Joan Osborne - One Of Us | The story behind the song | Top 2000 a gogo
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- Musicians Joan Osborne and Eric Bazilian tell the story behind 'One Of Us'. A short documentary by Top 2000 a gogo from 2018 (Dutch Public Television).
Man, I love hearing how a song comes together like this!
I'd be honored if some 90s fans would take a listen to my low-fi acoustic piano & vocal UA-cam performances of IF GOD WAS ONE OF US by Joan Osborne and BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY by the Verve in tribute to 2 classics of the mid/late 90s era. Live acoustic with no autotune or digital editing. Peace out and stay safe in the '020s.
❤
This is one of my fav song.
After all of these years, it still gives me the chills. Amazing back story, how it basically fell out of the writer's hands an mouth. Still one of the best songs of the 90s.
Me too, chills after all these years.
word
Divine intervention….
I remembered this song gave me a fresh perspective when I heard it for the first time and I remembered God walked among us in Jesus.
Eric Bazilian, author, and his wife, Sarah. All respect and admiration to you both, and for a wonderful explanation of the creative process. This song is a powerful statement of simple humility and humanity. Catchy, too! Many thanks to the both of you and Joan for the simple beauty and truth!
I'd be honored if some 90s fans would take a listen to my acoustic piano & vocal UA-cam performances of IF GOD WAS ONE OF US by Eric Bazilian/Joan Osborne and "1979" by the SMASHING PUMPKINS in tribute to 2 standards of the mid/late 90s era. Live acoustic with no autotune or digital editing. Peace out and stay safe in the '020s.
I am Catholic and very religious and I can't for the life of me see what is offensive about this song. I always interpreted it the way Joan said - like the Good Samaritan. I never knew that people were so angry about it. P.S. She was really beautiful in that video.
This song is HIGHLY offensive, it trivializes and minimalizes G-d, comparing Him to a slob. I hated this song from the minute it was on the radio.
My catholic grandma was confused by it at the time, but my dad and I explained it to her.
EPA18 Typical overly judgmental Christian; always seeing the negative to put themselves up on a pedestal compared to the the hedonic masses. You hear that line yet ignore the “god is great” lyric that is inescapable on the quickest of listenings of this song. Never mind trying to interpret a more subtle meaning like maybe god is in all of us in the lyric that you lambast.
I think it's 'pointy' here and there. 'Nobody calling on the phone...' - letting a grownup ask kid's questions. It could be interpreted as making God a silly character. Yet that is not forbidden in the country I live in, and I think it shouldn't be, either.
It is also poignant in another sense. The loneliness ascribed to the God in the song now befalls many; dethroning God has promoted the individual into a deity. Existentially adrift and ultimately alone, whereas the God I believe in is never alone, but relationship in him/herself. Relation which he wants to share.
@@EPA18 please read the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25. "Whatever you do to the least of these you do to Me". People can look past a poor person they see as a slob. But if we feed and clothe that person, we are feeding and clothing Christ Himself.
My wife and I saw Joan Osborne and Rusted Root in Philadelphia at the Electric Factory in 1995 on the very first date we ever had. I loved Jan's voice and music from the first time I heard her work. I was i a band that I just got back together after 20 years. Don't stop Joan, please, keep creating. "(What if God Were) One of Us" has always reminded me to be humble and treat everyone well, because everyone is deserving of love and kindness. Thanks for making the beginning of my wonderful relationship with my beautiful wife successful.
One of my favorite songs ever. It requires you to reexamine how you treat other people.
Joan is such a great singer, I wish she had more hits.
I met a homeless man once who told me this was his favorite song . This was back in 1997.He told me he missed his wife and daughter that he had left.It was in train station in Poland where this man tried to survive .
Despite apparently being an atheist, this guy (Eric Bazilian) wrote or co-wrote nearly all those hit songs for The Hooters back in the 80's, like "And We Danced", "All You Zombies"' "Where Do The Children Go" (with Patty Smyth), "Johnny B", " "Satellite", and a little known song by Cindy Lauper called "Time After Time". I grew up near Philly and these guys were legendary hitmakers in their day. I never knew until I saw this that he wrote this song, too. Amazing.
