"Be the One" is a song recorded by English-Albanian singer Dua Lipa for her eponymous debut studio album (2017). The song was written by Lucy Taylor, Jack Tarrant and Digital Farm Animals, with the latter of the three also handling the production. They wrote it about a relationship that Taylor was in and gave the song to Lipa, who was originally reluctant to record it due to the writing credits. It is a dream pop, Europop and synth-pop song with elements of gospel and power pop. Lyrically, it sees Lipa begging her boyfriend for a romantic redemption. The song received acclaim from music critics, with many hailing it as a standout on the album and praising the anthemic qualities in the production.
Released through Dua Lipa Limited for digital download and streaming on 30October 2015, "Be the One" received limited attention at the time as it was only intended to be promoted on blogs and online outlets. However, after being picked up by German radio stations, it became a sleeper hit the following year. Due to this success, the song was re-released on 6 December 2016, being promoted in the United Kingdom and the United States. It reached the top ten of charts in nine territories worldwide, including the Flanders region of Belgium where it reached the summit and Lipa's native region of the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number nine becoming her first solo top 10 single. The song is currently certified gold or higher in eleven regions, including a double platinum in the UK.
The music video for "Be the One" was directed by Nicole Nodland. It features several scenes of Lipa in London. With the song's re-release, a second music video was released. Directed by Daniel Kaufman, it stars Ansel Elgort as Lipa's love interest and was created in a collaboration between Vevo and Lexus, where a Lexus IS covered in LEDs appears. The video features Elgort following Lipa out of a motel after the two had an argument. Lipa promoted the song with numerous live performances, including ones for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Good Morning America, and Later... with Jools Holland. Remixes by Paul Woolford, Take a Daytrip and Netsky were also released for promotion.
Background and composition
"Be the One" was written by Lucy Taylor, Digital Farm Animals and Jack Tarrant.[1] They wrote it about the miscommunication in a relationship Taylor was in at the time. A good friend of Dua Lipa's, Taylor played the song for her and offered her to record it, prior to Lipa releasing any music. Lipa immediately fell in love with the song, specifically citing the melodies and "persistent" lyrics as why; she thought it would be a perfect fit on her album. However, she was reluctant to record the song due to the fact that she did not write it.[3][4][5][6]
Following much pressure from her management and after she sang it once and realized how fun it was to sing, Lipa formed a personal connection to it, which she described as "different" than that to ones she has written due to the fact that when performing a song, she reminisces about having written it. Lipa then went into the studio with Taylor and Digital Farm Animals to complete the song. Lipa recalled having a fun time with them and felt as though she made the song her own.[3][4][5][6] The song was recorded by Evelyn Yard at Sony/ATV Recording Studios[note 1] while Lipa's vocals were recorded at TaP Studio / Strongroom 7 in London. The mixing was done by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia while John Davis mastered the song at Metropolis Studios in London. "Be the One" is one of the two songs on Lipa's self-titled debut studio album that Lipa does not have a writing credit on, with the other being "New Rules".[1]
"Be the One" was first announced by Lipa during an interview with Nylon in October 2015.[22] The song was released for digital download and streaming on 30October 2015 through the singer's independent record label Dua Lipa Limited.[13] Discussing releasing the single, Lipa admitted that she lacked excitement due to the writing credits.[23] A "Bedtime Mix" was made available on 5 January 2016 to Phil Taggart for airplay on BBC Radio 1.[24] The song was sent for radio airplay in Italy on 29January 2016.[25] The same day, an extended play including a dark trap remix of the song by Shy Luv, as well as remixes by Dillistone, Paul Woolford, Take a Daytrip, Ten Ven and With You was released;[26][27] They were sent for radio airplay in Italy on 9February 2016.[28] An extended play for the song was released on 19February 2016, exclusively in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. It featured Lipa's singles "New Love" (2015) and "Last Dance" (2016), as well as the "Be the One" remix by With You and a Max + Johann remix of the song. The first music video for "Be the One" and the "Last Dance" music video are also included.[29]
