One on One

John Oates, Daryl Hall, Daryl Hall & John Oates

About One on One

"One on One" is a song performed by American musical duo Daryl Hall & John Oates. Written by member Daryl Hall, the song was released as the second single from their eleventh studio album H2O on January 29, 1983. Backed by minimalistic, synthesizer-based production, the song's lyrics incorporate various sports metaphors to describe seduction. Daryl Hall performs lead vocals, while John Oates provides backing harmony vocals. It peaked at number seven on the United States Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of three top ten singles from H2O. The song's music video, directed by Mick Haggerty and C. D. Taylor, depicts Hall walking around a city street singing the song, interspersed with shots of him performing on a stage with Oates. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice named it the eighth-best video of the year in his ballot for the annual Pazz & Jop critics' poll. "One on One" has been covered and sampled by various artists and was notably used in several commercials for the National Basketball Association. 


Year:
1998
3:57
169 
#3

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I'm tired of playing on the team
Oh it seems I don't get time out anymore
What a change if we set the pace face to face
No one even trying to score

And oh oh I can feel the magic of your touch, mmm mmm
And when you move in close a little bit means so much
And ooh yeah, you've got to understand baby
Time out is what I'm here for

One on one I wanna play that game tonight
One on one I know I wanna play that
One on one I wanna play that game tonight
One on one so slow, ooh ooh

Ooh, you can't tell me you don't miss me girl
No I think I might know you too well, oh 
I wonder what you'd say if you knew that I was coming tonight
(Want to) I want you can't you tell

One on one I wanna play that game tonight
One on one I know I wanna play that
One on one I wanna play that game tonight
One on one so slow, ooh ooh 
That's all you need to know now
Well if it's really right there's nothing else

One on one I want to play that game tonight
Ooh ooh mmm one on one I want to play that game tonight
Ooh ooh one on one I want to play that game tonight
(One on one I want to play that game tonight)
One on one I want to play that game 
On one on one, girl 

Oh there's nothing else but you and me 
I want no one else, I don't want no one else
Ooh baby I am tired of playing, I am tired of playing
Ooh I don't want to play those games no more
No more, I wanna play with you girl
I wanna play with you girl
Just you and me, you and me, you and me

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Daryl Hall & John Oates

Daryl Hall and John Oates, commonly known as Hall & Oates, are an American pop rock duo formed in Philadelphia in 1970. Daryl Hall is generally the lead vocalist; John Oates primarily plays electric guitar and provides backing vocals. The two write most of the songs they perform, separately or in collaboration. They achieved their greatest fame from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s with a fusion of rock and roll, soul music, and rhythm and blues.Though they are commonly referred to as Hall & Oates, Hall has been adamant about the duo being called Daryl Hall & John Oates – its official name. They have been credited on albums as Daryl Hall & John Oates (or Daryl Hall John Oates) on all of their US releases. The duo reached the US Top 40 with 29 of their 33 singl… more »

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Written by: Daryl Hall

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Creation
The song "One on One" was written by Daryl Hall. The verse melody is based on a piece by Johann Sebastian Bach which is transformed into a soulful pop tune.
Chart Success
"One on One" was a single from Daryl Hall & John Oates' 11th studio album, "H2O", which was released in 1982. It peaked at no. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983, marking yet another hit for the duo.
The Music Video
The music video became noteworthy for its unique setting, featuring Daryl Hall playing the song on a grand piano in a city park during winter, while skaters perform on an ice rink behind him.
Pop Culture Reference
"One on One" was used in a scene of the movie "Summer of Sam", directed by Spike Lee in 1999. The song has also appeared on several Hall & Oates compilation albums.
Lyrics Interpretation
The song's lyrics hint at a romantic relationship and its comparisons to a one-on-one basketball game; a kind of sports romantic metaphoric song.
About John Oates
John Oates is best known as one half of the rock and soul duo, Hall & Oates. Born on April 7, 1948, Oates has written many of the duo's hit songs including "Sara Smile," "She's Gone," and "Out of Touch."
John Oates' Contribution
As part of the duo, John Oates often played the role of the multi-instrumentalist, backing vocalist, and sometimes co-lead vocalist on their songs. His contributions are critical to the Hall & Oates' signature sound.
Awards and Achievements
Daryl Hall & John Oates have collectively sold around 40 million records throughout their career, making them one of the best-selling musical duos of all time. In 2003, they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2014, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Notable Releases
Apart from the original album, "One on One" also featured in their live album "Live at the Apollo" with David Ruffin & Eddie Kendrick.
Cover Versions
"One on One" has been covered by artists such as Nina, Diesel, and Boyz II Men, taking the song to various audiences and music genres.

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