In April 2023, Rexha shared a brief snippet of "One in a Million" on the social media platform TikTok.[1]Warner released it for digital download and streaming in various countries on August 4, 2023.[2] Produced by Timofey Reznikov, Guetta and Burns, the song was written by the latter two along with Rexha, Martin Coogan, Scott Dittrich, Timofey Reznikov, Sarah Solovay and Ido Zmishlany.[3] The song marks the fifth collaboration between Rexha and Guetta following their songs "Hey Mama" (2015), "Say My Name" (2018), "Family" (2021) and "I'm Good (Blue)" (2022).[4] Inspired by house music,[5] "One In A Million" is an EDM and pop song that samples Guetta's collaboration with American singer Kelly Rowland "When Love Takes Over" (2009).[6][7] The song's lyrics are a homage to love, wherein Rexha marvels at the existence of a significant other,[5][8] placing emphasis on the exploration of profound connections.[6][9] Exploring the essence of trust, Rexha conveys her emotions through lines such as, "You're my one, one, one in a million. It's like someone picked you outta the sky. Maybe I met you for a reason."[6][9]
Reception
Upon its release, "One in a Million" garnered a positive reception from music critics. Chris Vuoncino from We Rave You highlighted the song for its quality that encapsulates the "iconic" collaboration between Rexha and Guetta.[6] He also acclaimed its "timeless" melody and lyrics, Rexha's "radio-friendly" vocal delivery and Guetta's "pristine" production quality.[6] Emily Zemler for Rolling Stone commended the collaborative effort as "buoyant", acknowledging its "anthemtic and club-ready" qualities.[8] Juan Ignacio Herrero of Los 40 positioned the song as a potential "summer anthem" and labeled it a "sequel" to Guetta's previous song, "When Love Takes Over".[4] Isidora González also from Los 40 identified the song's distinctive features, describing them as a "pure expression" with "stimulating" beats, "powerful" vocals and "cheerful" melodies.[10] Jovi Marques for Papelpop complimented the song's dynamic progression and Rexha's "electrifying" vocals.[11] A critic from NRJ hailed the collaborative evolution between the artists on their success with "I'm Good (Blue)", noting that the song "seamlessly continues" the path set by its predecessor.[7] Furthermore, the song secured the sixth position on BuzzFeed's list of Best Underrated Songs of 2023 and was included on Billboard's 30 Best Dance Songs of the year.[12][13] Representing Rexha's fourth and Guetta's 13th nomination to date,[14] the song garnered a nomination in the inaugural category of Best Pop Dance Recording at the 66th edition of the Grammy Awards.[15][16][17]
"One in a Million" made its debut at number 9 on the US BillboardHot Dance/Electronic Songs chart in the issue dated August 19, 2023.[18] In the United Kingdom, the song reached number 79 on the UK Singles Chart, while achieving a higher position at number 30 on the UK Dance Singles Chart.[19][20] Reaching the top 30 in Belgium and the Netherlands,[21][22][23] it peaked at number 41 in Slovakia,[24] number 55 in the Czech Republic,[25] number 57 in Poland, number 58 in the Croatia, number 105 in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and number 122 in Russia.[26][27][28] Furthermore, Billboard showcased "One in a Million" in its annual compilation of the top Hot Dance/Electronic songs for 2023.[29]
Promotion
An official music video for "One in a Million" premiered to Rexha's official YouTube channel on September 26, 2023.[30] A cyberspace and futuristic-themed video, it was directed by Corey Wilson and produced by Erica Gould.[30][31][32] The video commences with a camera glide from Rexha's shoulder, capturing her interaction with a phone displaying the video.[30] The visual then advances as the camera transitions into virtual environments, presenting Rexha within a turquoise setting illuminated by ascending laser lights.[30] This is followed by a scene in a black environment where she is surrounded by descending laser lights of various colors.[30] The narrative unfolds further as the camera introduces Guetta throughout a digital projection in a dark backdrop, engaging in a performance complemented by synchronised white lines moving in harmony with the beat.[30][31] The visual narrative persists with interspersed shots depicting Rexha within the aforementioned settings, accompanied by dynamic transitions in the colors of the lights.[30] Tomás Mier from Rolling Stone cited the video as an exploration of "love in cyberspace" and noted its resonance following the substantial success of "I'm Good (Blue)".[31] André Luiz of Papelpop highlighted the futuristic theme, where Rexha exudes confidence and "showcases her beauty" across various scenes.[32] On November 19, 2023, Rexha and Guetta premiered their collaboration "One in a Million" for the first time at the Billboard Music Awards.[33][34][35] Another live rendition from both artists occurred at the closing ceremony of the FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.[36]
↑Bain, Katie; Denis, Kyle; Leight, Elias; Lipshutz, Jason; Renner Brown, Eric; Rodriguez, Krystal; Unterberger, Andrew (15 December 2023). "The 30 Best Dance Tracks of 2023: Staff Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
↑ 24.024.1"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 39. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
↑ 25.025.1"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 39. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
↑Griffiths, George (3 August 2023). "New releases". Official Charts Company (OCC). Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
