You're The One That I Want

Album

Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture

Label

RSO Records

Genre

Stage & Screen

Composer(s)

John Farrar

Entered Chart

Apr 1, 1978

Peak Date

Jun 10, 1978

Released

May 12, 1978 (UK)[

Recorded

1977 or 1978 Studio Recorded and Mixed by David J. Holman at Heider Studios and United/Western Studi

Catalog #

RSO 891 A

B-Side

Alone At A Drive-In Movie (I)

"You're The One That I Want" plays at the finale of the movie Grease as John Travolta (Danny) and Olivia Newton-John (Sandy) overcome the social constraints of high school and declare their lust for each other. Like the title track, it was not in the original stage musical of Grease, but was written specifically for the movie. Also like the title track, it was a #1 hit in America, reaching the top spot on June 10, 1978. This is very impressive considering the movie was not released until June 16, making the song a hit on its own merits and providing tremendous anticipation for the film. The title track rode the movie's momentum to #1 on August 26, and stayed there for two weeks. John Farrar wrote and produced this song. His choice gave Olivia Newton-John, who was very nervous about appearing in the film, a familiar collaborator who helped ease her fears. Farrar had written and produced many of her previous hits, including the US #1 "Have You Never Been Mellow." This song was a massive hit in Britain, spending nine weeks at #1 and becoming the fifth biggest-selling single of all time in the UK, with about 2 million copies sold (according to a 2012 list compiled by the Official Charts company). "Summer Nights," another Travolta/Newton-John duet from the movie, was also very successful in the UK, staying at #1 for seven weeks. Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta were an interesting pairing for the film. Newton-John was a global singing star but had little acting experience and was nervous about playing a high-school girl at age 29. Travolta was a rising film star whose starring role in the 1977 movie Saturday Night Fever made him a sensation. He had done some singing, most successfully with his 1976 single "Let Her In," which went to #10 in the US. A slow, string-laden version of this song was released by the singer violinist Lo-Fang (Matthew Hemerlein) on his 2014 debut album Blue Film. His rendition was used in a popular commercial for Chanel No. 5. The spot was directed by Baz Luhrmann and stars Gisele Bundchen.

I got chills, they're multiplyin', and I'm losin' control
Cause the power you're supplyin', it's electrifyin'

You better shape up, cause I need a man,
And my heart is set on you
You better shape up, you better understand,
To my heart I must be true
Nothing left, nothing left for me to do

(Chorus):
You're the one that I want
(You are the one I want), ooh ooh ooh, honey
The one that I want (you are the one I want),
Ooh ooh ooh, honey
The one that I want (you are the one I want),
Ooh ooh ooh, honey
The one I need (the one I need),
Oh yes indeed (yes indeed)

If you're filled with affection,
You're too shy to convey
Meditate my direction, feel your way

I better shape up,
Cause you need a man
I need a man,
Who can keep me satisfied
I better shape up, if I'm gonna prove
You better prove, that my fate is justified
Are you sure?
Yes I'm sure down deep insid