"He Could Be the One" by Josie Cotton

Song#:  1144
Date:  08/21/1982
Debut:  90
Peak:  74
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Pop, New Wave



Pop Bits:  Texan Cotton packed up her notebook of songs and demos and headed out to California in search of fame. A one-off single written by Cotton's boyfriend and his brother, the controversial "Johnny, Are You Queer?," got the attention of Elektra Records who ended up signing Cotton. A reissue of that single prompted the full album "Convertible Music" and this next single was released. It circled the bottom quarter of the chart for a while and would become Cotton's highest peaking tune. Both songs got further exposure thanks to the 1983 movie "Valley Girl," in which Cotton performed the songs in the film during a prom scene. The tunes made it to the soundtrack album along with a third.

ReduxReview:  This is a tasty slice of girl group-influenced new wave that should have gotten more attention. It's the kind of thing that Tracey Ullman cashed in on the following year. Cotton's mousy voice is a great fit for the style. Although she didn't write this one, her own compositions on "Convertible Music" are just as good. If you like this song, check out Cotton's two albums for Elektra. They are full of solid retro pop.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Although not a pop chart hit, "Johnny, Are You Queer" got Cotton a lot of attention (both good and bad). The Paine brothers (Larson and Bobby) came up with the retro tune and gave it to a band they were managing - The Go-Go's. It became part of the band's live set and the intent was for them to record the song. However, things happened and The Go-Go's and the Paines parted way leaving the song in limbo. Cotton lobbied hard to the brothers (she was dating Larson at the time) to let her sing the song. They finally relented and it got released as a single on Bomp! Records in 1981, which led to Cotton's contract with Elektra.

_________________________________________________________________________________