One of Us (Joan Osborne song)
Encyclopedia
"One of Us" is a song written by Eric Bazilian
(of The Hooters
) and originally released by Joan Osborne
. Released in March 1995 on the album Relish
and produced by Rick Chertoff
, it became a top 40 hit in November of that year.
in, I started practicing the Grammy
speech that I should’ve gotten to give."
by asking questions inviting the listener to consider how they might relate to God, such as "Would you call [God's name] to his face?" or "Would you want to see [God's face] if seeing meant that you would have to believe in things like heaven
and in Jesus
and the saint
s
and all the prophets
?" The title of the song comes from the refrain, "What if God was one of us?"
The album version starts off with four lines from a Gospel music
song "The Heavenly Aeroplane":
, with various attractions like rollercoasters
, ferris wheels
and the New York Aquarium
shown, interchanged with the vintage-looking shots in sepia
and Joan singing in front of the camera.
, president of the Catholic League
, took issue with the song. Because "even [Joan Osborne's] admirers see something of the sacrilegious in her work", Donohue claimed the song was agenda-driven and danced "awfully close to the line of Catholic baiting".
On the other hand, Roch Parisien called the song "a simple, direct statement of faith, honest and unadorned, one framed in a near-perfect chorus and delectable Neil Young
-ish guitar riff."
In 2007, the song was ranked at #54 on "VH1
's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's".
CD single - USA
CD maxi single - Europe
, and Song of the Year
.
In January 1996, "One of Us" hit the top 10, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100
.
Eric Bazilian
Eric M. Bazilian , is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer, best known for being a founding member of the rock band The Hooters.-Early life:...
(of The Hooters
The Hooters
The Hooters is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By combining a mix of rock and roll, reggae, ska and folk music, The Hooters first gained major commercial success in the United States in the mid 1980s due to heavy radio and MTV airplay of several songs including "All You...
) and originally released by Joan Osborne
Joan Osborne
Joan Elizabeth Osborne is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her song "One of Us". She has toured with Motown sidemen the Funk Brothers and was featured in the documentary film about them, Standing in the Shadows of Motown.-Biography:Originally from Anchorage, Kentucky, a suburb...
. Released in March 1995 on the album Relish
Relish (album)
Relish is the second album by Joan Osborne, released on September 8, 1995. It is her first studio album. It was nominated for Album of the Year at the 38th Grammys.-Background:...
and produced by Rick Chertoff
Rick Chertoff
Rick Chertoff is a five-time Grammy-nominated producer responsible for such hits as Joan Osborne’s “One of Us”, Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Time After Time” and Sophie B...
, it became a top 40 hit in November of that year.
History
Bazilian discussed the song in an interview, saying "I wrote that song one night — the quickest song I ever wrote — to impress a girl. Which worked, because we’re married and have two kids. But we were in the middle of writing Joan’s album, which was a group effort with Rick Chertoff and Joan and Rob and I, and I did a demo of “One of Us,” this wacky little demo which I ended up putting as a hidden track on the CD of my first solo record, and I played [it] for them. And it really hadn’t even occurred to me that it was something that Joan might do, but Rick, in his wisdom, asked Joan if she thought she could sing it. And I think it was better that he asked it that way rather than “Do you want to sing it?” Because the answer to that might not have been yes. But she definitely said she could sing it, and we did a little live demo of a guitar and her singing it. And when I got into my car and popped the cassetteCompact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
in, I started practicing the Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
speech that I should’ve gotten to give."
Lyrics
The song deals with various aspects of belief in GodGod
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
by asking questions inviting the listener to consider how they might relate to God, such as "Would you call [God's name] to his face?" or "Would you want to see [God's face] if seeing meant that you would have to believe in things like heaven
Heaven (Christianity)
Traditionally, Christianity has taught Heaven as a place of eternal life and the dwelling place of Angels and the Throne of God, and a kingdom to which all the elect will be admitted...
and in Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and the saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s
and all the prophets
Bible prophecy
Bible prophecy or biblical prophecy is the prediction of future events based on the action, function, or faculty of a prophet. Such passages are widely distributed throughout the Bible, but those most often cited are from Ezekiel, Daniel, Matthew 24, Matthew 25, and Revelation.Believers in biblical...
?" The title of the song comes from the refrain, "What if God was one of us?"
The album version starts off with four lines from a Gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
song "The Heavenly Aeroplane":
- Oh, one of these nights at about twelve o'clock
- This whole earth is gonna reel and rock
- Saints will tremble and cry for pain
- For the Lord's gonna come in his heaven airplane.
Music video
Directed by Mark Seliger and Fred Woodward, the video was mainly shot on Coney IslandConey Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, with various attractions like rollercoasters
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
, ferris wheels
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
and the New York Aquarium
New York Aquarium
The New York Aquarium is the oldest continually operating aquarium in the United States, having opened in Castle Garden in Battery Park, Manhattan in 1896. Since 1957, it has been located on the boardwalk in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The aquarium is managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society as...
shown, interchanged with the vintage-looking shots in sepia
Photographic print toning
In photography, toning is a method of changing the color of black-and-white photographs. In analog photography, toning is a chemical process carried out on silver-based photographic prints. This darkroom process can not be done with a color photograph and although the black-and-white photograph is...
and Joan singing in front of the camera.
