One Voice (Billy Gilman song)

"One Voice" is a song written by David Malloy and Don Cook, and recorded by American country music singer Billy Gilman. It was released in May 2000 as the lead-off single and title track from Gilman's debut studio album One Voice. The song became Gilman's first and only top 20 single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart as well as his only top 40 single on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.

"One Voice"
A black-and-white image of a curtain background with Billy Gilman sitting down in front of it while holding a microphone.
Single by Billy Gilman
from the album One Voice
B-side"'Til I Can Make It on My Own"
ReleasedMay 27, 2000 (2000-05-27)
Recorded1999–2000
GenreCountry
Length4:09
LabelEpic Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Billy Gilman singles chronology
"One Voice"
(2000)
"Oklahoma"
(2000)
Music video
"One Voice" on YouTube

Gilman was only 12 years old at the time of the song's release, making him the youngest male artist in history to have a solo top 40 hit on the country charts.[1] "One Voice" was nominated at the 43rd Grammy Awards for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song for the songwriters, Don Cook and David Malloy.

Content edit

The song is about violence from the viewpoint of a child.

Music video edit

Directed by Trey Fanjoy, the video shows Billy Gilman on the bus home from school and watches everything that goes on around him. At one point in the video, a boy holding a gun (shown earlier in the video) throws it in the river below the bridge, is a similar take on the line of the song.

Track listing edit

US CD single

  1. "One Voice"
  2. "'Til I Can Make It on My Own"

UK CD single

  1. "One Voice"
  2. "Warm & Fuzzy"
  3. "'Til I Can Make It on My Own"
  4. "One Voice" (music video)

Chart performance edit

"One Voice" debuted at number 71 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the chart week of May 27, 2000.[2] When the song became a top 40 hit, Gilman became the youngest artist to chart a top 40 country hit, edging out Brenda Lee to become the youngest person to ever have a song on the country singles chart. The song also became a top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching number 38.

Weekly charts edit

Chart (2000) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[3] 77
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[4] 23
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 84
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 38
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[7] 29
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[8] 20

Year-end charts edit

Chart (2000) Position
US Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 70

References edit

  1. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "One Voice - Billy Gilman | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  2. ^ ""One Voice" country chart debut". Billboard. May 27, 2000. Archived from the original on August 31, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  3. ^ "{{{artist}}} – {{{song}}}". ARIA Top 50 Singles. September 4, 2000. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  4. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 7168." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. August 28, 2000. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  5. ^ "Billy Gilman: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  6. ^ "Billy Gilman Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Billy Gilman Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Billy Gilman Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Best of 2000: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2000. Retrieved August 16, 2012.