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One Thing is the third single from One Direction's debut album, Up All Night. It was released on January 6, 2012, in various European countries and via CD single in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2012. It is widely considered one of their most recognizable songs, and one of the songs that helped secure the band's signature sound.

The song was a top ten hit in 5 countries including Australia and the United Kingdom. One Direction became the second act of 2012 to have two singles simultaneously occupying the Australian chart's top ten when "One Thing" was at number six and "What Makes You Beautiful" at number ten for the chart week ending on April 22, 2012.

Background

"One Thing" was written by Rami Yacoub, Carl Falk and Savan Kotecha, and produced by Rami Yacoub and Savan Kotecha . The single was released digitally in various European countries on January 6, 2012, and was released in the United Kingdom via CD single on February 13, 2012.

The songwriters revealed "One Thing" actually began as two separate songs but worked better when merged into one.

Extras

The behind the scenes music video was released on January 27, 2012.

One_Direction_-_One_Thing_(Behind_the_Scenes)

One Direction - One Thing (Behind the Scenes)

Lyrics

[Liam]
I've tried playing it cool
But when I'm looking at you
I can’t ever be brave
'Cause you make my heart race

[Harry]
Shot me out of the sky
You're my kryptonite
You keep making me weak
Yeah, frozen and can't breathe

[Zayn]
Something’s gotta give now
'Cause I’m dying just to make you see
That I need you here with me now
'Cause you've got that one thing

[All]
So get out, get out, get out of my head
And fall into my arms instead
I don't, I don't, don't know what it is
But I need that one thing
And you've got that one thing

[Niall]
Now I'm climbing the walls
But you don't notice at all
That I'm going out of my mind
All day and all night

[Louis]
Something’s gotta give now
'Cause I'm dying just to know your name
And I need you here with me now
'Cause you've got that one thing

[All]
So get out, get out, get out of my head
And fall into my arms instead
I don't, I don't, don't know what it is
But I need that one thing

So get out, get out, get out of my mind
And come on, come into my life
I don't, I don't, don't know what it is
But I need that one thing
And you've got that one thing

Woah-oh-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh-oh
Woah-oh-oh-oh

[Harry]
You've got that one thing

[Liam]
Get out, get out, get out of my head
And fall into my arms instead

[All]
So get out, get out, get out of my head
And fall into my arms instead
I don't, I don't, don't know what it is
But I need that one thing

So get out, get out, get out of my mind (out of my mind)
And come on, come into my life
I don't, I don't, don't know what it is
But I need that one thing
Yeah, you've got that one thing

Music video

Music Video Information
One_Direction_-_One_Thing Released January 13, 2012
Length 3:18
Director Declan Whitebloom
Production Co
Choreographer
Filmed November 28, 2011
Location London, England
VEVO views 533,521,560 (as of June 30, 2017)

Background

"One Thing" is One Direction's third music video. It was directed by Declan Whitebloom. It was filmed on November 28, 2011.

Release

The music video for "One Thing" was released on January 13, 2012.

Performances

Live

Date Event Watch Country
2011
December 4 Jingle Bell Ball England
2012
March 12 Today United States
April 7 Saturday Night Live
September 6 MTV Video Music Awards

Tour

"One Thing" was performed on the Up All Night Tour, Better With U Tour, the Where We Are Tour and On The Road Again Tour but was eventually removed from the setlist of the latter.

Trivia

  • During the beginning of the video, the marker reads "One Time", instead of "One Thing", something which is often overlooked by most of the viewers.

Track listing

One Thing - Single (February 12, 2012)
Singleot
  1. "One Thing"
  2. "I Should Have Kissed You"
  3. "One Thing" (acoustic)
  4. "One Thing" (acoustic) [video]
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