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I Wanna Be the Only One
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Wikipedia article
"'I Wanna Be the Only One'" is a song by British R&B girl group Eternal and American R&B and gospel singer BeBe Winans, released as the third single from the group's third album, 'Before the Rain' (1997). Topping the UK Singles Chart, the release also became the group's third collaboration with Winans, who produced 1994's "Crazy" (from 'Always & Forever') and 1995's "It Will Never End" (from 'Power of a Woman'). The single is the group's 11th non-consecutive top-10 entry on the UK Singles Chart.
"I Wanna Be the Only One" became Eternal's biggest hit to date; it was the third most-played song on British radio and the most-played song on European radio by a British act in 1997. It earned Eternal a MOBO Award and Capital FM Award for Best Single. It was also nominated for Best Single at the BRIT Awards. As of May 2019, the song has sold 728,000 copies in the UK. In June 2019, "I Wanna Be the Only One" was ranked at number 28 on the Official Charts Company's "Top 100 Girl Band Singles of the Last 25 Years".
Critical reception
Scottish newspaper 'Daily Record' picked "I Wanna Be the Only One" as Single of the Week, viewing it as a "classy" number."Single of the week; ETERNAL: I Wanna Be The Only One". 'Daily Record'. 16 May 1997. A reviewer from 'Music Week' rated it four out of five, describing it as "a gloriously commercial, uptempo tune. The result is superb and another top five hit." Editor Alan Jones called it "another surefire winner", "wherein the girls have a foil in the form of BeBe Winans. Bebe's rich gospel tones perfectly complement Eternal's on a smooth, perky, maddeningly commercial pop nugget which makes fine use of brass over a funky groove which moves at quite a pace." Claudia Connell from 'News of the World' said it is "a perfect summer song with a gentle gospel sound that shows off four lots of fine vocals."Connell, Claudia (18 May 1997). "Single review; Hot Goss". 'News of the World'. Ian Hyland from 'Sunday Mirror' gave it eight out of ten, noting that "Eternal go seriously gospel with the soul legend that is BeBe Winans. The girls can do no wrong at the moment and if they don't crack America with the new stuff then they may as well give up. Top dance remixes as well."Hyland, Ian (18 May 1997). "Hallelujah! the Eternal Girls Go All Gospel; Music". 'Sunday Mirror'.
Music video
A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Randee St. Nicholas. It features the group performing in a basement, with a group of females surrounding them. Winans are surrounded by a group of men. These are battling each other. In the end, they all stand together, laughing into the camera. The video was filmed in Islington, London.
Track listings
* 'UK 7-inch jukebox single'
:A. "I Wanna Be the Only One" (radio edit)
:B. "Don't You Love Me" (French remix)
* 'UK CD1'
# "I Wanna Be the Only One"
# "A Friend Is a Friend"
# "Show Me"
# "Don't You Love Me" (French remix)
* 'UK CD2 The Mixes'
# "I Wanna Be the Only One"
# "I Wanna Be the Only One" (Black Box Lelewel 'Til the End mix)
# "I Wanna Be the Only One" (Paul Gotel Dark Skies mix)
# "I Wanna Be the Only One" (SPS Cained mix)
# "I Wanna Be the Only One" (Blacksmith "Eternal's Mix Tape")
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"!Chart (1997)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
|34
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)
|58
|-
!scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)
|24
|-
!scope="row"|France (SNEP)
|32
|-
!scope="row"|Germany (Official German Charts)
|61
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
|15
|-
!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)
|12
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
|14
|-
!scope="row"|Romania (Romanian Top 100)
|75
|-
!scope="row"|Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)
|25
|-
!scope="row"|Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
|11
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)
|16
|}
Certifications
References
Category:1997 singles
Category:1997 songs
Category:EMI Records singles
Category:Eternal (band) songs
Category:First Avenue Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Randee St. Nicholas
Category:Number-one singles in Scotland
Category:Songs written by BeBe Winans
Category:Songs written by Rhett Lawrence
Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Malefemale vocal duets
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