NO. The OTHER Hooter, Rob Hyman wrote Time After Time.
@@weedywet yep.
@@weedywet Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman collaborated to write this song. Hyman sang the harmony vocal in the choruses. This song was almost an afterthought when it was recorded and it became a major hit.
murray1575 hmmm sort of., not exactly. I know. I recorded it. and One Of Us
Quiksilver it’s Eric playing the 50’s gold top Les Paul. Same one that plays the opening riff and stays on that stereo ‘side’ through the whole song. All the guitars were through my 61/62 copper top, top boost AC30
In Hindu, is the saying: "Treat everyone you meet as if it is God in disguise, because you never know."
Hebrews 13 : 2 Be not forgetful not to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.
@@lapalad -nice., i am constantly amazed that some good words were left in the Bible and not edited out, though most rarely notice.
Which is terrible. You're not treating people with respect because thats how everyone should be treated regardless, you're only doing it because they could be god.
I'm christian and i believe that saying. As Jesus walked on this earth, he felt what it was to be human. An outcast, a nobody, a carpenter's boy walking from one place to another. But when he spoke, it caught everyone's attention and saw what he can actually do. A GOD among men wrapped in flesh.
Matthew 25: “Whatsoever you do for the least of my people…..so you do unto me”. But this guy that wrote this is telling us NOT to believe in a higher power. In particular he had in mind the God of Christianity when he wrote it if you listen to him at the end. He tells us we have only science. I nearly lost my breakfast. My oldest son says the same thing about science so often that I wanted to puke when I heard it roll out here.
People getting offended by something that challenges their morals is to be expected, but I never understood people getting death threats for something like this. It's insane.
The world is uglier than you can imagine. Not to bring politics into it, but per most polls, 80% of the religious right support Trump. He could be the best president in the world and it still baffles me how the righteous would support someone that has cheated on his wives, many divorces, paid off hookers, and all of the other supposedly bad things per the bible. Hypocrites, all of em.
You hate Trump, you hate Christians, you hate right wingers... and yes, you did bring politics into it. Christianity NEVER condemns someone for their past - even a serial killer can repent and believe - yet
you call people who you disapprove of 'hypocrites' using your own measure of right and wrong...
@@AnnabelleJARankin "Christianity never condemns someone for their past."
No, but CHRISTIANS do.
@@bechtoea Most of us only have a vague understanding of just how horrible human beings have been to one another for the entirety of our existence. And too many of us refuse to evolve.
@@gabe_s_videos Wise words. Most of the evil in this world has been caused by the very religions that are supposed to save us.
I don’t know why but this has made me cry.. the feeling of love, something I’ll never feel
That's what I thought that i'd never truely be loved or accepted but God saved me & has let know patiently his LOVE is REAL deep and deeper still with time. Heartfelt hugs, y'all & prayers that void that only God can fill finds you & the gifts of his fruit incl love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
@@ELITAH7 "Amen"
This song defines my childhood and adolescence. The last sentence of the chorus “trying to make his way home” sums up the feels of the song.
I am an american christian from tennessee, raised a Baptist I seriously doubt one of my fellow christians had any issue with the lyrics of this song.
That is so true ,It is the media that doesn't want God mentioned at all ever!
They made a much more powerfull song than they intended thats for sure.
Its a masterpiece.
Such a powerfull song and such a powerfull message!
100%
Why do you think they didn't intend as much depth? It sounds like they both put a lot of thought and feeling into it.
My daughter sang this at church when she was a young teen. And I was a proud mama!
I'm surprised some of the faithful in the church didn't cause a fuss. A song that questions whether there is or isn't a god sounds like something that wouldn't go over big in a church setting. That is of course unless the parishioners didn't understand the songs intended meaning.
Jewelz..???......Alana's Morresett????.....?Mocking ...The reality Of the truth...
