The One I Gave My Heart To

"The One I Gave My Heart To"
Single by Aaliyah
from the album One in a Million
A-side "Hot Like Fire"
"One in a Million"
B-side "Death of a Playa" (featuring Rashad) (1997)
Released September 16, 1997 (1997-09-16)
Format CD
Recorded Summer 1996 (album version)
1997 (single)
Genre
Length 4:30 (album version)
3:53 (radio remix)
Label
Songwriter(s) Diane Warren
Producer(s)
  • Daryl Simmons (album version)
  • Guy Roche (single version)
Aaliyah singles chronology
"4 Page Letter"
(1997)		 "Hot Like Fire" / "The One I Gave My Heart To"
(1997)		 "Journey to the Past"
(1998)

"4 Page Letter"
(1997)		 "Hot Like Fire"/"The One I Gave My Heart To"
(1997)		 "Journey to the Past"
(1998)

"The One I Gave My Heart To" is an R&B/pop [4] ballad by American singer Aaliyah. The song is the sixth and final single from Aaliyah's second album One in a Million. The song was written by Diane Warren and the album version was produced by Daryl Simmons, while the single version was produced by Guy Roche. The song is a ballad where the protagonist asks how could the man she gave her heart to be the same one who hurt her feelings so harshly. The song was released on September 16, 1997 as a double A-side with "Hot Like Fire".

"The One I Gave My Heart To" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the issue week of October 4, 1997 at number 24 and went on to peak at number 9,[5] making it the highest-charting single from the album. In the same issue week, the song debuted on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 18 and went on to peak at number 7.[6] The song was certified Gold by the RIAA on October 21, 1997.[7]

Background

The song came into fruition when songwriter Diane Warren expressed interest in working with Aaliyah, According to Warren: "I remember really liking Aaliyah and wanting to work with her."[8] Eventually Warren reached out to Atlantic Records chairman Craig Kallman to express the possibility of working with Aaliyah and Kallman agreed to the collaboration[8] Her goal in working with Aaliyah was to have her do a certain song that she would not have normally done, to showcase a different side of her, which included displaying her vocal range in a different way than she was used to doing.[8] Once Diane Warren was on board, producer Babyface was chosen to produce the song. Due to unforeseen circumstances he was unable to complete the work, so he enlisted producer Daryl Simmons to replace him instead.[8] Simmons would go on to produce the album version of the song, while pop producer Guy Roche would go on to produce the single version of the song. [4]

Composition

Written by Diane Warren, "The One I Gave My Heart To" is a power ballad with more prominent pop influences, which are more apparent in the single version, in contrast to her previous works which are more leaning towards R&B and hip hop. The song is composed in the key of G major[9] and follows the verse-chorus form with Aaliyah doing improvisations at the ad-libbed last verse, marking the climax of the song.

Like "Hot Like Fire", the song was remixed for its single release. The pop-oriented single version has a key change to A♭ major and a dynamic shift towards rock power balladry instrumentation after the second chorus while the R&B-oriented album version maintains its original key and style. Aaliyah's vocal range spans from F#3 to F5 in the single version of the song. The song is arguably Aaliyah's most powerful vocal performance in which she showcased her belting range as she usually used her falsetto and lower register in most of her compositions. Warren spoke highly of Aaliyah's vocal performance, stating that "She could go where the Whitneys went. She wailed on that single I wrote for her. I write songs that challenge singers, and she rose to the occasion."[10]

Music video

The music video for "The One I Gave My Heart To" was directed by Darren Grant,[11] and uses the single version of the song, keeping the second half of the first verse which is normally cut for radio airplay. Throughout the video there are two main settings and another one at the end. In one setting, Aaliyah is inside a house with wooden floors and walls. In the house, there is a room with nothing but a mirror on the floor. With this mirror Aaliyah is able to see other scenes of the video. The second shows Aaliyah sitting on wooden bench in a forest setting. In the final scene, Aaliyah performs outside during a rain shower.

Critical reception

In his review of the song, Larry Flick from Billboard felt that the song was a strong top 40 contender and that it would "rise to the top" on a variety of radio formats. He also praised both Aaliyah's vocal styling and the overall production of the song saying, "She brings an engaging, youthful romance to a sweet Diane Warren composition which is fleshed out with a careful balance of straight ahead pop and R&B sensibilities in producer Guy Roche's instrumental arrangement". [4]

Release dates

  • September 16, 1997 (US double A-side with "Hot Like Fire")[12][13]
  • October 27, 1997 (UK double A-side with "Hot Like Fire")
  • April 14, 1998 (US double A-side with "One in a Million")[14]

Track listing

"The One I Gave My Heart To"/"Hot Like Fire" double A-side Maxi CD single (US/UK)[12]

  1. "The One I Gave My Heart To" (radio mix) – 3:54
  2. "Hot Like Fire" (album version) – 4:23
  3. "Hot Like Fire" (Timbaland's Groove mix) – 4:35
  4. "Hot Like Fire" (Feel My Horns mix) – 4:37
  5. "Hot Like Fire" (Main mix instrumental) – 4:22
  6. "Death of a Playa" (featuring Rashad)

"The One I Gave My Heart To"/"Hot Like Fire" double A-side US CD single[13]

  1. "The One I Gave My Heart To" (radio mix) – 3:53
  2. "Hot Like Fire" (album version) – 4:23

"The One I Gave My Heart To"/"One in a Million" double A-side CD single (US)[14]

  1. "The One I Gave My Heart To" (Soul Solution club mix)
  2. "The One I Gave My Heart To" (Soul Solution dub)
  3. "One in a Million" (Nitebreed Mongolidic mix)
  4. "One in a Million" (Geoffrey's House mix)
  5. "One in a Million" (Armand's Drum n' Bass mix)
  6. "One in a Million" (Wolf-D Big Bass mix)
  7. "One in a Million" (Nitebreed dub)

Charts and certifications

References

  1. ↑ "The 25 Best Aaliyah Songs". Complex. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  2. ↑ "10 Best Songs From Aaliyah Songs". The Boombox. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Top 10 Aaliyah Songs". Dotdash. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. August 23, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  5. ↑ "The One I Gave My Heart To - Aaliyah" (October 4, 1997)
  6. ↑ Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart Listing for the Week of October 04, 1997
  7. 1 2 "American single certifications – Aaliyah – The One I Gave My Heart To". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Aaliyah Week: How 'One In A Million' Pushed The Envelope Of R&B". Vibe. August 26, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  9. ↑ Aaliyah - The One I Gave My Heart To Sheet Music (Digital Download)
  10. ↑ Group, Vibe Media (November 2001). "Vibe".
  11. ↑ "The One I Gave My Heart To". mvdbase. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  12. 1 2 The One I Gave My Heart to/Hot Like Fire/Death of a Playa Track Listings on Amazon
  13. 1 2 The One I Gave My Heart To/Hot Like Fire Track Listings on Amazon
  14. 1 2 The One I Gave My Heart To/One in a Million Track Listings on Amazon
  15. ↑ "Aaliyah-The One I Gave My Heart To" (in Dutch). top40.nl.
  16. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Aaliyah – The One I Gave My Heart To" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
  17. ↑ "Charts.nz – Aaliyah – The One I Gave My Heart To". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Aaliyah: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Aaliyah Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Aaliyah Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Aaliyah Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Aaliyah Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1997". Retrieved 2010-08-28.
  27. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 - 1998". Retrieved 2010-08-28.
  28. ↑ "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 110 (5): 76. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
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