It was after relocating to New York City in the early '90s (to study at N.Y.U.'s film school) that Osborne began to take a singing career seriously after singing Billie Holiday's classic "God Bless the Child" at a local bar's "open mic night." In addition to Holiday, Osborne looked to such legendary vocalists as Etta James and Ray Charles as role models, as the up-and-coming singer decided not to cater to major record companies and formed her own label, Womanly Hips, which resulted in such releases as 1992's in-concert Soul Show, among others. But eventually, Osborne decided to sign on with a major label, Mercury, which in turn issued the singer's next release, 'Relish,' in March 1995. The album eventually racked up sales of three million copies and proved to have a long life, as almost a year after its initial release the track "One of Us" became a massive MTV and radio smash, camping out at the number-one spot on the U.S. singles chart for 2 weeks. Other tracks ("Right Hand Man" and "St. Teresa") failed to match the success of Osborne's first hit, but the singer still managed to connect with a large and appreciative audience, especially while touring as part of the 1997 edition of Sarah McLachlan's Lilith Fair tour. Osborne received numerous Grammy nominations in both 1996 and 1997.
Producing a worthy followup to Relish proved to be a time-consuming challenge for Osborne. Mercury tried to buy her some time by issuing a compilation release, 'Early Recordings' (which collected the early releases 'Live at Delta '88' and 'Blue Million Miles'). In the meantime, Osborne focused on supporting a few groups/causes she felt strongly about, such as Rock the Vote and Planned Parenthood (eventually being named an honorary member of Planned Parenthood's Board of Advocates), besides covering "I'm Just a Bill" as a duet with Isaac Hayes on the 1998 'Schoolhouse Rocks the Vote' benefit album. Osborne also studied briefly with the late Qawwali master Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and performed alongside such notables as Stevie Wonder, Melissa Etheridge, Taj Mahal, Luciano Pavarotti, Spearhead, Bob Dylan, and the Chieftains.
September 2000 finally saw the release of Osborne's second all-new studio album, titled 'Righteous Love'; but it failed to match its predecessor's commercial success and sank from sight shortly after its release. In 2002, Osborne bounced back with 'How Sweet It Is,' a collection of covers that leaned heavily on classic soul and R&B tunes from the 1960s and '70s. A career retrospective, 'One of Us,' came out in 2005.
Osborne played a prominent role in the 2002 film "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," performing with the legendary Motown house band the Funk Brothers in a concert performance segment, and appearing with several members of the group in an interview segment. She and her band accompanied the Dixie Chicks for a national tour in the summer of 2003, during which time she also joined veteran San Francisco jam-rockers the Dead as a vocalist, and released her fourth album, titled 'How Sweet It Is,' a collection of classic rock and soul covers.
During 2005 and 2006, she performed on numerous occasions with Phil Lesh and Friends. In February 2007, she appeared at the Grand Ole Opry.
In November 2006, Osborne released 'Pretty Little Stranger,' her self-described "Nashville album."
In May 2007, Osborne issued 'Breakfast in Bed,' a return to the soul music that she had covered on 'How Sweet It Is'. 'Breakfast in Bed' also featured the two songs ("Heatwave" and "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted") that she had covered for the film Standing in the Shadows of Motown.
She sings lead vocals on the cover of "Spoonful" on Vivian Campbell's solo album 'Two Sides Of If'.' Osborne also provided some vocals for "Wayfaring Stranger" on Spearhead's 1997 album 'Chocolate Supa Highway.' Joan is featured on The Holmes Brothers 2007 collection 'State of Grace' performing "Those Memories of You," an old Allan O'Bryant and Bill Monroe bluegrass tune.
Her album Bring It On Home was released on March 27, 2012. It is a collection of vintage blues and soul covers, and it received a 2013 Grammy Awards nomination for Best Blues Album.
Osborne was a member of Trigger Hippy from 2012 to 2018.
Osborne released the original album Love and Hate in 2014, and in 2017 the album Songs of Bob Dylan. A new album of original songs, Trouble and Strife, is due in September 2020.
Everybody is a Star
Joan Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who can rain and chase the dust away
Everybody wants to shine
Ooh, come out on a cloudy day
'Til the sun that loves you proud
When the system tries to bring you down
Every hand to shine tonight
You don't need darkness to do what you think is right
Everybody is a star
I can feel it when you shine on me
I love you for who you are
Not the one you feel you need to be
Ever catch a falling star
Ain't no stopping 'til it's in the ground
Everybody is a star
One big circle going round and round
In Joan Osborne's song "12 Everybody is a Star," she speaks about how every single individual is special in their own way. The opening lines, "Everybody is a star, who can rain and chase the dust away," indicates that everyone has a unique attribute that helps them shine and overcome any obstacle that's put before them. The second line, "Everybody wants to shine, ooh, come out on a cloudy day," highlights the idea that everyone wants to be successful and stand out in their own way, even in difficult times.
The lyric, "Til the sun that loves you proud, when the system tries to bring you down, every hand to shine tonight, you don't need darkness to do what you think is right," showcases the idea that even when individuals are trying to put you down, you should remain yourself and continue to pursue your dreams. The line "you don't need darkness to do what you think is right" reminds the listener that one doesn't have to hide their true self to fit in with societal norms.
The chorus, "Everybody is a star, I can feel it when you shine on me, I love you for who you are, not the one you feel you need to be," reflects the idea that every person should be loved for who they are, not for the person they pretend to be. The final line of the chorus, "One big circle going round and round," suggests that everyone is connected and every person has their special place in life's cycle.
Overall, Joan Osborne's song "12 Everybody is a Star" is a message of positivity, self-affirmation, and authenticity.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody is a star
It is believed that everyone on this planet is special and has something unique about themselves that shines bright.
Who can rain and chase the dust away
Only those who have a strong personality and determination can face and overcome difficulties and obstacles that come in their path.
Everybody wants to shine
It is a universal human desire to be recognized, appreciated, and respected by others for their efforts and abilities.
Ooh, come out on a cloudy day
Even in the bleakest of circumstances and most unfavorable situations, you can be a ray of hope and inspiration to yourself and others.
Til the sun that loves you proud
You don't need to seek validation or acceptance from anyone else when you have the confidence and self-belief to be proud of who you are.
When the system tries to bring you down
Certain people, organizations or societies may try to oppress, discourage or undermine your abilities and potential, but you must stand up to them and shine through.
Every hand to shine tonight
We should appreciate and acknowledge the talents and accomplishments of not just ourselves but others too, and inspire them to shine bright in their own unique way.
You don't need darkness to do what you think is right
Even in the face of adversity or resistance, one should stay true to their values and ideals, and continue to strive for what they believe is right.
I can feel it when you shine on me
We all have a glowing aura that impacts the people around us, and when we share our positivity and light, we can make a difference to others' lives.
I love you for who you are
The true essence of love lies in accepting and embracing someone for their authentic selves, rather than their pretenses or masks.
Not the one you feel you need to be
People often feel the pressure to conform to societal expectations, but true love means accepting and loving someone regardless of their labels or identities.
Ever catch a falling star
We should always try to chase our dreams and aspirations, even if they seem out of reach or impossible, as long as we are willing to put in the effort and hard work to catch them.
Ain't no stopping 'til it's in the ground
Once you have set a goal or a vision for yourself, there should be no stopping or giving up on it until you have achieved it, regardless of how many times you have failed or fallen.
One big circle going round and round
Life is a journey that moves in a cycle of birth, growth, change, and rebirth, and each of us is a part of this cosmic dance that connects us all together.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SYLVESTER STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind