The Story of... 'Only You' by Yazoo

Who wrote 'Only You'?

In 1981, Vince Clarke left Depeche Mode, citing touring fatigue and a growing disdain for pop fame as his reasons for the departure.

Worried that Mute Records would drop him as a result, he decided to write a song for the label called 'Only You'.

Clarke originally wrote the music for the song on a guitar, and later converted the riff into synthesizer notes.

While writing the lyrics, Clarke said: "It was a very simple arrangement. I just formed words on a piece of paper. I was just hoping Daniel Miller, Mute Records founder, would like it".

However, Before Clarke gave the song to Miller, he offered the song to Andy Fletcher and Martin Gore of Depeche Mode, but they declined.

How did Alison Moyet join Yazoo?

Clarke wrote 'Only You' as a sentimental ballad, and wanted to find a singer who could perform it with emotion.

At the same time, The Screamin' Ab Dabs split, and singer Alison Moyet placed an ad in Melody Maker looking for a new band.

Clarke had heard Moyet perform with other bands on the pub circuit, and felt she was a perfect fit for the song. He replied to the ad and asked Moyet if she was interested in singing for a demo.

Although reluctant at first, as she never wanted to perform pop songs at the time, she eventually agreed. Moyet later said: "A part of me was thinking I'll never hear the end of it if I go and sing with this pretty boy".

After recording a demo on a four-track tape recorder, Clarke gave it to Miller, who at first wasn't much of a fan. Later that day, publishing associates from Scandinavia heard the demo and liked it, which Clarke later suggested may have influenced Miller's opinion.

A week later, Miller told Clarke that he and Moyet should re-record the song as a group and release it as a single. Moyet was surprised, as neither she or Clarke had intended to start a band together, and knew virtually nothing about each other.

Moyet described the pairing as "almost like an arranged marriage". The new duo chose the name Yazoo from the specialist blues record label, Yazoo Records. This decision led to a £3.5 million lawsuit threat by the label, and the group were renamed Yaz in the US.

What inspired 'Only You'?

'Only You' is considered a 'torch song', and is about the end of a relationship.

The singer knows the difficult relationship is over, but desperately hopes to be proven wrong.

NME noted how the song could have initially been about Clarke's uneasy relationship with Depeche Mode, but Moyet then turned the lyrics into the story of a person "looking through a scrapbook of photo-like memories".

How did it perform in the charts?

'Only You' reached number two in the UK chart, behind Nicole's Eurovision-winning song 'A Little Peace'.

It only peaked at number 67 in the US.

We have no idea why they chose this as the cover art

The Flying Pickets scored a huge number one with a cover

Flying Pickets - Only You

An a cappella version by The Flying Pickets proved even more successful, after it was released the following year.

It reached the top spot, and even won the Christmas number one for 1983. It was also the first a cappella chart-topper in the UK.

Because of this, 'Only You' has often been associated with Christmas, with subsequent cover versions having a festive feel to it.

Who else has covered it?

Joshua Radin-Only You (Yaz Cover)

Many! Including:

- Enrique Iglesias
- Joshua Radin (above)
- Kylie Minogue and James Corden
- Selena Gomez
- Judy Collins
- Jason Donovan
- Smith & Burrows