One by One (Cher song)

1996 single by Cher

"One by One" is a song by American singer Cher from her twenty first studio album, It's a Man's World (1995). Co written by Cher and Anthony Griffiths, two versions of the song were recorded for the album: the original, included on British pressings, is a soul song with elements of rock and was produced by Stephen Lipson. The American mix was produced by Sam Ward and has an feel with slight alterations; additional remixes were created by DJ Junior Vasquez. In the United Kingdom, WEA released the song as the second single from the album on January 6, 1996; in the United States it was issued through Reprise Records as the lead single on May 21. Upon release, the song received positive reviews from critics, who deemed it a highlight in It's a Man's World. In the UK, the song reached the chart's top 10. It was less successful in America, barely cracking the Billboard Hot 100's top 60. The Junior Vasquez remixes, however, reached the top 10 on the Maxi Singles Sales and Dance Club Play charts. To promote the single, a music video was shot. Directed by Marcus Nispel, it depicts Cher singing the song from within a television set; she also delivered performances on a handful of occasions throughout 1996.

In the 1980s, Cher's career as an actress reached its peak: she starred in critically successful films such as Silkwood (1983), Mask (1985), The Witches of Eastwick (1987), and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Moonstruck (1987). By the early 1990s, however, her movie career came to a halt: having turned down films such as The War of the Roses (1989) and Thelma & Louise (1991), and suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome complicated by pneumonia, she was reduced to "infomercial queen", something that deeply embarrassed her. "The infomercials were just devastating to my career", Cher recalled. In the refrain, she sings We're gonna love one another till morning comes/Seek the sweet salvation for what we've done/Give up resisting one by one, as "chugging" rock guitars play in the background. An version of "One by One" was created for American markets. Produced by Sam Ward, it was requested by Reprise Records, as they felt the version would that was "sweeping" the United States in the mid 1990s. This version features "crisp jeep rhythms and cushiony synths" beneath the refrain, while Cher's falsetto vocals are "stretched" to give the song a more R&B feel. Released in CD, cassette, and twelve inch formats, the single included the Junior Vasquez remix, Cher's version of "It's a Man's Man's Man's World", and her own "If I Could Turn Back Time" (1989). Prior to its release, Billboard reported that the Junior Vazquez remix was receiving "major play" at nightclubs, and had been picked by WKTU radio station. A rare remix, known as the JR's pride mix, was released in June 2023 to accompany the deluxe reissue of It's a Man's World. The music video for "One by One" was directed by Marcus Nispel. Shot in sepia, the visual shows a couple's relationship issues, whilst Cher is seen singing the song on the television. Billboard had previously reported that the singer's son Chaz Bono would star in the video. In the US, an altered version of the clip was released, featuring more shots of Cher. In 2005, the Junior Vasquez Club Vocal Mix of "One by One" was included on the final Los Angeles concert of Cher's Living Proof: The Farewell Tour.