The One I Gave My Heart To
"The One I Gave My Heart To" | ||||
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Single by Aaliyah | ||||
from the album One in a Million | ||||
A-side |
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B-side | "Death of a Playa" | |||
Released | August 25, 1997 (1997-08-25) | |||
Recorded |
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Genre |
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Length |
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Label |
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Songwriter(s) | Diane Warren | |||
Producer(s) |
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Aaliyah singles chronology | ||||
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"The One I Gave My Heart To" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah for her second studio album One in a Million (1996). The song was written by Diane Warren and was produced by Daryl Simmons.[b] Musically, it is a pop and R&B power ballad with Aaliyah utilizing her soprano tone.[1] Lyrically, the song is about the protagonist asking how the person that she loved could break her heart. The song was released as the fifth and final single from One in a Million with "Hot Like Fire" on September 16, 1997, by Blackground Records and Atlantic Records.
Upon its release, "The One I Gave My Heart To" was met with generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising Aaliyah's vocal delivery and tone on the record. Commercially, "The One I Gave My Heart To" performed well, peaking at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It has also been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over 900,000 copies in the United States.[2]
Background and production
The song came into fruition when songwriter Diane Warren expressed interest in working with Aaliyah, with Warren later saying: "I remember really liking Aaliyah and wanting to work with her."[3] Eventually, Warren reached out to Atlantic Records chairman Craig Kallman to express her wish of working with Aaliyah and Kallman agreed to the collaboration.[3] 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 what she was used to doing.[3] Once Warren was on board, producer Babyface was chosen to produce the song. Due to unforeseen circumstances, however, he was unable to complete the work, so he enlisted producer Daryl Simmons to replace him instead.[3] 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.[1]
Music and lyrics
Written by Diane Warren, "The One I Gave My Heart To" is a Pop,[1][4][5][6] and R&B[1] power ballad.[5] The song is composed in the key of G major and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 72 beats per minute.[7] Aaliyah's vocal range on the song spans from G♯3 to D♯5.[7] It also follows the verse-chorus form with Aaliyah doing improvisations at the ad-libbed last verse, marking the climax of the song. In her biography Aaliyah: A Biography (2014) author Jennifer Warner mentioned, that "Aaliyah abandoned her typical falsetto to deliver the power pop ballad, to the approval of Warren".[8] 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."[6][8] Lyrically, Aaliyah is "highlighting a broken heart and sense of betrayal".[4] Warner further explained the songs lyrics saying, " "The One I Gave My Heart To" is a contrasting ballad of lament as Aaliyah wonders how she could have given her heart to a man who turned out to be such a cad."[8]
Critical reception
Oliver VanDervoort from AXS said that "The One I Gave My Heart To" "was actually quite a bit more "poppy" than some of her other romantic entries but she made it work for sure."[9] Ed Masley from AZCentral, felt "The production goes a bit too heavy on the schmaltz but the vocals are emotional enough to rise above it".[10] In his review of "The One I Gave My Heart To", 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". [1] While reviewing One In a Million, Peter Miro from Cash Box praised the song for its crossover appeal saying,"The One I Gave My Heart To, is a bonus cut that adds to the R&B, pop, urban & churban playability of this deceptively oozing talent.[11]
According to Edwin Ortiz from Complex, Aaliyah proved that she could "switch from her usual mid-tempo style and deliver an incredible vocal performance". He also felt that she "brought the song to life through her smooth soprano vocals, highlighting a broken heart and sense of betrayal, with the accompanying video perfectly depicting her emotional state".[4] Jordan Simon from Idotaltor said, on "The One I Gave My Heart To,” the album’s final single, the teenager confirmed what others close to her already knew: she was capable of delivering a vocal performance that would make the era’s dominating divas Whitney Houston and Celine Dion proud."[12] In his "Talking Music" column, Music Week's Alan Jones described the song as "Warren's typically stately MOR/pop ballad" and that along with "Hot Like Fire" were both "fabulous showcases for her".[13] While briefly discussing the song, Stereogum writer Tom Breihan described the song as a "pretty-but-pedestrian Diane Warren ballad".[14] Georgette Cline from The Boombox felt that Aaliyah allowed her "vulnerability to be exposed" on the song.[5] Variety writers felt that "With teenage love comes teenage heartbreak, and when you combine that with songwriting ace Diane Warren, it adds up to a power ballad".[15] They also praised the song because it showcased Aaliyah's "ability to hit higher notes and display vulnerability".[15]
Commercial performance
In the United States, "The One I Gave My Heart To" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 issued October 4, 1997 at number 24.[16] It reached its peak at number nine in its seventh week, making it the highest-charting single from One in a Million.[17] The song debuted at number 18 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs on October 4,[18] reaching the top ten at number eight on December 6.[19] The song also peaked within the top ten on the Rhythmic chart, at number eight, on November 15.[20] On the Dance Club Songs, the song peaked at number 18 on February 28, 1998.[21] "The One I Gave My Heart To" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of 500,000 units, on October 21, 1997.[22] By the end of 1997, the single had sold over 900,000 copies in the US.[23]
Internationally, the song was a moderate success, peaking at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart on November 23, 1997.[24] In the United Kingdom, the song also peaked at number 25 on the dance chart,[25] and at number three on the R&B chart.[26] Elsewhere in Europe, "The One I Gave My Heart To" peaked at number 16 on the Dutch Tipparade chart on February 6, 1998.[27] In New Zealand, the song peaked at number 28 on December 7, 1997.[24][28]
Music video
The accompanying music video for "The One I Gave My Heart To" was directed by Darren Grant,[29] and uses the single version of the song, keeping the second half of the first verse, which was 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.
