One Way or Another

Written by Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison for the band's third studio album, Parallel Lines (1978), "One Way or Another" was inspired by one of Harry's ex-boyfriends who stalked her after their breakup.{{cite book|first= Cathy |last= Che |title= Deborah Harry: Platinum Blonde |publisher= MPG Books Ltd |location= Cornwall |year= 1999 |page= 83}} According to Harry, the boyfriend's constant calling and persistent stalking forced her to move out of New Jersey.{{cite web|first= Paul |last= Lester |title= The story behind the song: One Way Or Another by Blondie |website= Louder |date= February 28, 2018 |access-date= March 27, 2020 |url= https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-story-behind-the-song-one-way-or-another-by-blondie-1}} The stalking had taken place in 1973, when Harry was a member of The Stilettos; Harry's former bandmate Elda Gentile recalled, "It was freaking us all out, especially Chris [Stein]".{{cite book|first= Kembrew |last= McLeod |year= 2016 |title= Parallel Lines|page= 88 |publisher= Bloomsbury |isbn= 978-1-5013-0239-8 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=JDpqCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT53}} Harry explained in an interview with Entertainment Weekly:

{{blockquote|I was actually stalked by a nutjob so it came out of a not-so-friendly personal event. But I tried to inject a little bit of levity into it to make it more lighthearted. I think in a way that's a normal kind of survival mechanism. You know, just shake it off, say one way or another, and get on with your life. Everyone can relate to that and I think that's the beauty of it.{{cite magazine|first= Kyle |last= Anderson |title= Blondie's Debbie Harry tells the stories behind hits old and new -- an EW exclusive |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |date= September 20, 2011 |access-date= 24 March 2019 |url= https://ew.com/article/2011/09/20/blondie-debbie-harry-stories-behind-the-songs/}}}}

Musically, the song was composed by bassist Nigel Harrison, who first introduced the song to keyboardist Jimmy Destri.{{cite web|title= VIDEO: The Inspiration Behind "One Way or Another" |publisher= Smithsonian Channel |access-date= October 5, 2020 |url= https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/video/show/blondies-new-york/27691}} He explained, "My original music for 'One Way or Another' was this psychedelic, Ventures-like futuristic surf song gone wrong. Jimmy [Destri] really liked this piece of music, and we would play it on the road. Then Debbie picked up on it; she came up with the 'getcha-getcha-getcha's{{'"}}.{{cite book|first1= Dick |last1= Porter |first2= Kris |last2= Needs |year= 2017 |title= Blondie: Parallel Lives |publisher= Omnibus Press |isbn= 9780857127808 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=tHT_AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT199}} Harry later claimed to have worked out the song live with Harrison.{{cite magazine|first= Glenn |last= O'Brien |title= Blondie: Our 1986 Cover Story |magazine= Spin |date= September 7, 2019 |access-date= October 5, 2020 |url= https://www.spin.com/featured/blondie-debbie-harry-chris-stein-january-1986-cover-story-debbies-back/}} The song was recorded between June and July 1978 at New York's Record Plant studio. According to Harrison, producer Mike Chapman came up with the chaotic ending section.

"One Way or Another" was released as the fourth single from Parallel Lines in the US and Canada, as the follow-up to the number 1 hit "Heart of Glass". "One Way or Another" reached number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 7 on the RPM 100 Singles. Although never officially released as a single in the United Kingdom, the song charted there from download sales in February 2013 due to the success of One Direction's cover "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)". Adam Boult of The Guardian considered this version of the song to be an "abomination".{{cite news|first= Adam |last= Boult |title= Should One Direction be allowed to cover One Way or Another? |newspaper= The Guardian |date= February 22, 2013 |access-date= March 27, 2020 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/feb/22/one-direction-one-way-or-another}}

In addition to its appearance on Parallel Lines, the song was included on the US and Canadian versions of the band's first hits compilation, The Best of Blondie (1981), as it was released as a single there, but not on the international releases. It has since appeared on multiple other compilations, including a re-recorded version on 2014's Blondie 4(0) Ever.

