Year: 1990
Chart Position: #2
Last year's Worst Songs position: unranked
First, God only knew. Then, God was one of us. And now, at number 43: God as Peeping Tom.
Songwriter Julie Gold wrote "From a Distance" in 1985 (recorded first by Nanci Griffiths in 1987) but it wasn't until Bette Midler's maudlin recording that the song took off. It won Song of the Year at the 1991 Grammys and became a favorite of Gulf War soldiers. Personally, I think this song could have been used in a Noriega-style music attack on Saddam Hussein, playing it day and night until he surrendered, but maybe I'm just too cynical.
Many interpretations abound: the "distance" is Heaven, from which God watches us and everything is perfect. Or -- that God Himself is distant, watching us humans mess up but not getting involved. Or -- more cynical even -- that perfection is always at a distance, that we can keep moving towards it but it's always just right over there..
Whew. There. That's the most I ever want to think about this insipid inspirational ballad. Bring on the Falco!
Fun Fact: Julie Gold was working as a secretary at HBO when she penned this song.
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