One Right Now (with The Weeknd)

"One Right Now" is a collaborative track by Post Malone and The Weeknd that delves into themes of infidelity, heartbreak, and retaliatory behavior. The lyrics narrate a story from the perspective of a man who has been cheated on by his partner. Instead of wallowing in sadness, he adopts a cynical and vengeful attitude, claiming to have moved on by immediately seeking comfort in other women. The recurring line, "I got one comin' over and one right now," underscores this theme of instant gratification and emotional replacement as a coping mechanism.

The song explores the pain of betrayal, as expressed in the line, "I broke my hand on the same wall that you told me that he f****d you on." This imagery conveys a sense of violent frustration and the physical manifestation of emotional turmoil. However, the artists juxtapose this raw emotion with a veneer of indifference and bravado. They dismiss their ex-partner's professions of love and belittle the past relationship.

The collaboration between Post Malone and The Weeknd brings together their signature styles, blending pop, R&B, and synth-pop elements. The upbeat, 80s-inspired instrumental contrasts with the dark and bitter lyrical content, creating a sense of emotional dissonance that reflects the narrator's internal conflict. Ultimately, "One Right Now" is a modern breakup anthem that portrays a toxic cycle of hurt and revenge, where emotional wounds are masked by hedonism and a feigned lack of concern.

The song narrates a story of infidelity and the subsequent emotional fallout, told from the perspective of two protagonists, voiced by Post Malone and The Weeknd. It begins with a direct address to a former lover, dismissing her declaration of love. The protagonist reveals he broke his hand on the same wall where she confessed to cheating on him. This violent imagery underscores the depth of his pain and anger. He accuses her of toying with his emotions, but quickly asserts his newfound detachment by declaring he has two other women currently in his life, one on her way and one already with him.

Post Malone's verse delves deeper into the bitterness and the transactional nature of their past relationship. He mocks her desire to have his children and suggests she should have paid him for the intimacy they shared. He rejects any term of endearment from her, emphasizing the wrong she did him. He claims to be over her actions, adopting a 'body for a body' mentality, highlighting his pettiness. He flaunts his wealth and lifestyle, questioning how many of her friends can fit in his Rolls Royce and mentioning buying her a "new face." He dismisses a valuable gift, an Hermès bag she dropped, symbolizing her carelessness and the broken state of their relationship. He concludes that perhaps having just one new partner isn't enough to quell his anger.

The chorus repeats, reinforcing the central theme of indifference to her professed love and the immediate replacement of her with other women. The repetition of having 'one comin' over and one right now' serves as a mantra of his moving on, a shield against the hurt he experienced.

The Weeknd's verse introduces a sense of finality and a desire to erase her from his life entirely. He labels her a "stain on my legacy," a permanent mark of disgrace. He cuts all ties, stating they can't be friends or family, and suspects she would even sleep with his enemies. This paranoia and disgust lead him to banish her from his presence. He declares that she now "belongs to the world," a statement of her diminished importance to him personally, and demands to be left alone as they are no longer in contact.

The song culminates in a final repetition of the chorus, driving home the message of retaliatory behavior and emotional distance. The raw emotion, blending anger with a façade of nonchalance, paints a vivid picture of a relationship's toxic end and the unhealthy coping mechanisms that follow.

"One Right Now" marks the first official collaboration between Post Malone and The Weeknd. The song was released on November 5, 2021, as the lead single from Post Malone's fourth studio album, Twelve Carat Toothache (2022). The artists co-wrote the song with Billy Walsh and the producers Louis Bell, Brian Lee, and Andrew Bolooki.

Interestingly, The Weeknd had initially written and recorded a version of the song during the sessions for his own album, After Hours, but it did not make the final cut. A short snippet of this demo was leaked online in December 2020. The official collaboration was teased on November 2, 2021, when both artists posted a seven-second clip of the track on their Instagram accounts, which quickly garnered significant attention. Malone's manager, Dre London, later revealed the song's title.

The production team, consisting of frequent Post Malone collaborators Louis Bell and Brian Lee, along with Andrew Bolooki, crafted the song's synth-heavy, upbeat instrumental. The track was recorded at various studios, including locations in the United Kingdom. The accompanying music video, directed by Tanu Muino, was released on November 15, 2021, and features a cinematic, action-packed narrative where the two artists play vengeful enemies who ultimately kill each other in a shootout.

"One Right Now" primarily utilizes a free verse structure with instances of rhyme to create a conversational yet poetic flow. The rhyme scheme is not strictly consistent, but patterns emerge within verses and the chorus. For instance, in Post Malone's verse, there are slant rhymes like "babies" and "pay me," and "wrong" and "already." The chorus employs a more structured AABC rhyme scheme with "care" rhyming with "wall" in a slant fashion and the repetition of "right now." This loose rhyme scheme contributes to the song's modern, pop-rap feel.

