One Last Time

Album: My Everything (2014)
Charted: 2 13
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds Ariana racked with guilt as she admits to her ex-boyfriend that she's been unfaithful. She requests "one last time" with him as a final goodbye.
  • The song was written by the songwriting team of Savan Kotecha, Rami Yacoub and Carl Falk, who penned most of One Direction's early singles, French dance music hitmaker David Guetta and Dutch producer Giorgio Tuinfort, who has worked with Michael Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Whitney Houston and Lionel Richie.
  • Directed by Max Landis who is known for his 2013 film Chronicle, the video follows Grande making her way through panic-stricken street crowds with Earth on the brink of destruction from the fictional comet Eurydice. The singer's bespectacled beau is played by her former Victorious co-star, Matt Bennett.
  • The Australian band Safia accused the video's concept and some of its ideas as being similar to their own apocalyptic clip for "You Are the One." Safia described the likenesses as an instance of when "big labels and/or big film firms steal ideas from small independent creatives who are trying really hard to make something different for a change." Landis acknowledged similarities between the two visuals, but denied that his ideas had been stolen.

    Here is the video for Safia's "You Are the One." Do you think the similarities are just coincidental?
  • The song itself was the subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit. Grande and the other songwriters were accused by Canadian songwriter Alex Greggs of copying the chorus of his EDM tune, "Takes All Night," which he wrote for Skye Stevens. Greggs, who's worked with the likes of Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson, reportedly sued for a cut of the track's profits.
  • "One Last Time" was the last song that Ariana Grande performed on her Dangerous Woman tour stop in Manchester on May 22, 2017, minutes before the terrorist attack that killed 22 concertgoers in the foyer of the arena. This led to a fan-led campaign to push the tune to the top of the charts.

    The song entered the UK chart at #11 in the week following the tragedy, a new high after previously peaking at #24 in June 2015.
  • Although the song was originally written about the end of a relationship, the lyrics have since become a symbolic farewell to the people who lost their lives in Manchester: As a result, the track was re-released as a benefit track on iTunes with all proceeds going to the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund. This time it peaked at #2 on the UK singles chart.

Comments: 2

  • Sammy from Ohiothis story behind this song breaks my heart
  • Dickson from Zambia The song is touching
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.