The One and Only

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On Easter Monday I heard Dale Winton's special Pick of the Pops programme detailing 30 or 40 years of Easter #1's. The relevant record for, I think, 1991, was Chesney Hawkes's 'The One and Only'. I never liked this much at the time, and its chorus still has an excessively tubthumping stadium feel. But I was swept away by the melancholy sense of melodic invention during the second half of the verse. I came to feel that this was a well-constructed song. It also has a guitar solo that sounds like it sparks from the fingers of the late Alan Murphy (Go West, et al).

An ILM search disclosed to me only 7 references to this record. Well, now it has its own thread. Does anyone share my guarded and surprised admiration?

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, I do hope not. What do you think of the "well-made play", pinefox?

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Which one?

― the bellefox, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Does anyone share my guarded and surprised admiration?

Yes. I had a similar "this is quite good actually, isn't it?" moment in a disco off oxford street about a year ago, and then boogied to it. I'm worried getting a copy might spoil it again though. I think it's one of those songs that works best when sung in my head.

I saw Chesney fall over on an ice rink on the telly last night.

― JimD (JimD), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I suppose that Tom Ewing's highly-regarded web site about #1 hits records will have to discuss this, eventually!

― the chimefox, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd imagine that the guitar solo is Nik Kershaw.

― NickB (NickB), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:37 (twenty-one years ago)

The general approach.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, Nik Kershaw, Ipswich's finest - I'd forgotten he wrote this.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:46 (twenty-one years ago)

He did? Me too!

― the bellefox, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah he produced it and played most of the instruments too I think. C'mon, you must have recognised the sound?

― NickB (NickB), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:48 (twenty-one years ago)

OK. Meanwhile - does anyone agree with me, about the cleverness of the melancholy melody? Or is it as much to do with CH's delivery?

― the bellefox, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Chesney only weighs 9 stone

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:17 (twenty-one years ago)

i prefer PFM.

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:21 (twenty-one years ago)

THE ONE AND ONLY - 30/03/1991
5 weeks at #1 - 16 weeks on chart

I am the one and only, oh yeah

Call me, call me by my name or call me by number
You put me through it
I'll still be doing it the way I do it
And yet, you try to make me forget
Who I really am, don't tell me I know best
I'm not the same as all the rest

I am the one and only
Nobody I'd rather be
I am the one and only
You can't take that away from me

I've been a player in the crowd scene
A flicker on the big screen
My soul embraces one more in a million faces
High hopes and aspirations, and years above my station
Maybe but all this time I've tried to walk with dignity and pride

I am the one and only
Nobody I'd rather be
I am the one and only
You can't take that away from me

I can't wear this uniform without some compromises
Because you'll find out that we come
In different shapes and sizes
No one can be myself like I can
For this job I'm the best man
And while this may be true
You are the one and only you

I am the one and only
Nobody I'd rather be
I am the one and only
You can't take that away from me

― the bellefox, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:27 (twenty-one years ago)

sure "ideas above my station" rather than "and years above my station"?

― emsk, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:36 (twenty-one years ago)

surely "ideas above my station" rather than "and years above my station"?

― emsk, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:36 (twenty-one years ago)

it was played at Poptimism last week iirc. it's difficult to think of it as 'not naff' based on feelings at the time that leave a tough residue, and it's associations with that film. however i can certainly see what the pinefox is talking about re the second verse, and it seems quite a well written song - difficult to fault in the pop-rockist context. it seems like a 'worthy', 'deserved' #1.

― Sven Basted (blueski), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 15:36 (twenty-one years ago)

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