I'm the Only One

{{Infobox song

| name = I'm the Only One

| cover = Etheridge Only.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Melissa Etheridge

| album = Yes I Am

| B-side = "I'm the Only One" (live)

| released = {{start date|1993|9|7}}

| recorded =

| studio = A&M (Hollywood)

| genre =

| length = 4:54

| label = Island

| writer = Melissa Etheridge

| producer =

Hugh Padgham
Melissa Etheridge

| prev_title = 2001

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = Come to My Window

| next_year = 1993

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|xB-QQAM1GDM|"I'm the Only One"}}}}

}}

"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, by Island Records, 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.{{cite web |title=Melissa Etheridge |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/melissa-etheridge/12402 |publisher=The Recording Academy |access-date=October 15, 2022 |archive-date=August 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824213416/https://www.grammy.com/artists/melissa-etheridge/12402 |url-status=live}}

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

class="wikitable"
\| Year ! \| Award ! \| Category ! \| Result ! \| Ref.
rowspan="2"\| 1995 \| Grammy Award \| Best Rock Song \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\|
GLAAD Media Award \| Outstanding Music Video \| {{won}} \| align="center"\| {{cite web \|url=https://variety.com/1995/film/features/glaad-honcho-blasts-talkers-at-awards-99124061/ \|title=GLAAD Honcho Blasts Talkers at Awards \|date=March 20, 1995}}
1996 \| ASCAP Pop Music Award \| Most Performed Songs \| {{won}} \| align="center"\| {{cite web \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rwkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA102 \|title=Billboard \|page=102 \|website=Books.google.com \|date=June 1996}}

class="wikitable"

| Year

! | Award

! | Category

! | Result

! | Ref.

rowspan="2"| 1995

| Grammy Award

| Best Rock Song

| {{nom}}

| align="center"|

GLAAD Media Award

| Outstanding Music Video

| {{won}}

| align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://variety.com/1995/film/features/glaad-honcho-blasts-talkers-at-awards-99124061/ |title=GLAAD Honcho Blasts Talkers at Awards |date=March 20, 1995}}

1996

| ASCAP Pop Music Award

| Most Performed Songs

| {{won}}

| align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rwkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA102 |title=Billboard |page=102 |website=Books.google.com |date=June 1996}}

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,{{cite news|first=Bethany|last=Lindsay|title=Interview: Music Video Director David Hogan|url=http://www.songfacts.com/blog/writing/music_video_director_david_hogan/|website=Songfacts.com|date=July 27, 2015|access-date=April 16, 2016}}{{cite news|first=Joyce|last=Luck|title=Melissa Etheridge: Our Little Secret (page 194)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kN03ue54jmIC&q=I%27m+the+Only+One+etheridge+david+hogan&pg=PA194|work=ECW Press (Google Books)|date=1997|isbn=9781550222982|access-date=April 16, 2016}} and won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music Video. 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.

Track listings

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

US cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=I'm the Only One|others=Melissa Etheridge|year=1994|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=Island Records|id=422-854 068-4}}

"I'm the Only One" (album version) – 4:54
"Maggie May" (live) – 6:18

US maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=I'm the Only One|others=Melissa Etheridge|year=1994|type=US maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Island Records|id=422-854 069-2}}

"I'm the Only One" (album version) – 4:54
"Maggie May" (live) – 6:18
"Ain't It Heavy" (live) – 4:13
"I'm the Only One" (live) – 5:26

UK 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=I'm the Only One|others=Melissa Etheridge|year=1993|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Island Records|id=IS579, 862 762-7}}

:A. "I'm the Only One" (edit) – 4:15

:B. "I'm the Only One" (live) – 5:30

UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=I'm the Only One|others=Melissa Etheridge|year=1993|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Island Records|id=CID 579, 862 941-2}}

"I'm the Only One" (edit) – 4:15
"Bring Me Some Water" – 4:22
"I'm the Only One" (live) – 5:30
"Yes I Am" (live) – 5:02

Dutch CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=I'm the Only One|others=Melissa Etheridge|year=1993|type=Dutch CD single liner notes|publisher=Island Records|id=74321 16252 2}}

"I'm the Only One" (edit) – 4:15
"I'm the Only One" (live) – 5:30
"Yes I Am" (live) – 5:02

