You're the One That I Want
| "You're the One That I Want" | ||||||||||
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| Single by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John | ||||||||||
| from the album Grease OST | ||||||||||
| B-side | "Alone At The Drive-In Movie (Instrumental)" | |||||||||
| Released | 17 May 1978 | |||||||||
| Genre | Pop | |||||||||
| Length | 2:49 | |||||||||
| Label | RSO | |||||||||
| Writer(s) | John Farrar | |||||||||
| Producer(s) | John Farrar | |||||||||
| Certification | Platinum (U.S.)[1] | |||||||||
| Olivia Newton-John single chronology | ||||||||||
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"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. It is one of the best-selling singles of all time, having sold over 3 million copies among the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France alone, with estimates of more than 15 million copies sold overall.[2][3][4][5]
Chart history
Upon its release in conjunction with the film (and its status as a potential blockbuster worldwide), the single became a huge international hit, reaching number 1 in several countries. In the U.S. the single reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in June 1978,[6] and was certified Platinum for shipments exceeding 2 million copies.[7] It also topped the UK Singles Chart for nine weeks in the summer of 1978, some months before the film had even been released in that country.[8]
As of 2013, it is still the fifth best-selling single of all time in the U.K., where it has sold 2 million copies.[9]
The 1998 're-release'
A re-released dance version of the single by Almighty Records reached #4 in the UK in 1998, the twentieth anniversary of the film's debut.[8]
Charts and certifications
Charts
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Sales and certifications
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| Preceded by "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single June 10, 1978 |
Succeeded by "Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb |
| Preceded by "Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M. |
UK Singles Chart number-one single 17 June 1978 - 12 August 1978 |
Succeeded by "Three Times a Lady" by The Commodores |
| Preceded by "Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M. "Substitute" by Clout |
Irish Singles Chart number-one single 24 June 1978 - 12 August 1978 26 August 1978 |
Succeeded by "Substitute" by Clout" Three Times a Lady" by Commodores |
| Preceded by "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty "Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M. |
Australian Kent Music Report number-one single June 26, 1978 - July 10, 1978 August 21, 1978 - October 9, 1978 |
Succeeded by "Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M. "Are You Old Enough?" by Dragon |
| Preceded by "Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M. |
Dutch Top 40 number-one single July 1, 1978 - August 26, 1978 |
Succeeded by "You're the Greatest Lover" by Luv' |
Cover versions
| "You're the One That I Want" | ||||||||||
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| Single by Craig McLachlan and Deborah Gibson | ||||||||||
| from the album Grease - Original London Cast Recording | ||||||||||
| Released | 1993 | |||||||||
| Length | 3:27 | |||||||||
| Label | Epic | |||||||||
| Writer(s) | John Farrar | |||||||||
| Deborah Gibson single chronology | ||||||||||
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In 1993, Epic Records released the London cast recording, Grease - Original London Cast Recording, and "You're the One That I Want" was issued as the lead single by Craig McLachlan and Deborah Gibson (Epic UK 659 522, released July 1993). In part due to a routine promotional push and huge box office success of the first major revival of Grease, this cover version scored big on the UK singles charts, peaking at number thirteen.[8]
British comedians Arthur Mullard and Hylda Baker 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.[8]
In 1978, the German comedians Dieter Hallervorden and Helga Feddersen released a parody version under the title Du, die Wanne ist voll. The song reached position number four in the German charts.[15] Du, die Wanne ist voll literally means Hey, the bathtub is full, and the joke consists of using funny German wordings that sound vaguely similar to the English lyrics.
In 1982, Alvin and the Chipmunks and Charlene the Chipette covered the song for the album The Chipmunks Go Hollywood.
In 1996, the song was covered for the Greased EP by Less Than Jake.
In 2001 or 2003, the song appeared on Bob the Builder: The Album.
In October 2004 a version recorded by British sophisti-pop band The Beautiful South was used as the first track on their album of cover songs, Golddiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs.
The song serves as the source of the title of the American reality TV show Grease: You're the One that I Want!. This gritty rockabilly version replaced the original second-to-last song in its Broadway run, "All Choked Up," for the Broadway revival it would then give rise to, with its two winners, Max Crumm and Laura Osnes.
In 2012, a cover version by Angus & Julia Stone was used in commercials for Sky (UK and Ireland).
In 2014, Lo-Fang included a cover on his album Blue Film. This version included a much slower tempo with string instruments and ethereal vocals. Lo-Fang's cover was used in the 2014 Baz Luhrmann mini film advertisement for Chanel No. 5. It also charted in France, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland.[16]
See also
- List of best-selling singles
- Grease: You're the One that I Want! – a reality game show where contestants competed to star on a Broadway-style revival of the musical
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1978 (U.S.)
References
- ↑ "American single certifications – You're the One That I Want". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
- ↑ Grein, Paul (August 26, 1978). "Billboard Vol. 90, No. 34". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). Retrieved 2012-06-08.
- ↑ "Record Breakers and Trivia : Singles : Individual Hits : Sales". everyHit.com. Retrieved 2012.
- 1 2 "InfoDisc : Les 45 T. / Singles les plus vendus en France". Infodisc.fr (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 2012.
- ↑ "D-B Dramahawks performing Broadway giant “Grease”". The Loafer Online. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
- ↑ Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of #1 Hits, 5th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 484.
- ↑ "You're the One That I Want" certifications RIAA - Gold and Platinum Searchable Database
- 1 2 3 4 "You're the One That I Want - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- 1 2 Sedghi, Ami (4 November 2012). "UK's million-selling singles: the full list". Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
- ↑ "Les Singles en Or :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John; 'You're the One That I Want')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ↑ "British certifications – Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta – You're the One That I Want". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Enter You're the One That I Want in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select ' in the field By Award. Click Search
- ↑ "American certifications – Newton-John, Olivia and John Travolta – You're the One That I Want". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ↑ Grein, Paul (August 26, 1978). "Billboard Vol. 90, No. 34". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). Retrieved June 8, 2012.
- ↑ Archived May 29, 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Lescharts.com Lo-Fang, "You're the One That I Want" song page
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