I'm the Only One

"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)
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 No. 12 in Canada and No. 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 No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in January 1995. It remains Etheridge's biggest hit on either chart and earned her a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1995.[1]

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.

Accolades

Year Award Category Result Ref.
1995 Grammy Award Best Rock Song Nominated [1]
GLAAD Media Award Outstanding Music Video Won [2]
1996 ASCAP Pop Music Award Most Performed Songs Won [3]

Music video

The music video for "I'm the Only One" shows Etheridge performing at a club, with several close-up shots of her face, while couples dance sensually. It was directed by David Hogan, marking their first collaboration on a video,[4][5] and won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music Video.[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.[4]

Track listings

All songs were written by Melissa Etheridge, except for Maggie May, written by Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton.

Credits and personnel

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States September 7, 1993
Island [28]
United Kingdom November 1, 1993
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [29]

References

  1. ^ a b "Melissa Etheridge". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "GLAAD Honcho Blasts Talkers at Awards". March 20, 1995.
  3. ^ "Billboard". Books.google.com. June 1996. p. 102.
  4. ^ a b Lindsay, Bethany (July 27, 2015). "Interview: Music Video Director David Hogan". Songfacts.com. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  5. ^ Luck, Joyce (1997). "Melissa Etheridge: Our Little Secret (page 194)". ECW Press (Google Books). ISBN 9781550222982. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  6. ^ 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)
  7. ^ 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)
  8. ^ 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)
  9. ^ 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)
  10. ^ 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)
  11. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 13 Feb 1994". ARIA. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2305." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2694." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  14. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (17.–23.11 '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). November 17, 1994. p. 16. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 43, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  16. ^ "Melissa Etheridge – I'm the Only One" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  17. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  18. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  19. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  20. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  21. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  22. ^ "U.S. Cash Box Chart Entries – 1990 – 1996" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-22. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
  23. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  24. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1994". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  25. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "The Year in Music 1995: Top 40/Mainstream Top Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 3, no. 51. December 15, 1995. p. 8.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. October 30, 1993. p. 27.
  • Melissa Etheridge – Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled – Bonus DVD