The One

Album: Stronger With Each Tear (2009)
Charted: 63
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Blige told Angie Martinez on her New York radio show that this song introduces the world to "Crazy Mary."
  • Blige uses Auto-Tune on this song. She explained why to Martinez: "It was for effect. I wanted 'Crazy Mary' to get her shine on. She couldn't get her shine with my regular voice. I used the effect. I used it as a telephone effect or reverb."
  • This song features the Canadian rapper Drake. Blige told Martinez: "I'm actually a fan. Drake is incredible. I met him at Summer Jam, very respectable. That was the first time I met him. Really nice kid. I love the record ['Best I Ever Had']. Every woman in the world should love that record. [He's] very innocent and humble. He's like, 'I'm just doing what I do and happy to be doing it.'"
  • This is the lead single from Blige's ninth studio album. She wrote the track with Drake and Ester Dean. Dean is a hip-hop artist who earned the nickname "The Song Machine" for her ability to churn out hits, including Katy Perry's "Firework" and Rihanna's "Rude Boy." Producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is also listed as a co-writer.
  • Stronger With Each Tear is Blige's ninth album to debut at #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It also peaked at #2 on the US albums chart, breaking her streak after three consecutive #1 albums on the tally.
  • This was used in a 2009 AT&T commercial that features Blige strutting the runway in a variety of outfits that complement different styles of phones.
  • This was used on the TV series Brothers & Sisters in the 2010 episode "Run Baby Run."
  • This peaked at #32 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
  • Blige on the album's theme of strength: "The album represents who and what I am right now. I'm a stronger human being after all the growing pains. It's about life, love, change, strength - mostly really knowing who you are and being confident in that."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.