One-T
| Company type | Virtual band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Eddy Gronfier, Thomas Pieds |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
One-T is a French virtual band formed in 2000 by Eddy Gronfier and Thomas Pieds. Gronfier is responsible for producing the music, while Pieds manages the visual design and artwork. The group gained significant popularity across Europe, particularly in France and Germany, with their 2003 chart-topping single "The Magic Key", yet they were unable to sustain this momentum, ultimately becoming a one-hit wonder.
History
The band made its initial appearance in France during the summer of 2001 with the release of "Music Is The One-T ODC," which ranked as the 82nd highest-selling single that year. This was followed by the track "Bein' a Star."
In summer 2003, One-T returned with "The Magic Key," featuring rap verses by Cool-T. This single climbed to number 9 on the charts and was the 22nd best-selling single of 2003. It also achieved strong chart positions in Germany, Poland, Austria—where it peaked at number five—and Denmark, reaching fourth place. Their debut album, The One-T ODC, was launched in July 2003.
Later releases included the theme song for the 2004 movie Starsky & Hutch and "Kamasutra" in 2005; however, these singles did not replicate the earlier commercial success.
Their sophomore album, The One-T's ABC, initially became available digitally in early 2006 through platforms such as iTunes, followed by a physical edition in 2007, garnering considerable acclaim throughout France and Europe.
To commemorate their 20th anniversary in July 2022, The One-T ODC underwent remastering and was accompanied by a new music video for "The Magic Key 2," featuring artist Boogie Fre$h.
Characters
One-T features a cast of characters:
Main Characters:
One-T: The protagonist, a 13-year-old aspiring DJ who stands against war and seeks to unite young people worldwide through music.
Nine-T (later renamed Fat-T): One-T’s Latino companion who organizes events at his father’s bar; the name changed to Fat-T starting from The One-T's ABC.
Cool-T: An African-descended friend of One-T and the primary rapper on "The Magic Key." After being shot by antagonist Travoltino, he returns from the afterlife to Earth.
E: A talented Japanese hacker living with his twin sister Ee; seldom ventures outside their home.
Ee: E's twin sister and lead vocalist on most singles; potentially Cool-T’s romantic partner.
Bull-T: One-T's genetically engineered dog, designed to be calm and quiet.
Antagonists:
Travoltino: A mob boss controlling various media outlets and nightclubs; One-T’s adversary responsible for shooting Cool-T.
Acidman: An inventor and drug dealer financed by Travoltino; currently wanted by law enforcement.
Chicken: Police henchmen serving Acidman.
Setting
The music videos from The One-T ODC take place within an urban environment featuring streets and a nightclub, as displayed in the videos for Music Is The One-T ODC and Bein’ a Star. The latter also includes scenes set inside an apartment building where One-T and Ee reside—One-T appears in his living room while Ee is shown in her bathroom.
Videos associated with The One-T’s ABC present an updated cityscape: "Kamasutra" is set inside a film studio; "Hamburgesa" unfolds at a fast-food restaurant; and "Tomorrow’s War" takes place within Cool-T’s dimly lit apartment bedroom, with accompanying gameplay depicting a war zone involving him and his friends.
Animation
The videos for The One-T ODC primarily utilize 2-D animation, with The Magic Key showcasing a rough, storyboard-inspired visual style. Conversely, the videos from the ABC album predominantly employ CGI techniques, except for Hamburgesa, which retains its 2-D animated format. Notably, U!!! does not have an accompanying music video.
Creators
Behind the animated personas lie the actual creators: Eddy Gronfier is the music producer, bringing experience from his previous roles as a radio presenter and jingle composer for stations such as NRJ, Fun Radio, and RTL; he also handles composing and remixing duties for One-T. The concept development, lyric writing, and music video direction are managed by Thomas Pieds. Before initiating One-T, Thomas worked extensively in directing music videos, television commercials, and series.
Albums
| Year | Chart Information | Singles |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The One-T ODC
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| 2006 | The One-T's ABC
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| 2022 | The One-T ODC (20th Anniversary Remastered Deluxe Edition)
|
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Singles
| Chart Information |
|---|
| One-T
Music Is The One-T ODC (also known as Odyssey)
|
| One-T
Bein' A Star
|
| One-T + Cool-T
The Magic Key
|
| Cool-T
Starsky & Hutch
|
| Cool-T
Kamasutra
|
| One-T featuring Fat-T & Cool-T
Hamburguesa
|
| One-T
U!!!
|
| One-T + Cool-T
Tomorrow's War
|
| One-T + Cool-T featuring Boogie Fre$h
The Magic Key 2
|
| One-T, Cool-T featuring Boogie Fre$h
Check Up
|
| One-T, Artespo, DOMI
Don't Leave My Head (LaLaLa)
|
| One-T featuring Boogie Fre$h
Superstar
|