In Germany, a CD single with "Last Dance" as its B-side was released on 11March 2016.[30]Universal Music Germany held a contest for fans to win signed versions of the CD, only three of which were available.[31] A live version of "Be the One" appears as the fourth track on Lipa's extended play Spotify Sessions, released 8July 2016.[32] After finding commercial success, "Be the One" was re-released on 6December 2016 in the United Kingdom.[33] In the United States, the song was promoted to contemporary hit radio formats as a promotional single on 22February 2017,[34] before officially impacting the format on 21March 2017, becoming the album's second single in the US following "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)" (2016).[35] With the re-release, a remix by Netsky on 24February 2017.[36] The remix is a "blissful and laid back" drum and bass track with daydream vibes. It uses the song's original arrangement with a "pounding" percussion and synths.[37][38] "Be the One" is included on Lipa's 21April 2017-released, Urban Outfitters-exclusive vinyl extended play The Only, serving as the fourth track on the EP.[39] The song also appears as the fourth track on Lipa's eponymous debut studio album, released on 2June 2017 and serving as the album's second single.[1] Lipa revealed that the song was never intended to be promoted to radio, only to blogs and online outlets.[40]
Critical reception
"Be the One" was met with acclaim from music critics.[41] In The Guardian, Paul Lester called the song "fabulous" while comparing Lipa's "smoky" vocals to that of Lana Del Rey's "younger, poppier" style.[42] Claire Biddles of The Line of Best Fit named it a standout on Dua Lipa and compared it to Shura, while she also called the song "gorgeous enough to warrant a reappraisal [in 2017]."[43] In a separate review for the same magazine, Paul Bridgewater labelled it a "fresh breath of pop air."[44] Writing for musicOMH, Ben Hogwood called the song "utterly beguiling," praising the production and also stating that it is "arguably her best song to date."[45] For DIY, Jamie Milton described the song as "a sweet club track given pop takeover potential," as well as comparing it to Justin Bieber's My World 2.0 (2010).[46]
Alim Kheraj, also of DIY, stated that the song has an "airy wistfulness," while he also viewed it as "transcendent" and a "euphoria."[47] Carl Williott of Idolator called the track "bouncier and catchier" than Lipa's "New Love".[48] For The Fader, Jeff Ihaza branded the song "blissful."[49] In a review for Clash, Alex Green stated that "Be the One" "sparkles" with the "zeal" that "Hotter than Hell" (2016) misses.[18] Richard Jones, in a separate Clash review, called the song a "dark and seductive anthem."[50] In the Evening Standard, Rick Pearson labelled its chorus "irresistible."[17] Sean Ward of The 405 called the song a standout on Dua Lipa, categorizing the chorus as "rushing" and lyrical structure as "sophisticated," as well as comparing the song to Body Talk by Robyn.[12]
Nylon's Laura Studarus described the song as "perfect club music," while also calling its hooks "sticky" and melodies "moody."[16] For Vice, Alexandra Hayward branded the song "glossily" and "anthemic" as well as commenting on the "desperation" of Lipa's vocals.[51] The staff at The Singles Jukebox gave the song an average of 6.83. Crystal Leww praised the production but criticized its meaning, writing that the song does not "make sense," while Thomas Inskeep praised Lipa's vocals for being "rich" and "luscious."[11]Popjustice ranked "Be the One" at number 44 on their 2015 year-end list for best songs of the year.[52] In April 2020, Glamour's Christopher Rosa ranked "Be the One" as Lipa's third best song, calling it "ethereal" and comparing the song to the music of Florence and the Machine.[53]
Commercial performance
After its release in October 2015, "Be the One" failed to chart and received little airplay. However, it became a sleeper hit the following year after being picked up by radio stations in Germany, and later, across the rest of Europe.[10][54] The song debuted at number 77 in Germany on the chart dated 25December 2015. It spent a total of 28weeks on the chart and reached a peak of number 11 in its eighth week.[55] The song was awarded a platinum certification in the country from the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) for track-equivalent sales of 400,000 units.[56] In Belgium, "Be the One" reached number 42 in the Wallonia region,[57] however, it performed significantly better in the Flanders region. In 2015, the song spent five weeks on the Ultratip Flanders chart, before entering the Ultratop 50 chart at number 43, dated 23January 2016. In its ninth week, the song rose to the chart's summit and lasted for 13weeks following.[58] In 2017, it was awarded a platinum certification by the Belgian Entertainment Association (BEA) for 30,000 track-equivalent unit sales.[59]
