Whenever someone talks disparagingly about a musical artist being just a “one hit wonder“, I think, “What the fuck is wrong with that?”. This guy, or lady, or duo, or group, or Order of Tibetan monks wrote and recorded a song that connected on some level with a large enough segment of the population that it went to #1 on the charts, or at least the top 100, whatever. That is phenomenal, good great for them.
What the fuck have you done? Have you climbed Mt. Everest? You haven’t? Hmm, I thought I heard that you had…. Did you circumnavigate the globe in your homemade hot-air dirigible? Not yet? You’re still drawing up schematics? Man, you’ve been working on that thing since 9th grade, step it up!… Have you adopted an underprivileged child from all seven continents? You have? Really? Are you Angelina Jolie? No way?! Wow, what are you doing here? You obviously must have found me by clicking on a link from some other kick-ass blog like Sweet Mother or A Clown On Fire. Thank you for taking the time to read the words that your eyes are focusing on right at this very moment in time, even if what you’re reading this very second has little to no bearing on you and your particular situation.
Wow, I can’t believe someone married to someone famous is reading my blog. Does Brad read it too? No, don’t tell me, I don’t want to know. I mean I do, but I don’t. You know what I’m saying? Aaahhh, I’m so nervous!
Anyways, back to my point. I would be thrilled to have a hit song. Just one would do. Here’s a couple of my favorite songs from so-called one hit wonders.
This is a classic song that is sure to make all the drunks at your next family reunion/work party/anonymous group-grope sing along just to let you know that sometimes all they can do is read a book to stay awake, too.
Seriously, if I had to be known for one thing, being the Humpty Dance dude would be pretty fuckin’ sweet…. “Oh, you mean Bill McMorrow. the dude who makes everybody at the party get up and get, get, get down(911 is a joke in yo’ town) every single time his sweet beats start bumping?”. Yeah, I’d take that any day of the week.
In my five point oh, bitches.
.
Listen, all I’m saying is you should probably get two hit singles under your belt before you go shitting on one hit wonders.
You no hit none-ders.
Bill McMorrow 
I love both of those songs! Add in True by Spandau Ballet, Barely Breathing by Duncan Sheik. In fact, I seem to make a habit out of loving “one hit wonders”
Great post!
Thanks Gillian. I was going through the VH-1 top 100 one hit wonders list and there are a lot of great ones. You know, you know you know this much is truuuuueeeeee.
LOL!!!!! I burst out laughing at this. Loved it!
Gillian,
Spandau Ballet also had Gold… True?
How about we extend the list….
Here’s mine: 4 Non Blondes – What’s Up.
Tag, you’re it.
Le Clown
PS: One day, your blog will explode and your legion of readers will visit SM and myself…
I almost put 4 Non Blondes up there Le Clown, but it was late and I was sleepy and I had something in my eye and the Vernal Equinox is still affecting my temporal lobes.
For you my good man.
This woman’s voice is so strong and clear and feminine and the intensity just builds throughout the song so much that it makes me want to have her baby. . . .Oh, wait. . . . Not her, thinking of someone else.
True, they did (hahaha) pun ever so intended. 😉
Ah..one hit wonders..
How about, 99 Luftballoons by: Nena..
endless list and I like my one hit wonders too!
Love, love, love 99 Luftballons, FPP!! I remember the first time I heard that version, not the English bastardized 99 Red Ballons and I thought my radio was broken. Hahaha, stupid kids.
this is an awesome post. i love one hit wonders too. i do, i do, i do. remember ‘bitch’ by meredith brooks? is that too vaginal. anyway, i actually ended up performing with her years later and i did a whole bit on how i couldn’t fold laundry while her song was playing. i’d start folding it and she’d go, I’M A BITCH, I’M A LOVER, I’M SAINT, UNDERCOVER – or whatever the feck the lyrics were and i’d throw my laundry everywhere. i don’t know why, but i’ve always had this reaction. now, what kills me is that people make fun of the one hit wonders when they are indeed ‘no hit noneders’ (as bill wonderfully pointed out) and yet, YOU CAN LIVE OFF ONE HIT WONDER MONEY FOR LIFE. like literally for life. i mean, are these people crazy? who wouldn’t want a one-hitter that always pays? anyway, loved this post.
That’s the reason I can’t do laundry too. It’s crazy that it’s almost looked at like failure. Here’s another one I love
Thanks Mother.
omg!!! i’m so with you. i love that song. i had that entire album on cassette tape!!! i’m not kidding. i think it was called, ‘shooting rubber bands at the stars’ – now, didn’t she marry paul simon or am i crazy? wifesy would know this answer… i do not.
She did, I believe they’re still together. Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars was a fantastic album. I played that cassette until the writing wore off of it.
I love Bitch! top of my playlist. You go, momma!
[…] Bill McMorrow posted this weekend on one-hit-wonders which got me thinking about my own particular favorites. I, personally, have never been one to down one-hit-wonders. I love the music in general. Anyway, I thought I’d share out some of my favorites (Nick, think you can help a sister out with some foreign links?). […]
Thanks for the shout out Gillian. There are so many great ones.
Bill,
When Le Clown puts his make-up early in the morning when the fucking kids scream for food, he smile a bit when he drops on your blog and sees such a busy Comments thread.
Le Smiling Clown
I love when the Clown smiles.
[…] And a sparkly post dissecting the positive qualities of musicians who fall under the “one hit wonder” […]
[…] Bill McMorrow posted this weekend on one-hit-wonders which got me thinking about my own particular favorites. I, personally, have never been one to down one-hit-wonders. I love the music in general. Anyway, I thought I’d share out some of my favorites (Nick, think you can help a sister out with some foreign links?). […]
[…] Bill McMorrow posted a while back on one-hit-wonders which got me thinking about my own particular favorites. I, personally, have never been one to down one-hit-wonders. I love the music in general. Anyway, I thought I’d share out some of my favorites. […]