You’ve heard it. Honestly, even if you don’t think you have, you definitely have. That pitched-up, soul-drenched vocal cutting through a heavy bassline, pleading, "I think we can make it one more time." It’s everywhere. TikTok transitions, moody Instagram Reels of city skylines, and late-night DJ sets in London and New York.
But where did it actually come from?
Music has this weird way of recycling itself. What was once a soulful plea from decades ago has transformed into a universal anthem for "vibes." It’s the sound of nostalgia meeting modern production. It's the sound of 2026.
The Soulful Roots of a Viral Hit
The core of the phrase I think we can make it one more time actually traces back to the golden era of soul and R&B. While many Gen Z listeners might assume it’s a fresh vocal recorded for a dance track, it’s actually a heavily manipulated sample of the 1970s soul classic "Make It One More Time" by the Softouch.
Produced during a time when analog warmth was the standard, the original track is a masterclass in harmony and longing. It wasn't a massive chart-topper in its day, but that’s exactly why it’s perfect for sampling. Producers love digging for these "buried treasures"—songs that have enough emotional weight to carry a beat but haven't been overplayed to the point of exhaustion.
Why Producers Keep Coming Back to the Hook
Why does this specific line work? It’s the desperation.
When you hear "I think we can make it one more time," it taps into a very specific human emotion: the desire for a second chance. Or a third. Or a tenth. Whether it’s a failing relationship, a long night out, or just trying to survive another week of work, the sentiment is incredibly relatable.
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Technically speaking, the sample usually gets the "chopped and screwed" treatment or the high-pitched "chipmunk soul" vibe popularized by Kanye West in the early 2000s. By shifting the pitch up, the voice loses some of its masculine or feminine specificity and becomes this ethereal, genderless cry that fits perfectly over a 4/4 house beat or a slow-burn phonk track.
The Kaytranada and Fred again.. Influence
You can't talk about this sound without mentioning the "Fred again.. effect." The UK producer has built a massive career on taking tiny, human moments—snippets of conversation or obscure soul loops—and turning them into stadium-sized emotional experiences.
While Fred didn't necessarily "invent" the use of this specific sample, his style created the blueprint for how it's used today. It’s about the "build." You start with the vocal: I think we can make it one more time. It’s lonely. It’s quiet. Then the drums hit. Suddenly, that loneliness turns into a collective experience on a dance floor. That’s the magic.
The Psychology of the "One More Time" Loop
Repetition is a powerful tool in songwriting, but in the context of I think we can make it one more time, it functions almost like a mantra.
Musicologists often point to "the itch" that repetitive samples scratch in our brains. When a phrase repeats, your brain stops processing the literal meaning of the words and starts treating the voice like an instrument. It becomes rhythmic. You start to anticipate the "one more time" before it even happens.
In a world that feels increasingly chaotic, there’s something weirdly comforting about a loop that promises we can "make it." It’s optimistic, even if the music surrounding it sounds dark or moody.
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Breaking Down the Technical Remix
If you’re a producer trying to flip this, you’ve probably noticed that the original 70s recording has a lot of "air" in it. It wasn't recorded to a digital click track.
- Warping and Quantizing: To make it work in a modern DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) like Ableton or FL Studio, you have to stretch the audio. This creates those tiny digital artifacts—those little "glitches"—that actually make the sample sound more modern and "lo-fi."
- Sidechaining: This is the secret sauce. Every time the kick drum hits, the vocal ducks out of the way. It makes the sample feel like it’s breathing. It creates that pumping sensation that makes you want to move your head.
- Filtering: Most viral versions of the track use a low-pass filter. It sounds like you're hearing the song through a wall, and then—boom—the filter opens up, the high end comes back, and the energy in the room doubles.
Common Misconceptions About the Sample
A lot of people on Reddit and Discord have been arguing about who "owns" this sound. Some swear it's a Daft Punk reference (because of "One More Time"), but they couldn't be more wrong. Others think it’s a new vocal from a singer like SZA or PinkPantheress.
The truth is much more collaborative. The current iteration that’s blowing up is often a bootleg remix—meaning it’s not even an official release. In the age of TikTok, a song doesn't need a label or a marketing budget to become the song of the summer. It just needs a 15-second clip that hits the right emotional note.
Is It Just a Trend or Is It Here to Stay?
We’ve seen samples come and go. Remember the "Think (About It)" breakbeat? Or the "Amen Break"? Those became the literal DNA of entire genres like Jungle and Drum & Bass.
I think we can make it one more time feels like it's becoming the DNA of the "Emotional House" movement. It’s not just a gimmick; it’s a bridge between old-school soul and new-school electronic production.
Will we be sick of it in six months? Maybe. But for now, it’s the definitive soundtrack to every "core" aesthetic on the internet. It captures a mood that’s hard to put into words but easy to feel.
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How to Find the Best Versions
If you’re looking to add this to your playlist, don't just search the main phrase. You’ll get thousands of low-quality rips. Instead, look for:
- Original Soul Edits: Search for Softouch on vinyl-centric sites like Discogs if you want to hear the raw material.
- SoundCloud Bootlegs: This is where the real "I think we can make it one more time" magic happens. Look for "edits" or "flips" rather than official remixes.
- NTS Radio Sets: DJs on platforms like NTS or Lot Radio often play extended, more sophisticated versions of these loops that haven't been compressed into a TikTok soundbite.
The best way to experience this trend is to see how different artists interpret the plea. Some make it sound like a victory lap; others make it sound like a final, desperate gasp. Both are valid. Both are why we keep hitting repeat.
Moving Forward With the Sound
If you're a creator or just a music fan, the takeaway here is about the power of the "human element" in digital spaces. We are surrounded by AI-generated beats and sterile, perfect pop, but people are gravitating toward this sample because it sounds real. It’s got hiss. It’s got crackle. It’s got a voice that sounds like it’s actually feeling something.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an ear out for other 70s B-sides being reworked. The "One More Time" wave proved that the next big hit isn't necessarily being written today—it might have been recorded 50 years ago in a dusty studio in Memphis or Philly, just waiting for someone to speed it up and add a sub-bass.
Check out the original "Make It One More Time" to appreciate the craftsmanship of the harmony, then head over to SoundCloud to see how the next generation is breaking it apart and putting it back together. The loop doesn't end; it just evolves.