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
Engineering by Hugh Padgham
Assistant engineering by Greg Goldman, John Aguto, and Mike Baumgartner
Mixing by Hugh Padgham
Mastering by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\|Australia (ARIA){{cite web\|url=http://i.imgur.com/tuR8boA.jpg\|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 13 Feb 1994\|publisher=ARIA\|access-date=February 23, 2016}} \| 58
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1993–1995) !Peak position
scope="row"\|Canada Retail Singles (The Record){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-11-13-N.pdf\|title=Hits of the World: Canada\|magazine=Billboard\|date=November 13, 1993\|page=52\|access-date=May 21, 2025}} \| 10
{{single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|12\|chartid=2305\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 9, 2019\|note=1993 peak}}
{{single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|35\|chartid=2694\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 9, 2019\|note=1994 peak\|refname="can94"}}
scope="row"\|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news\|url=https://timarit.is/page/2721276#page/n1/mode/2up\|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (17.–23.11 '94)\|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir\|language=is\|page=16\|date=November 17, 1994\|access-date=November 9, 2019}} \| 25
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|28\|year=1993\|week=43\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 9, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|26\|artist=Melissa Etheridge\|song=I'm the Only One\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 9, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|8\|artist=Melissa Etheridge\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 9, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultcontemporary\|1\|artist=Melissa Etheridge\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 9, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultpopsongs\|28\|artist=Melissa Etheridge\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 9, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Billboardmainstreamrock\|10\|artist=Melissa Etheridge\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 9, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Billboardpopsongs\|4\|artist=Melissa Etheridge\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 9, 2019}}
scope="row"\|US Cash Box Top 100{{Cite web \|url=http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/popmusichistory/Charts/Cash%20Box%201990s%20(By%20Artist).pdf \|title=U.S. Cash Box Chart Entries – 1990 – 1996 \|access-date=2018-05-30 \|archive-date=2018-07-22 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722235226/http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/popmusichistory/Charts/Cash%20Box%201990s%20(By%20Artist).pdf \|url-status=dead }} \| 5

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1993) !Position
scope="row"\|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2339&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2339.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2339\|title=The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993\|magazine=RPM\|publisher=Library and Archives Canada\|access-date=November 9, 2019}} \| 96

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1993)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2339&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2339.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2339|title=The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993|magazine=RPM|publisher=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=November 9, 2019}}

| 96

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1994) !Position
scope="row"\|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web\|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1994\|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1994\|access-date=August 27, 2010\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121519/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1994\|archive-date=March 1, 2009}} \| 92

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1994)

!Position

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1994|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1994|access-date=August 27, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121519/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1994|archive-date=March 1, 2009}}

| 92

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1995) !Position
scope="row"\|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web\|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1995\|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1995\|access-date=August 27, 2010\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815124541/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1995\|archive-date=August 15, 2009}} \| 44
scope="row"\|US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-12-23.pdf\|title=The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=107\|issue=51\|page=YE-80\|date=December 23, 1995\|access-date=August 28, 2021\|archive-date=June 28, 2021\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628190958/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-12-23.pdf\|url-status=live}} \| 16
scope="row"\|US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=The Year in Music 1995: Top 40/Mainstream Top Titles\|magazine=Airplay Monitor\|volume=3\|issue=51\|page=8\|date=December 15, 1995}} \| 38

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1995)

!Position

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1995|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1995|access-date=August 27, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815124541/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1995|archive-date=August 15, 2009}}

| 44

scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-12-23.pdf|title=The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=107|issue=51|page=YE-80|date=December 23, 1995|access-date=August 28, 2021|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628190958/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-12-23.pdf|url-status=live}}

| 16

scope="row"|US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 1995: Top 40/Mainstream Top Titles|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=3|issue=51|page=8|date=December 15, 1995}}

| 38

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"\|Region !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Format(s) !scope="col"\|Label(s) !scope="col"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row"\|United States \|September 7, 1993 \|{{hlist\|Album rock\|alternative radio}} \|rowspan="2"\|Island \|{{cite magazine\|title=Nirvana, Meilencamp Ready Sept. Sets\|last=Flick\|first=Larry\|author-link=Larry Flick\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=105\|issue=36\|page=12\|date=September 4, 1993\|quote='I'm The Only One' goes to album-rock and alternative radio Sept. 7.}}
scope="row"\|United Kingdom \|November 1, 1993 \|{{hlist\|7-inch vinyl\|CD\|cassette}} \|{{cite magazine\|title=Single Releases\|magazine=Music Week\|page=27\|date=October 30, 1993}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United States

|September 7, 1993

|{{hlist|Album rock|alternative radio}}

|rowspan="2"|Island

|{{cite magazine|title=Nirvana, Meilencamp Ready Sept. Sets|last=Flick|first=Larry|author-link=Larry Flick|magazine=Billboard|volume=105|issue=36|page=12|date=September 4, 1993|quote='I'm The Only One' goes to album-rock and alternative radio Sept. 7.}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|November 1, 1993

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|{{cite magazine|title=Single Releases|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=October 30, 1993}}

References

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

External links

[http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/E/Etheridge,_Melissa/Discography/Singles/I'm_the_Only_One/ musicmoz.org]

Category:1993 singles

Category:1993 songs

Category:Island Records singles

Category:Melissa Etheridge songs

Category:Music videos directed by David Hogan

Category:Song recordings produced by Hugh Padgham

Category:Songs written by Melissa Etheridge