"Be the One" peaked at number seven on the Euro Digital Song Sales chart, and reached number seven in Austria,[60] three in Hungary,[61] two in Slovenia,[62] one in Poland[63] and four in Scotland.[64] Additionally, the song holds a double platinum certification in Italy and a diamond certification Poland.[65][66] The song reached number 11 in the Netherlands and was given a double platinum certification in the country for selling 60,000 track-equivalent units.[67][68] In Australia, "Be the One" debuted at number 46 on the ARIA Singles Chart dated 3April 2016, becoming her first entry on the chart. In its fifth week, the song rose to a peak of number six and spent a total of 18weeks on the chart.[69] That year, it was awarded a double platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for 140,000 track-equivalent sales in the country.[70] In New Zealand, the song sold 7,500 track-equivalent units, resulting in it being awarded a gold certification from Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ).[71] It spent seven weeks on their singles chart, reaching a peak of number 20.[72]
"Be the One" debuted at number 70 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart dated 13January 2017.[73] The following week, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 54, becoming Lipa's fourth entry on the chart. It peaked at number nine on the chart issue dated 17February 2017, becoming Lipa's highest-charting single for that occasion as well as her first solo top 10 single. The song lasted for 25weeks on the chart.[74] In May 2021, it received a double platinum certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales of 1,200,000 track-equivalent units in the United Kingdom.[75] As of February 2022, "Be the One" has sales figures of 1,300,000 in the country that includes 106,000,000 streams.[76] In the United States, the song reached number 40 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart and the summit of the Dance Club Songs chart.[77][78] For track-equivalent sales of 500,000 units, the Recording Industry Association of America awarded the song a gold certification.[79] The song also has that certification from Music Canada for 40,000 track-equivalent unit sales.[80]
Music videos
Version 1
The first music video for "Be the One" was filmed in London and showcases some of Lipa's favourite spots in the city.
The music video for "Be the One" was directed by Nicole Nodland, who was also director of the video for "New Love".[20] Following the recording of the video for "New Love" in Los Angeles, Lipa recalled having lots of fun and decided to attempt to re-create it with the music video for "Be the One", except in London. The singer stated that the video had no concept. Filming it, they went around to some of Lipa's favourite places in London, as well as exploring Soho, playing dress-up and dancing.[6] Lipa cited 1990s fashion and vintage clothing as her inspirations for the visual.[81] Nodland also produced it, while editing and cinematography was handled by Jackson Ducasse.[82] The visual premiered through Nylon on 29 October 2015.[20]
The video showcases several different colour effects.[81] In an abandoned room, Lipa wears a black outfit and sings while sitting on a white chair. At some points she gets down to her knees and walks around the space. She is also seen laying in a field wearing a pink fur coat and glasses. In other scenes, she rides a limo with her head out the sun roof, roams the streets of Soho and sings in front of dark, white and rose backgrounds.[20][83] Writing for Nylon, Sydney Gore praised the video's wardrobe.[20] Ihaza wrote the music video "skips the melancholy, though, instead opting to dance in the face of vulnerability, and who wouldn't."[49] Courtney Buck of The 405 stated that the video complements the song "seamlessly."[83]
Version 2
Ansel Elgort follows Lipa to a Lexus IS car in the second video for "Be the One"
The second music video for "Be the One" was released through Vevo on 5December 2016, in promotion of the song's re-release. It was directed by Daniel Kaufman and stars Ansel Elgort as Lipa's love interest.[6][33] The video was made as a collaboration between Lexus and Vevo, and features a Lexus IS wrapped in 41,999 LEDs, which generates visuals based on the song.[84] It was created after Lipa noticed fans asking her on social media for a second video to be shot.[85] With it, Lipa wanted to show the darker side of the song, showing its themes of miscommunication in a relationship.[6] The video begins with Lipa and Elgort having an argument in a neon-lit motel room, followed by Lipa storming out while Elgort follows.[86] Elgort follows Lipa down an empty motorway, where flashback scenes are shown.[50] The video concludes with Elgort catching up to Lipa, where she eventually escapes in the Lexus IS.[86] For V, William Defebaugh named the music video "futuristic".[86]
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201624 into search. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201617 into search. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
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^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201620 into search. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
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