Release and reception
The music video for "The One I Gave My Heart To" made its television debut on MTV during the week of September 14, 1997.[30] During the week of September 28, the video made its debut on BET.[31] The video became the 22nd most-played video on MTV during the week of November 2, 1997.[32] Meanwhile, it became the 19th most-played video on BET during the week of December 14, 1997.[33] Nylon writer Steffanee Wang praised the video saying, "Everything you could want in an R&B ballad music video are checked in this one".[34] Author Kathy Iandoli felt in comparison to Aaliyah's previous videos, that it "was more subdued than the others but still stylish."[35]
Live performances
On October 6, 1997, Aaliyah performed "The One I Gave My Heart To", on The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show.[36][37] Thirteen days later, she performed "The One I Gave My Heart To" at Nickelodeon's fourth annual The Big Help event in Santa Monica, California.[38][39][40] On November 26, 1997, she performed "The One I Gave My Heart To" on the BET show Planet Groove.[41][42] On December 10, Aaliyah performed "The One I Gave My Heart To" at the UNICEF Gift of Song benefit gala, which aired live on TNT.[43][44][45] In 1998, Aaliyah co-headlined the B-96 B-Bash, hosted by Chicago radio station B96; during the event, she performed "The One I Gave My Heart To".[46]
Track listings and formats
US and UK maxi CD single and US 12-inch vinyl[47]
US cassette and CD singles[48][49]
| "The One I Gave My Heart To"/"One in a Million"[50]
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Charts
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[2] | Gold | 900,000[71] |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | August 25, 1997 | Urban contemporary radio | [72] | |
August 26, 1997 | Contemporary hit radio | [73] | ||
September 16, 1997[c] | [74][75] | |||
United Kingdom | October 27, 1997[c] |
| Atlantic | [76] |
United States | April 14, 1998[d] | Maxi CD |
| [77] |
Notes
- ^ The original version of "The One I Gave My Heart To" was recorded in 1996, while the single and video version was recorded in 1997.
- ^ a b Daryl Simmons produced the album version of "The One I Gave My Heart To", while Guy Roche produced the single version.
- ^ a b On physical formats, "The One I Gave My Heart To" was originally released as a double A-side single with "Hot Like Fire".
- ^ In the United States, "The One I Gave My Heart To" was re-released as a double A-side single with "One in a Million".
References
- ^ a b c d e "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. August 23, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
- ^ a b "American single certifications – Aaliyah – The One I Gave My Heart To". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ a b c d "Aaliyah Week: How 'One In A Million' Pushed The Envelope Of R&B". Vibe. August 26, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
- ^ a b c "The 25 Best Aaliyah Songs". Complex. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
- ^ a b c "10 Best Songs From Aaliyah Songs". The Boombox. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
- ^ a b "Top 10 Aaliyah Songs". Dotdash. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
- ^ a b "Aaliyah - The One I Gave My Heart To Sheet Music (Digital Download)". musicnotes.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ^ a b c Warner 2014
- ^ VanDervoort, Oliver (March 16, 2016). "The top 10 best Aaliyah songs". AXS. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ Masley, Ed (June 20, 2018). "Remembering Aaliyah in five career-defining hits". AZCentral. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
- ^ Miro, Peter (August 31, 1996). "Urban" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 11. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
- ^ Simon, Jordan (August 26, 2016). "Aaliyah's 'One In A Million' Turns 20: Backtracking". Idolator. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ^ Jones, Alan (November 1, 1997). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 16. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (August 12, 2022). "The Number Ones: Aaliyah's "Try Again"". Stereogum. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Alex Gonzalez; Jem Aswad (August 20, 2021). "Aaliyah's Catalog Finally Hits Streaming Services: 10 Essential Songs". Variety. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
- ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
- ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
- ^ "Top Hip-Hop Songs / R&B Songs Chart - Billboard". Billboard.
- ^ "Top Hip-Hop Songs / R&B Songs Chart - Billboard". Billboard.