In car...N A T E.......Red CARnations CodeX....1st...D team WeaVer...Star 🔥 Fire 1st Devine Spark...
.1st of the Prime Creaters 1st ...Ten Tin Soldier's CodeX .... Banana 2.....
( Australia...Twin....Children's Show . Banana 🍌 s. In HollaHoax Pyjamas Coming down the Stars ( Stairs /. ..)...Sleeping ....PJs ..Unawares.....Again Red Carnations CodeX ..
In car Nate......Been full awake for over 38.years ..No more Sleeping.
.. Pyjamas No.longer accurate.. Completely Cognosent....For at least 38 year's.....
You can call me . A L.....aka. Alpha....Chevey Chase....Paul.Simon...AL= AlphA..
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R u... getting the ...picture..... Suffering Greatly.....Zero.....Feed Back......100 percent awake n aware ..over 38 years..... subjected to.Dirty Tricks
Done Dirt Cheap.....
Awesome story about an awesome song.
@N The bible states that God has a feminine side.
@@ThreeFontStreet Are you speaking of your comment or mine? If it was mine, I will say...what a generic reply. If it was not then...never mind.
The Hooters are one of the most talented bands of the past 40 years. Love all the works of Eric & Rob.
I don't have religious beliefs but have always loved the song, and the sentiments expressed in this video are exactly what the world needs more of today.
But God wants is to share love each other
I LOVE THIS SONG. Thank you so much you two. And thank God too I guess.
My dear father bought this record for me for a Christmas gift in the 90's. [It's] a great album, and I cherish that record because of how I received it. Cheers !
It’s a great song and a great piece of writing because it make you think and wonder. And as all good writing, it “means” what it means to you. Not what it means to Joan, Prince, or even Eric. You, and everyone who has heard the lyrics. Different meanings, every one. I love it for that.
It always seems the very best songs come together very fast! A gift from above if you will.
yeah from god wink xD
I won't 😅
Disease is not from God. Take a look in the mirror and there's your answer.
@@cynthiameans heyyyyyyyy, no need to get personal 🙂
Yup
"be excellent to each other" Yeah, 'nuff said
Not only is this story amazing. This piece was so well edited. You guys did an amazing job with this one.
I was 8 yrs old in 1995 and I was obsessed with this song and Joan was gorgeous in this video
Joan is such a talent, I wanted a damn nose ring after seeing that video. God bless the 90’s
Great song! And even covered by Prince who I admire big time. Double great!!
A true inspiration from God... thank you for this amazing song!
When this song cames out i have goosebumps all over with this guitar on the beginning, he composed a badass Rock n Roll guitar. Maybe god help writing him. And he write so many Guitar Riffs for The Hooters
This song will never go out of style.
This song is sooooo special. I have an eclectic taste in music and this song struck me when it first came out. I had 3 young daughters and thought this song was clear in it's topic. We had raised our daughters without faith and this song hit home. Thanks for sharing it's origins. Keep on rockin' in the free world!
Was nominated for the Grammy Record of the Year. Should have won. Great performance by Joan.
Perfect record. It is as much about the growling guitars and drumming as it is the message. The Hooters were brilliant too.
Guitar rules this song😊
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
God was one of us, at least for a while.
(Not trying to preach. Love the song.)
Prince recorded this song. It's on his album, Emancipation, released in 1996 :)
GREAT STORY...GOD SPOKE TO HIM...LOVE THE SONG...JOAN WAS GREAT
Miss Joan Osborne has such a talented beautiful perfect voice of a Angel. I love this song. The people who objected to this song do not understand. Just as the people who listen to Prince's "I Will Die For You" did not understand that he was talking about Jesus Christ. I am a Roman Catholic born and raised and devout. i do not see what is bad about this song. GOD in the form of Jesus of Nazareth did live as "one of us" for 30 years before he started his 3 year ministry. People who are ready to hear and understand the message will hear it. And those who are not will not hear it.
i love the song. its amazing. and joan Osbourne does a great job singing .
I can totally hear the Crash Test Dummies influence when he sings it!
