Never The 1

Album: 20mg Of Happiness (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • On her debut EP, 20mg Of Happiness, ROSIE (Rosaileen Scher) takes us on a journey through the five stages of grief - a concept introduced by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death And Dying - after the demise of her relationship. "Never The 1" represents the final stage, acceptance, as the singer-songwriter finally realizes the romance is over. Counting backwards from 10 ("I could write 10 songs about the nine ways you f--ked me over"), she concludes that she was "never the 1" for him.
  • ROSIE found overnight success on TikTok when she posted this in September 2020. After nearly giving up on her music career, she took her brother/manager's suggestion to try out TikTok and created a song-a-day challenge on the platform to boost her confidence. On the fifth day, she remembered a catchy little breakup song she wrote and recorded a quick video in her college apartment (featuring an accidental cameo from her roommate). After posting the video, she went for a walk and came home a star. It was a chaotic scene - she was locked out of her apartment with a dead phone and a mostly dead computer as friends tried to clue her in to her sudden fame.

    She told the Songfacts Podcast in 2023: "I opened my computer on the stairs outside with 1% and I texted my roommates, 'Guys, I locked myself out. I realize I don't have a key yet. Can you let me in?' And they're like, 'Yes, we got you.' And suddenly like 30 texts flood in - 'ROSIE, you have to check TikTok.' I was like, 'I'm just trying to fend for my life here. What do you mean check TikTok?'"

    When she finally got back on the platform an hour and a half from posting the video, it had 996,000 views.

    "It was really in that moment, I was like, 'Oh, something's happening,'" she continued. "So we stayed up and we watched the numbers. A million, 2 million, 3 million... went to bed, woke up, and it was 8 million, 9 million. And it kept climbing. I'm a firm believer in the universe, I'm a firm believer in hard work, I'm a firm believer that me and [her brother] Matteo and everyone - we put the work in to get here. But that was a sign, I was like, 'Okay, this is my sign to take advantage of this opportunity I'm getting.'

    I'd say within 12 to 24 hours, 10 labels reached out - publishers, lawyers - you name it, and it was all because of this one song. Since then I have not questioned once that this is what I love and I was given this opportunity. I just try to make the best of it."
  • ROSIE believes the song caught on because of the catchiness of the numbers combined with the theme of loss.

    "I don't know a single person that didn't go through some type of loss during the pandemic. I mean, the entire world was going through a loss," she said.

    "I think the reason any of my music has resonated in the last couple of years is because we've experienced a lot of trauma and a lot of loss, and a lot of scary things in the last couple of years, and in our lifetimes, and I just am not afraid to write about it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.