“The One and Only” was released by English singer Chesney Hawkes in 1991 and spent five weeks at number one in the UK, becoming his signature song. The title-line chorus became a cultural shorthand for exaggerated self-importance. Decades later the isolated vocal resurfaced in meme edits, compilation videos and short-form posts where creators crown someone the undeniable star of the moment. Its earnest 90s delivery makes it work both sincerely and ironically, which has kept the four-second hook in rotation long after the charts moved on.
About this sound
The iconic 'I am the one and only' vocal from Chesney Hawkes' 1991 pop hit, held as a dramatic four-second note. Perfect for grand entrances, reveals and ironic flex edits.
This is the famous chorus hook from Chesney Hawkes' early-nineties pop anthem, a single male voice stretching the line 'I am the one and only' across nearly four seconds. The delivery is earnest and theatrical, with the vowels pulled long and the pitch climbing into a bright, confident peak. It sounds instantly recognizable even out of context, carrying that big cheesy 90s chart energy. Dropped into an edit, it instantly frames whoever is on screen as the main character, whether the moment is genuinely triumphant or completely undeserved, which is exactly why the joke lands.