Me also
Mmmmmm mmmmm mmeee too
Very interesting back story. Bet he is glad he was asked about 4 track recording lol
By the way, "Kayleigh" (Marillion) was born out of another question. The girlfriend of the guitar player asked him "how can a guitar play a rhythm and a melody at once?" So he created a riff as an example, and that became their biggest hit: ua-cam.com/video/NumChJYENJk/v-deo.html
@@curbowman Interesting to know, thanks. They are a cute couple.
I had the biggest crush on Joan Osborne, she's still beautiful!
You're not the only one!! I thought she was a cutie!!
I'm not a big fan of face jewelry, but, yeah, she was hot.
Not everyone can rock a perm
Always liked his song. My band is now doing this. No other band in Georgia is doing this...makes us stand out...Thanks for the Song !!
I like Joan's interpretation of the lyrics better than the writer's. Amazing that he could put the piece together extemporaneously that quickly. This is a great documentary of the song. I wonder if Sarah got a writing credit for, "trying to make His way home". That could be worth a few dollars.
I also like Joan's interpretation WAY more than the writer's. His is stupid.
@@christopherdieudonne - ? The writer's interpretation is the only valid interpretation. lol
She should. It made the song.
Christopher Dieudonné He wrote the damn song
@@OMGWTFLOLSMH no writer actually says that.
Lovely to see Joan Osborne talking about this. It's one of those UA-cam music videos I go back to every so often.. it's a real brain flea of a song!
Still in my music files. 🎶 Always loved and still love this song.
Hooter founder Eric Bazilian was a Huge part of this songs success he is a Brilliant Musician!
The greatest songs have magically appeared just like this
My favorite song 90's
That demo sounded great for a four track cassette recording.
I completely agree with Joan. When listening to this song back in the 90's I always considered it an analogy to the Bible's Good Samaritan story
Thank for making this. I love hearing about songs and their meaning and how it was written from the songwriters. Please keep it coming. This is fantastic and insightful!
Thank you!
I was raised Catholic which drove the faith in God OUT of me, because Catholics are basically. do as I say not as I do....but when I heard this song I felt, well this version of God I might actually get behind. Somebody just riding the bus with me and seeing how we really live.
well if you know the truth which is Jesus Christ and that's a personal relationship with Jesus traditional Catholicism is not born again Christians at all they actually go quite a bit against the Bible there's too much idolatry that's practiced in the Bible for any kind of tree, no repeat of players no Mass none of that stuffit's against what God teaches in his Bible in his word, that's the whole reason behind the Reformation the 500 Reformation for Martin Luther why he did what he did thank God he did too and the 95 Thesesbecause they were doing things legalistically and that's not what God's word says God's authority of God comes from his word alone not from any churchand it's not about religion it's a personal relationship with Jesus Christ personally the Bible says You must be born again
I know what you mean. Basically the Bible cured me of Christianity because of its dark, primitive folklore version of God. The real god God is love: no torture and execution required to accept humanity. Cheers.
@@Great_WOK_Must_Be_Done WRONGwrong you don't know the real God gave the god of the Bible is very much a god of love but he's also a god of wrath of God of judgment a gun of torture was going to send you to hell because you sent herself to help by denying his truth right now you do not know the truth you do not know the god of the Bible the god of the Bible has to be a god of love and also is a god of wrath otherwise he wouldn't be just"""""""""" just like when a when a judge on Earth has two sentence a killer or rapist he can be loving as she can be loving but they have to be just have to do just us and be just that's the way God has but it's even higher with God he wouldn't be a just God and he would be contradicting his own character if he didn't punish the guilty so he is a god of love but he's also a god of wrath very much so you clearly do not know the god of the Bible and because of that you're going to perish in Eternal damnation the guy you're believing in is a god of your own imagination existthe god of the Bible is the one you're going to stand before and that God is very much a god of love but he's also a god of wrath and it got a judgment you will face it and there's no escaping it let that sink in
@@Great_WOK_Must_Be_Done the god of the Bible is not required to do anything he does what he wants to do he runs the show you don't see anybody could say God but you have to have the right God the god of the Bible y'all way is the only God that you will stand before the god that you will be accountable to and that God will punish the wicked he will store of his wrath upon you get to know the right. Otherwise you're going to perish anyways you're too stupid to know the truth
@@gn3101 Blah, blah, blah.
