Who would pay $45 to see Joan Osborne?
by Katie
My Seychelleois flatmate in Nice was an ok guy. He used to play Nirvana songs on an acoustic guitar in his room. When I thought I was home alone and practiced my vocal acrobatics on “Star Witness” by Neko Case, he didn’t even make too much fun of me! Unlike our other flatmate, (who was a smug, condescending asshat) Billy didn’t speak any English. This made it all the more hilarious when, one day, I overheard him singing “One of Us,” that mid-90s, easy listening staple that makes me want to vomit out my ears with its pseudo-philosophical vagaries and cloying chorus of “Yeah, yeah, God is great/yeah, yeah, God is good.” Also worth noting: she’s only talking about the Christian god, so, sorry, heathens!
I guess some people disagree, though, because Joan Osborne continues to tour, and for the low price of $45 (plus Ticketmaster fees, surely) you too can experience that lady with that one hit song from 14 years ago singing at a concert hall in suburban Maryland. Great!
Joan Osborne, The Holmes Brothers and Paul Thorn at Strathmore
Music Center at Strathmore (North Bethesda, MD)
Friday, Nov. 13 @ 8:00pmFull Price: $45.00
Grammy-nominated singer Joan Osborne headlines a show at Strathmore. Osborne’s single “One of Us” was a #1 hit, propelling her 1995 album Relish to triple-platinum status. The evening also features the Holmes Brothers, known for their blend of rock, blues and gospel, and Mississippi heartland singer Paul Thorn.
Well, I’m sold!
Also note, hip friends, that’s not Paul Thornley, but Paul Thorn, singer of such memorably titled ditties as “Viagra.”
My limited economics background suggests that for these tickets to be this expensive, there must be some demand for Joan Osborne to sing these songs in a fairly large space, and there must be people willing to actually pay that much money to see her. This astounds me. Sure, these people aren’t giving their money to a murderer’s defense fund, or hate groups, but if they were, at least the money would be going toward something they believed in, rather than some shitty easy listening, ear-vomit-inducing garbage.
I’m pretty sure Joan Osborne is too granola for right wingers. So who exactly listens to her?
Funny you should ask! I personally offended some guy named George by suggesting that an artist being billed as ‘the lady that sang that one song forever ago’ had anything less than an “impressive… body of work.” I didn’t publish his comment because it devolved into some trollish personal attacks on me. Also because I figured if he ever came back, it’d piss him off.
I was always confused by this song. Wasn’t Jesus (as part of the Holy Trinity), “born of Mary and became man”, making him one of us? Wasn’t that one of the main reasons for his coming? So her question is moot. I never really liked her or this song.
if god was one of us, i hope he’s not one of the crazies on the 90.
Joan Osborne should pay $45 to see me! Or at least $35.
Now if she were touring with the Funk Brothers and redoing the stuff she did with them in “Standing in the shadows of Motown” then it would be worth the cash.
For the Funk Brothers, of course, not Joan…..