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, 12-inch, cassette
Recorded	1996[1] Pyramid Studios (Ithaca, New York)
Genre	R&B, hip hop soul, urban adult contemporary
Length	4:30
Label	Blackground, Atlantic
Writer(s)	Melissa Elliott, Tim Mosley
Producer	Timbaland
Aaliyah singles chronology "If Your Girl Only Knew" (1996) "One in a Million" (1996) "4 Page Letter" (1997)

"One in a Million" is an R&B song by American recording artist Aaliyah from her second studio album, One in a Million (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 U.S.

"One in a Million" was name-dropped in Foxy Brown's 1997 single "Big Bad Mamma". Thirteen years later, rapper Diamond mentioned the song in her verse on Dondria's single "Shawty Wus Up".

Background

"One in a Million" is a R&B song written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, who also produced the song.

An R&B slow jam, "One in a Million" was considered quite atypical and innovative at the time of its release. The song was the first major display of Timbaland's early drum-skitter-style of programming, with its rambunctious influence owing dues to the then burgeoning drum-n-bass movement in Europe. This frantic drum programming juxtaposed against the rather tranquil manner of the vocal arrangement and the remaining instrumentation was, then, immediately distinguishable from most mainstream R&B/pop. Though Timbaland, Missy Elliott and Aaliyah had been previously at work in the industry for some time, the song was a breakthrough/name-making moment for the lot of them. "One in a Million" was recorded at Pyramid Studios in Ithaca, New York.

Chart performance

The song became a U.S. hit on the Billboard R&B charts, reaching number one on the R&B Airplay Chart for six weeks; it also became a U.S. airplay hit based on its R&B and Rhythmic airplay, propelling the song to peak within the top ten of the Hot 100 Airplay Chart at seven. 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".

Music video

The music video for "One in a Million" was directed by Paul Hunter in the autumn of 1996. 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.

Cover version

In 2010, singer/songwriter The-Dream recorded a cover of the song and R&B artist Omarion covered the song for his mixtape as a tribute to Aaliyah. Also, Canadian singer Keisha Chante did a cover of the song for the late singers 10 year anniversary as a tribute.

Charts

Chart (1997)	Peak position
New Zealand RIANZ Top 50 Singles	11
UK Singles Chart	15
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay[2]	25
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play[3]	2
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40[3]	1
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay[2]	1

End of year charts

End of year chart (1997)	Position
U.S. Billboard Top R&B Airplay	10[4]

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

U.S. promo 12" remixes single

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

U.S. 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

References

1. ^ http://www.faqs.org/copyright/one-in-a-million-and-2-other-selections/
2. ^ ^{a b} "Chart Data". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2007-11-18. http://web.archive.org/web/20071118103147/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=350&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+100+Airplay&ci=3025895&cdi=7151264&cid=02/22/1997. Retrieved 2007-09-12. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "AMG: Billboard Singles". Allmusic. http://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs?chartDate=1997-05-10#/charts/dance-club-play-songs?chartDate=1997-05-10. Retrieved 2007-04-29. 
4. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=0g0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12&dq=Billboard+Nov+1,+1997+Janet+Jackson+The+Velvet+Rope&q=&hl=pt-BR#v=onepage&q=aaliyah&f=false