I'm the Only One

1993 single by Melissa Etheridge
"I'm the Only One"
Single by Melissa Etheridge
from the album Yes I Am
B-side"I'm the Only One" (live)
ReleasedSeptember 7, 1993 (1993-09-07)
StudioA&M (Hollywood)
Length4:54
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)Melissa Etheridge
Producer(s)
  • Hugh Padgham
  • Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Etheridge singles chronology
"2001"
(1992) 		"I'm the Only One"
(1993) 		"Come to My Window"
(1993)

"I'm the Only One" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge from her fourth studio album, Yes I Am (1993). It was released as the first single in September 1993, reaching number 12 in Canada and number 26 in the Netherlands. In the United States, it was slow to gain momentum, but after the success of "Come to My Window", it was re-released, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in January 1995. It remains Etheridge's biggest hit on either chart.

Content

Like many songs on her first album, Melissa Etheridge, "I'm the Only One" deals with non-monogamous relationships. In the verses, the singer tells how much she suffers because her partner desires someone else. In the chorus, the singer reminds her partner that even if her partner is in a new relationship, that the singer will always be the only one who really loves them with passion.

Music video

The music video for "I'm the Only One" was directed by David Hogan, marking their first collaboration on a video.[1][2] Hogan, who became friends with Etheridge, later helmed several other of her videos, including "Your Little Secret" in 1995 and "I Want to Be in Love" in 2001.[1] The video for "I'm the Only One" largely shows Etheridge performing at a club (including several close-up shots of her face) as well as same-sex couples making out to her sensual music.

Track listings

All songs were written by Melissa Etheridge.

US cassette single[3]

  1. "I'm the Only One" (album version) – 4:54
  2. "Maggie May" (live) – 6:18

US maxi-CD single[4]

  1. "I'm the Only One" (album version) – 4:54
  2. "Maggie May" (live) – 6:18
  3. "Ain't It Heavy" (live) – 4:13
  4. "I'm the Only One" (live) – 5:26

UK 7-inch single[5]

A. "I'm the Only One" (edit) – 4:15
B. "I'm the Only One" (live) – 5:30

UK CD single[6]

  1. "I'm the Only One" (edit) – 4:15
  2. "Bring Me Some Water" – 4:22
  3. "I'm the Only One" (live) – 5:30
  4. "Yes I Am" (live) – 5:02

Dutch CD single[7]

  1. "I'm the Only One" (edit) – 4:15
  2. "I'm the Only One" (live) – 5:30
  3. "Yes I Am" (live) – 5:02

Credits and personnel

  • Vocals and acoustic guitar by Melissa Etheridge
  • Drums and percussion by Mauricio Fritz Lewak
  • Electric guitar by Waddy Wachtel
  • Keyboards by Scott Thurston
  • Bass by Pino Palladino
  • Engineering by Hugh Padgham
  • Assistant engineering by Greg Goldman, John Aguto, and Mike Baumgartner
  • Mixing by Hugh Padgham
  • Mastering by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993–1995) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 58
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9]
1993 peak 		12
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10]
1994 peak 		35
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[11] 25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 28
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 26
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 8
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[15] 1
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[16] 28
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[17] 10
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 4
US Cash Box Top 100[19] 5

Year-end charts

Chart (1993) Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20] 96
Chart (1994) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 92
Chart (1995) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 44
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[23] 16
US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)[24] 38

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States September 7, 1993 Island [25]
United Kingdom November 1, 1993
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [26]

Covers

The song has been covered many times on American Idol. In the Top 4 of season one, it was covered by Nikki McKibbin on 80's/90's week. In the Top 10 of season four, the song was covered by Nadia Turner on 90's week. In the Top 16 of season five, Kellie Pickler covered it, before advancing to the Top 12. In season ten, Lauren Alaina covered the song on Top 12 week, when the contestants were to choose one song from the year they were born. On the first season of The Voice, Beverly McClellan covered the song on the 7th episode, the first week of live rounds. In November 2011, Mark Salling covered the song in Glee's episode "I Kissed a Girl".

References

  1. ^ a b Lindsay, Bethany (July 27, 2015). "Interview: Music Video Director David Hogan". Songfacts.com. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  2. ^ Luck, Joyce (1997). "Melissa Etheridge: Our Little Secret (page 194)". ECW Press (Google Books). ISBN 9781550222982. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  3. ^ I'm the Only One (US cassette single sleeve). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1994. 422-854 068-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ I'm the Only One (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1994. 422-854 069-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ I'm the Only One (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1993. IS579, 862 762-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ I'm the Only One (UK CD single liner notes). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1993. CID 579, 862 941-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ I'm the Only One (Dutch CD single liner notes). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1993. 74321 16252 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 13 Feb 1994". ARIA. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2305." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2694." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  11. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (17.–23.11 '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). November 17, 1994. p. 16. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  12. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 43, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  13. ^ "Melissa Etheridge – I'm the Only One" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  14. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  15. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  16. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  17. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  18. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  19. ^ "U.S. Cash Box Chart Entries – 1990 – 1996" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-22. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
  20. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  21. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1994". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  22. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  23. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 51. December 23, 1995. p. YE-80. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  24. ^ "The Year in Music 1995: Top 40/Mainstream Top Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 3, no. 51. December 15, 1995. p. 8.
  25. ^ Flick, Larry (September 4, 1993). "Nirvana, Meilencamp Ready Sept. Sets". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 36. p. 12. 'I'm The Only One' goes to album-rock and alternative radio Sept. 7.
  26. ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. October 30, 1993. p. 27.
  • Melissa Etheridge – Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled – Bonus DVD

External links

  • musicmoz.org
  • v
  • t
  • e
Albums
Compilations
  • Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled
Notable singles
Featured singles
Related articles