Absolutely beautiful! We all come from the same stuff! We are all the same!
Be excellent to each other eric bazilian inspirates me each day with his words.
Wow, what an incredible story. I love the song and I love how it encourages me to ask questions which only I can answer for myself (if that makes sense). Thank you Eric and thank you Joan. Beautiful job done. 🙋♂🙋♂
One of the best songs ever written.
Great job Eric.
I'm an atheist but I love this song.
I wish you rainbows.
I remember sitting in my dad`s carpet shop in South Africa in 1996 and all I had to keep me from going insane was the radio, this track was on several times a day on 5FM, i`m not at all a religious person but this song still reminds me of that time, as bored as I was working there life was so good back then...
I studied at Penn, and Eric & Rob came back to campus in the early 90s to give a talk... Eric signed my Physics textbook (he was a Physics major) and i still have it!... I'd be honored if some 90s fans would take a listen to my low-fi acoustic piano & vocal YT performances of IF GOD WAS ONE OF US and BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY by the Verve in tribute to 2 standards of the mid/late 90s era. Live acoustic with no autotune or digital editing. Peace out and stay safe in the '020s.
God was one of us for 33 years or so, His message so offended us that we murdered Him......His BIGGEST message apart from loving Him with all our ,mind and soul was to love our neighbor as ourselves and its basically the core of His message.
Roman propaganda.
Behave, you will get your reward in heaven.
Where the fuck was God at Auschwitz?
This song always gave me chills and was such a simple beautiful message of unity
Anyone who had taken offense to it.. simply didn’t get it and never will sadly
Great story. AndJoan nailed it .
I love that Crash Test Dummies vibes were part of this.
The magic of this song is its sheer simplicity combined with a universal identification for everyone. You never know which oyster the Pearl is going to be in until you open them all~ and it definitely was in this one. 🇬🇧
This song will last forever!!!
Forever is a long time. Eventually everything will turn to dust and disappear, including this song.
I remember this song, it brings me memories! Thanks for sharing
How does any song with a lyric that says "God is great," offend anybody?
Deca Cards52 well there is 7 billion people.
Some get offended by a smile.
Some get offended by fill in the blank.
I go to church every Sunday all my life.
I love this song so much.
Depends what meanig it has to people. If youve grown up where you relate god to love, then you love it.
If you grew up and associate god with fear and hate and rejection, then god is great wouldnt make sense to you.
Hmmmm.... Your judeo-christian god loves me unconditionally but will condemn me to an eternity of torment if I masturbate. Can it get more offensive than that? I could do good works my entire life without committing a single "sin", but according to your god, I will suffer an eternity if I fail to grovel at his feet in worship. Given all of the misogyny, genocide, hypocrisy, and justification for slavery in his book, I would spit in his face if he actually existed and I met him/her/it. Your whiole religion and religion in general is offensive.
I doubt it did. There had been plenty of Christian Rock bands at the time singing about God over a rock track. I also doubt she got death threats. If she did, it was from one crazy person, rather than a slew of certain people. But you have to stoke the flames of controversy if you want to make a mark, even if it's fake.
@@canucanoe2861 Get a woman (proper), if you can. God wants it.
I had no idea the dude from Hooters wrote this song. What a freaking amazing songwriter.
I replayed your songs all the time!
Why am I surprised that she even got death threatened for this song??? I see people "of god" spreading hate all the time! I'm an atheist and this song gives me the chills, I love it so damn much.
Think of Jesus as the one of us ; he was he wants you in his heaven !
You see what you want to see, and ignore the rest. If you wanted to see the ones spreading love and helping people, then you would. They far outweigh the ones you describe.
