One Week
"One Week" is the first single off of Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies's fourth studio album Stunt. The song was released on September 15, 1998.
| "One Week" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Barenaked Ladies | |
| from Stunt" | |
| Released | September 15, 1998 |
| Recorded | 2003 |
| Genre | Alternative rock, pop, rap rock, pop rock |
| Length | 2:48 |
| Label | Reprise |
| Songwriter(s) | Ed Robertson |
| Producer(s) | Barenaked Ladies, David Leonard, Susan Rogers |
The song was able to make it to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the Alternative Airplay, #1 on the Mainstream Top 40, #2 on the Adult Alternative Songs, and #2 on the Adult Top 40. Ironically, it stayed at #1 on the Hot 100 chart for one week.[1][2][3][4][5] It was also certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[6]
The song is filled with pop culture references. In the song, it mentions the superhero Aquaman, the restaurant Swiss Chalet, the anime Sailor Moon, the television show The X-Files, the movies Frantic, Vertigo, and Seven Samurai, actor Harrison Ford, director Akira Kurosawa, musicians Busta Rhymes, LeAnn Rimes, Bert Kaempfert, and Sting, the song "Scenario" by A Tribe Called Quest, and the chocolate bar Snickers.[7][8]
Some people were wondering what the lyric "I’m the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral / Can’t understand what I mean? Well, you soon will" meant. Vocalist Ed Robertson said that when he was at the funeral of his older brother who died in a motorcycle accident, the pastor was quoting "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Drummer Tyler Stewart whispered "SKYNARD!" to him and held up the devil horns which caused Robertson to laugh.[9]
References
- ↑ "Barenaked Ladies - Hot 100 Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Barenaked Ladies - Alternative Airplay Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Barenaked Ladies - Mainstream Top 40 Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Barenaked Ladies - Adult Alternative Songs Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Barenaked Ladies - Adult Top 40 Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Barenaked Ladies - One Week". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Barenaked Ladies: how we made One Week". The Guardian. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ↑ "It's Been 20 Years Since "One Week": Ed Robertson Looks Back At Barenaked Ladies' Mad Hit". Stereogum. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ↑ "Barenaked Ladies offer surprising insight into curious lyric from 'One Week'". NME. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
