"One Foot"
Single by Walk the Moon
from the album What If Nothing
ReleasedSeptember 22, 2017 (2017-09-22)
StudioThe Ranch (Woodland Hills, California)
GenreNew wave[1]
Length4:21
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Walk the Moon singles chronology
"Back 2 U"
(2016)		 "One Foot"
(2017)		 "Kamikaze"
(2018)
Music video
"One Foot" on YouTube

"One Foot" is a song by American rock band Walk the Moon from their fourth studio album, What If Nothing (2017). It was written by the band members and songwriters Ben Berger, Ryan McMahon, and Ryan Rabin; the latter three also produced the track with Mike Crossey. The song was released as the album's lead single through RCA Records on September 22, 2017.

"One Foot" peaked at number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart for four consecutive weeks, becoming the band's second song to top the chart after "Shut Up and Dance" in 2015. It was also Walk the Moon's second chart entry on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 65. The song was included on the setlist of the band's Press Restart Tour (2017−18) and performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Background and release

"One Foot" was written by band members Nicholas Petricca, Kevin Ray, Eli Maiman, and Sean Waugaman and songwriters Ben Berger, Ryan McMahon, and Ryan Rabin. The latter three also co-produced it under the name Captain Cuts with Mike Crossey. It was recorded at The Ranch Studios by Jonathan Gilmore and Joseph Rogers and mixed by Neal Avron at The Casita with assistance from Scott Skrzynski.[2]

Guitarist Eli Maiman stated the song is "indicative of the album's 'bigger, epic sound'", while lead singer Nicholas Petricca said: "'One Foot' is facing the void. The last record, we felt like we had a lot of answers. This time, we have a bunch of questions."[3] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Petricca recalled the band's return to making music in Austin, Texas, mentioning how "it was just the four of [them] in a room for the first time" since their last tour. He also expressed the large fear that loomed over the band when recording "One Foot", saying "the outside world was reflecting like, 'What the f— is going to happen?'", after the presidential election of Donald Trump.[4]

On August 24, 2017, Billboard reported on the upcoming release of "One Foot" along with the announcement of the band's third studio album What If Nothing.[5] The song was released digitally as the album's lead single through RCA Records on September 22 of that year.[6] It subsequently impacted US alternative radio on September 26, 2017, and US contemporary hit radio on November 14, 2017.[7][8] Two remixes of the song created by Captain Cuts and White Panda were later released on January 12, 2018.[9][10]

Composition and lyrics

According to the song's sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing, "One Foot" is composed in 4
4 time and the key of C major with a moderate tempo of 100 beats per minute.[11] Petricca is described vocally as performing the song in a strident manner.[12] "One Foot" is described an upbeat new wave song by music journalists, incorporating a funk-inspired beat set to a slinky rhythm.[1][12][13] Its chorus resembles that of a tribal chant and mixes a disco-like groove.[14] Billboard said the song "encourages the same ecstatic abandon as 'Shut Up and Dance' but, unlike its '90s-worshipping predecessor, follows EDM logic with a gravity-defying beat drop and reverberating vocals".[3]

The song tells "a story of exploring uncharted territory, and the test of trust on a relationship in uncertain circumstances", with lyrics such as “I'm your king of nothing at all/ And you're my queen of nothing at all/ Well, out here in the dust if you don't have trust/ Ain't nothing left of us, this is the exodus/ They're just testing us, they can’t flex with us."[14] The chorus consists of a repeated call-to-action: "Oh, one foot in front of the other."[13] The song's lyrics also urge listeners to "take things one step at a time" while pointing a finger at the United States, with the band calling it "the so-called Land of the Free" in the final refrain of the chorus.[4]

Petricca described it as "the soundtrack of [the band's] journey th[e] past year, moving forward even when the path is uncertain".[14] He also noted that the song sums up the theme of What If Nothing about "[s]taring out into the unknown, being faced with uncertainty and what could be certain failure, but deciding to move forward and take that first step anyway".[12] Time's Raisa Bruner wrote that while the song is "bright on the surface, [it] is underlaid by a darker lyrical honesty".[1]

Critical reception

"One Foot" received generally positive reviews. Raisa Bruner of Time magazine described the song as "an upbeat rock singalong" that "has the same tendency towards instantaneous catchiness".[1] Allison Stubblebine, writing for Billboard magazine, called it "the perfect distillation of the band's signature foot-stomping sound".[14] Writing for Stereogum, Chris DeVille called "One Foot" a "[r]equisite '80s throwback" that "boasts some of those iridescent melodic squeals that have become a pop staple post-Purpose".[15] Allan Raible of ABC News was critical towards the song, labeling it as "a painfully forced anthem".[16]

Commercial performance

The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 80 in the issue dated January 10, 2018, becoming the band's second entry on the chart after "Shut Up and Dance" peaked at number four in 2015.[17] It later peaked at number 65 on the week ending February 16, 2018, and spent eight total weeks on the chart.[18] In the issue dated January 25, 2018, "One Foot" reached number one on the Alternative Songs chart, earning the band their second leader on the chart following the four-week reign of "Shut Up and Dance" in 2015. It concurrently reached its peak on the Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40 charts at numbers 12 and 22, respectively.[19] The song would remain at the top of the Alternative Songs chart for four consecutive weeks.[20]

Music video

The official music video was released on September 22, 2017 on Walk the Moon's Vevo channel.[21]

The video for "One Foot" was shot in Joshua Tree National Park and, according to a press release, it was "methodically planned to coincide exactly with the Great American eclipse of 2017" (though not in the path of totality). The clip was shot with specialized lenses modeled after the glasses people all over the country wore to view the eclipse. Robert Hales (Nine Inch Nails, Imagine Dragons) directed the video, and the visual effects were executed by creative director, Felipe Posada (The Invisible Realm).[22]