Critical reception
In 1996, William A. DonohueWilliam A. Donohue
William Anthony "Bill" Donohue is the president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights in the United States, a position he has held since 1993.-Life and career:...
, president of the Catholic League
Catholic League (U.S.)
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, often shortened to the Catholic League, is an American Catholic anti-defamation and civil rights organization...
, took issue with the song. Because "even [Joan Osborne's] admirers see something of the sacrilegious in her work", Donohue claimed the song was agenda-driven and danced "awfully close to the line of Catholic baiting".
On the other hand, Roch Parisien called the song "a simple, direct statement of faith, honest and unadorned, one framed in a near-perfect chorus and delectable Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
-ish guitar riff."
In 2007, the song was ranked at #54 on "VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's".
Track listings
CD single - France- "One of Us" (edit) — 4:16
- "One of Us" (album version) — 5:21
CD single - USA
- "One of Us" (Album Version) — 5:21
- "Dracula Moon" — 6:21
CD maxi single - Europe
- "One of Us" (edit) — 4:16
- "Dracula Moon" — 6:21
- "One of Us" (album version) — 5:21
- "Crazy Baby" (live from Fox Theatre) — 8:06
Personnel
- Joan Osborne – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound... - Eric Bazilian – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, chant, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, electric pianoElectric pianoAn electric piano is an electric musical instrument.Electric pianos produce sounds mechanically and the sounds are turned into electrical signals by pickups. Unlike a synthesizer, the electric piano is not an electronic instrument, but electro-mechanical. The earliest electric pianos were invented... - Mark EganMark EganMark Egan is an American jazz bass guitarist and trumpeter, arguably best known for his membership in the Pat Metheny Group from 1977 to 1980, and the Gil Evans Orchestra...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Rob HymanRob HymanRobert Andrew "Rob" Hyman is an American singer, songwriter, keyboard player, accordion player, producer, arranger and recording studio owner, best known for being a founding member of the rock band The Hooters.-Early life:Hyman started taking piano lessons at the age of four and grew up playing...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, MellotronMellotronThe Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, drumsDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a... - Andy Kravitz – drums, percussion
Awards, chart performances and sales
The song received Grammy nominations in 1996 for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Record of the YearRecord Of The Year
Record of the Year may refer to:*Grammy Award for Record of the Year*The Record of the Year, a British award based on public polling...
, and Song of the Year
Song of the Year
Song of the Year may refer to:* Dove Award for Song of the Year* Grammis Song of the Year* Grammy Award for Song of the Year* Latin Grammy Award for Song of the Year* Singing News Fan Awards for Song of the Year...
.
In January 1996, "One of Us" hit the top 10, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Peak positions
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Adult Contemporary (RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... ) |
5 |
| Canadian Rock/Alternative (RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... ) |
1 |
| Canadian Top Singles (RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... ) |
1 |
| Ireland (Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... ) |
8 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1996) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 6 |
| Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart | 8 |
| Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart | 16 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 69 |
| French Singles Chart | 55 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 30 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | Platinum | 1996 | 10,000 |
| US | Gold | January 26, 1996 | 500,000 |
Appearances in other media
- The theme song for the CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television series Joan of ArcadiaJoan of ArcadiaJoan of Arcadia is an American television fantasy/family drama telling the story of teenager Joan Girardi , who sees and speaks with God and performs tasks she is given. The series originally aired on Fridays, 8-9 p.m...
is a version of "One of Us" re-recorded by Osborne specifically for the show
Cover versions and parodies
- PrincePrince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
coveredCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
the song on his EmancipationEmancipation (album)Emancipation is the nineteenth studio album by Prince . The title refers to Prince's freedom from his contract with Warner Bros. Records after 18 years, with whom he had a contentious relationship...
album, changing the phrase "just a slob" to "just a slave like one of us". - Brad RobertsBrad RobertsBradley Kenneth "Brad" Roberts is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian folk-rock band Crash Test Dummies. He sings in the bass-baritone range.-Career:...
of the Crash Test DummiesCrash Test DummiesThe Crash Test Dummies is a Canadian folk rock/alternative rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, widely known for their 1993 single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm".The band is most identifiable through Brad Roberts and his distinctive bass-baritone voice...
recorded a cover of the song. - In 1997, the rock group Zilch (later called SONICFLOOdSONICFLOOdSonicflood is an American Christian Worship band from Nashville, Tennessee. Originally under the name Zilch, the band formed in 1997. The group took the name Sonicflood in 1998 as they became known as a praise and worship band following some line-up changes...
) pondered the song on their tune "In The Sky" with the line, "...she asked if God was just a slob like us, well maybe something there is lacking". - Dance covers of the song have been recorded by various artists, including Outta ControlKiller Bunnies (dance project)The Killer Bunnies was a techno/house project based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They also charted under another alias, Outta Control....
