You're the One That I Want

Infobox Single
Name = You're the One That I Want
Type = Single
Artist = John Travolta featuring Olivia Newton-John
from Album = Grease OST
B-side = "Alone at the Drive-in Movie"


Released = 1978
Genre = Pop rock
Length = 2:49
Label = RSO Records
Writer = John Farrar
Producer = John Farrar
Certification = Platinum (RIAA)
Chronology = Olivia Newton-John single
Last single = "Jolene" (1978)
This single = "You're the One That I Want" (1978)
Next single = "Hopelessly Devoted to You" (1978)
Misc = Extra chronology
Artist = John Travolta
Type = singles
Last single = "Razzamatazz" (1977)
This single = "You're the One That I Want" (1978)
Next single = "Sandy" (1978)

"You're The One That I Want" is a song written by John Farrar for the 1978 film version of the musical "Grease". It was performed by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

The single was a huge international hit, reaching no.1 in several countries. It was no.1 in the UK for nine weeks in the summer of 1978 and, as of 2008, is still the sixth best-selling single ever in the UK where it has sold over 1,975,000 copies. It also reached no.1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for one week, where it sold over 2 million copies. It was the first of two songs from the "Grease" soundtrack to top the U.S. and UK pop charts. According to the United World Chart, it is the 17th most successful song of all time.

It also serves as the source of the title of the reality TV show "".

Charts

Notable cover versions

Infobox Single
Name = You're the One That I Want


Caption =
Artist = Craig McLaghlan and Deborah Gibson
from Album = Grease - Original London Cast Recording
A-side =
B-side =
Released =
Format =
Recorded =
Genre =
Length = 3:27
Label = Epic
Writer =
Producer =
Certification =
Chart position =
Chronology = Deborah Gibson single
Last single = Free Me
(1993)
This single = You're the One That I Want
(1993)
Next single = For Better or Worse
(1995)
Misc =British comedians Arthur Mullard and Hylda Baker (both in their seventies at the time) also released a version of the song in 1978. This version is perhaps best remembered for an infamously bad live performance on the TV show Top of the Pops; both Mullard and Baker sang out of tune, fluffed the lyrics and seemed utterly bemused. Their version reached no.22 in the UK, but in stark contrast to the usual positive effect of a TOTP appearance, the record's sales plummeted after the broadcast.

Also, in 1978, the German comedians Dieter Hallervorden and Helga Feddersen released a parody under the title "Du, die Wanne ist voll". The song reached position number four in the German charts. "Du, die Wanne ist voll" literally means "You, the bathtube is full" and the joke consists of using German words that sound similar to the English ones.

In the early 1980s singer Lesley Gore covered the song on her album "The Canvas Can Do Miracles". In her rendition she altered the line "cause I need a man" to "cause I need a friend".

The Beautiful South also released an unusually arranged cover of the song, which featured on their Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs album.

In 1993, Epic Records released a soundtrack album in the UK, "Grease - Original London Cast Recording"; the Craig McLachlan duet with Deborah Gibson (Epic UK 659 522, released July 1993), part of a routine promotional push, scored big on the UK singles charts, peaking at number thirteen.

More recently, Tenacious D performed the song live as an acoustic duet with actor Andy Serkis (in character as his "Lord of the Rings" role Gollum).

American pop singers Chris Trousdale and Nikki Cleary covered the song with slightly altered lyrics.

In 2007, McFly covered the song in the album "Over the Rainbow", which contains other covers by other artists.

The song has also been remixed with "The Next Episode", a 2000 single by rappers Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, and is entitled "You're The One That I Want In The Next Episode".

The song was danced to by Kaba Modern on America's Best Dance Crew as part of their Broadway challenge.

A cover of the song was used for the game Karaoke Revolution and Karaoke Revolution Volume 3.

A memorable interpretation of the song was featured on Late Show With David Letterman, sung by Late Show's announcer Alan Kalter as part of his segment "Alan Kalter: Tackling the Tough Issues".

Also, Johnny Vegas and his 'stage-mother' performed this song in the British Sitcom, Benidorm, on a karaoke night.

ee also

* Hot 100 number-one hits of 1978 (USA)