Blondie released a manipulated live version of the song (with the audience noise removed) as the theme for the 1999 US television series Snoops. This version was released in the US as a bonus track on the Live live album.{{cite web|title= Blondie – Live (CD, Album) |date= November 23, 1999 |publisher= Discogs |url= http://www.discogs.com/Blondie-Live/release/960043 |access-date= July 13, 2014}} The original un-edited live version was later included on the European edition of Live, which was re-titled Livid, instead of the manipulated one.{{cite web|url= http://www.discogs.com/Blondie-Livid/release/604163 |title= Blondie – Live (CD, Album) |year= 1999 |publisher= Discogs |access-date= July 13, 2014}} Harry has since noted the song as a live favorite, recalling concerts where the crowd would point back at her and sing along.

Since its release, "One Way or Another" has seen critical acclaim. Billboard said that "One Way or Another" as "moves in machine gun fashion as Debbie Harry's vocal sounds almost demonic."{{cite magazine|title= Billboard's Top Single Picks |magazine= Billboard |page= 75 |date= 2 June 1979 |access-date= 8 July 2020 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1979/Billboard%201979-06-02.pdf}} Cash Box noted the "gritty fuzz guitar," "pummelling drum beat," "slightly quirky" beat, "engaging bass line" and said that "Harry's slinky vocals are delivered with playful aggressiveness."{{cite magazine|title= Singles Reviews > Singles to Watch |magazine= Cash Box |volume= XLI |issue= 3 |page= 20 |date= June 2, 1979 |accessdate= January 1, 2022 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-06-02.pdf}} Pitchfork praised the song as "exuberant new wave, far looser than the stiff, herky-jerky tracks that would go on to characterize that sound in the 80s,"{{cite web|first= Scott |last= Plagenhoef |title= Blondie: Parallel Lines: Deluxe Edition |website= Pitchfork |date= August 1, 2008 |access-date= October 5, 2020 |url= http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12058-parallel-lines-deluxe-edition/}} while Louder said of the track, "It was the song that took them from the punk clubs of New York to the arenas of the world, and cemented Debbie Harry's status as rock's foremost badass." Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 298 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.{{cite magazine|title= The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (1-500) |magazine= Rolling Stone |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/3 |archive-date= October 25, 2006 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061025052301/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/3}}

Paste ranked the song as the second greatest Blondie song, writing that the song "stands as one of the best songs—by Blondie or anyone else—of all time."{{cite magazine |first= Bonnie |last= Stiernberg |title= The 10 Best Blondie Songs |magazine= Paste |date= May 9, 2017 |access-date= October 5, 2020 |url= https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/blondie/the-10-best-blondie-songs/ |archive-date= October 7, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201007182925/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/blondie/the-10-best-blondie-songs/ |url-status= dead }} Billboard ranked it as the band's fifth best song,{{cite magazine|first= Ashley |last= Zlatopolsky |title= Blondie's 10 Greatest Songs: Critic's Picks |magazine= Billboard |date= May 6, 2017 |access-date= October 5, 2020 |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7783994/blondie-10-best-songs-list-debbie-harry}} while Ultimate Classic Rock named it as the band's sixth best, writing, "From the opening stabbing guitar riff to the song's wailing, chaotic finale, 'One Way or Another' is the sound of a great band earning its rep."{{cite web|first= Michael |last= Gallucci |title= Top 10 Blondie Songs |website= Ultimate Classic Rock |date= July 1, 2015 |access-date= October 5, 2020 |url= https://ultimateclassicrock.com/blondie-songs/}} Far Out Magazine named it as Blondie's seventh best song, calling it, "the band's most iconic song", while The Independent named it as the band's ninth best.{{cite web|first= Jack |last= Whatley |title= Debbie Harry and Blondie's 10 greatest songs of all time |work= Far Out Magazine |date= July 1, 2020 |access-date= October 5, 2020 |url= https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/blondie-debbie-harry-best-songs-playlist/}}{{cite news|first= Roisin |last= O'Connor |title= The 10 best songs by Blondie, from 'Call Me' to 'Hanging on the Telephone' |newspaper= The Independent |date= July 2, 2020 |access-date= October 5, 2020 |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/blondie-best-songs-debbie-harry-call-me-rapture-one-way-or-another-a9596291.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/blondie-best-songs-debbie-harry-call-me-rapture-one-way-or-another-a9596291.html |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}

;US 7" (CHS 2336)

