“One of Us” is a song written by Eric Bazilian (of The Hooters) and originally released by Joan Osborne. Released in March 1995 on the album Relish and produced by Rick Chertoff, it became a Top 40 hit in November of that year. The song is the theme song for the American television series Joan of Arcadia. The song was nominated for three Grammys and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. (More from Wikipedia)
Among other things, the hit song from the Joan Osborne album, “One of Us” turns the notion of man being created in God’s image on its head: “What if God was one of us? / Just a slob like one of us / Just a stranger on the bus / Tryin’ to make his way home?”. The singer then asks: “If God had a name, what would it be? / And would you call it to his face, / If you were faced with Him in all His glory? / What would you ask if you had just one question?”
Writing for Allmusic, Roch Parisien says of this Joan Osborne song: “Key track ‘One of Us’ sets the disc’s optimistic tone. It’s a simple, direct statement of faith, honest and unadorned, one framed in a near-perfect chorus and delectable Neil Young-ish guitar riff. This isn’t one of those sugary, superficial, goody-two-shoes Amy Grant kind of deals.”
(November 2014)
