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"The Only Way Is Up" is a song written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson and originally released in 1980 as a single by soul singer Otis Clay. In 1988, it became a chart-topping single in the United Kingdom for Yazz and the Plastic Population. The song is used as the theme tune to the popular ITV2/ITVBe reality television series The Only Way Is Essex.

This article is about the Yazz song. For the Drugs EP, see The Only Way Is Up (EP). For the Tiësto and Martinsoss Garrix song, see The Only Way Is Up (Martin Garrix and Tiësto song).

"The Only Way Is Up"
Single by Otis Clay
from the album The Only Way Is Up
B-side"Special Kind of Love"
Released1980
GenreDisco, soul, funk
Length3:46
LabelEcho
Songwriter(s)
  • George Jackson
  • Johnny Henderson
Producer(s)
  • Otis Clay
  • Troy Thompson

Otis Clay version


The song was written by George Jackson and Johnny Henderson.[1] It was first recorded by Otis Clay and released as a single by Echo Records in 1980.[2] Though not a hit, the song became the title track of Clay's album The Only Way Is Up,[3] released in Japan in 1982 and then North America in 1985.[4] It is also included on his 2012 album Truth Is.[5]


Yazz version


"The Only Way Is Up"
Single by Yazz and the Plastic Population
from the album Wanted
B-side
  • "Bad House Music"
  • Remix
Released11 July 1988 (1988-07-11)[6]
Genre
  • Dance-pop
  • funk
  • synth-pop
  • Hi-NRG
  • acid house
  • new wave
Length
  • 4:27 (album version)
  • 4:02 (7" edit)
LabelBig Life
Songwriter(s)
  • George Jackson
  • Johnny Henderson
Producer(s)Coldcut
Yazz singles chronology
"Doctorin' the House"
(1988)		 "The Only Way Is Up"
(1988)		 "Stand Up for Your Love Rights"
(1988)
Music video
"The Only Way Is Up" on YouTube
Audio
"The Only Way Is Up (Extended Version)" on YouTube

The Yazz version was produced by Jonathan More and Matt Black (better known as dance duo Coldcut, who had worked with Yazz on their hit single "Doctorin' the House"). "The Only Way Is Up" was Yazz's first solo single, credited to her under the name Yazz and the Plastic Population. Released as the first single from her debut album, Wanted (1988), the song became an instant smash hit, spending five weeks at number one in the United Kingdom, and ultimately becoming the second biggest selling single of the year. Also on the Eurochart Hot 100, it soared to the number one position. In the United States it reached number two on the Billboard dance chart, although only making number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7]

A 2009 remix was released in the United Kingdom on 7 September 2009.[8]


Background and release


After leaving school, Yazz got a job in a nightclub in Soho and got into her first band called The Biz. She then met the managers of English musical duo Wham! who would be her managers. She took singing lessons and made demo songs that was introduced to electronic music duo Coldcut.[9] Together, they wrote "Doctorin' the House" which incorporates samples from various sources, mainly TV and film dialogue. It reached number six on the UK Singles Chart in March 1988 and was very popular in the clubs. Their second single was the pumping house version of "The Only Way Is Up". It was released in July 1988 and become a huge hit in the clubs and on the charts.


Chart performance


Yazz' cover of "The Only Way Is Up" was very successful globally. In Europe, it peaked at number-one in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In the last of these, it hit the top spot in its third week at the UK Singles Chart, on 31 July 1988.[10] The single spent a total of five weeks on the top of the chart, becoming the second biggest selling single of the year. It made it to the top 10 also in Austria, Finland, France, West Germany, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, where it peaked at number two. It was held off reaching number-one by Koreana's "Hand In Hand". On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song hit number one in September 1988.[11] Outside Europe, "The Only Way Is Up" went to number-one in New Zealand, while it hit number two in Australia. On the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the United States, it peaked at number two. It earned a gold record in Australia and the UK, with a sale of 50,000 and 400,000 singles. And in France, it earned a silver record, after 200,000 units were sold there.