The rhythmic structure of the song is built around a mid-tempo, four-on-the-floor beat, which is a hallmark of disco and 80s pop music. This steady, driving rhythm gives the song its danceable quality and creates a sense of forward momentum. The tempo remains consistent throughout, providing a solid foundation for the vocal melodies. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is a key element of the song's effectiveness. The vocal delivery often features a syncopated, almost conversational flow that contrasts with the strict, repetitive rhythm of the synth bass and drums. This creates a sense of tension and release that mirrors the emotional turmoil described in the lyrics.

"One Right Now" showcases a blend of musical and literary techniques that enhance its emotional impact and commercial appeal. Musically, the song is characterized by its synth-pop and electropop production, featuring a prominent, looping synth bassline, tight synths with classic '80s reverb, and a four-on-the-floor drum pattern that drives the track. This creates an upbeat, danceable instrumental that ironically contrasts with the song's dark, vengeful lyrics. The use of vocal harmony between Post Malone and The Weeknd, especially in the chorus, adds a rich, textured quality to the sound.

Lyrically, the song employs a direct address narrative, with both artists speaking to their unfaithful ex-lover. This creates an intimate and confrontational tone. The lyrics are filled with vivid and often aggressive imagery, such as "broke my hand on the same wall that you told me that he f****d you on," which viscerally conveys the narrator's pain and anger. The song also utilizes a call and response structure within the chorus, where the accusation "You think it's so easy fuckin' with my feelings" is immediately answered with the dismissive retort "I got one comin' over and one right now." This back-and-forth enhances the song's narrative of a toxic cycle of revenge. The vocal delivery of both artists is notable, with Post Malone's performance being described as one of his most impressive, matching The Weeknd's skill and emotion.

"One Right Now" made a significant cultural impact upon its release, largely due to it being the first-ever collaboration between two of the biggest names in contemporary music, Post Malone and The Weeknd. The song achieved notable chart success, debuting and peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became a No. 1 hit on US iTunes.

The track served as the lead single for Post Malone's fourth studio album, Twelve Carat Toothache, setting the tone for the album's themes of heartbreak and disillusionment with fame. The song was praised by critics for its catchy, 80s-inspired synth-pop production and the seamless blending of the two artists' distinct vocal styles. However, some critics found the lyrics to be juvenile and misogynistic.

The music video, directed by Tanu Muino, garnered considerable attention for its cinematic quality and violent, action-movie-inspired narrative, which sees the two artists engage in a deadly shootout. The song also sparked conversations about modern relationships, heartbreak, and the use of music as a vehicle for expressing vengeful sentiments. Limited-edition merchandise was also released alongside the single, which quickly sold out, demonstrating the song's immediate popularity and the artists' commercial appeal.

"One Right Now" employs several symbolic elements and metaphors to convey its themes of betrayal and revenge. The central metaphor is the act of immediately replacing a cheating partner with other women, encapsulated in the line, "I got one comin' over and one right now." This isn't just a literal statement but a symbol of a coping mechanism, using new physical connections to numb the emotional pain of infidelity.

The lyric, "I broke my hand on the same wall that you told me that he f****d you on," is a powerful piece of imagery. The wall symbolizes the foundation of their relationship, now shattered by betrayal. Breaking his hand on it represents the self-inflicted pain that comes with confronting such a harsh truth. It’s a physical manifestation of his emotional agony.

Post Malone's verse contains materialistic symbols to highlight the transactional and now devalued nature of the past relationship. The mention of buying his ex a "new face" could be a literal reference to plastic surgery or a metaphor for trying to change her, a failed investment. Similarly, the "Hermès, but you dropped the bag" line is a double entendre. On one hand, it's a literal luxury item, symbolizing the high value he placed on her, which she fumbled. On the other, "dropping the bag" is slang for messing up a good opportunity, further emphasizing her mistake.

In The Weeknd's verse, he calls his ex a "stain on my legacy." This metaphor powerfully communicates the idea that her betrayal is a permanent blemish on his life story and reputation. It's not just a fleeting memory but something that has left an indelible mark.

The most prominent recurring phrase in "One Right Now" is the titular line, "I got one comin' over and one right now," which is repeated throughout the chorus. This phrase serves as the song's central hook and encapsulates its core theme of retaliatory infidelity. Its repetition emphasizes the narrator's attempt to convince both his ex-lover and himself that he has moved on and is now indulging in a hedonistic lifestyle to cope with the pain of betrayal.

Another recurring lyrical motif is the dismissal of the ex-partner's feelings and declarations of love, as heard in the line, "Said you love me, but I don't care." This phrase, which opens the chorus, sets a defiant and emotionally detached tone. The repetition of this sentiment reinforces the narrator's hardened exterior and his refusal to be vulnerable after being hurt.

Musically, the song is built around a recurring synth bass loop that plays throughout the track. This repetitive musical motif, characteristic of the 80s synth-pop genre, provides a constant, driving energy that contrasts with the emotional turmoil of the lyrics. This juxtaposition of an upbeat, danceable instrumental with dark, cynical lyrics is a recurring stylistic choice for both Post Malone and The Weeknd.