‘The Office’: This Indie Rocker Lent His Voice to Sing ‘That One Night’ in ‘The Dinner Party’
The Office fans know Jan Levinson’s (Melora Hardin) former assistant Hunter (Nicholas D’Agosto) as the singer of “That One Night.” Many might not realize that D’Agosto isn’t the one singing the song from “The Dinner Party” — it’s an indie rock star. Find out who sings one of the most recognizable songs from The Office.
‘The Office’ episode ‘The Dinner Party’ features the song ‘That One Night’
Fans first hear of Hunter’s passion for music in “The Job.” As Jan is let go, she tells Hunter: “Good luck with your band. Don’t let them change you.”
Hunter’s music appears again in the season 4 episode — one of the most beloved and cringeworthy of the entire series. In “The Dinner Party,” Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and Jan Levinson host some Dunder Mifflin Employees at Michael’s condo. Naturally, Jan chooses to prepare an Osso bucco that has to braise for three hours.
Throughout the night, Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer), and the rest of the guests are left in the most uncomfortable situations. First, Michael tries to poach his employees to become investors in Jan’s candle company, Serenity by Jan. Later, he has an outburst about his multiple vasectomies. “The Dinner Party” reaches a climax when Jan hits Michael’s flat screen TV with a Dundee.
But for many, the most memorable part of the episode is Jan’s dance to “That One Night” — a song performed by a talented rock musician.
The New Pornographers singer Todd Fancey performs for ‘The Office’ episode
The Office writers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky wrote the lyrics for “That One Night.” But the music and voice heard in the episode is Todd Fancey of the Vancouver-based indie rock band The New Pornographers. Fancey is also the bassist for the band Limblifter.
“I got a call from my friend Alicen Schneider, who was vice president of music creative services for NBC,” Fancey explained to Floor 8. “It came really quick. I wrote it on acoustic guitar, [and] my direction was ‘Make it sound kind of amateur. He’s a struggling musician.'”
‘That One Night’ is about Jan taking Hunter’s virginity
Fans of The Office know “That One Night” by heart — at least, the portion of the song heard in “The Dinner Party.” There’s a full-length version of the song fans can listen to online with lyrics that emphasize what the song is really about.
You took me by the hand
Made me a man
That one night
You made everything all right
So raw, so right, all night, all right
Oh yeahLike a fine wine that’s reached its time
You’re aged to perfection
And I was ready to dine
I needed your confection, yeah
That one night
You made everything all right”
Eisenberg and Stupnitsky have confirmed the song is “about Jan” to OfficeTally. But the specifics of the song are open to interpretation. To most fans, “That One Night” symbolizes Hunter losing his virginity to his former boss.
The Office has been off the air since 2013, but the love for “That One Night” remains. Some fans hope to see Hardin perform to Hunter’s song during her stint on Dancing With the Stars Season 30.
