"Only You" by Yaz

Song#:  1352
Date:  02/26/1983
Debut:  90
Peak:  67
Weeks:  8
Genre:  Synthpop



Pop Bits:  To follow-up their US debut single, "Situation" (#73), British duo Yaz released this second single that could only manage to do slightly better. The ballad also made a slight dent in the AC chart reaching #38.  In the UK, this was the band's first single. Released in the spring of '82, the song was a major hit for them peaking at #2. It helped establish the successful careers of Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke (Erasure), aka Yazoo in the UK.

ReduxReview:  This song I'd put in the "unfortunate" category in two ways. First, it's unfortunate this song did not do better. It really should have. I think the record company screwed up when they issued "Situation" instead of this song for Yaz's first US single. Then, it's a shame that this very pretty song got masked in a tinkly synthpop. At the time it probably seemed cool, but it really sounds dated now. This is a terrific song that deserves to have a lovely arrangement. It's a product of its time and as-is, the song is a nice nostalgia trip.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia: Two remakes of this song went on to become #1 hits. First, the a cappella group The Flying Pickets hit the top of the UK chart in December of '83 with their version. It was the first a cappella song to reach #1 in the UK. The single failed to reach the US chart. Second, a Latin version titled "Sólo En Ti" was recorded by Enrique Iglesias in 1997. That single debuted at the top of the US Latin singles chart and would eventually spend 10-weeks at #1. This single also failed to hit the US pop chart. Iglesias would record an English version of the song a couple years later, but it was not issued as a single.

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