Critical reception


Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Produced by Coldcut, this is an electro-soul number with more than a touch of house influences. A good, radio-friendly, dance song."[12]


Music video


A music video was produced to promote the single. It was later published on YouTube in August 2018. By September 2020, the video had more than three million views.[13]


Formats and track listings


  1. "The Only Way Is Up" — 4:02
  2. "Bad House Music" — 4:28
  1. "The Only Way Is Up" — 6:44
  2. "Bad House Music" — 7:07
  1. "The Only Way Is Up" (UK extended club mix) — 6:45
  2. "The Only Way Is Up" (the up up up mix) — 7:01
  3. "The Only Way Is Up" (acid dub) — 5:50
  1. "The Only Way Is Up" (UK extended club mix) — 6:43
  2. "The Only Way Is Up" (Lp version) — 4:01
  3. "The Only Way Is Up" (the popstand remix) — 6:57
  4. "The Only Way Is Up" (acid dub) — 5:50
  5. "The Only Way Is Up" (the up up up mix) — 7:01
  1. "The Only Way Is Up" (7" edit) — 4:02
  2. "The Only Way Is Up" (12" version) — 6:48
  3. "The Only Way Is Up" (speng) — 6:01
  4. "Bad House Music" — 3:00
  1. "The Only Way Is Up" (the Bam Bam remix) — 7:24
  2. "The Only Way Is Up" (the up up up mix) — 7:24
  3. "Bad House Music" — 4:28

Charts and sales



See also



References


  1. Solomon, Felicia Kate (2019). "Musical Acknowledgments". Lucia's Poltergeist. Leicestershire: Troubador Publishing. p. 516. ISBN 978-1789015-799.
  2. "Otis Clay – The Only Way Is Up / Messing With My Mind ", Northern Soul Direct. Retrieved 3 December 2020
  3. Jon Kutner, Spencer Leigh (eds.), 1,000 UK Number One Hits, Omnibus Press, 2010, p.
  4. Barr, Greg (23 September 1988). "Feats of Clay". The Ottawa Citizen. Postmedia Network. p. B3. ISSN 0839-3222. ProQuest 239260543. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  5. Clay, Otis (22 May 2014). "Q&A: Singer Otis Clay's got the blues and more". TCA Regional News (Interview). Interviewed by Johnson, Kevin C. Tribune Content Agency. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  6. "British single certifications – Yazz and the Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 285.
  8. "Radio1 Rodos :: New Music :: U.K. Forthcoming Releases". Radio1.gr. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  9. "Yazz: The only way is up for the singer who is now a powerful woman of God". crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 31 July 1988 - 06 August 1988". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  11. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 17 September 1988. p. 18. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  12. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 6 August 1988. p. 15. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  13. "Yazz - The Only Way Is Up". YouTube. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  14. "Yazz And The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  15. "Yazz And The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  16. "Yazz And The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  17. Danish Singles Chart. 30 September 1988.
  18. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Yazz & The Plastic Population". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 286. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  19. "Yazz And The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  20. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 10 (30. september 1988)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir. Retrieved 23 July 2018. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Only Way Is Up". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  22. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Yazz".
  23. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Yazz And The Plastic Population" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  24. "Yazz And The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  25. "Yazz And The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  26. "Yazz And The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up". VG-lista. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  27. "Yazz And The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  28. "Yazz And The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  30. "Billboard > Yazz Chart History > Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  31. "Billboard > Yazz Chart History > Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  32. "Billboard > Yazz Chart History > Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  33. "Yazz and the Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up (song)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  34. "1988 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  35. "1988 Belgian Flanders Singles Chart" (in Dutch). ultratop.be. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  36. "Top 25 Dance Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  37. "1988 Year End Eurocharts" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 January 1988. p. 30. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  38. "Single top 100 over 1988" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  39. "The Official New Zealand Music Chart".
  40. Swiss Year-End Charts, 1988
  41. "Chart Archive - 1980s Singles". EveryHit.com. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  42. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 307.
  43. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – 1989". ARIA. Retrieved 7 January 2020 – via Imgur.com. The circular symbol indicates gold certification.
  44. "French single certifications – Yazz and the Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 8 April 2022. Select YAZZ AND THE PLASTIC POPULATION and click OK. 




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