The release scored chart success across Europe, peaking at number two in the band's native Netherlands and number three in both Belgium and Lithuania.[5][6][7] It was a top-10 hit also in Finland (6), Denmark (10) and Spain (10).[8][9][10] In the Netherlands, "No One" was held off reaching the top spot by Dutch singer Marco Borsato's "Dromen Zijn Bedrog". In the United Kingdom, "No One" was 2 Unlimited's least successful release to date, peaking at number 17 in its first week at the UK Singles Chart on 25 September 1994.[11] On the UK Dance Singles Chart, it peaked at number 28 in the same period.
Additionally, the single was a top-20 hit also in Austria, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden and Switzerland. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 10 in late October 1994, in its fifth week on the chart, and ended up as number 64 on its year-end list over the best-selling singles in Europe.[12][13] On the European Dance Radio Chart, "No One" peaked at number two, behind Whigfield's "Saturday Night".[14] Outside Europe, it was a sizeable top 20-hit in Israel, and a top-70 hit in Australia, peaking at number 70 on the ARIA singles chart.
Critical reception
In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton commented, "What a nuisance. Here I am all set to launch an account of a new 2 Unlimited single with a witty precis of the melodic and formulaic similarity to everything else they have ever released and what happens? They go and release a track that sounds completely different to all the others! Joking aside, it is absolutely true, 'No One' being the closest they will probably ever get to a conventional pop song and more deservedly a smash hit than some of their recent output. It could well end up their third Top 10 hit of the year and is now their 11th consecutive Top 20 hit."[15]David Stubbs from Melody Maker opined that the song "is apt."[16]
Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "It's their first reggae attempt, and no one has blended it with Euro dance so seamlessly before."[2]Music & Media editor Maria Jimenez remarked that "2 Unlimited have turned their pop rave into tropical pop grooves."[17] Alan Jones from Music Week gave the song a score of four out of five, adding, "This is a good deal slower than usual, but still relies on the he-rap, she-sing template. Likely to garner less club support but may attract some first-time supporters."[18]Iestyn George from NME commented, "He's not a very good rapper that feller, but he plays the pop star to a T."[19]James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update described it as a "rapped (mentioning Janet Jackson!), cooed and organ wheezed attractive jaunty skipper" in his weekly dance column.[4] Female pop-punk duo Shampoo reviewed the song for Smash Hits, giving it three out of five.[20]
Music video
The accompanying music video for "No One" was directed by British production company La La Land.[21] It was shot by the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and features Anita and Ray performing on the beach or in a tropical forest. "No One" was later made available on 2 Unlimited's official YouTube channel in 2013, and had generated more than 6.3 million views as of early 2025.[22]
Appearances
The melody of the song was also sampled in 1994 single by Serbian group Moby Dick with name "Kralj kokaina" ("King of Cocaine").
1 2 Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1sted.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN978-951-1-21053-5.
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