Still the One
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1970s |
Key people | John Hall, Johanna Hall, Larry Hoppen, Wells Kelly, Lance Hoppen |
| Products | Music recordings, singles, albums |
Still the One is a track composed by Johanna Hall and John Hall, performed by the soft rock ensemble Orleans and featured on their 1976 record Waking and Dreaming. The song climbed to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 1977, country artist Bill Anderson delivered a notable rendition that reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles rankings.
Song lyrics
This lively love tune conveys lasting affection within a long-standing partnership, highlighting themes of trust, emotional connection, attraction, and intimacy, affirming that the partner remains "the one" even after many years together.
Background
Lance Hoppen, bassist for Orleans, mentions that Johanna Hall penned the lyrics following a friend's suggestion to write about commitment rather than separation. She jotted down the words on an envelope, which John Hall then set to music in roughly fifteen minutes. John Hall remarked that "Still the One" was not originally intended as the primary single from Waking and Dreaming, but producer Chuck Plotkin was a strong advocate for its release.
Record World commended the song as an appropriate successor to "Dance with Me," noting its ringing guitars and assured vocal harmonies.
The single’s B-side featured "Siam Sam," a non-album composition sung by Wells Kelly and co-written with Chris Myers.
Personnel
- John Hall – electric guitar, backing vocals
- Larry Hoppen – electric piano, lead vocals, electric guitar, bass
- Wells Kelly – backing vocals, tambourine
In popular culture
ABC utilized "Still the One" as a promotional jingle during its top-rated TV seasons in 1977 and 1979. The song was adapted for local station advertisements and re-recorded by ABC in both 1995 and 2002. It also appeared in Burger King commercials from 1996 to 1997.
Despite moderate chart performance in Australia, The Nine Network extensively used the song from the late 1970s through the mid-2000s. Additionally, it was featured in promotional campaigns for EM TV in Papua New Guinea and Sky Television in the United Kingdom.
During the U.S. presidential elections of 2004 and 2008, John Hall publicly opposed unauthorized uses of his song by Republican candidates. The chorus was performed at the 2008 Democratic National Convention following Senator Ted Kennedy's address.
A reimagined version promoted Oklahoma City’s Riverwind Casino between 2018 and 2019. The original recording was included in a 2020 Applebee's television advertisement.
Charts
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Weekly charts
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 61 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles | 9 |
| Canada RPM Adult Contemporary | 43 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ) | 31 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Easy Listening | 33 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1976) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Canada | 100 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 82 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 76 |
Bill Anderson version
American country singer-songwriter Bill Anderson recorded "Still the One," releasing it as a single in 1977 through MCA Records. The song achieved significant success during 1977-78.
The recording session took place on December 13, 1976, in Nashville with producer Buddy Killen, who had recently succeeded longtime producer Owen Bradley. This session yielded only this track.
Issued as a single in October 1977, Anderson's rendition remained on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart for twelve weeks, peaking at number 11 by June. This marked one of his last major hits; his final top ten appearance occurred in 1978, with his last top twenty single released in 1979. In Canada, it reached number 13 on RPM's Country Songs chart.
This cover was Anderson's second successful single following his 1969 hit "But You Know I Love You." It was included on his 1977 album Scorpio, which also contained the popular track "Head to Toe."
7" vinyl single
- "Still the One" – 3:20
- "This Ole Suitcase" – 4:14
Chart performance
Template:Single chart| Chart (1977) | Highest ranking |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Songs (RPM) | 13 |