- ^ "Rhythmic Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ RIAA Searchable Database Archived 2007-06-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 5. BPI Communications Inc. January 31, 1998. p. 76. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ a b "Aaliyah". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. November 23, 1997. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. November 23, 1997. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ "Tipparade week 6, 1998". Tipparade. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ "New Zealand Charts". Retrieved 2018-04-02.
- ^ Phifer, Hanna (August 25, 2021). "She Was Everything: The Oral History of Aaliyah's 'Miss You' Music Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
Aaliyah and Grant had previously met and worked together on her video for 1997's "The One I Gave My Heart To"....
- ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. September 27, 1997. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. October 11, 1997. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. November 15, 1997. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. December 27, 1997. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- ^ Wang, Steffanee (August 10, 2021). "Aaliyah's Music Video Evolution From "Back and Forth" To "Rock The Boat"". Nylon. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- ^ Iandoli 2021, p. 90
- ^ "The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 6, 1997. p. 20. Retrieved May 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Keenen Ivory Wayans Show with Guest Aaliyah". Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Aaliyah And AJ McLean Attend The 1997 Nickelodeon Big Help-A-Thon". Getty Images. October 19, 1997. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
- ^ Richmond, Ray (October 22, 1997). "Celebs, kids a 'Big Help'at Nickelodeon telethon". Variety. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ "The One I Gave My Heart to Live! @ Nickelodeon". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Planet Groove". The Paducah Sun. November 26, 1997. p. 73. Retrieved May 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Aaliyah The One I Gave My Heart To Live BET Planet Groove November 1997". Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ "AALIYAH 'The One I Gave My Heart To' Live At UNICEF Gala 1997". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (November 19, 1997). "FootLights". New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ Richmond, Ray (November 18, 1997). "'Gift' lineup gets bigger". Variety. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ "Aaliyah Gives Her Heart". Billboard. January 10, 1998. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
- ^ Aaliyah (1997). The One I Gave My Heart To/Hot Like Fire (maxi single). Blackground Records, Atlantic Records. 2-95567.
- ^ Aaliyah (1997). The One I Gave My Heart To/Hot Like Fire (CD single). Blackground Records, Atlantic Records. 2-98002.
- ^ Aaliyah (1997). The One I Gave My Heart To/Hot Like Fire (cassette single). Blackground Records, Atlantic Records. 4-98002.
- ^ "The One I Gave My Heart To/One in a Million". United States: Amazon Music. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "Singles: Top 50". Jam!. February 2, 1998. Archived from the original on February 6, 1998. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- ^ "week 6 (7 februari 1998)" (in Dutch). top40.nl.
- ^ "Aaliyah – The One I Gave My Heart To" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2017-11-27.
- ^ "Aaliyah – The One I Gave My Heart To". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ "Aaliyah: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ "R&B Digital Song Sales Chart". Billboard. October 20, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "The Year In Music 1997 - Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. December 27, 1997. p. YD–34. Retrieved February 9, 2023 – via Google Books.
- ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs –1997 Year End Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs Of 1997" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 42. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ "The Year In Music 1998 - Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. December 26, 1998. p. YD–44. Retrieved February 9, 2023 – via Google Books.
- ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs –1998 Year End Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs Of 1998" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 46. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 5. BPI Communications Inc. January 31, 1998. p. 76. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ "ADDvance Notice" (PDF). Radio & Records. August 22, 1997. p. 52. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "CHR/Pop New Releases – Adds August 26" (PDF). Radio & Records. August 22, 1997. p. 35. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "One I Gave My Heart To / Hot Like Fire / Death". United States: Amazon Music. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "One I Gave My Heart to / Hot Like Fire". United States: Amazon Music. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
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Bibliography
- Iandoli, Kathy (2021). Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah. Atria Books. ISBN 1982156864.
- Warner, Jennifer (2014). Aaliyah: A Biography. BookCap Study Guides. ISBN 9781629173597.
External links
- Official music video on YouTube
- v
- t
- e
- Age Ain't Nothing but a Number
- One in a Million
- Aaliyah
- "Back & Forth"
- "At Your Best (You Are Love)"
- "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number"
- "Down with the Clique"
- "The Thing I Like"
- "Are You Ready?"
- "If Your Girl Only Knew"
- "Got to Give It Up"
- "One in a Million"
- "4 Page Letter"
- "The One I Gave My Heart To"
- "Hot Like Fire"
- "Journey to the Past"
- "Are You That Somebody?"
- "I Don't Wanna"
- "Try Again"
- "Come Back in One Piece"
- "We Need a Resolution"
- "Rock the Boat"
- "More Than a Woman"
- "Miss You"
- "I Care 4 U"
- "Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
- "Come Over"
- "Enough Said"
- "Poison"
- "I Need You Tonight"
- "Live and Die for Hip Hop"
- "Up Jumps da Boogie"
- "Don't Think They Know"
- R. Kelly
- Barry Hankerson
- Rashad Haughton
- Gladys Knight
- Death of Aaliyah
- Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B
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