1976 Yacht Rock Classic, Written in 10 Minutes, Became a Signature Love Anthem and TV Jingle
In the mid '70s, Johanna Hall developed a track for the soft rock band the Orleans after being asked a question by a friend about love. The track would end up becoming a yacht rock staple that also became a TV jingle.
The Orleons had made a name for themselves in 1975 when they released the track "Dance With Me," which landed them at No. 6 on the charts. A year later, in 1976, they released the song "Still the One," written by Johanna Hall and John Hall for their album Waking and Dreaming. It would land at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and No. 6 on Cashbox.
Both John and bass player Lance Hoppen recall how Johanna was asked by a close friend why musicians can't write a song about a couple staying together. At the time, a majority of popular tracks involved heartache or hurtful breakups.
"A friend of ours was going through a divorce and asked Johanna (Hall's wife and lyricist) to write a song about a couple staying together," said John to SongFacts. "So she did, and she handed me the finished lyric on the back of an envelope and said, 'Do you think you can do anything with this?' I wrote the music to it in 10 minutes, which was a good sign."
Other reports state that Johanna felt the spark of inspiration while doing laundry, and the lyrics were written on the back of a napkin. Regardless, their producer, Chuck Plotkin, knew it would become a hit track, despite them having reservations about it being the lead single for the band's album. "Still the One" became a certified love anthem that critics felt was a perfect follow-up to their other track "Dance With Me."
Johanna recalled how she thought no marriage or relationship is perfect. "It's a song that tries to reflect a reality that you can be in love with someone, and they can be in love with you, and you can have mostly really great times together, and still go through troubled times and difficult spots. And it's an opportunity for spiritual growth, or for personal growth. The test is whether you get through them."
"Still the One" Became a TV jingle for ABC
The soft rock track had an interesting use a few years later. In 1977, "Still the One" was used as a jingle by the American Broadcasting Company, also known as ABC. It was largely used as a way to promote the network's list of programs for the 1977-78 TV season, and was used again the following season.
As a result, a lot of ABC affiliates also used the track to promote strong ratings, with the lyrics sometimes adapted for local advertisements. In 1995 and 2002, ABC made two versions of "Still the One" and even used it for a Burger King commercial.
The use of the track ran into a hiccup when it was used during the 2004 Bush campaign. John Hall, who was an Orleans co-founder and future Democratic congressman, stated the campaign didn't ask permission and dropped it from their rotation. A similar incident happened years later with the John McCain campaign.
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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 5:43 PM.