No One (2 Unlimited song)

"No One" is a song recorded by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited, released in September 1994 by Byte, ZYX and PWL as the second single from their third album, Real Things (1994).^[3] Co-written by bandmembers Ray Slijngaard and Anita Dels, it was a top 10 hit in at least six countries, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where the song reached number ten. It features a reference to "That's the Way Love Goes" by Janet Jackson^[4] and the accompanying music video, directed by La La Land, features the band performing on the beach by Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

"No One"
Single by 2 Unlimited
from the album Real Things
Released	19 September 1994 (1994-09-19)^[1]
Genre	Eurodance^[2] reggae^[2]
Length	3:25
Label	Byte ZYX PWL
Songwriter(s)	Phil Wilde Jean-Paul De Coster Ray Slijngaard Anita Dels
Producer(s)	Phil Wilde Jean-Paul De Coster
2 Unlimited singles chronology
"The Real Thing" (1993) "No One" (1994) "Here I Go" (1995)
Music video
"No One" on YouTube

Critical reception

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton commented, "What a nuisance. Here I am all set to launch an account of a new 2 Unlimited single with a witty precis of the melodic and formulaic similarity to everything else they have ever released and what happens? They go and release a track that sounds completely different to all the others! Joking aside, it is absolutely true, "No One" being the closest they will probably ever get to a conventional pop song and more deservedly a smash hit than some of their recent output. It could well end up their third Top 10 hit of the year and is now their 11th consecutive Top 20 hit."^[5] David Stubbs from Melody Maker opined that the song "is apt."^[6]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "It's their first reggae attempt, and no one has blended it with Euro dance so seamlessly before."^[2] Alan Jones from Music Week gave the song four out of five, adding that "this is a good deal slower than usual, but still relies on the he-rap, she-sing template. Likely to garner less club support but may attract some first-time supporters."^[7] Iestyn George from NME commented, "He's not a very good rapper that feller, but he plays the pop star to a T."^[8] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue said it "is probably the most mellow of their singles", adding that "it definitely feels like [a] light, summer track".^[9] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update declared it as a "rapped (mentioning Janet Jackson!), cooed and organ wheezed attractive jaunty skipper".^[4]

Chart performance

The release scored chart success across Europe, peaking at number two in the Netherlands, number three in Belgium, number six in Finland, and number ten in both Denmark and Spain. In the United Kingdom, it was their least successful release to date, hitting number 17 in its first week at the UK Singles Chart on 25 September 1994.^[10] It also peaked at number 28 on the UK Dance Singles Chart. Additionally, the single was a top 20 hit also in Austria (14), France (19), Germany (18), Iceland (17), Ireland (18), Scotland (14), Sweden (15) and Switzerland (15). On the Eurochart Hot 100, it hit number ten, while reaching number six on MTV's European Top 20 and number two on the European Dance Radio Chart. On the Eurochart Hot 100 year-end chart, the single ended up as number 64. Outside Europe, "No One" was a sizeable top 20 hit in Israel, while in Australia, it peaked at number 70.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "No One" was directed by La La Land.^[11] It was shot by the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and features Anita and Ray performing on the beach. Sometimes Ray also performs in a tropical forest. "No One" was later published on 2 Unlimited's official YouTube channel in 2013, and had generated more than three million views as of January 2023.^[12]

Appearances

The melody of the song was also sampled in 1994 single by Serbian group Moby Dick with name "Kralj kokaina" ("King of Cocaine").

Track listings

7-inch single "No One" (Radio Edit) "No One" (Unlimited Remix Edit) European CD maxi "No One" (Radio Edit) – 3:27 "No One" (Unlimited Remix-Extended) – 5:27 "No One" (X-Out Remix) – 6:19 "No One" (X-Out In Dub Remix) – 5:45 "No One" (Doc Baron Mix) – 6:58 "No One" (The It Goes Underground) – 6:36 European 12-inch maxi "No One" (Unlimited Rmx-Extended) – 5:27 "No One" (Extended) – 5:24 "No One" (X-Out Remix) – 6:19 "No One" (X-Out In Dub Remix) – 5:45

Italian 12-inch maxi "No One" (Extended) – 5:24 "No One" (X-Out Remix) – 6:19 "No One" (Radio Edit) – 3:27 "No One" (Unlimited Remix Extended) – 5:27 "No One" (X-Out In Dub Remix) – 5:45 "No One" (Unlimited Remix Edited) – 3:45 UK CD single "No One" (Radio Edit) – 3:29 "No One" (Unlimited Remix) – 5:29 "No One" (Extended) – 5:26 "No One" (X-Out Remix) – 6:21 "No One" (X-Out In Dub Remix) – 5:45

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1994)^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16] Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[17] 70 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 14 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 3 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)^[18] 3 Denmark (IFPI)^[19] 10 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 10 Europe (MTV European Top 20)[2] 6 Europe (European Dance Radio)^[20] 2 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[21] 6 France (SNEP) 19 Germany (Media Control Charts) 18 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[22] 17 Ireland (IRMA) 18 Israel (IBA) 18 Lithuania (M-1)^[23] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[24] 3 Scotland (OCC)^[25] 14 Spain (AFYVE)^[26] 10 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 15 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 15 UK Singles (OCC) 17 UK Dance (OCC)^[27] 28

Year-end charts Chart (1994) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)^[28] 29 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[29] 64 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[30] 21 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[31] 32

References

1. "Single Releases". Music Week. 17 September 1994. p. 27.
2. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 12 February 1994. p. 16. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
3. "AllMusic: 2 Unlimited (Biography)". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
4. Hamilton, James (24 September 1994). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 10. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
5. Masterton, James (25 September 1994). "Week Ending October 1st 1994". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
6. Stubbs, David (24 September 1994). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 34. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
7. Jones, Alan (24 September 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 16. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
8. George, I-estyn (24 September 1994). "Singles". NME. p. 39. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
9. "Review: "Real Things" by 2 Unlimited (CD, 1994)". Pop Rescue. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 25 September 1994 - 01 October 1994". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
11. "2 unlimited - no one ( viva tv )". YouTube. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
12. "2 Unlimited - No One (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 3 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
13. "No One", in various Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved 15 February 2008)
14. German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de 8 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 10 April 2008)
15. Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie 2 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 15 February 2008)
16. UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved 15 February 2008)
17. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 288.
18. Belgian peak 22 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
19. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 19 November 1994. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
20. "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 29 October 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
21. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
22. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 27.10.1994-02.11.1994" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
23. . M-1.fm. 6 November 1994. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
24. "No One", in GFK Singles Chart [1] (Retrieved 28 December 2013)
25. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 (25 September 1994-01 October 1994)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
26. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
27. "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (25 September 1994-01 October 1994)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
28. "jaaroverzichten 1994" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
29. "1994 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 24 December 1994. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
30. "Single top 100 over 1994" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
31. "JAAROVERZICHTEN - Single 1994" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 12 December 2019.