# Do one hit wonders generally know they're one hit wonders? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [May 6, 2023, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655 "2023-05-06T04:09:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/121 "2023-05-08T23:16:48Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Personally, I use the definition of a one hit wonder being an artist who makes the top 40 once and never again. It’s not a statement of talent or success, the Grateful Dead were a very successful bad, but since they only had one top 40 hit they’re a one hit wonder. I disagree. I would say that it would be “Coming out of nowhere, scoring a hit, then never doing it again.” The “coming out of nowhere” is key. The Dead were around, everybody knew them for decades. So they were “one hit,” but hardly “wonders.” ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/122 "2023-05-08T23:22:01Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I disagree. I would say that it would be “Coming out of nowhere, scoring a hit, then never doing it again.” The “coming out of nowhere” is key. The Dead were around, everybody knew them for decades. So they were “one hit,” but hardly “wonders.” And I’m certainly not going to fight you tooth and nail over this. The Knack had another song that charted in the top 40, but most people still consider them to be a one hit wonder, so it’s not like the definition is objective exactly. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/123 "2023-05-08T23:23:58Z")
We all know what we mean. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/124 "2023-05-08T23:47:19Z")
> [@Blindmellowjelly](#): > > I’m just saying, how many of you know any deep cuts from ‘War’? The top ten is corporate syndication pop sensationalism. _The World is a Ghetto_ has several excellent cuts – the title song, “Four Cornered Room” and, of course “The Cisco Kid.” The album went to #1 and was named _Album of the Year_ by Billboard and is one of _Rolling Stone’s_ 500 greatest albums. The group had eight top-40 hits, and six gold albums. It released charting albums for over 15 years. These are all signs of a very successful group, not one that had one hit and faded into obscurity. ---
**Author:** ![Blindmellowjelly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindmellowjelly/32/13920_2.png) [@Blindmellowjelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blindmellowjelly)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/125 "2023-05-08T23:57:20Z")
Yea, but play any of that for your current students. Will they have your perniculated understanding and glory days of the band as a young one in the sixties, will they even care, or talk onerously of such a great band, my estimation is “No”. But they will know “Lowrider” because of Pop Culture. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/126 "2023-05-09T00:10:56Z")
> [@Blindmellowjelly](#): > > I’m just saying, how many of you know any deep cuts from ‘War’? Big fan - I had all their albums on vinyl, back in the dark ages when I still had vinyl. I’d be inclined to consider the two albums All Day Music and The World is a Ghetto as genuine masterpieces, well worth listing all the way through. Well, if you like extended jazz-funk instrumental jams and vocal harmonies. Two songs, [one long one from the first cited album](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER7O6IkEG9s) which builds to a strong finish. And a much shorter one from the second, [this rousing little march.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RDDHaAsZWA) I could go on 😀. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/127 "2023-05-09T00:22:11Z")
I know someone who is generally regarded as a one hit wonder, though, technically, they’re a two hit wonder. They know they’re regarded as a one hit wonder, and absolutely regard themselves as being wildly privileged to be in the set of musicians who have had any number of hits above zero. But no, they really didn’t realize it at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/128 "2023-05-09T01:41:40Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Toni Basil did [Mickey](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aqLwHP4y6Q) as a cheerleading video at a time when there was nowhere to really show it. She had made several other videos before that. She didn’t make them to promote music but as dance works. She was/is too busy elsewhere. > **[Toni Basil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Basil)** > > Antonia Christina Basilotta (born September 22, 1943), better known by her stage name Toni Basil, is an American singer, choreographer, dancer, actress, and director. Her song "Mickey" topped the charts in the US, Canada and Australia and hit the top ten in several other countries. > Basil was born Antonia Christina Basilotta on September 22, 1943, in Philadelphia. Her father led an orchestra, and her mother performed in vaudeville. Basil has Italian ancestry. > She was raised in Las Vegas, where... ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/129 "2023-05-09T17:50:07Z")
Yeah, that’s always been my ambition - to create that one song that’ll set me up for life. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/130 "2023-05-09T18:38:22Z")
I remember reading an interview with Ted Shackleford back when _Knots Landing_ was on the air. He talked about how some actors on a hit series feel that they should use their fame as a springboard on to bigger things and can’t wait to leave their show. But Shackleford said he figured being one of the leads on _Knots Landing_ was as high as his career was ever going to get and he was going to stay with it as long as he could. He did, in fact, remain on the series for all fourteen seasons. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/131 "2023-05-10T02:14:31Z")
Afroman, famous for his song “Because I Got High” has a song called [One Hit Wonder](https://youtu.be/BaKYvDuiskk). ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/132 "2023-05-10T07:41:34Z")
Well, looking at it cynically, the effort/reward ratio is excellent. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/133 "2023-05-10T10:05:01Z")
👍 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/134 "2023-05-10T10:39:05Z")
From interviews I’ve seen, one-hit wonders all generally believed that “this is just the beginning” It’s a funny thing, when you think about it. You have a group of musicians, generally technically proficient, the singer can sing well, and the songwriting had enough of the special sauce to be a hit. But then, everything else they try is either too similar to the original, or now lacks the special sauce. I can’t imagine how frustrating that must be. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/135 "2023-05-10T14:55:39Z")
