One Hit Wonders who deserved better

[dzeiger]

Golden Earring is generally known only for “Radar Love” (and possibly “Twilight Zone”), but they deserve a lot better.

[Argent_Towers]

90s nostalgia hitting me hard here.

I actually had Chumbawamba’s whole album in 1997 when Tubthumping came out and I listened to it all the time. It was and is a fantastic album.

[Steophan]

@dzeiger

Golden Earring is generally known only for “Radar Love” (and possibly “Twilight Zone”), but they deserve a lot better.

To be fair, if I were to be known for only one song, Radar Love would be a good one.

I actually first heard of them when Iron Maiden covered Kill Me (Ce Soir), on a b-side in the early 90s.

My nomination for band who deserves better is The Buggles - they did two stunning albums as well as Video Killed The Radio Star.

[FoieGrasIsEvil]

Soul Asylum (Runaway Train)
Spacehog (In The Meantime)

[wolfman]

Not quite a one hit wonder for sure yet, but Fiest was pretty big after the “iPad song” But hasn’t really gotten known for anything since.

[astorian]

@dzeiger

Golden Earring is generally known only for “Radar Love” (and possibly “Twilight Zone”), but they deserve a lot better.

Golden Earring falls into the same category as Status Quo, Small Faces and Kylie Minogue. They’re one hit wonders here in the USA, but major stars with lengthy, successful careers elsewhere.

[Musky_Moon]

@Justin_Bailey

I love them, but which of Travis’ singles is considered their one hit? “Driftwood”? “Why Does It Always Rain on Me”? “Sing”? “Side”? “Turn”? I didn’t think any of them were that popular to even count as a hit.
t.

Why Does It Always Rain On Me played around here consantly for a little while there. I think I heard Big Chair on the radio too, but I can’t be positive.

[The_Other_Waldo_Pepper]

@Hippy_Hollow

I’m going to sound like a broken record and mention Norwegian popsters a-ha. Yes, “Take On Me” is the 80s in a nutshell, but they were together for 25 years (they announced their breakup last year) and were huge in Europe, South America… basically everywhere but the U.S. And of course, they are major influences on bands like Coldplay… and even Kanye West mentions them as an influence (I have to be honest, I can’t hear it in his music).

It’s a case of making it big way too quick and being too good looking. I think people wanted to fit them into a boy band narrative, when they were anything but.

“The Sun Always Shines on TV” charted in the U.S. so they are technically not a OHW.

They also got pretty good exposure with that Bond theme, for THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

[digs]

@wolfman

Not quite a one hit wonder for sure yet, but Fiest was pretty big after the “iPad song” But hasn’t really gotten known for anything since.

[pickin nits] iPod Nano song. [/pn]

And Ingrid Michelsen did the Target “Sweater” song.

And earlier, Jet did a general iPod song: “Are you gonna be my girl?”

Couldn’t tell you anything else they’ve done, but my daughter just performed an Ingrid song with her a capella group.

[Quimby]

@digs

And Ingrid Michelsen did the Target “Sweater” song.

Actually she would be a good candidate for this thread as well.

[JSexton]

Goldfinger had a bunch of great albums, but you’ll ever hear is “Here In Your Bedroom.” A victim of a fad ending, I think.

[WordMan]

@Hippy_Hollow

I’m going to sound like a broken record and mention Norwegian popsters a-ha. Yes, “Take On Me” is the 80s in a nutshell, but they were together for 25 years (they announced their breakup last year) and were huge in Europe, South America… basically everywhere but the U.S. And of course, they are major influences on bands like Coldplay… and even Kanye West mentions them as an influence (I have to be honest, I can’t hear it in his music).

It’s a case of making it big way too quick and being too good looking. I think people wanted to fit them into a boy band narrative, when they were anything but.

“The Sun Always Shines on TV” charted in the U.S. so they are technically not a OHW.

Seems to me that Warner Bros. just gave up on them in the U.S. Their last two albums, Analogue and Foot of the Mountain would have done well here, I think.

My drummer produced a few tracks on their last release. They are all QUITE well off - they have had a good long run outside the U.S…

[AqualungBats5th]

@astorian

Golden Earring falls into the same category as Status Quo, Small Faces and Kylie Minogue. They’re one hit wonders here in the USA, but major stars with lengthy, successful careers elsewhere.

Kylie Minogue is a bizarre example to use here. You’d have been right before she released Fever in 2001 but she’s had a whole bunch of charting singles in the US since then.
Also have to jump in with love for Big Country. No question they are only known in the US by their big hit In a Big Country, but they had eight studio albums (about half of which are stellar and only one is particularly unimpressive, that being Why the Long Face). The Crossing and Steeltown are fantastic albums start to finish.
And yeah, a-ha. Memorial Beach is their forgotten gem.