One Great Thing Explained

One Great Thing
Cover:One Great Thing.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Big Country
Album:The Seer
Released:5 September 1986[1]
Recorded:1986
Genre:Alternative rock, new wave, Celtic rock, post-punk, soft rock
Label:Mercury
Producer:Robin Millar
Prev Title:The Teacher
Prev Year:1986
Next Title:Hold the Heart
Next Year:1986

"One Great Thing" is the third single from Scottish band Big Country's 1986 album, The Seer.[2] The composition of the song and in particular the guitar solo appears to feature similar melody from the chorus of Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond. After the somewhat disappointing chart performance of the band's previous single "The Teacher" (UK No. 28), the song reached No. 19 in the UK Singles Chart.[3]

A music video was also shot for the song, featuring different people mouthing the lyrics to the song as well as shots of the group performing it on stage.

Tennent's Lager used a modified version of the "One Great Thing" video and song in the 1980s.

The song was used at the launch, on 25 May 2012, of the Yes Scotland campaign for the Scottish independence referendum due to be held in Autumn 2014.

Chart positions

Chart (1986)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart19
Irish Singles Chart12

Notes and References

  1. Smith. Robin. 30 August 1986. News Digest: Great Country. Record Mirror. 50.
  2. Web site: Tom Demalon . The Seer - Big Country | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards . AllMusic . 2014-04-08.
  3. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited . London. 1-904994-10-5. 56–7.