Melissa Etheridge “Occasionally” released as B-side

 

Occasionally Melissa Etheridge

Writer(s): Melissa Etheridge (see lyrics here) Released: April 27, 1988 (B-side of “Bring Me Some Water”) First Charted: -- Peak: 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.17 video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: When I look at some of my favorite albums of the 1980s, a pattern emerges. First, the album that tends to become the pinnacle for me isn’t necessarily the debut album, but it is the one which introduced me to that act. Second, I usually am led to the album by a big radio hit that everyone has embraced. The element that pushes the album to classic status for me, however, is when some non-radio song on the album grabs my attention – and sometimes becomes even more of a favorite for me than the hits. I was introduced to Marillion’s Misplaced Childhood via “Kayleigh” but then also fell in love with “Childhood’s End?” I found my way to Tears for Fears’ Songs from the Big Chair through “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and “Shout” but was even more enamored with “The Working Hour.” Terence Trent D’Arby caught my attention with “Wishing Well” but Introducing the Hardline became a classic for me because of “As Yet Untitled.” Melissa Etheridge’s 1988 self-titled debut is another such example. I learned about the singer because “Bring Me Some Water” got airplay on album rock stations. However, the album became one of my all-time favorites because of “Occasionally.” Like some of the other examples cited, this wasn’t a song which was likely to be released as a single. That’s part of what made it stand out. In this case, the song was practically a cappella. Melissa powerfully emotes “I’m only lonely when I’m driving in my car / I’m only lonely after dark / I’m only lonely when I watch my TV / I’m only lonely occasionally” while accompanying herself only with hand thumbs on her guitar. She explained that she wrote the song driving in her car and tapping on the steering wheel. It worked that way so she never added any more to it. She didn’t need to. It is an absolute classic in its powerful message delivered with such starkness. Related Links: First posted 8/4/2022.