night shift--comnmodores--first song out of the gate in the post-lionel richie era..big hit, never matched again

jamiroquai- space cowboy--decent album version, kick ass house mix--public turns fickle

sinead o'connor--nothing compares 2 u--#1 single thrusts opinionated singer into the limelight, gets uncomfortable with fame, lashes out, becomes bitter

meltwithu said:

"Space Cowboy" did not ruin Jamiroquai's career.To the contrary.It paved the way for their massive 1997 worldwide hit "Virtual Insanity".

The Thong Song - Sisqo
He was a well-respected, talented member of Dru Hill who had done a few solo releases on various soundtracks. Nevertheless, he was expected to have a huge solo career until he released that song. It became a really huge hit for him, but in the minds of a lot of people (especially those listeners who were not familiar with his R&B work with Dru Hill), it was a novelty song; he had a decent follow-up hit with "Incomplete" but after that, the mainstream audience refused to take his music seriously and associated him with the goofy song and colored hair.



Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.
This was also a huge hit, as the hit movie needed a theme song, but the song itself was a huge departure from the R&B music that Ray Parker Jr. had made before that it was also seen as a novelty, if not a creative sellout.


Take My Breath Away - Berlin
I personally liked this song, but as Terri Nunn had told VH1, it was much more mainstream than the music that they had recorded up to that point, and it caused a rift in the band that eventually led to its demise. The rift may have actually been there for some time prior to the release of that song, but its subsequent success may have brought it to the surface.

Always - Atlantic Starr
It was the biggest hit of the band's career, but it also signified the shift in their musical style from funky, dance-oriented R&B to adult contemporary.

We Built This City--Starship

Don't Worry Be Happy--Bobby McFerrin

Bangles "Walk Like An Egyptian"

This song is probably their most famous, but the only thing their drummer did on it was the whistle solo. The band really does not have fond memories of recording this.

This is a interesting subject. I completely agree with the comments about Ray Parker Jr., Atlantic Starr, and Bobby McFerrin. It's sad when an artist has a life time of creative work, only to be known for one song.

I have to add on Deniece Williams to this sad list, "Let's Hear It For the Boy" put her in a one-hit wonder category to people who don't know anything about music and the artist. Real music fans remember her as apart of Wonderlove, the great Maurice White/Charles Stephany produced songs, also the Thom Bell and George Duke productions, even though George Duke produced LHIFTB.

Also, "Rhythm of the Night" fucked up DeBarge's career, but the real fans know about the great DeBarge songs prior to..., the solo works of El and Chico, Switch, not to mention the Tupac and Biggie samples of DeBarge songs.

Thriller81 said:

That's a good example!

jacko-earth song

Damn u jarvis cocker

Thriller81 said:

It kills me that a lot of people only know her by that song. IMHO, hers is the most beautiful voice of her era, and she made a lot of great music under the guidance of Maurice White. I cannot listen to Let's Hear It for the Boy.