Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: I'm the Only One (1993)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Melissa Etheridge sings this song as though her heart is breaking. What's your favorite love song? Is it about falling in love, being in love, or losing love? Being in love. It always makes me smile. It's simple and sweet and lovely.

2) "I'm the Only One" is a favorite song of American Idol contestants, having been performed four different times. If we were to have a Saturday 9 karaoke night, what song would you do? Joan Jett's "I Love Rock and Roll," because there's very little singing involved. I'm tone deaf.

3) A rocker at heart, Melissa Etheridge began her career in her teen years, playing with local country groups. Which do you enjoy more: country or rock? I once would have said "rock," without hesitation. Now it depends on my mood.

4) In 1985, Melissa sent a demo to Olivia Records, hoping for a record deal. She was rejected. Her debut CD was released in 1988 on the Island label and went gold. Tell us about a time you bounced back from professional adversity. I've had some genuinely horrible bosses. The worst was Patricia (don't call her Patty!). She preferred pink; she even had pink paperclips. She was also batshit crazy. I thought we bumped heads because she was uber political and more about self-aggrandizement than the work. She thought it was because we were adversaries in a past life, and if we didn't work it out now we'd continue clashing for eternity.

5) In her personal life, Melissa has faced major challenges, including breast cancer and the death of her son. She credits music with helping her heal emotionally. What gives you strength? My faith and my sense of humor.

6) Melissa is a vegetarian, so her diet emphasizes plant-based foods like fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables. What was your most recent meal? Would it qualify as vegetarian? Shredded chicken with barbecue sauce, with a side of corn, and an ice cream sandwich for dessert.

7) In 1993, the year this song was popular, a massive storm dropped a record 56" of snow in Mount Le Conte, TN. Have you done much shoveling this winter? We haven't had any accumulation yet this year (which is weird, since it's mid-January). But even if we did, I wouldn't shovel it. The condo association pays a service.

8) One of the most popular movies of 1993 was A Few Good Men, starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Jack Nicholson, who famously said, "You can't handle the truth!" What's the most recent movie you watched? Everything Is Copy, a documentary about writer/director Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail) by her son, Jacob Bernstein. I enjoyed it not only because Nora Ephron is a heroine of mine, but because it made me wonder what I would have learned about my mother if I'd taken the opportunity to sit down with her friends and relatives and ask about her life.

9) Random question: Dessert is on us! Describe your perfect ice cream sundae. Mint chocolate chip ice cream, hot fudge, nuts, whipped cream and a cherry. (Cherry is optional. I'm not crazy about the taste, but I like the visual.)