It’s interesting how for many OHW their OH is completely different from all their other songs. Are there artists who completely changed their musical style once they figured out what everybody but their most loyal fans wanted? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/136 "2023-05-10T17:57:18Z")
Many artists have interest in more than one style. While recording a bunch of demos a song out of the usual vein might be played. If one of the Record Company minions (producer, A&R, etc.) thinks that song has potential things can quickly spin out of control as far as the artists are concerned. A far from OHW example. Per the liner notes for Blondie’s compilation _The Platinum Collection_, the band had been overseas and on the cab ride from the airport back in NYC, the cab’s radio played their song _Heart of Glass_. Except it wasn’t. The record company had taken the original tapes and made it much more of a disco song then they intended. And it was a hit already. On the way to #1. They had no clue about any of this. But it branded them as a “disco group” despite their very wide range of song styles used. Phil Spector was well known for playing all sorts of games with recordings to suit his purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/137 "2023-05-10T18:17:49Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > It’s interesting how for many OHW their OH is completely different from all their other songs. In the ‘60s that one hit early in an act’s music career was often a song composed by professionals from places like the Brill Buiding or their own producers… When the artists noticed that half the royalties were going to the songwriters they would start to insist that they only record their own compositions which were predictably in a different style and less marketable. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/138 "2023-05-10T18:46:07Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > The record company had taken the original tapes and made it much more of a disco song then they intended. While this is quite possibly true, Debbie Harry and Chris Stein who wrote the it new exactly what it was from the get go. Their working title for it in it’s rough stage was ‘the disco song’. They weren’t really particularly anti-disco as an aesthetic and their early fascination with rap comports with that - they were pretty much into all the new club scene music. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/139 "2023-05-10T18:54:40Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > A far from OHW example. Per the liner notes for Blondie’s compilation _The Platinum Collection_, the band had been overseas and on the cab ride from the airport back in NYC, the cab’s radio played their song _Heart of Glass_. Except it wasn’t. The record company had taken the original tapes and made it much more of a disco song then they intended. And it was a hit already. On the way to #1. They had no clue about any of this. But it branded them as a “disco group” despite their very wide range of song styles used. Interesting. I’ve heard different members of the band interviewed and while they always mention that Heart of Glass started in a completely different style, it was their own in studio experimentation with drum machines and synthesizers that landed them on the disco sound. > **[The Story Behind The Song: On ‘Heart of Glass’, Blondie ride a rebellious new...](https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/blondie-heart-of-glass-the-story-behind-the-song/)** > > On this day in 1979, Blondie's 'Heart of Glass' would top the UK charts and signal the moment Debbie Harry and co. rode their new wave into the mainstream. > “We were living in a loft in New York’s then-notorious Bowery area, rehearsing at night in rooms so cold we had to wear gloves,” Harry later told _[The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/apr/29/how-we-made-heart-glass)_ in a separate interview in 2013. “’Heart of Glass’ was one of the first songs Blondie wrote, but it was years before we recorded it properly. We’d tried it as a ballad, as reggae, but it never quite worked. At that point, it had no title. We just called it ‘The Disco Song.'” > He [theproducer] continued: “One of the demos was a song called ‘Once I Had a Love.’ It had a reggae feel and I told them the title was too long and suggested they call it ‘Heart of Glass,’ which was one of the lines in the chorus. I thought the song was an obvious hit if the arrangement was right. We spent the first day of rehearsal rearranging it and I decided that it should have a bit of a Donna Summer vibe, which pleased Debbie. [She loved Donna Summer.”](https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/blondie-debbie-harry-donna-summer-i-feel-love-cover/) It’s an undeniable comparison and is a compliment to Chris Stein’s bravery—traversing the punk picket line. > It may have been a song from the past but ‘Heart Of Glass’ with its signature disco sound could never have worked without a few more years experience with electronic music, Harry says “the advent of synthesizers came into play, and all the little gadgetry and rhythm machines.” > “Synchronising [the synthesizer and drum machine] was a big deal at the time,” Stein said in an interview with _The Guardian_. “It all had to be done manually, with every note and beat played in real time rather than looped over. And on old disco tracks, the bass drum was always recorded separately, so Clem had to pound away on a foot-pedal for three hours until they got a take they were happy with.” It all worked out as the song put synthesizers on the underground map. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655/140 "2023-05-10T19:05:01Z")
I remember hearing a fun, hook-filled single called “I’m Really Gonna Blow Your Mind” (or something like that) by one Carly Hennessy back in 2001. It didn’t get me to buy the album (I’d been burned too many times on OHWs by then, and I’m looking at You, “Forest For The Trees” by “Forest For The Trees”), but the singer was cute, had a good voice, and it was a catchy track. Only heard it a few times on MuchMusic but not often enough for me to think it charted much. A few years later, this gorgeous Irish singer with loads of tattoos and a bangin’ voice shows up on American Idol (there were two Irish singers that year, for some reason). Same singer, it turned out: her name was Carly Smithson now, and her sound was not at all like that original single. So I looked her up online and found that her original record company had high hopes for her: invested a couple of million dollars into her album, which then sold less than 400 copies and would go on to take up space in the remainder bins. Not to knock her, as she had a pretty good voice, and would ultimately make a living in the music business, but she seems like someone who, 22 years ago, was about to be a OHW but through the shrugging weirdness of radio didn’t even get a whiff of that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-one-hit-wonders-generally-know-theyre-one-hit-wonders/983655.md?page=8)