One Shot (JLS song)

Updated on Jan 17, 2024

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B-side "Mary" Recorded 2009 Length 3:47		Released 21 February 2010 Genre Pop, R&B, dance
Format CD single, digital download

"One Shot" is a song by English boy band JLS. It was written by Soulshock & Karlin, Michael Warren, Brandon White, and Sean Hurley. It was released as their third and final single from their self-titled debut album on 21 February 2010. The song reached the A-List on BBC Radio 1's playlist, and reached number six in the United Kingdom, where it has so far sold 302,493 copies.

Critical reception

Digital Spy awarded the song 3 stars and said: "It's essentially a classic boyband ballad given some trendy, rave-tinged production - lyrics to please Louis Walsh, synth sounds to satisfy the Kiss FM playlist team. Decent enough then, but as with most of their album, it does make you wonder how far JLS might go with some really good tunes?" Fraser McAlpine of BBC Chart blog gave the song a positive review stating "You've got to love a song with two tempos. I mean most songs have just the one. They begin, tick away the minutes, sometimes stopping, sometimes starting up again, but they really don't ever tend to deviate from their one central pulse. But this has got TWO. TWO! The opening verse is wafty and slow, Aston calmly explaining that he's got his eye on a special someone and he's trying to screw his courage up into a little ball so that he can go and ask her out. Then there's some ravey synth action, which is whizzy and fast and we're into the chorus, which is - and this is where the genius lies - BOTH OF THESE THINGS AT THE SAME TIME!"

Promotion

On 17 December 2009, JLS performed the song on Alan Carr: Chatty Man, as well as So You Think You Can Dance on 23 January 2010. They performed the track on 10 February, on GMTV with Lorraine, before giving an interview. The single was also performed at Let's Dance for Sport Relief, The Album Chart Show, and the The National Lottery Draws.