I'm the Only One

"I'm the Only One"
Single by Melissa Etheridge
from the album Yes I Am
Released	1993
Format	CD single Cassette single
Recorded	A&M Studios, Los Angeles
Genre	Rock, roots rock, blues rock, southern rock
Length	4:15
Label	Island
Writer(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" (1994)

"I'm the Only One" is a Melissa Etheridge song that appears on her 1993 album Yes I Am. The single itself was released in 1993, and hit number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult Contemporary charts in January 1995. This is one of her biggest hits to date.

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]

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 coved the song on Top 12 week, 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"

Track listing

All songs written by Melissa Etheridge.

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

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[3]	58
Netherlands (MegaCharts)[4]	26
Chart (1994/1995)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	8
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	10
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	1
U.S. Billboard Pop Songs	5
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks	28
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream	4
Canadian Singles Chart	12

Year-end charts

End of year chart (1994)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5]	92
End of year chart (1995)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6]	44

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
• Engineer – Hugh Padgham
• Assistant engineers – Greg Goldman, John Aguto, Mike Baumgartner
• Mixed by Hugh Padgham
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering

References

1. Lindsay, Bethany (2015-07-27). "Interview: Music Video Director David Hogan". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
2. Luck, Joyce (1997). "Melissa Etheridge: Our Little Secret (page 194)". ECW Press (Google Books). Retrieved 2016-04-16.
3. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 13 Feb 1994". ARIA. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
4. "dutchcharts.nl > Melissa Etheridge – I'm the Only One". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
5. "Billboard Top 100 – 1994". Retrieved 2010-08-27.
6. "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Retrieved 2010-08-27.

Sources

• Melissa Etheridge – Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled – Bonus DVD

External links

• musicmoz.org
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics