You're the One I Love

"You're the One I Love" is a song by English singer Shola Ama, released as the first single from her debut album, Much Love (1997), in 1996. On the first single release, it reached number 81 on the UK Singles Chart, but after her successful cover version of "You Might Need Somebody" in 1997, it was re-released in August of that year and peaked at number three, becoming her highest-charting hit in the UK. Elsewhere, the single charted in France, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

"You're the One I Love"
Single by Shola Ama
from the album Much Love
Released	1996
Genre	Soul
Length	3:53
Label	WEA Freakstreet
Songwriter(s)	Shaun LaBelle Stevie Bensusen
Producer(s)	Shaun LaBelle
Shola Ama singles chronology
"Celebrate" (1995) "You're the One I Love" (1996) "You Might Need Somebody" (1997)
"You Might Need Somebody" (1997) "You're the One I Love" (1997) "Who's Loving My Baby" (1998)
Music video
"You're the One I Love" on YouTube

Critical reception

British magazine Music Week rated the song four out of five, adding, "Seventeen-year-old Ama shows maturity beyond her years with a classy, soulful performance on this debut single."^[1] Paul Elliott wrote, "You're The One I Love is a precocious big-league debut. Written and produced by Shaun Labelle, one of America's fastest-rising new producer's, the track is smooth and streetwise and Ama's performance is super-confident."^[2] A reviewer from Sunday Mirror said after the re-release of the single, following "You Might Need Somebody", "She could have been a one-hit wonder but on this showing young Shola has got legs. Good to see a Brit teaching the Yanks a thing or two about funky soul."^[3] Bobbito Garcia for Vibe concluded, "It's a slammin' song. I couldn't understand why it didn't do well in the States."^[4]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Randee St. Nicholas.^[5] It takes place in a restaurant. In the beginning, Ama arrives at the place, meeting her friends. Occasionally she is also seen singing as she peeks out through one of the windows. She notices a man in the street. He also enters the restaurant and sits down with his friends. These two start looking at each other. Halfway through the video, the man leaves for unknown reason. Apparently sad by this, Ama lights up again when he suddenly reappears on the other side of the window, looking at her. As the video draws to a close, the singer is left alone after her friends leave. The man who until now has been sitting at the other end of the room walks towards her and sits down with her. As the video ends, they sit and talk in the restaurant.^[6]

Track listings

• 12-inch, Germany (1997)

1. "You're the One I Love" (C&J Album Version) — 4:07
2. "You're the One I Love" (Brooklyn Funk Acapella) — 4:05
3. "You're the One I Love" (London Dub) — 5:16
4. "You're the One I Love" (Dark Dub) — 5:54

• CD single, UK and Europe (1996)

1. "You're the One I Love" (C & J Radio Edit) — 3:53
2. "You're the One I Love" (DI Paradise Edit) — 3:54
3. "You're the One I Love" (Album Version) — 3:55
4. "You're the One I Love" (Dodge's Mix) — 4:15
5. "You're the One I Love" (C & J Street Mix) — 4:15
6. "You're the One I Love" (DI Paradise Mix) — 5:35
7. "You're the One I Love" (Freshly Squeezed Mix) — 7:06
8. "You're the One I Love" (Lukas' Do Anything Mix) — 5:36

• CD single, Germany (1997)

1. "You're the One I Love" (C&J Original Edit) — 3:53
2. "You Might Need Somebody" (Acoustic Version) — 3:23

• CD single CD1, UK (1997)

1. "You're the One I Love" (C&J Original Edit) — 3:53
2. "You're the One I Love" (D + A '97 Feelin It Mix) — 3:58
3. "You're the One I Love" (Brooklyn Funk R&B Mix) — 4:09
4. "You're the One I Love" (D-I Paradise '97 Mix (12")) — 5:31
5. "You're the One I Love" (C&J Mix) — 4:07

• CD single CD2, UK (1997)

1. "You're the One I Love" (C&J Original Edit) — 3:53
2. "You're the One I Love" (Brooklyn Funk Alt Mix) — 4:15
3. "You're the One I Love" (Brooklyn Funk Club Mix) — 4:08
4. "You Might Need Somebody" (Acoustic Version) — 3:23

Charts

Charts (1997)	Peak position
France (SNEP)^[7]	81
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[8]	14
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[9]	93
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[10]	45
Scotland (OCC)^[11]	10
UK Singles (OCC)^[12]	81
UK Singles (OCC)^[12] (1997 re-issue)	3
UK R&B (OCC)^[13]	2

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	1996	12-inch vinyl CD	WEA Freakstreet
United Kingdom (re-release)	18 August 1997	CD cassette		^[14]

References

1. "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 26 October 1996. p. 8. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
2. Elliott, Paul (16 November 1996). "Shola Ama — Chance Meeting Sees The Discovery Of An R&B Star" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
3. Sunday Mirror. 17 August 1997. p. 45. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
4. Garcia, Bobbito. "Sound Check". Vibe. October 1998.
5. "Shola Ama: You're the One I Love". IMDb. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
6. "Shola Ama - You're The One I Love". YouTube. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
7. "Shola Ama – You're The One I Love" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
8. "Shola Ama — You're The One I Love" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
9. "Shola Ama – You're The One I Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
10. "Shola Ama – You're The One I Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
11. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 24 August 1997 - 30 August 1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
12. "Shola Ama | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
13. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 24 August 1997 - 30 August 1997". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
14. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 16 August 1997. p. 35.