Alicia Keys hit #1 with “No One”

No One Alicia Keys

Writer(s): Alicia Keys, Kerry Brothers Jr., George M. Harry (see lyrics here) Released: September 11, 2007 First Charted: September 8, 2007 Peak: 15 US, 114 BA, 12 DG, 16 RR, 9 AC, 9 A40, 110 RB, 6 UK, 2 CN, 3 AU, 5 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 11.0 US, 1.2 UK, 13.61 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 0.8 radio, 745.2 video, 735.29 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Keys told Billboard magazine “This is one song that just wrote itself. A lot of the snogs didn’t happen like that. It was one of the last songs I wrote. I needed to say this. It’s full force, classical yet vintage, desperate yet triumphant. I want people to feel my soul.” BB She told MTV News Canada that the song is about “the way that so many things are around you all time to try to distract you” WK in relationships. While Keys sometimes had a tendency “towards bloat, overstuffing her songs and albums with not particularly original ideas; she’s pared down her vision since, becoming both more disciplined and more eccentric.” DS With “No One,” however, she created “perhaps the most straightforward, even basic pop this decade has seen, are so obvious as to convert even the most chart-skeptical.” DS Popjustice called it one of her best singles to date. WK Digital Spy’s Alex Fletcher called it a “simplistic yet beautiful, fluttering, piano-tinkling ballad.” WK Paste’s David Mead said it “showcases a new depth and width to the tone of her voice.” WK It was the most-listened-to song on American radio in 2008 with 3.08 billion listeners, SF as evidenced by the song topping multiple Billboard pop and R&B-oriented charts. For the week ending December 29, 2007, Keys became the first artist in the history of the R&B/hip-hop charts to have songs at #1 and #2 (“Like You’ll Never See Me Again”) without help from any duet partners or featured artists. SF The song did well internationally as well, hitting #1 in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey. SF Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Alicia Keys BB Billboard (9/08). “All-Time Hot 100” DS Don’t Stay Up Too Late (blog) SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Last updated 8/6/2023.