By Jonathan Anthony Burkett
If you only hear one of my songs, I would want it to be One Life. It is the song I call my signature, and its message is the one I keep coming back to in everything I make: you only get one life, so make it count. Here is what the song is about, how it has grown over the years and how you can listen to it today.
The Song in a Sentence
One Life is an inspirational song I recorded with reggae artist Ambelique. It encourages listeners to appreciate every moment and pursue their dreams with determination. It reminds us that we are given one life to make a difference, overcome challenges and create a meaningful future.
That is a simple idea, and I wanted it to be. When you are going through something hard, you do not need a complicated message. You need something you can hold on to.
Why Ambelique
I make inspirational hip hop and soul, and I was raised in Jamaica by my grandparents. With a reggae artist on my signature song, the track sits where those worlds meet: hip hop and soul on one side, Jamaican sound on the other.
A Song That Kept Growing
One Life first came out in 2014. In 2019 it came back in a new form: on May 27, 2019, I released the remix EP One Life (Original Mix) on Upstormed Records. It includes the original song with Ambelique plus a whole set of new versions:
- The Mix and the Club Mix
- The Festival Mix
- The Cut Mix
- The Dub Mix
- Instrumental versions of the original and several of the mixes
In August 2019, I Am Hip-Hop Magazine covered the EP, noting how the title track had been reworked in dub, EDM and techno and house remixes. I like that the same message can live in so many settings. You might need the original on a quiet night and the Festival Mix when you need energy to get moving.
The song also appears on my 2024 EP Life As I Know It, alongside Changes, Don't Give Up, I Can Only Be Me and Two Steps, and on Upstormed Records, the 25-song collection that brings much of my catalog together.
What "One Life" Can Mean for You
A song only matters if it does something for the person listening. Here are a few ways I hope One Life shows up in yours:
As a reset. When a day goes wrong, it is easy to write off the whole week. Remembering that this is the only life you get can help you take the next small step instead of giving up.
As a push toward your goals. Many of us are waiting for the perfect time to start. The message of the song is that time is not unlimited, so start where you are with what you have.
As permission to enjoy the moment. Making your life count does not only mean working harder. It also means noticing the good things while they are happening.
As a soundtrack for a fresh start. New job, new city, new chapter after a loss. Big changes are easier when you have something playing that reminds you why you are doing it.
As a reason to make a difference. One life is not just about your own dreams. It is also about what you leave behind for other people.
How It Fits With the Rest of My Work
My music is about change, perseverance and never giving up, and One Life sums all of that up in one track. The same idea runs through my memoir, Neglected But Undefeated, and through my other songs. On Born To Make It, released April 1, 2024, I turn the same energy toward ambition and self-belief.
If you are new to my music, I suggest listening in this order: start with the original One Life featuring Ambelique, then Changes and Don't Give Up from Life As I Know It, then pick a remix that fits your mood. If you like to work out or drive with music on, the Club Mix and Festival Mix carry more energy, while the Dub Mix gives you space to think. Save your favorite version to a playlist you return to when you need a lift.
Listen Today
One Life is available on Spotify and other major streaming services, and the audio is on YouTube through my channel, JonathanBurkettVEVO. However you listen, I hope it reminds you that the life you have is worth fighting for. You can follow me on Spotify to hear One Life and every new release, or visit my Music page to see all of my releases in one place.
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