Format CD | Genre R&B, pop | |
A-side "Hot Like Fire"
"One in a Million" B-side "Death of a Playa" (featuring Rashad) (1997) Released September 16, 1997 (1997-09-16) Recorded Summer 1996 (album version)
1997 (single) | ||
"The One I Gave My Heart To" is a R&B/ pop song by American singer Aaliyah. The song is the sixth and final single from Aaliyah's second album One in a Million. The song was written by Diane Warren and the album version was produced by Daryl Simmons, while the single version was produced by Guy Roche. The song is a ballad where the protagonist asks how could the man she gave her heart to be the same one who hurt her feelings so harshly. The song was released on September 16, 1997 as a double A-side with "Hot Like Fire".
Contents
"The One I Gave My Heart To" debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in the issue week of October 4, 1997 at number 24 and went on to peak at number 9, making it the highest-charting single from the album. In the same issue week, the song debuted on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 18 and went on to peak at number 7. The song was certified Gold by the RIAA on October 21, 1997.
Composition
Written by Diane Warren, "The One I Gave My Heart To" is a power ballad with more prominent pop influences, which are more apparent in the single version, in contrast to her previous works which are more leaning towards R&B and hip hop. The song is composed in the key of G major and follows the verse-chorus form with Aaliyah doing improvisations at the ad-libbed last verse, marking the climax of the song.
Like "Hot Like Fire", the song was remixed for its single release. The pop-oriented single version has a key change to A♭ major and a dynamic shift towards rock power balladry instrumentation after the second chorus while the R&B-oriented album version maintains its original key and style. Aaliyah's vocal range spans from F#3 to F5 in the single version of the song. The song is arguably Aaliyah's most powerful vocal performance in which she showcased her belting range as she usually used her falsetto and lower register in most of her compositions. Warren spoke highly of Aaliyah's vocal performance, stating that "She could go where the Whitneys went. She wailed on that single I wrote for her. I write songs that challenge singers, and she rose to the occasion."
B-side
"The One I Gave My Heart To" was first released as a double A-side single with "Hot Like Fire" in 1997 as a maxi CD single and regular sized CD single. The B-side for the maxi single release was "Death of a Playa". This song features Aaliyah's brother, Rashad Haughton and was written by the two siblings. It was produced by Timbaland. Earlier that year, "Death of a Playa" was used as the B-side for "4 Page Letter".
Music video
The music video for "The One I Gave My Heart To" was directed by Darren Grant, and uses the single version of the song, keeping the second half of the first verse which is normally cut for radio airplay. Throughout the video there are two main settings and another one at the end. In one setting, Aaliyah is inside a house with wooden floors and walls. In the house, there is a room with nothing but a mirror on the floor. With this mirror Aaliyah is able to see other scenes of the video. The second shows Aaliyah sitting on wooden bench in a forest setting. In the final scene, Aaliyah performs outside during a rain shower.
Release dates
Track listing
- "The One I Gave My Heart To" (radio mix) – 3:54
- "Hot Like Fire" (album version) – 4:23
- "Hot Like Fire" (Timbaland's Groove mix) – 4:35
- "Hot Like Fire" (Feel My Horns mix) – 4:37
- "Hot Like Fire" (Main mix instrumental) – 4:22
- "Death of a Playa" (featuring Rashad)
- "The One I Gave My Heart To" (radio mix) – 3:53
- "Hot Like Fire" (album version) – 4:23
- "The One I Gave My Heart To" (Soul Solution club mix)
- "The One I Gave My Heart To" (Soul Solution dub)
- "One in a Million" (Nitebreed Mongolidic mix)
- "One in a Million" (Geoffrey's House mix)
- "One in a Million" (Armand's Drum n' Bass mix)
- "One in a Million" (Wolf-D Big Bass mix)
- "One in a Million" (Nitebreed dub)