The Art of the One-Hit Wonder
by Andy Moseley - reprinted with permission from the March 2001 Mariners' Log
The members of the group Right Said Fred were too sexy for their shirts. They were too sexy for their hats. They were too sexy for their cars. They were even too sexy for their bodies. Unfortunately for Right Said Fred, they were apparently too sexy to have a second hit song. While "I'm Too Sexy" and its tale of walking on the catwalks was a huge smash for the group, nothing they put out after it had a snowball's chance in Brunswick in August.
This syndrome, known as the one-hit wonder syndrome, strikes many groups. Every time you hear songs by new artists on the radio or see their videos, there's a huge chance you are listening to the only song you will ever hear from the group. Ask Right Said Fred. They've put out a few albums since their song went big years ago, and none have had success in the United States.
Other groups can attest to the one-hit wonder theory. The Crash Test Dummies song "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" a few years back was also a huge smash, or at least big enough for "Weird Al" Yankovic to parody. The solo hit for Semisonic, "Closing Time," featured a somewhat ironic line--"Every new beginning leads to some other beginning's end." For Semisonic, it was another group's one-hit wonder that lead to their end. Haddaway's "What Is Love" felt the same fate but still lives on today, thanks to Lorne Michaels and Saturday Night Live. Every time the Wutabi brothers bob their heads in unison in the China Club, Haddaway's song is the one playing.
Let's not forget Los Del Rio. The duo has had numerous hits in Spanish, with literally over a dozen albums selling very, very well. When the Spanish version of their song "Macarena" crossed over into American dance clubs, it went over really well. The Bayside Boys remixed the song, adding in some random English-speaking women talking A video was shot and . . . well, the whole nation was doing the Macarena. However, something just wasn't right about a video featuring two old guys in suits singing in Spanish while young girls were dancing around in blue wigs and loud green pants. So, Macarena fever lasted through the year, and America never heard from Los Del Rio again. They are still big in Spanish-speaking countries though, so be on the lookout.
Of course, many artists have avoided the one-hit wonder disease against the odds. The obvious cases would be the beneficiaries of the boy-band craze. When *NSYNC was dancing all over to "Tearin' Up My Heart", nobody expected them to last through 2000. Well, their second album, No Strings Attached, sold like hot cakes and set a record for first-week sales, thanks to smash hits like "Bye Bye Bye" and "It's Gonna Be Me." The Backstreet Boys followed the same pattern, with their Black and Blue album selling well. Unfortunately for them, The Beatles' 1 was dominating the album charts when the Backstreeters released their album, giving the Boys only one week on top of the charts.
Their female counterparts can also be thankful. As Britney Spears danced around in her little schoolgirl outfit to "Baby One More Time", she had "One-hit wonder" stamped right on her forehead (or stomach). Many hits and millions of albums later, Britney is still a lean, mean dancing machine. Oops . . . she did it again.
Also avoiding the one-hit wonder label in other genres are acts such as Billy Ray Cyrus. Let's face it, we were all hoping he would fade away after "Achy Breaky Heart." He's still around and now putting out some decent music. One of his recent videos, "You Won't Be Lonely Now," was even shot on Jekyll Island. Eminem was thought to be a novelty act who would last only one hit. As "Mmmbop" played across the nation, most adults hoped Hanson would last only one song. Ditto for the Spice Girls and their song "Wannabe."
Then, there's that one song taht everybody hopes is a one-hit wonder. The obvious choice -- "Who Let the Dogs Out?" You could not attend a single sporting event in 2000 without hearing that insanely annoying barking. Not only that, but it--of all songs-- won a Grammy Award in 2001! I think the art of music has officially been lost. Anyway, the song has been so huge that the Baha Men's second single has been totally ignored. Is it too early to add the Baha Men to the list of one-hit wonders? Let's hope not. But if so, who will be the latest artist or artists to be known as the first one-hit wonder act of 2001? It should be fun to listen and find out.