, Nasara, and ParizParizPariz is a city in and the capital of Pariz District, in Sirjan County, Kerman Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 4,527, in 1,231 families....
. - An R&B style cover of the song by Cheryl Pepsii RileyCheryl Pepsii RileyCheryl "Pepsii" Riley-Grace is an American R&B/gospel singer and actress, best known for her 1988 ballad, "Thanks for My Child."-Life and career:Cheryl Riley was born in Brooklyn, New York...
was featured in the film Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005). - Martyn JosephMartyn JosephMartyn Joseph is a Welsh singer-songwriter whose music exhibits primarily a brand of Celtic and folk, while his songwriting is often focused on social lament or protest...
recorded a version of this song. - GregorianGregorian (band)Gregorian is a German band headed by Frank Peterson that performs Gregorian chant-inspired versions of modern pop and rock songs. The band features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment.- Band history :...
covered the song in their 20072007 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
album Masters of Chant Chapter VIMasters of Chant Chapter VIMasters of Chant Chapter VI is the ninth album by German band Gregorian. It was released on 28 September 2007.- Track listing :# "Guide Me God" # "Miracle of Love" # "Dreams" # "The Circle"...
. - Bob RiversBob RiversBob Rivers is a well-known American rock and roll radio on air personality in the Pacific Northwest as well as a prolific producer of parody songs, most famous for his Christmas song parodies....
wrote the parody What if God Smoked Cannabis? in 1997. (Often incorrectly attributed to Weird Al Yankovic ) - Theo TamsTheo TamsTheo Tams is a Canadian singer and the winner of the sixth season of the CTV reality show Canadian Idol. His debut album, Give It All Away, was released on 19 May 2009 by Sony Music Canada.-Early life:...
covered the song on his tour. - In 2009, Rivers CuomoRivers CuomoRivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
, Joe LoPiccolo, and Rainn WilsonRainn WilsonRainn Dietrich Wilson is an American actor and comedian. He is primarily known for his role as the egomaniacal Dwight Schrute on the American version of the television comedy The Office...
collaborated on a cover for Sirius XM radio. - Indiana GreggIndiana GreggIndiana Gregg is a singer-songwriter living in Lenzie near Glasgow, Scotland. Her music contains elements of pop, soul and folk...
included a cover of this song on her album Woman at WorkWoman at WorkWoman at Work is the debut album from a Scots-based American musician and songwriter, Indiana Gregg. Released in 2007, the album was promoted through a national tour with Lemar and with the single, "Sweet Things", released June of the same year... - The Italian singer Eugenio FinardiEugenio FinardiEugenio Finardi is an Italian singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist.-Life:Eugenio Finardi was born in Milan, Italy, on July 16, 1952, in a musical family: his father was an Italian music sound engineer and his mother an American opera singer; at age six Finardi made his first record,...
has recorded an Italian cover titled "Uno di noi" (One of us in Italian) in 1996 - The German singer Klaus LageKlaus LageKlaus Lage is a musician from Soltau, Germany. He is known for his 1984 single "1000 und 1 Nacht ".-Discography:* Klaus Lage * Positiv * Stadtstreicher * Schweißperlen...
recorded a German cover titled "Was wenn Gott" in 2003. - Another German version, "Einer wie wir", 2007 by Erdmöbel has been performed by the HootersThe HootersThe Hooters is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By combining a mix of rock and roll, reggae, ska and folk music, The Hooters first gained major commercial success in the United States in the mid 1980s due to heavy radio and MTV airplay of several songs including "All You...
themselves during recent German and European tours. - Jermaine Sellers sang his version of "One of Us" as his first audition in front of the judges on American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Season 9. - In 2001, Chihiro OnitsukaChihiro Onitsukais a Japanese singer-songwriter.In 2000, Onitsuka released her debut single "Shine" and gained a recognition with its follow-up "Gekkou" which became a hit. Insomnia, her first studio album released in following year topped the Japanese Oricon chart and sold more than a million copies...
covered this song at a special live. - The song is covered on the GleeGlee (TV series)Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
episode "Grilled CheesusGrilled Cheesus"Grilled Cheesus" is the third episode of the second season of the American television series Glee, and the 25th episode overall. It was written by Brad Falchuk, directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, and premiered on the Fox network on October 5, 2010...
". - German singer/songwriter Stefan Stoppok published his version of the song in 2000, with him performing together with bassist Reggie Worthy.
- In 2011, Singapore singer - Kit ChanKit ChanKit Chan is a Singaporean singer.-Music:She was a member of the pioneer generation of Singaporean singers to successfully break into the international market, marked in particular by her breakthrough into the competitive and highly critical Taiwanese market with her hit Mandarin album Heartache ...
covered this song in her comeback album (Re-interpreting '重譯').
See also
- List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1990s
- List of RPM Rock/Alternative number-one singles (Canada)
- List of Swedish number-one hits
- Ultratop 50 number-one hits of 1996Ultratop 50 number-one hits of 1996These hits topped the Ultratop 50 in 1996....