Still The One by Orleans

Album: Waking And Dreaming (1976)

Charted: 5

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Songfacts®:

John Hall of Orleans explained how the song came to be written in the liner notes to the Best of Orleans CD: "A friend of ours was going through a divorce and asked Johanna (Hall's wife and lyricist) to write a song about a couple staying together. So she did, and she handed me the finished lyric on the back of an envelope and said, 'Do you think you can do anything with this?' I wrote the music to it in 10 minutes, which was a good sign." >>
Suggestion credit:
Rich - Bellevue, WA
This song lays bare the malaise that can set in with a relationship that has lasted a while:

We've been together since way back when
Sometimes I never want to see you again

"I don't think there's any marriage or any relationship where people don't have ups and downs," John Hall said in his Songfacts interview. "There's no perfect human being, there are no perfect husbands or perfect wives or boyfriends and girlfriends. It's a song that tries to reflect a reality that you can be in love with someone, and they can be in love with you, and you can have mostly really great times together, and still go through troubled times and difficult spots. And it's an opportunity for spiritual growth, or for personal growth. The test is whether you get through them."
In the late '70s, ABC's slogan was "Still The One," and the network used different versions of this song in their promotional campaigns. Many renditions were recorded by studio singers - often with female vocalists - for the spots.
During the presidential elections of 2004, George W. Bush tried to use this song as his campaign theme but was immediately ordered to cease. John Hall demanded that his campaign stop using the song and had two different arguments: that Bush's campaign never obtained permission, and that Hall was a Democrat who never supported Bush nor Republicans whatsoever from the beginning.

Hall did something about it: In 2006, he ran for congress and, helped by campaign appearances by Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne, defeated Republican incumbent Sue Kelly in his district in New York. At the victory party, Hall didn't play this song, but sang "I Am A Patriot," which was written by his friend Steven Van Zandt from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. >>
Suggestion credit:
Jerro - New Alexandria, PA, for above 2

Comments: 13

AnonymousIt was played at my first marriage! That was three marriages ago!
AnonymousThis song was used on a car ad after it became popular. What car company was it and when did it happen?
Tom from FlThis is a great song.The Edmonton Oilers used this as their theme song after Wayne Gretzky got traded to LA
Barbara from Staten Islandi am married over 50 years and tony is still the one
Onalee Olson Flicker from Sun Lakes AzThis is my Favorite song even today. I'm 75 yrs old.
Susan from Atlanta, GeorgiaI vividly remember in 1976 when this song was used by ABC for their new fall line-up and then again, as someone mentioned, a celebratory song for their being #1 in 1977, and I just got sick to death of it. That happens to me when any song is overplayed, I guess, even if I am the one who overplayed it. Go figure. Generally speaking, though, it is a good song.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 25th 1976, "Still The One" by Orleans entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #69; and on October 17th, 1976 it peaked at #5 {for 1 week} and spent 18 weeks on the Top 100...
Between 1975 and 1979 the quintet had five Top 100 records; with two making the Top 10, their other Top 10 record was "Dance With Me", it reached #6 {for 1 week} on October 12th, 1975.
Ken from Pensacola Beach, FlI remember when ABC used this as a promotional for one of their new seasons in the late 70's. If you have an affinity for this or any Orleans tune, I highly recommend their "Still The One" album. The unique thing about Orleans is that almost all of their songs are upbeat pieces about hope. That one album got me through a divorce in the early 2000's. Wonderful stuff.
Ken from Louisville, KyABC used this to celebrate the first time in its history (1977-78) it was the number one rated television network in the U.S. They slightly altered they lyrics to "You're still having fun/And we're still the one" They did an elaborate music video featuring many ABC stars holding up their index finger in the "we're number one" salute and broadcast it constantly that season. The following season, when they were aganin number one, ABC did another similar music video promo, only this time they used the Oak Ridge Boys song "You're The One" (changed to "We're The One").
Brad from Barry, TxI heard Orleans perform this song on a "Best of the 70s" special on PBS a couple of years ago. They sounded exactly the same as they did thirty years ago. Still a great band and a great song.
John from Fort Worth, TxI am a 47-year-old man and the longer I hear this song the more I love it.
Marie from Ithaca, NyOrleans used to play here in central NY before they made it 'big' (and a few times afterwards). There was NOTHING like an Orleans concert! My husband and I were dating back then and went to several Orleans concerts to gether, so this is 'our' song. Anyone ever here "Sweet Joahanna?" it's a very rare Orleans song John wrote about his wife!
Pete from Nowra, AustraliaIs also the theme song for the Ch 9 TV network here in Australia.

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