The Ones
Encyclopedia
The Ones are an American electronic dance music
band, best known for their 2001 hit
single
"Flawless", which reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart
. The trio
consists of three male vocalists
Paul Alexander, JoJo Americo, and Nashom Wooden, who met while working at the Greenwich Village
boutique Patricia Field
. Each of them has a background in performing, DJing, and being stylists within the underground New York club
and fashion
scenes.
Their debut single, "Flawless" (inspired by the 1999 film which Nashom appeared in, alongside Robert De Niro
), produced
by A Touch of Class
, was popular among New York DJs
even before its official release and became a hit, especially in Europe
. In 2004, "Flawless" was sampled
and had lyrics
added to it by George Michael
for his song "Flawless (Go to the City)
". Michael's version reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart, which gives "Flawless" the distinction of being a hit twice. The group released a follow up single, "Superstar" which reached number 45 on the UK Singles Chart.
In November 2006, they released "Ultramodern", with a music video
and clips available at A Touch of Class's website. The video was banned on television
. The Ones signed to Peacebisquit management
in 2007. They tweaked their look and sound and released a 2008 single, "When We Get Together", with a video clip featuring cameos from the Scissor Sisters
, Debbie Harry
, Jody Watley
, Fischerspooner
, Ultra Naté
, Cazwell
, Colton Ford
, and many others.
Nomi Ruiz
collaborated with The Ones on their single "Let's Celebrate" from their upcoming fourth album "Blast from the Past".
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
band, best known for their 2001 hit
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Flawless", which reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
consists of three male vocalists
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
Paul Alexander, JoJo Americo, and Nashom Wooden, who met while working at the Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
boutique Patricia Field
Patricia Field
Patricia Field is an American costume designer, stylist and fashion designer.-Life and career:Field was born in 1941 in New York City to Greek and Armenian parents, who emigrated from Lesvos, Greece. She was raised in Astoria, Queens and has claimed credit for inventing the modern legging for...
. Each of them has a background in performing, DJing, and being stylists within the underground New York club
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
and fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
scenes.
Their debut single, "Flawless" (inspired by the 1999 film which Nashom appeared in, alongside Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
), produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by A Touch of Class
A Touch of Class
A Touch of Class is a 1973 British romantic comedy film which tells the story of a couple having an affair, who find themselves falling in love...
, was popular among New York DJs
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
even before its official release and became a hit, especially in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In 2004, "Flawless" was sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
and had lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
added to it by George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
for his song "Flawless (Go to the City)
Flawless (Go to the City)
"Flawless " is a song co-written and performed by George Michael and released by Sony BMG on June 28, 2004. It samples "Flawless", originally recorded by the electronic music band The Ones and "Keep On Dancin'" , originally recorded by Gary's Gang...
". Michael's version reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart, which gives "Flawless" the distinction of being a hit twice. The group released a follow up single, "Superstar" which reached number 45 on the UK Singles Chart.
In November 2006, they released "Ultramodern", with a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
and clips available at A Touch of Class's website. The video was banned on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. The Ones signed to Peacebisquit management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
in 2007. They tweaked their look and sound and released a 2008 single, "When We Get Together", with a video clip featuring cameos from the Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters are an American band "spawned by the scuzzy, gay nightlife scene of New York" who took their name from a sexual position between two women also known as tribadism...
, Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
, Jody Watley
Jody Watley
Jody Vanessa Watley is an American, singer, songwriter, record producer, and founder of Avitone Records whose music crosses genres from Pop, R&B, Jazz, Dance and Electronic Soul....
, Fischerspooner
Fischerspooner
Fischerspooner is an electroclash duo and performance troupe formed in 1998 in New York. The name is a portmanteau of the founders' last names, Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner...
, Ultra Naté
Ultra Naté
Ultra Naté is an American house music, Dance-pop and sometimes R&B musician who has achieved a respectable amount of success on the pop charts with songs such as "Free" and "If You Could Read My Mind" as part of Stars on 54....
, Cazwell
Cazwell
Luke Caswell , known as Cazwell, is an American rapper and songwriter. He is best known for his explicit lyrics and collaborations with Amanda Lepore...
, Colton Ford
Colton Ford
Colton Ford is the stage name of Glenn Soukesian, a former same-sex adult film star, singer and actor. As of May 2007, he resides in New York City.-Film career:...
, and many others.
Nomi Ruiz
Nomi Ruiz
Nomi Ruiz is an American Nu-disco and Hip hop singer from New York City who is most famous for being among the cast of vocalists that contributed to Hercules and Love Affair's debut album. Ruiz has also collaborated with dance music trio The Ones...
collaborated with The Ones on their single "Let's Celebrate" from their upcoming fourth album "Blast from the Past".