill $hit".^[18]

R&B and hip hop artist Tink released a song titled "Million" that samples the song with production done by Timbaland for her upcoming debut album titled, Think Tink. The song was released on May 11, 2015. The music video was released on July 1, 2015 and was directed by Benny Boom.^[19]

Track listing

UK promo 12" remixes single

1. "One in a Million" (Darkchild remix) – 4:40
2. "One in a Million" (Darkchild remix instrumental) – 4:13
3. "One in a Million" (Timbaland remix) featuring Ginuwine – 5:06
4. "One in a Million" (Wolf-D'd Big Bass mix) – 4:26
5. "One in a Million" (Armand's Drum 'N' Bass mix) – 7:12

US promo 12" remixes single

1. "One in a Million" (Timbaland remix) – 5:07
2. "One in a Million" (Timbaland remix instrumental)– 4:40
3. "One in a Million" (Timbaland remix) featuring Ginuwine – 5:07
4. "One in a Million" (Darkchild remix) – 4:40

US promo CD single

1. "One in a Million" (album version) – 4:30
2. "One in a Million" (instrumental) – 4:30
3. "One in a Million" (a cappella) – 4:30

Charts

References

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics