In the mid-70s Joanna Hall She wrote a song for the soft rock band The Orleans after a friend asked her if she was in love. The song eventually became a yacht rock hit and even made it into a TV theme song.
The Orleons rose to fame in 1975 with the release of "Dance With Me," which reached number 6 on the charts. A year later, in 1976, they released "Still the One," written by Joanna Hall и John Hall for their album Waking and Dreaming. She reached number 5 on the chart. Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the Cashbox chart.
Both John and the bassist Lance Hoppen They recall a close friend asking Joanna why musicians couldn't write a song about a couple who stays together. At the time, most popular songs were about heartache or painful breakups. .
«"A friend of ours was going through a divorce and asked Joanna (Hall's wife and lyricist) to write a song about a couple staying together," John told SongFacts. "She wrote it and then handed me the finished lyrics on the back of an envelope and asked, 'Do you think you can do anything with this?' I wrote the music in 10 minutes, which was a good sign.".
Other sources say that Yohanna felt inspired while doing laundry, and the lyrics were written on the back of a napkin. However, their producer, Chuck Plotkin , knew the song would be a hit, despite doubts about it being the band's album's lead single. "Still the One" became a acclaimed love anthem, which critics considered the perfect follow-up to their other song, "Dance With Me.".
Johanna recalled how she believed that perfect marriages and relationships don't exist. "This song tries to capture the reality that you can be in love with someone, and they can be in love with you, and you can spend mostly wonderful times together, but also go through difficult times and challenging situations. And that's an opportunity for spiritual growth or personal development. The test is whether you can overcome them.".
The song "Still the One" became an advertising slogan for the ABC television channel.
A few years later, this soft rock composition found an interesting use. In 1977, "Still the One" was used as a jingle by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). It was primarily used to promote the network's programming during the 1977-78 television season and was later used for the following season.
As a result, many ABC affiliates also used the song to boost ratings, and the lyrics were sometimes adapted for local commercials. In 1995 and 2002, ABC released two versions of "Still the One" and even used it in a Burger King commercial.
The use of a treadmill caused problems during the Bush campaign in 2004. John Hall, one of the founders of Orleans and a future Democratic congressman, claimed the campaign had not requested permission and excluded it from its route. A similar incident occurred several years later during the campaign. John McCain .
See also: A 1975 soft rock ballad that topped the charts for 20 weeks and became a defining anthem.
This article was originally published by Parade on May 30, 2026, in the Entertainment section. Add Parade to your list of recommended sources by clicking here.