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| "Number 1" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single byTinchy Stryder featuringN-Dubz | ||||
| from the albumCatch 22andAgainst All Odds | ||||
| B-side | "Stuck on My Mind" | |||
| Released | 20 April 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2009 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:35 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | Fraser T. Smith | |||
| Tinchy Stryder singles chronology | ||||
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| N-Dubz singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Number 1" onYouTube | ||||
"Number 1" is a song by British rapperTinchy Stryder featuring vocals fromDappy ofN-Dubz and co-written by Dappy, James Lavelle andFraser T. Smith, who produced the track, for Stryder's second studio album,Catch 22. The song was released as a single on 20 April 2009 from Stryder's studio albumCatch 22 and a remix was later included on N-Dubz's second studio album,Against All Odds.
The version released as a single and included onCatch 22 features verses by Dappy and Stryder only; however, the version that appears onAgainst All Odds features new verses byTulisa andFazer. "Number 1" topped theUK Singles Chart, a position it maintained for three weeks. Outside the United Kingdom, "Number 1" topped the charts in Ireland and peaked within the top 40 of the charts in Denmark and Slovakia. When "Number 1" topped the UK Singles Chart, it became the first single entitled "Number 1" to peak at number one on any national singles chart in the world.
According to producersJames Lavelle andFraser T. Smith in an interview withHitQuarters, although Dappy was involved in the writing of the song, he had worked with an up-and-coming artist J-Rhymz and whilst in the studio with the young singer/songwriter, his appearance on the final version happened by accident.
"We’d worked with him on a track called "Strong Again" ... and we wanted to work with him more because he’s an amazing talent. So 'Number 1' came about from a co-writing session. Dappy put the hook down and it sounded so good we thought it had to stay."[3]
"Number 1" has received positive reviews from Digital Spy and the BBC. David Balls ofDigital Spy gave the song a positive review: "A savvy collaboration with urban pop trioN-Dubz, this offering places Tinchy's distinctively gritty vocals over shimmering disco beats and even throws in a few strings for good measure. The result, while catchy enough, falls a little short of its predecessor and will no doubt leave some grime enthusiasts claiming: "I don't understand how you're number one".[4]BBC chart blog also gave the song a positive review: "N-Dubz. Everything they do raises a grin to my chops. Dappy's insistence on throwing in a "nah-nah-naiii-hee" as soon as his microphone is switched on is a brilliant pop thing. Tinchy's singy-raps, contrasting nicely with Dappy's rappy-singing. And I use the word 'contrasting' quite wrongly there".The song was awarded a four star rating.[5]
"Number 1" entered at the top of theUK Singles Chart on 26 April 2009 – for the week ending dated 2 May 2009 – selling 87,000 copies in its first week[6] and beating competition fromLa Roux's "In for the Kill" with over 20,000 copies, according to theAll Around the World website.[7] The song spent three weeks at number one before dropping to number two in its fourth week, replaced at number one by "Boom Boom Pow" by theBlack Eyed Peas. "Number 1" spent 18 consecutive weeks in the top 40 and 38 weeks in the top 100. OnBBC Radio 1's Chart Show, it was revealed that the track was the first song with the words "number one" in its title ever to reach number one on both the British and Irish charts – and, in turn, anywhere in the world. In Ireland, the song entered at number eight before rising to the top the following week. The song spent five weeks at the top.[8]
N-Dubz andTinchy Stryder performed the single version of the song onGMTV and on theUncle B Tour, N-Dubz performed the version later included onAgainst All Odds. The artists performed the song atRadio 1's Big Weekend in the United Kingdom. They also performed the song together onBBC "Sound" in May 2009,BBC Switch Live in November 2009 and the MOBOs in Glasgow in September 2009.
The music video was directed byEmil Nava and produced by Ben Pugh.[9] The video features both Stryder andDappy but also has cameo appearances fromTulisa andFazer. It begins with Stryder holding aStar in the Hood necklace and then begins singing the opening credits, introducing himself and N-Dubz, with all members of N-Dubz beside him. The video continues with Stryder and Dappy dancing in front of various backgrounds while they both have various outfit changes, including Dappy in a redAdidas tracksuit. The video frequently cuts between scenes with both N-Dubz and Stryder, two provocative female dancers and a string quartet. At one point in the video it features Stryder standing in front of a giant "Number 1". Towards the end it shows both Stryder and Dappy with a background of stars.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Number 1" (radio edit) | 3:35 |
| 2. | "Number 1" (Bimbo Jones remix) | 3:15 |
| 3. | "Number 1" (remix featuringKano) | 3:34 |
| 4. | "Stuck on My Mind" | 3:46 |
| Total length: | 14:10 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Number 1" | 3:35 |
| 2. | "Number 1" (remix featuringKano) | 3:34 |
| 3. | "Number 1" (Bimbo Jones remix) | 3:15 |
| 4. | "Number 1" (Hypasonic remix) | 5:41 |
| Total length: | 16:05 | |
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
Decade-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[22] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
"Number 1" is electric first, rap second, and is perfect just like that
With experienced hand Fraser T. Smith (James Morrison, Craig David) behind the mixing desk for half the album, Eurodance synths and clubby beats are used in abundance, and the tricks that gave 'Number One' and 'Take Me Back' their radio appeal are repeated on 'Spotlight', 'Halo' and the Olive-sampling 'You're Not Alone'
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| Related articles | |
