The Only One (The Cure song)

"The Only One" is a single by the British band The Cure which was released on 13 May 2008 on Geffen Records in the United Kingdom. The single was released in the United States on 20 May 2008.^[3] It is the first single from the band's thirteenth studio album 4:13 Dream (2008). The single was produced by Robert Smith and Keith Uddin, and peaked at No. 48 on the UK Single Charts.^[4]

"The Only One"
Single by The Cure
from the album 4:13 Dream
A-side	"The Only One" (Mix 13)
B-side	"NY Trip"
Released	13 May 2008
Genre	Alternative rock[1][2]
Length	3:57
Label	Geffen
Songwriter(s)	Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper, Porl Thompson
Producer(s)	Robert Smith, Keith Uddin
The Cure singles chronology
"Taking Off" (2004) "The Only One" (2008) "Freakshow" (2008)
United States singles chronology
"alt.end" (2004) "The Only One" (2008) "Freakshow" (2008)

It is the first single to be released by The Cure in over three and a half years — their last single being 2004's "Taking Off" / "alt.end".

Background

The song debuted live on 7 October 2007 in Mountain View, California at a festival and was also played in Mexico City the next week. During that time, the song was known as "Please Project".^[5]It was not until early on in the European tour in early 2008 was "The Only One" established as the title.

The B-side, "NY Trip", does not appear on the album.^[6]

Reception

In an early review on their website, Canadian music magazine Exclaim! describes the song as if it could have come from the sessions for the uplifting 1992 album Wish. They went on to add that Smith sounds "happier than ever" and that the song is a return to the form that produced many of their Top 40 hits.^[7]

The Observer described the song as having all the ingredients of a classic Cure song by having "lovely spiralling guitars, glowing bass and Robert Smith at his giddiest".^[8] Saying that the song sounds "like a pop single by The Cure", Pitchfork adds that the lyrics are not distinctive and goes on to say that the release will not make anyone forget the previous great singles from the band.^[9]

Track listing

1. "The Only One (Mix 13)" – 3:57
2. "NY Trip" – 3:39

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "The Only One"

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[10]	80
France (SNEP)[11]	28
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12]	86
Scotland (OCC)[13]	10
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[14]	1
UK Singles (OCC)[15]	48
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[16]	23
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[17]	31

References

1. Greenwald, Andy (22 October 2008). "4:13 Dream Review | Music Reviews and News | ew.com". ew.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
2. Long, April (12 November 2008). "The Cure – 4:13 Dream". Uncut. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
3. "THE MAJOR CONFUSION". Geffen. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
4. "Official Singles Chart on 18/5/2008". Official Charts. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
5. "The Cure live concert: 2007-10-22 Ciudad de México / Mexico City - Palacio de los Deportes (Mexico)". www.cure-concerts.de. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
6. "The Cure to release new single each month". NME. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
7. Lindsay, Cam (13 May 2008). "Cure - "The Only One"". exclaim.ca. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
8. Carnwath, Ally (18 May 2008). "Download Essentials". The Observer. Review. London.
9. Hogan, Marc (12 May 2008). "New Music: The Cure: "The Only One"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
10. "Issue 952" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
11. "The Cure – The Only One" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
12. "The Cure – The Only One" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
13. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
14. "The Cure – The Only One" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
16. "The Cure Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
17. "The Cure Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 January 2018.