I was watching CBS Sunday Morning and they did a segment on Don McLean. If you don’t remember, he wrote and sang the 1971 hit “American Pie.” At the time, he was a struggling 25 year old, but “American Pie” would change his life. His long running ode to rock-n-roll and the fatal crash of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens hit number one and was Don’s biggest hit. Some people think Don was a one hit wonder, but he did have several more songs that reached the charts. But it was “American Pie” that made him famous. It has been played on the average of 274 times a day on radio stations across the country. That works out to 11 times an hour for the past 35 years. Not too shabby Don.
But, what about true one hit wonders? You know, the people or groups who make it to the top, then have the long (or short) slide down, never to repeat with a hit again. There are plenty out there. Some have a hit that fades into obscurity and some have one hit that just seems to keep getting airplay for whatever reason. As my husband and I always say (when we hear one of our favorite one hit wonder songs), “if you are just gonna have one hit, make it a good one so people don’t forget about you!”
See how many of these one hit wonders you remember (and if you realized the artist was a one hit wonder!):
The Weather Girls
They had a monster hit with 1982’s “It’s Raining Men” (co-written by David Letterman sidekick Paul Shaffer). Under the name, “Two Tons O’ Fun” the members had a couple of songs hit the dance charts and Martha Wash was the incredible though often uncredited vocalist for C+C Music Factory, but the Weather Girls would never have another hit.
Sinead O’Connor
Prince wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U” but even he could not sing it as sweetly as Sinead O’Connor. It was her only hit, peaking at #1. Sinead might have had more hits had it not been for her controversial acts and statements, including her ripping up a picture of the Pope on Saturday Night Live exclaiming “fight the real enemy.”
Billy Ray Cyrus
Country fans may disagree, but Billy Ray only had one #1 hit in 1992’s “Achy Breaky Heart.” Now he stars on dance shows and fathers Disney’s Hannah Montana.
House of Pain
The Irish-styled hip-hop band had a mega hit with 1992’s “Jump Around.” Unfortunately, the band didn’t last long after their #1 hit, which also appeared on the soundtracks of “Saving Mrs. Doubtfire,” and “Ready to Rumble.”
Do you have any favorite one hit wonders?