Introduction:
There are songs that blaze like firecrackers—loud, dazzling, unforgettable in the moment—but then fade into memory as the years move on. And then, there are songs like “The Proud One” by The Osmonds, quiet masterpieces that don’t always shout for attention but instead whisper straight to the soul. Released in 1975 and performed live on Top of the Pops, this ballad remains one of the group’s most moving and tender offerings, yet time has let it drift into the shadows of nostalgia, overlooked beside their bigger hits. For those who take the time to listen, however, “The Proud One” is nothing less than a hidden jewel—a song that deserves to be cherished as one of the Osmonds’ most heartfelt gifts to music.
The Osmonds were often celebrated for their harmonies, energy, and youthful charisma. Audiences remember the playful bounce of “One Bad Apple” or the rock-driven power of “Crazy Horses.” But in “The Proud One,” they offered something far more intimate and vulnerable. With gentle orchestration and a melody that feels like a sigh, the song speaks to themes of resilience, love, and the quiet dignity of standing tall in the face of life’s storms. It’s a piece that doesn’t just entertain—it speaks, comforts, and lingers.
Their performance on Top of the Pops in 1975 captured this essence beautifully. Gone were the flashy showpieces or choreographed numbers; instead, the spotlight fell on the sincerity of their voices and the raw emotion of the lyrics. There was something striking about seeing the Osmonds, often cast as the all-American pop family, delivering a ballad so tender and grown-up. It showed not just their talent, but their ability to transcend categories—to be more than a teen sensation, to be true storytellers of the human heart.
Over time, the song slipped into the margins, remembered only by devoted fans and collectors. Perhaps it was because it wasn’t as commercially explosive as their earlier hits, or perhaps it was overshadowed by changing musical tides in the mid-70s. But listening today, “The Proud One” feels timeless. Its message—that even in hardship, there is pride in love, in endurance, in simply holding on—rings as true now as it did nearly fifty years ago.
What makes forgotten songs like this so powerful is the way they re-emerge when you least expect them. Hearing “The Proud One” now is like opening an old letter from a dear friend, finding words you didn’t realize you needed. It’s tender, it’s earnest, and it’s a reminder of what The Osmonds could do at their very best: move hearts not through spectacle, but through sincerity.
In the grand story of The Osmonds’ career, “The Proud One” may not stand at the center, but it shines quietly from the side, like a candle in the dark. It is a song worth rediscovering, worth holding close, and worth remembering as one of the group’s most beautiful, if forgotten, legacies.