One Minute

In 2004, Clarkson teamed up with songwriters Kara DioGuardi and Chantal Kreviazuk to work on songs for her second studio album, Breakaway (2004).[6] Together they wrote "Where Is Your Heart", while musician Raine Maida, Kreviazuk's husband, co-wrote "Walk Away" and "One Minute" with the trio.[6][7] However, only the first two songs were included on the album.[7] "One Minute" was then reworked for My December, being produced by David Kahne, and co-produced by Jason Halbert and Jimmy Messer.[8] After receiving strong radio airplay in Australia, it was released as the second single from the album in the country, on September 18, 2007, through 19 Recordings and RCA Records.[9][10]

"One Minute" is an alternative rock song with electropop influences, and begins with Clarkson singing, "You're going crazy, running on empty / You can't make up your mind / You try to hide it, but you had to say it / Restless all this time."[1][3] It is composed in the key of A major and is set in time signature of common time, with a tempo of 124 beats per minute. Clarkson's vocal range spans over an octave, from A₃ to D₅.[3] Critics have observed the influence of 1980s music on the song, while Talia Kraines of BBC Music compared it to pop rock songs released by singers Ashlee Simpson and Lindsay Lohan.[4][11] A reviewer for Billboard commented on the song's structure, writing that "One Minute" consists of "rapid-fire give-and-take verses".[2]

"One Minute" received generally positive reviews from music critics. On his review for My December, Josh Love of Stylus Magazine wrote that the song, along with "Don't Waste Your Time", "as lyrically sour as they may be, [...] are both fantastically layered pop-rockers."[12] Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly considered the album to be Clarkson's "darker, more personal, riskier" release until that point.[1] Willman added that "One Minute" was a "lighter [pleasure] that (take note, Team Clive!) would make [a] dandy warm-weather [single]."[1] Michael Endelman of Spin considered it a "snarling disco rock" song,[13] while Nick Levine of Digital Spy deemed it "pounding [and] insistent".[14] Penn Live blogger Ashley Z. said that "the anger on this record can be overwhelming at times," which could be an argument for the "existence" of "One Minute".[15] Allmusic long-time contributor Stephen Thomas Erlewine considered it the highlight of My December, along with "Never Again" and "Irvine", writing that the song "give this album some much needed spark."[8]

Clarkson first performed "One Minute" at Daytona 500 on February 18, 2007, where she premiered the song prior to the album's release.[16] Later that year, she performed the song during a special titled Nissan Live Sets on Yahoo! Music,[5] and on Take 40's Live Lounge.[17] The latter was released as a promotional live video in Australia, as no accompanying music video for the single was filmed.[18] "One Minute" was included on the set list of the album's supporting concert tour, the My December Tour (2007–08).[19]

• CD single[20]

1. "One Minute" – 3:05
2. "Never Again" (live at AOL Sessions) – 3:40

• Digital download[9]

1. "One Minute" – 3:05
2. "Never Again" – 3:40

On the week of October 7, 2007, "One Minute" debuted at number 41 in Australia, following strong radio airplay.[10][21] The following week, it peaked at number 36, before falling out of the top 50 two weeks later.[21]