You're the One That I Want: Grease's Biggest Hit
You're the One That I Want is the duet John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John sing in the 1978 film Grease.
John Farrar wrote it for the movie, and the stage show never had it.
It spent nine weeks at number one in the UK and a week on top in the US.
This page covers the writing, the recording, the charts, the reception and the covers.
A queue outside the Leidsepleintheater in Amsterdam for Grease, December 28, 1978.
Image credit: Photo by Hans van Dijk for Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (Nationaal Archief).
You're the One That I Want: Written for the Film
Farrar wrote the song for Newton-John's part in the film.
It was one of two songs he wrote for her, and the other was Hopelessly Devoted to You.
A Song the Stage Show Never Had
The song was not in the original stage musical.
The stage show had a similar number called All Choked Up, which had replaced an earlier song, Kiss It.
All Choked Up was written as a pastiche of Elvis Presley's All Shook Up, with a more provocative Sandy.
It was one of two songs by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey cut entirely from both the film and its soundtrack.
Most 21st-century stage productions now use this song in its place.
The Director Was Not a Fan
Director Randal Kleiser disliked it.
He felt it did not fit the Casey and Jacobs score, or the 1950s style, in music or in words.
The film kept it anyway.
For more of the decade's pop, start at Music of the 70s and follow the pop tags.
The Showdown on Screen
Danny Zuko, played by Travolta, has lettered in cross-country running to win back Sandy Olsson.
Sandy, played by Newton-John, has turned into a greaser queen to win Danny back.
In the song, Danny reacts with shock and desire at her new look.
Sandy tells him he has to improve himself if he wants to treat her properly.
It is a flirty duet with a bubblegum pop hook.
If you like your hits bright and quick, the Mood Song Matcher can find more of them.
Recording and Release
The song was recorded in 1977 and 1978 at Heider Studios and United/Western Studio.
David J. Holman recorded and mixed it, and Farrar produced.
Wikipedia lists the genre as pop and bubblegum pop.
The Single at a Glance
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Artists | John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John |
| Writer and producer | John Farrar |
| Label | RSO Records |
| Parent album | Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture (second single) |
| US release | March 1978 |
| UK release | May 1978 |
| B-side | Alone at a Drive-In Movie (instrumental) |
| Length | 2:49 |
Source: Wikipedia article on the song, checked October 21, 2026.
Hear the 1978 Single
Press play and listen for the way the two voices trade lines.
You can also find You're the One That I Want on the Listen Now jukebox.
On the Charts: Number One Around the World
The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
This site's weekly Hot 100 data puts it on top in the week of June 10, 1978.
It held the spot for one week.
Andy Gibb's Shadow Dancing took over the next week and stayed for seven.
Gold and Platinum in the US
The single was certified Gold by April 12, 1978.
The Platinum certification followed on July 18, 1978, for shipments of over 2 million.
Weekly Chart Peaks, 1978 and 1979
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | No. 1 |
| UK Singles Chart | No. 1 (nine weeks) |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | No. 1 (nine nonconsecutive weeks) |
| Belgium (Flanders) | No. 1 |
| Finland | No. 1 |
| Ireland | No. 1 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | No. 1 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | No. 1 |
| New Zealand | No. 1 |
| Norway | No. 1 |
| Quebec (ADISQ) | No. 1 |
| Sweden | No. 1 |
| Switzerland | No. 1 |
| West Germany | No. 1 |
| Austria | No. 2 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | No. 2 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio) | No. 2 |
| Italy | No. 3 |
| Portugal | No. 3 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 | No. 3 |
| US CHR/Pop Airplay (Radio & Records) | No. 3 |
| US Adult Contemporary | No. 23 |
Source: Wikipedia article on the song, weekly charts section, checked October 21, 2026. The one week at number one on the Hot 100 comes from this site's weekly Hot 100 data.
Twelve of the song's 1978 and 1979 chart peaks, drawn from the Wikipedia figures in the table above.
Year-End Standing
This site's Year-End Hot 100 data puts the song at No. 13 for 1978.
Wikipedia lists higher year-end finishes elsewhere.
- Australia (Kent Music Report): No. 1.
- UK Singles (OCC): No. 2.
- New Zealand: No. 2.
- US Cash Box Top 100: No. 9.
- Canada Top Singles (RPM): No. 14.
- South Africa: No. 17.
To see where it sits among the year's biggest records, check our top songs of 1978 post.
Sales and Certifications
The single has sold over 4 million copies in the US and UK alone.
Estimates run to more than 15 million worldwide, which makes it one of the best-selling singles ever.
In the UK it sold 2 million copies and, as of 2018, ranked fifth among the best-selling singles of all time.
- United States: Platinum.
- United Kingdom: Platinum.
- Netherlands: Platinum.
- Spain: Platinum.
- New Zealand: 2x Platinum.
- France: Gold.
- Germany: Gold.
- Italy: Gold.