Live performances

On December 11, 2017, Walk the Moon performed "One Foot" along with "Kamikaze" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for Kimmel's Mercedes-Benz concert series. In the performance, Petricca had his mullet bleached blond and wore a knee-length cardigan with eyes printed all over. Petricca also had white face paint streaming out from the corner of his eyes, which had been a staple of the group's aesthetic.[23] It was performed again as part of Kimmel's Mercedes-Benz concert series exclusively off-air on March 13, 2019.[24] Walk the Moon also performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on January 15, 2018.[25] The song was included on the set list of the band's 2017−18 Press Restart Tour.[26] On September 20, 2019, Cirque du Soleil joined Walk the Moon onstage during their performance of "One Foot" at the seventh annual Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival.[27]

Track listing

Digital download[6]
No.TitleLength
1."One Foot"4:21
Digital download – The Captain Cuts Remix[9]
No.TitleLength
1."One Foot" (The Captain Cuts Remix)4:07
Digital download – The White Panda Remix[10]
No.TitleLength
1."One Foot" (The White Panda Remix)3:51

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal and the liner notes of What If Nothing.[2][28]

Recording

Personnel

  • Nicholas Petricca – vocals, keyboards, songwriting
  • Kevin Ray – bass, songwriting
  • Eli Maiman – guitar, songwriting
  • Sean Waugaman – drums, songwriting
  • Mike Crossey – production
  • Benjamin Berger – songwriting, co-production
  • Ryan McMahon – songwriting, co-production
  • Ryan Rabin – songwriting, co-production
  • Scott Skrzynski – mixing assistant
  • Neal Avron – mixing
  • Jonathan Gilmore – recording
  • Joseph Rogers – recording

Charts and certifications

Release history

Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various September 22, 2017 Original
United States September 26, 2017
November 14, 2017
Various January 12, 2018 The Captain Cuts Remix
The White Panda Remix

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bruner, Raisa (September 22, 2017). "5 Songs You Need to Listen to This Week". Time. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Walk The Moon / What If Nothing / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Reilly, Phoebe (August 24, 2017). "Walk the Moon Return From the Brink With 'Epic' New Sound". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  4. 1 2 Vain, Madison (September 22, 2017). "How a fear of Donald Trump's presidency inspired Walk the Moon's new single". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Walk the Moon returns with new single 'One Foot,' new album with 'bigger, epic sound'". ABC News Radio. August 24, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 "One Foot – Single by WALK THE MOON on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Alternative". All Access. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  8. 1 2 "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on November 3, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 "One Foot (The Captain Cuts Remix) – Single by WALK THE MOON". Apple Music (US). Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "One Foot (The White Panda Remix) – Single by WALK THE MOON". Apple Music (US). Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Walk the Moon 'One Foot' Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. 28 September 2017. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 Johnston, Maura (October 6, 2017). "Walk the Moon Get Back to Their Rock Roots On New LP, 'What If Nothing'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  13. 1 2 Hudelson, Molly (September 22, 2017). "Walk The Moon move on and move forward with 'One Foot'". Substream Magazine. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Stubblebine, Allison (September 22, 2017). "Walk the Moon Release High-Energy Single & Video, 'One Foot': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  15. ↑ DeVille, Chris (November 9, 2017). "Maroon 5 And The Rock Band As A Pop Hit-Making Machine". Stereogum. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  16. ↑ Raible, Allan (November 15, 2017). "Seal, Bleachers, Walk the Moon and more music reviews". ABC News. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  17. ↑ Trust, Gary (January 10, 2018). "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso's 'Let Me Go' Hits the Top 40". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Walk The Moon Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  19. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin (January 25, 2018). "Walk the Moon's 'One Foot' Steps to No. 1 on Alternative Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Alternative Airplay – The week of February 17, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  21. ↑ "WALK THE MOON - One Foot (Official Video)". walkthemoonVEVO. September 22, 2017 – via YouTube.
  22. ↑ "Walk The Moon Release 'One Foot' Music Video". Anti Music. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  23. ↑ Armstrong, Megan (December 12, 2017). "Watch Walk the Moon Perform 'One Foot' & 'Kamikaze' For Jimmy Kimmel's Concert Series". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  24. ↑ Acevedo, Angelica (March 13, 2019). "Walk the Moon Give Electrifying Performance Of 'Timebomb', 'Headphones' & More On 'Kimmel': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  25. ↑ Rice, Nicholas (January 16, 2018). "Walk The Moon Deliver High-Energy Performance of 'One Foot' on 'The Tonight Show'". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  26. ↑ Hudelson, Molly (January 20, 2018). "LIVE REVIEW: Walk The Moon bring the Press Restart Tour to New York City". Substream Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  27. ↑ Sheckells, Melinda (September 21, 2019). "Life Is Beautiful 2019: Billie Eilish Duets, Chance the Rapper Leads Beautiful Sing-Along & More Day 1 Highlights". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  28. ↑ What If Nothing (booklet). Walk the Moon. RCA Records. 2017. 88985454852.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ↑ "Walk The Moon Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  30. ↑ "Walk The Moon Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Walk The Moon Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  32. ↑ "Walk The Moon Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  33. ↑ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 39, 2017" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Walk the Moon Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Walk the Moon Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Walk the Moon Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Walk the Moon Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  38. ↑ "Walk the Moon Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Walk the Moon Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Adult Top 40 – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  41. ↑ "Alternative Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  42. ↑ "Rock Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  43. ↑ "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  44. ↑ "American single certifications – Walk the Moon – One Foot". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
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