1. "One Way or Another" (Nigel Harrison, Debbie Harry) – 3:31
2. "Just Go Away" (Harry) – 3:21

;US 12" promo (CHS 10 PDJ)

1. "One Way or Another" (Harrison, Harry) – 3:31

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{{Infobox song

| name = One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)

| cover = One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks) by One Direction.png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = One Direction

| album = Midnight Memories (Japanese edition){{cite web |url= https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/tracks/B00FH1FQJ2 |title= Japanese edition |publisher= Amazon JP}}

| released = 17 February 2013

| recorded = 2012

| studio =

| genre = Pop rock

| length = 2:37

| label = Syco

| writer = {{hlist|Deborah Harry|Nigel Harrison|John O'Neill}}

| producer = {{hlist|Julian Bunetta|John Ryan}}

| prev_title = Kiss You

| prev_year = 2013

| next_title = Best Song Ever

| next_year = 2013

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|36mCEZzzQ3o|"One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)"}} }}

}}

English-Irish boy band One Direction covered "One Way or Another" as a charity single for Comic Relief 2013, titled "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)", as it also interpolates lyrics from the Undertones' "Teenage Kicks" ("I wanna hold you, wanna hold you tight /

Get teenage kicks right through the night"). The single was released on 17 February 2013, and was produced by Julian Bunetta and John Ryan.

"One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, making it One Direction's third UK number one. It was nominated for Best British Single at the 2014 Brit Awards.

Ahead of its release, an early version of the song leaked online. A spokesperson for Syco Music told the Daily Mirror, "It is very disappointing that the song has been leaked and we are currently investigating the matter."{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a457051/one-direction-single-leak-to-be-investigated-by-simon-cowells-syco.html|title=One Direction single leak to be investigated by Simon Cowell's Syco|work=Digital Spy|last=Corner|first=Lewis|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|date=7 February 2013|access-date=20 February 2013}}

The single received mixed reviews from music critics. Robert Copsey of Digital Spy said "the cheeky lyrics, bouncy pop-rock melody and singalong chorus feel like an obvious but reassuringly safe option for this year's official Comic Relief single", concluding that it was "predictable but [...] undeniably fun".{{cite web|last=Copsey|first=Robert|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|title=One Direction: 'One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)' |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a459721/one-direction-one-way-or-another-teenage-kicks-single-review.html|work=Digital Spy|access-date=23 February 2013}} About.com critic Bill Lamb called the single a "strong performance", assessing, "The layering of the 'Na Na Na Na' bridge from 'One Way Or Another' with the chorus, "I wanna hold you wanna hold you tight, get teenage kicks right through the night" is truly inspiring." However, Lamb also noted that "lyrically, 'One Way Or Another' is nearly a song about the finer points of stalking, and that can be just a bit creepy coming from young males."{{cite web|last=Lamb|first=Bill|title=One Direction - 'One Way or Another (Samsung Galaxy S5 Is Best For One direction)'|url=http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/One-Direction-one-Way-Or-Another-teenage-Kicks.htm|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=About.com|access-date=23 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430023023/http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/One-Direction-one-Way-Or-Another-teenage-Kicks.htm|archive-date=30 April 2013|url-status=dead}}

Jessica Sager of PopCrush summarised it as "catchy, fun and ... sounds exactly what you'd expect when One Direction cover Blondie." Sager additionally praised Louis Tomlinson's vocals as sounding "phenomenal" in his solo.{{cite web|last=Jessica|first=Sager|title=One Direction, 'One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks) – song review|url=http://popcrush.com/one-direction-one-way-or-another-teenage-kicks/|work=PopCrush|date=February 17, 2013 |publisher=Townsquare Media |access-date=23 February 2013}} Writing for MTV, Jenna Rubenstein assessed: "1D's version sticks mainly to the original's vibe, mixing in sugary-sweet pop production with Blondie's punk rock sensibilities."{{cite web|last=Rubenstein|first=Jenna|title=Listen to a Preview of One Direction's 'One Way or Another' Cover|url=http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2013/02/04/one-direction-one-way-or-another-preview/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207061741/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2013/02/04/one-direction-one-way-or-another-preview/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 7, 2013|publisher=MTV}}

