"The One" is the first single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 from Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige

Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...

's album Stronger with Each Tear. The producer of the song is Rodney Jerkins aka Darkchild and the writers are Mary J. Blige, Canadian

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 rapper Drake

Drake (entertainer)

Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....

, who is also featured on it, Ester Dean

Ester Dean

Ester Renay Dean is an American singer and songwriter, and record producer signed to Zone 4 Records/Interscope Records. She is most notable for her dual appearance on Rio: Music From The Motion Picture and her 2009 US hit single "Drop It Low", which featured singer Chris Brown...

 and Rodney Jerkins

Rodney Jerkins

Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. Jerkins received two Grammy nominations in 2011.-Biography:...

.

Information

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." Mary announced on June 27, 2009 that the official release for the single would not be until August 4. Despite her comments, the song was released on iTunes on July 21 for download. Mary later stated on July 24 that July 21 was the official release date for the single.

Musical style and Crazy Mary

The song is a very energetic uptempo lasting three minutes and twenty-nine seconds, written by Mary J. Blige collaboration with Aubrey Graham and Esther Dean, and produced by the famous American producer Darkchild. Blige's voice has changed a few features with the Auto Tune. Blige has explained this change on the digital voice in a long interview, explaining: "This song brings my alter ego, the world of Crazy Mary, a persona that is highlighted during live performances, and that will put much emphasis on when my new album coming out in December. AutoTune because I used the highlights in this song Crazy Mary, and since it's crazy, I thought about using the AutoTune because my character is not suited to a song sung without effects on the computer, so I had to do it, it was fun, "explaining further:" This song is one of the most successful of my career, I loved working with Drake, I am very passionate about hip hop, R&B and to dance. This song will not disappoint you, even my future album. greetings to all my fans, by Crazy Mary".

Music video

Blige filmed the music video for the single in August, 2009. She filmed the video for another single, "Stronger", at the same time. The featured artist and Canadian rapper Drake still appeared on the set for the music video, despite reinjuring his ACL on stage during the America's Most Wanted tour just days before.

The music video was released on August 28 2009. It shows Mary in different scene's with neon lights in most of them, Drake is shown rapping alone and in front of Mary,the music video also shows a young man jerking. The video has shown major success on BET

Black Entertainment Television

Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...

's 106 & Park

106 & Park

106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...

, battling for the number one spot daily. Its success on BET led it to place on the network's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown at number 35.Anthony Mandler

Anthony Mandler

Anthony Mandler is a commercial and music video director, who has written and directed music videos for several artists. His most notable and frequent collaborator is Rihanna...

 directed the video.

Critical reception

Billboard Magazines Michael Menachem said that on the song, Blige joins "Auto-Tune

Auto-Tune

Auto-Tune is a proprietary audio processor created by Antares Audio Technologies. Auto-Tune uses a phase vocoder to correct pitch in vocal and instrumental performances. It is used to disguise off-key inaccuracies and mistakes, and has allowed singers to perform apparently perfectly tuned vocal...

 nation" and that "The R&B siren sings a warped vocal that enhances the song's vibe of controlled chaos. Drake, who has his own hip-hop/R&B hit "Best I Ever Had," adds a punch of confidence that matches the intensity of Blige's snappy lyrics. Producer Rodney Jerkins, who has been churning out hits since the '90s, provides a forceful rhythmic structure for Blige in the form of a constant pulse underlying his pounding beats. Whether she's demanding exclusivity from her man or touting drama-free single life, Blige always sounds strong".

Chart performance

This song marks Blige's 57th entry on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...

chart. Blige's sum extends her lead for most charted titles among women in the '90s and '00s. The single debuted at number 63 on Billboard Hot 100, despite speculation that it would debut in the Top 40.

Charts

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Chart (2009)	Peak position