Source: Wikipedia article on the song, certifications section.
It also sits on our list of 70s number one hits.
Reception, Rankings and Screen Afterlife
Record World called it a frantic, up-tempo duet between the two stars that was bound to leave listeners breathless.
AllMusic rated it favorable.
Later Rankings
- Billboard included it in its 2023 staff list of the 500 best pop songs.
- The Daily Telegraph included it in a 2017 list of the 50 best pop songs written for movies.
Olivia Newton-John in 1978, the year of Grease.
Image credit: Photo by Bert Verhoeff for Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (Nationaal Archief).
The Song on Screen and in Ads
- Doja Cat performed it in a 2021 Pepsi commercial promoting its Soda Shop line.
- The UK retailer Dunelm reworked it for its Autumn 2023 and Spring 2024 commercials.
- It plays under a car fight between the title characters in Deadpool and Wolverine, from 2024.
Source: Wikipedia article on the song, checked October 21, 2026.
The Other Farrar Song
Farrar's other song for the film took a quieter road.
Read how Hopelessly Devoted to You was written mid-shoot and lost the Oscar.
Later Versions and Covers
The film's twentieth anniversary brought a remix.
The 1998 Martian remix, issued by PolyGram, reached No. 4 in the UK and No. 27 in Australia.
The 1993 London Cast Version
Craig McLachlan and Debbie Gibson released their own version in 1993 on Epic Records.
It was the lead single from the Grease London revival cast recording, in which both starred.
It peaked at No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart.
Covers and Parodies
- Arthur Mullard and Hylda Baker, UK, 1978: No. 22 in the UK.
- Dieter Hallervorden and Helga Feddersen, Germany, 1978: a parody titled Du, die Wanne ist voll, which reached No. 4.
- Svante Thuresson, Sweden, 1978: a Swedish version titled Det är dej jag vill ha, which reached No. 4 on Svensktoppen.
- Anna and Kirka Babitzin, Finland, 1978: Sinut haluan vain.
- The Beautiful South, 2004.
- Angus and Julia Stone, 2010: No. 21 on the UK Independent Singles Chart in 2012.
- Charlotte Lawrence, 2017.
A song its own director doubted now fills adverts, remixes and stage shows.
To find your next favorite, let the Random 70s Song Generator pick a song for you.
For the full run of her decade, see our list of Olivia Newton-John songs.
Source: Wikipedia article on the song, other versions section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote You're the One That I Want?
John Farrar wrote and produced You're the One That I Want.
He wrote it specifically for Olivia Newton-John's appearance in the 1978 film Grease.
It was not part of the original stage musical.
Farrar also wrote Hopelessly Devoted to You for her, and the two songs are the pair he made for the movie.
Did You're the One That I Want reach number one?
You're the One That I Want reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and this site's weekly data shows one week on top, the week of June 10, 1978.
In the UK it spent nine weeks at number one.
It also topped the charts in Australia, West Germany, Switzerland and several other countries.
Who sings You're the One That I Want in Grease?
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John sing it as Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson.
Danny has lettered in cross-country running to win Sandy back, and she has turned into a greaser queen.
RSO Records released the song as the second single from the Grease soundtrack, with Alone at a Drive-In Movie on the B-side.
Was You're the One That I Want in the original Grease musical?
You're the One That I Want was not in the original stage musical.
Farrar wrote it for the 1978 film.
The stage show had a similar song, All Choked Up, written as a pastiche of Elvis Presley's All Shook Up.
Most 21st-century stage productions use You're the One That I Want in its place.
How many copies did You're the One That I Want sell?
Wikipedia says the single has sold over 4 million copies in the US and UK alone, with estimates of more than 15 million worldwide.
That makes it one of the best-selling singles in history.
In the UK it sold 2 million copies and ranked fifth among the best-selling singles of all time as of 2018.
Sources
- You're the One That I Want, Wikipedia, for the writing, the recording, the single release, chart peaks, year-end ranks, certifications, sales, reception and covers.
- Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture, Wikipedia, for the album the song appears on.
- John Travolta, Wikipedia, for background on the artist.
- Olivia Newton-John, Wikipedia, for background on the artist.
- Grease (film), Wikipedia, for the film the song was written for.
- The Year-End rank and the one week at number one come from this site's own Billboard Year-End Hot 100 and weekly Hot 100 data.
Related Posts
Olivia Newton-John Songs: 12 Hits Played, 3 at No. 1
Every Olivia Newton-John hit of the 70s in one playable list, with the stories behind them.
Read post
Hopelessly Devoted to You: Grease Ballad Written Mid-Shoot
How John Farrar wrote Sandy's Grease ballad mid-shoot, its No. 3 Hot 100 peak, the Oscar loss and Sonia's 1994 cover.
Read post
Top Songs of 1978: The Year's Biggest Hits & Trends
The year-end Hot 100 for 1978, with Andy Gibb and the Bee Gees at the top.
Read post