Writing for The Observer, Kitty Empire was scathing, describing the medley as "execrable".{{cite news|last=Empire|first=Kitty|title=One Direction – review|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/apr/07/one-direction-review-o2-london|newspaper=The Observer |access-date=21 August 2014}} When the single reached number 1 in the Irish Singles Chart, RTÉ described the news as "shocking", noting the single as "just a bit ho hum".{{cite web|title=Shock as One Direction hit No 1|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2013/0222/443559-one/|publisher=RTÉ |access-date=21 August 2014}} The Belfast Telegraph was equally critical, blasting the cover as a "travesty" that had been "re-worked into a sanitised Comic Relief single", which were "scrappy shadows of the originals".{{cite news|title=Sacrilege. One Direction's Teenage Kicks Travesty at Brits|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-34509508.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921194559/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-34509508.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 September 2014|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=21 August 2014}}{{cite news|last=Johnston|first=Andrew|title=One Direction live: Belfast gig daft, fun and not a stool in sight|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/one-direction-live-belfast-gig-daft-fun-and-not-a-stool-in-sight-29117095.html|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=21 August 2014}}

PopMatters gave it the No.1 spot on its "Best Mainstream Pop Singles of 2013" list, calling it "the most inspired, fun track of the year".{{Cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/post/176599-the-best-pop-singles-of-2013/P1/|title=The Best Mainstream Pop Singles of 2013 | PopMatters}}

The song was later included in the Japanese edition of the band's third studio album Midnight Memories as the 19th track.{{cite web |url= https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/tracks/B00FH1FQJ2/ref=dp_tracks_all_1#disc_1 |title=Midnight Memories – Japanese edition |publisher= Amazon JP}}

"One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart dated 24 February 2013, shifting 113,000 copies in its first week—the second highest first-week UK sales for any song in 2013 at the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/one-direction-and-comic-relief-land-fastest-selling-single-of-2013-1879|title=One Direction and Comic Relief land fastest selling single of 2013|last=Kreisler|first=Lauren|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=24 February 2013|access-date=24 February 2013}} It marks their third chart-topper and seventh top ten hit in the United Kingdom.{{cite news | url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/one%20direction/ | work=UK Singles Chart | title=One Direction – Official Charts Company | publisher=Official Charts Company | access-date=7 March 2013}} As of March 2013, the song has sold 292,000 copies in the UK.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1552449/david-bowie-lands-first-uk-no-1-album-in-20-years|title=David Bowie Lands First UK No. 1 Album in 20 Years|last=Sexton|first=Paul|magazine=Billboard |date=18 March 2013|access-date=18 March 2013}}

The music video for "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" was shot in Ghana, Tokyo, New York City, and London, including at 10 Downing Street, featuring a cameo from the then-British prime minister David Cameron.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21488990|title=One Direction video: David Cameron in cameo for Comic Relief|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=17 February 2013|access-date=20 February 2013}} The clip was released on 20 February 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.nme.com/news/one-direction/67638|title=One Direction to release Blondie cover for Comic Relief|work=NME|date=20 February 2013|publisher=IPC Media|access-date=20 February 2013}}

One Direction debuted the song live during the 2013 Brit Awards on 20 February 2013.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/1549685/one-direction-clowns-around-in-one-way-or-another-charity-video|title=One Direction Clowns Around in 'One Way Or Another' Charity Video|date=21 February 2013|access-date=21 February 2013|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|author=Jason Lipshutz}} The group also performed the song live during the Comic Relief telethon on 15 March 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/one-direction/news/brits-2013-performance/|title=One Direction To Perform New Song 'One Way Or Another' At BRIT Awards 2013|work=Capital FM|access-date=20 February 2013|publisher=Global Radio}}

• Digital download{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/one-way-or-another-teenage/593902718|title=One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)|date=February 17, 2013 |publisher=iTunes Store (Apple Inc.)|access-date=20 February 2013}}

1. "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" – 2:37
2. "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" {{small|(Sharoque Remix)}} – 3:07
3. "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" {{small|(Instrumental)}} – 2:37

• Digital download (Live version)[https://web.archive.org/web/20140521222928/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/one-way-or-another-teenage/id605899365 iTunes Store]

1. "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" {{small|(Live from the BRITs)}} – 3:20

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{{reflist|30em}}

{{Blondie}}

{{One Direction}}

{{Authority control}}

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