This week in...1995
The Song
One Of Us
The Artist
Joan Osborne
The Lyrics
What if God was one of us?/Just a slob like one of us?/Just a stranger on the bus/Trying to make His way home?
The Results
Taken from US singer-songwriter Osborne's debut album Relish, the blues and soul song peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for 22 weeks.
That was then...
Written by Eric Bazilian of US rock band The Hooters, One Of Us became the theme song for US TV series Joan Of Arcadia in 2003.
Dealing with the nature of faith and various aspects of belief in God, it was nominated for three Grammys - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
It also helped Relish achieve triple platinum sales and an Album of the Year Grammy nod.
This is now...
Speaking to Billboard's Soul Sisters podcast this month, Osborne, 53, said she had not been prepared for the overnight fame that One Of Us brought her.
She admitted that "it was also really difficult" to have strangers following her on the street after recognising her from the music video that played in heavy MTV rotation.
Relish also reached a level of success she was not able to repeat with subsequent efforts.
"I was the poster child for the sophomore slump," Osborne said of her one-hit wonder status. "I think I messed myself up just mentally with that kind of pressure."
Now, she's enjoying a career in blues and Motown.
This month, she embarked on a residency at New York City's famed Hotel Carlyle as part of its intimate Café Carlyle concert series, performing the songs of Bob Dylan.
She said: "You can do the thing that everybody is rushing to and wants from you, or you can be your authentic self.
"And that's gonna draw the people to you that will stay with you." - Krystal Chia
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