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Printablepzlyprk said: I've never liked the term "one hit wonder", the way it's thrown around in the U.S. The American music scene has continually churned out and thrown away many an artist that critics deem one hit wonders, because America has musical ADHD -- they move on to the next big thing/genre faster than I can say look at that shiny object over there. Many of these artists may have only had one Top 40 hit in the states, but they had multiple hits (and albums) elsewhere around the world (and rightly so). I kinda laugh when watching shows about one hit wonders on VH1, because more than half of the artists listed had longer careers than you're lead to believe. They never count multiple hits on other charts besides Top 40 POP (apparently they couldn't possibly count those as hits). Sorry, rant over.
No problem, this rant is quite justified. I'm not American but I don't see any reason why this wouldn't be the case. Cutting edge is something record companies are constantly looking for. But the truth is, it's like in the movie business and what author and screenwriter William Goldman said: "Nobody knows anything in Hollywood." Which means, if they always knew the ingredients to a hit movie, there would never be any flops. 2012 was supposed to be huge commercial hit, it actually wasn't. They said that Avatar would win the Oscar for best film, Hurt Locker did. | |
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Dexy's Midnight Runners probably get tagged as one hit wonders in the USA, and they are certainly best known all over for Come on Eileen.
But the Dexy's were much, much more than a one track band. Debut record "Searching for the young soul rebels" is a stone cold classic, and subsequent L Ps "Too-Rye_Ay" and "Don't Stand Me Down" are very strong records on their own merit. "Don't Stand Me Down" in particular is getting more critical praise these days. Kevin Rowland is a tortured soul, and the downfall of the Dexy's contributed to his questionable state of mind around the release of his debut solo album, but as a group, their material stands up. Love them “If I can shoot rabbits/then I can shoot fascists” | |
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MrGravyLumps said: Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You. A simple rocking kind of a song with some nice guitar work by the man. Totally danceable too. The rest of the album did not match this hit single. I think it was around 1994 when it came out.
He was a part of really great early 80's band as well named Orange Juice. | |
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sermwanderer said: Dexy's Midnight Runners probably get tagged as one hit wonders in the USA, and they are certainly best known all over for Come on Eileen.
But the Dexy's were much, much more than a one track band. Debut record "Searching for the young soul rebels" is a stone cold classic, and subsequent L Ps "Too-Rye_Ay" and "Don't Stand Me Down" are very strong records on their own merit. "Don't Stand Me Down" in particular is getting more critical praise these days.  
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pzlyprk said: I've never liked the term "one hit wonder", the way it's thrown around in the U.S. The American music scene has continually churned out and thrown away many an artist that critics deem one hit wonders, because America has musical ADHD -- they move on to the next big thing/genre faster than I can say look at that shiny object over there. Many of these artists may have only had one Top 40 hit in the states, but they had multiple hits (and albums) elsewhere around the world (and rightly so). I kinda laugh when watching shows about one hit wonders on VH1, because more than half of the artists listed had longer careers than you're lead to believe. They never count multiple hits on other charts besides Top 40 POP (apparently they couldn't possibly count those as hits). Sorry, rant over.
Well America always misses the boat, and has applied the Laughable term to artists that had more than one hit, case in point, Rick Springfield was called a "one hit" wonder on a abc tv special by Oprah, he had 18 top 40hits, the term is "top 40 Hit" so that to me says if it makes it to 40 its technically a hit, so putting bands like Simple Minds and a-ha on the list is wrong, and this isnt because they still record or have had tons of hits overseas, but they did technically also have other "hits" a-ha's second US single peaked at number 20 sorry thats a hit america, Simple Minds had 7 other top 40 hits besides "Dont You Forget About Me" so once again one hit wonder is a stupid term especially when applied incorrectly. "We went where our music was appreciated, and that was everywhere but the USA, we knew we had fans, but there is only so much of the world you can play at once" Magne F | |
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Tortilla said: MrGravyLumps said: Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You. A simple rocking kind of a song with some nice guitar work by the man. Totally danceable too. The rest of the album did not match this hit single. I think it was around 1994 when it came out.
He was a part of really great early 80's band as well named Orange Juice. Yeah, I actually found a some kind of a collection of OJ recently at the library. Cool stuff! | |
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SoulAlive said: A case in point...
I just googled "VH1's Top 100 One-Hit Wonders of the 80s" and they have the nerve to list Patrice Rushen on there!!  They're implying that "Forget Me Nots" was her only hit!I was going to comment on the foolishness of calling Minnie Riperton one, but now that you've added in Patrice Rushen, it just clarifies how little these kinds of lists mean. Of course, I guess it all depends on who is creating them, but..... Never trust anything spoken in the presence of an erection.
H Michael Frase | |
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