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. "Number One" was nominated for Single of the Year at the 26th Urapopstar Awards, but lost out to James Moss.

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.

Lyrically, "Number One" is a departure from Alesha's recurring themes of unhealthy relationships on her other songs, and contains a prominent concept of love. The lyrics of "Number One" express a cheerful celebration of love and life as Alesha attempts "to create light from darkness". James Montgomery of MTV News commented that she embraces the positivity and fulfillment of a realized relationship, particularly with the line "We will remain and we will become." The track has been described as a universal love song. It was released as the fourth single from Alesha on December 8, 2014, accompanied by B–side and promotional single "It's Not Christmas (Until You're Here)".

Critical reception
"Number One" was well received by most critics. In a positive review of the song, Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave it four out of five stars and praised Alesha's direction towards a "softer and more prolific edge." Brittany Lewis of GlobalGrind called "Number One" a catchy song and felt that it had the potential to be another hit for Alesha. According to James Montgomery of MTV News, "Number One" is more positive than previous singles such as "Witch" and "Japan", despite its moderate tempo. Lindsey DiMattina of Hollywood.com said that Alesha's singing is stronger than ever. In a track-by-track review of Alesha, Andrew Hampp of Billboard found the song inspiring and commented that it "finds Alesha doing one of her throatiest, most impassioned vocals to date."

Jim Farber of the New York Daily News felt that the song is not as evocative as it attempts to be and lacks the sense of mystery and engaging production found on "Japan". Kevin Blair of the Irish Independent was critical of the song for deviating from Alesha's previous dance songs and dismissed it as a "chugging, faintly misty-eyed, middle of the road pop song." Chris Richards of The Washington Post panned the song as a "power ballad without much power."

Ernest Baker and Lauren Nostro of Complex ranked "Number One" atop their list of The 10 Best Guilty Pleasure Songs of 2014 and wrote that, although the song is unlike Alesha's louder, more anthemic songs, "apparently the world loves to see a softer side of her, too." A reviewer from The Huffington Post named "Diamonds" one of The 14 Best Songs by Women in 2014. At the ASCAP Pop Music Awards, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recognized it as one of the most performed songs of 2014 and 2015 respectively. The song was nominated for Single of the Year at the 26th Urapopstar Awards, but lost to James Moss; Alesha did, however, pick up awards for Album and Collaboration of the Year.

Commercial response
"Number One" debuted at, as the title would suggest, number one on the official singles chart, shifting 76,896 copies in its first week of sales. The following week – Christmas week, the single slipped down to number two, behind Syd Wolfe & Aurora Reed's "Night Time" but ahead of a new release by Violetta DiNozzo & Raphael. The track sold an additional 123,213 copies, earning "Number One" a silver certification. With gift card season in full swing, the single held strong at number three in its third week on the chart with another 128,436 copies sold, thus earning a gold certification. "Number One" spent a fourth week in the top five, as total sales surpassed 400,000 copies, before falling to number six. In the single's sixth week on the chart, "Number One" was certified platinum, indicating sales in excess of 500,000. Seven weeks after its release, "Number One" rebounded into the top five for two weeks as sales surpassed 600,000 copies. In total, "Number One" spent 11 consecutive weeks in the top ten, selling over 800,000 copies within that time frame alone.

Even as Alesha's subsequent release, the Gianni EP (2015), charted at number two, "Number One" stayed steady at number 11. The following week, however, the song plumetted to number 33 before vaulting back up the charts to number 22. In its 15th week on the chart, "Number One" crept back into the top twenty at number 18. "Number One" has sold a total of 856,322 copies in its time on the charts. "Number One" also topped the Urapopstar Airplay 40 and digital charts.

Music video
Alesha began to film the music video for "Number One" on October 21, 2014, on location in Morocco. It was directed by Sophie Muller, who had previously directed Alesha's 2007 music video for "Fashion Kills". Alesha and Muller aimed to keep the video "simple but visually beautiful," because Alesha did not want to "overshadow" the love song. The music video for "Number One" premiered December 7 on MTV, the eve of the single's release. The video was also made available for streaming at Alesha.MTV.com. It was digitally released on December 14 via the iTunes Store.

The video opens with a church organ playing as a powder–blue Cadillac convertible pulls away from a church, "just married" painted upon the car's rear. Cans and streamers are dragging along the road behind the vehicle. As the song begins, Alesha and her beau (played by 12 Years a Slave actor Chiwetel Ejiofor) are on a ship preparing to depart on their honeymoon as the sun sets behind them. The video follows the newlywed couple on their honeymoon adventures in Morocco. One scene recreates the bar from the iconic Academy Award–winning film Casablanca (1942). The video ends with a black screen saying "To Austin" and footage from their real–life wedding edited to appear like an old home video.

Critics responded favorably to the video, noting in particular its positive portrayal of an interracial relationship. The video for "Number One" was Vevo's fourth most-viewed visual of 2014. In March 2015, the music video was nominated for Best Female Video at the 26th Urapopstar Awards.

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). Alesha performed the song as part of a medley with "Japan" and "Mermaids" at the 26th Urapopstar Awards.

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)