Number One

"Number One" is a song performed by British recording artist Alesha. Written and produced by Alesha for her eponymous ninth studio album, Alesha (2014), the song is dedicated to Alesha's third spouse, American publishing mogul Austin Roosevelt. A midtempo pure pop song, "Number One" is complete with electronic musical instrumentation, synthesizers and drums, the lyrics of which describe a sublime love. Following the success of "Opulence"/"Unbeknownst", Alesha's chart-topping duet with Paulo Araujo, "Number One" was released as the fourth single from Alesha on December 8, 2014, a week ahead of Christmas week.

Upon its release, "Number One" was acclaimed by music critics, who praised the singer's raw and low vocals and applauded the song for its pop appeal; many of them further hailed it as a highlight of the album. The single lived up to its title and charted at number one, becoming Alesha's sixteenth number one hit (thus tying her with Emily Henning as the female artist with the most number one singles). Sales of the song increased over the following weeks due to the holiday season. "Number One" spent a whopping eleven weeks in the top ten, quickly becoming the most successful single of Alesha's career. By the end of its run in the top ten, "Number One" had sold over 800,000 copies.

A music video, directed by Sophie Muller, was filmed in Morocco, portraying Alesha and her on-screen love interest (actor Chiwetel Ejiofor) on their honeymoon. Fans and critics responded positively to the video's portrayal of an interracial relationship. Alesha first performed "Number One" at an album launch gig, later released as A Night At Royal Albert Hall. It was included in the set list for her 2014 world tour Alesha: Renaissance Live as the penultimate song of the show.

Background and composition
After releasing her eighth studio album The Martyr and the soundtrack album Prime Cut in 2011, Alesha took an unannounced break from the music industry. In January 2013, Alesha met American publishing mogul Austin Roosevelt on a "spiritual retreat" in Bali. The pair wed six months later. In late 2013, Alesha began recording her self-titled ninth studio album, with sessions continuing into early 2014. "Number One" was one of the earliest songs to be written and recorded for the album. Composed in dedication to husband Austin Roosevelt, the song is a "love power ballad".

"Number One" was composed using common time in the key of C major, with a tempo of 85 beats per minute. It carries a "celebratory, bumping" groove and a marching-drum beat with shuffling dancehall influences. The instrumentation includes jittery keyboards, synthesizers, percussion and electronic musical instruments. The song also consists of electronic flourishes and looped riff patterns brought about by an organ instrument. Kevin Fallon from The Daily Beast compared the song's stadium sound to tracks by the band U2.

The lyrics of "Number One" express a cheerful celebration of love and life as Alesha attempts "to create light from darkness". It has been described as a universal love song.

Live performances
"Number One" was first performed live at Alesha's album launch gig, A Night At Royal Albert Hall, which was later released on DVD and Blu-ray in the same week as the single. Alesha again performed the song on her 2014 world tour, Alesha: Renaissance Live, her first tour in three years. The song was the penultimate number of the show, performed before the final encore of "The Last Temptation" (2010).

Track listing

 * CD (online exclusive) / digital EP
 * 1) "Number One"
 * 2) "Number One" (New Year's Remix)
 * 3) "It's Not Christmas (Until You're Here)"
 * 4) "Always on My Mind"


 * 7" vinyl (online exclusive)
 * 1) "Number One"
 * 2) "It's Not Christmas (Until You're Here)"


 * Digital remix EP
 * 1) "Number One"
 * 2) "Number One" (New Year's Remix)
 * 3) "Number One" (Christian Stone On Top Remix)
 * 4) "Number One" (Gareth Emery #2 Remix)
 * 5) "Number One" (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)
 * 6) "Number One" (Penguin Prison Remix)