The One I Love

"The One I Love" is a song by Scottish rock band Big Country, which was released in 1993 as the third and final single from their sixth studio album The Buffalo Skinners. It was written by Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson, and produced by Big Country. "The One I Love" was released in the United States only, although a potential UK and European release was considered. The song generated major airplay across the States. It reached No. 17 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks, No. 34 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks, and No. 13 on the Gavin Report's "Gavin Album" chart. In 2004, Watson recalled of the song: "It was originally demoed in my home studio in Charlestown. It was a case of me having the intro and the verse worked out and Stuart having the chorus and the middle 8 worked out. A lot of Big Country songs were bolted together and this song is a prime example." Reception Upon release, Larry Flick of Billboard described the song as an "urgent, anthemic ditty" which "marks a welcome and surprisingly potent return for the band". He added: "Adamson's voice is in top shape, and the production is forceful without flying over the edge into melodrama." In a review of The Buffalo Skinners, Kim DeFalco of The Tampa Tribune commented: "Adamson burrows into his own psyche for moody, bluesy songs of alienation such as "The One I Love"." Dick Hogan of The Gazette wrote: "It opens with a mellow touch before breaking into layered guitars and features a catchy, multi-track sing-along hook."