Yes, spot on it doesn't make sense as Jesus DID walk the Earth as 1 of us
Eric is such a nice and super talented guy...
Joan is so incredibly intelligent and articulate.......I hold her in a very high regard...........
It’s a beautiful song lyrically- and musically... Prince covered it and he rarely covered anyone so that’s a lasting testament to how important this song is
Prince... WROTE THIS SONG! Joan covered Prince.
Wonderfull song, i love it since 1995. Thank You!
A brilliant song. Thank you for writing it.
I always change the lyric to “Now, when God was one of us...” This song is a kind of question, to which Jesus is still the answer. Carpenter, preacher, messiah, Saviour. He was a “slob like one of us”.. knew what hard work was, looking after family, sacrificing so much for the good of others.
Maybe be YOUR G-d is a slob, but we don't have such a concept, and the song is highly offensive.
@@EPA18 stop it !
I LOVE your channel....short bytes about the writings of songs...and they are some of my favorites, as well. Thank you for your efforts. I have subscribed, and I'll continue to share your videos.
I love Joan Osborns music,this one in particular. ❤️❤️❤️
The original 4 track version is a hidden song on track 12 of Eric Bazilian's album 'The Optimist'.
Thank God for UA-cam!
MASSIVE SONG ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Don’t you miss when radio had integrity before Clear Channel bought all the radios and made them play dumbed down music?!
A very talented guy.
Astonishing origin story. Thank you for sharing. Great interviews. And of course, a beautiful composition.
I bought this album because I loved the Hooters... great songwriting.
"Joan of Arcadia" brought me here...and keeps me here. From a less in-your-face-you're-wrong/fake time.
I have never heard this son before. Very interesting concept. I am enjoying this channel which highlights how songs often come from the weirdest of situations. I am not religious in any way so the son is not emotional but it is catchy.
just amazing
It's one of three outstanding songs on "Relish". (The other two are "St Teresa" and "Ladder".)
I just wrote a short story about a guy, sitting on his balcony, shuffling through his iTunes, and suddenly focusing on Joan Osborne's recording of "One Of Us". The song triggers a flood of thoughts about God, "his" existence, his meaning, how people use religion to hate each other, and ultimately, whether God is alone and unable to control his own creation.
I hope I can get it published. The questions the song raises are as timely today as they were when she included it on her 90s classic album "Relish".
"What would you ask if you had just one question?" The most profound pop song lyric ever written.
So basically he wanted to impress on his girlfriend and ended up writing a huge hit in a couple of hours.
Motivation and inspiration rolled into one.
i'd say mission accomplished.
and even though she had a major lyrical contribution he did not give her any credit!
@@DJDanceClassic It's the other way around. Usually producers and sound engineers don't get any credit. Ask anyone about the guy who wrote Thriller or Beat it and almost everyone will tell you Michael Jackson forgetting the real genius behind those songs.
@@DJDanceClassic Maybe he did but it didn't make the final edit.
I think this song was one of my first memory of music. My mom would tell me Oh you like songs that sings a chorus like that and an "oOOooooh" at the end. At the time I don‘t understand why my mom would teased me liked that, little did I know it was how I was introduced into the music world. A pop genre One of Us by Joan Osborne
Cool Paisley Park beanie Joan! Prince played this song a lot.
He put his version on the 3 cd album Emancipation and it's the only cover version he ever put on one of his albums.
The album Relish that this song came from is fantastic! One of us is only a tiny portion of what Joan Osborne is capable of as an artist! Her version of man in the long black coat is epic!
I love this song
Fascinating the demo was created so quickly.
I love this channel! It is amazing to hear about the process behind these wonderful songs. On another note, this woman reminds me of Agnetha from Abba and this man reminds me of Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo ;)
Eric Bazilian was a member of the 1980s band The Hooters. They had several hits and members have written hits for others. This being one of them. :)
Jim Cuddy came to mind immediately.
Sarah is also Swedish.
Yes! I kept looking at him like I knew him from something else but I couldn't put my finger on it. Jim Cuddy Clone 100%.