One hit wonders.

Kellfire said:
So all this thread is showing is that most people don’t have a clue that being a one hit wonder doesn’t mean the same as having only one mega famous song that’s stood the test of time over the rest of a band’s back catalogue.
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Well, you're right. In the literal sense a lot of the names mentioned in here have had more than one 'hit'. But in the common vernacular it usually means one song that has actually stood the test of time as you say. With the Dexys Midnight Runners example, there is only one song by them that you ever hear being played today, that's for sure. You're right though, technically not one hit wonders. More 'one decent song wonders'.
 
Hacker Khan said:
Blimey, educate yourself man, Say hello Wave Goodbye is a stone cold classic from Soft Cell and they had 5 top 5 singles in the early 80s. And Geno got to number one from Dexys! And as any Philomena Cunk fan knows, they also wrote the theme form Brushstrokes. ;)
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I only know that from the David Gray version though.
 
Orikoru said:
In fairness I could not have named you another song from either band. Even after looking up their discography, the only other Soft Cell I recognise is the one that David Gray did a successful cover of, and I have no idea of any of the other Dexys ones. So yeah, they're still one hit wonders.
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You must be below 30, 35 tops. Both bands were predominanatly early to mid 80's, Marc Almond (Soft Cell) then went solo, Dexys just ran out of steam.

If you have Spotify, Apple Music etc then download Hits & Pieces, a compilation of Soft Cell and Marc Almond. It is all very dramatic and theatrical but I love it, it gets some hammer when I am in the mood.

Youth of today :rolleyes::unsure:
 
Orikoru said:
Well, you're right. In the literal sense a lot of the names mentioned in here have had more than one 'hit'. But in the common vernacular it usually means one song that has actually stood the test of time as you say. With the Dexys Midnight Runners example, there is only one song by them that you ever hear being played today, that's for sure. You're right though, technically not one hit wonders. More 'one decent song wonders'.
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Go and listen to 'Searching for the Young Souls Rebels' by Dexys and treat it as an education.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
You must be below 30, 35 tops. Both bands were predominanatly early to mid 80's, Marc Almond (Soft Cell) then went solo, Dexys just ran out of steam.

If you have Spotify, Apple Music etc then download Hits & Pieces, a compilation of Soft Cell and Marc Almond. It is all very dramatic and theatrical but I love it, it gets some hammer when I am in the mood.

Youth of today :rolleyes::unsure:
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I'm 32, and I love 80s music, but it's probably true for quite a lot of bands that only their best or perceived best song still gets played nowadays.


Hacker Khan said:
Go and listen to 'Searching for the Young Souls Rebels' by Dexys and treat it as an education.
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I've just put 'Geno' on, and a I definitely know this song. Had absolutely no idea who it was by or what it was called though. :ROFLMAO:
 
Lord Tyrion said:
You must be below 30, 35 tops. Both bands were predominanatly early to mid 80's, Marc Almond (Soft Cell) then went solo, Dexys just ran out of steam.

If you have Spotify, Apple Music etc then download Hits & Pieces, a compilation of Soft Cell and Marc Almond. It is all very dramatic and theatrical but I love it, it gets some hammer when I am in the mood.

Youth of today :rolleyes::unsure:
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Soft Cell were excellent in the 80's, Tainted Love, Say Hello Wave Goodbye and Bedsitter were three hits they had, although my old man always refused to play them in the car because he couldn't take Marc Almonds sexuality. Marc Almonds Tennament Symphony album is superb, a lot of good covers in there, especially "Jacky", one of his best tracks ever.
 
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I think that being known for one song is very different to being a one hit wonder. Having one big hit then never really troubling the top 20 would be a better definition for me. Take the Wonderstuff, big in the late 80s to mid 90s and still drawing a good crowd even now. They only had 1 number 1 (Dizzy with Vic and Bob) but had 17 top 20 singles and 3 top 10 albums (OK I needed Wikipedia for some of the details). Hardly anyone under the age of 35 knows that they even existed.

More recently you could look at Passenger, one big song that people know (only reached number 2) but loads of high charting albums, massive global following and currently supporting Ed Shearan on tour. All of his work is independently produced and not aimed at chart success but by some definitions, a one hit wonder.
 
GB72 said:
I think that being known for one song is very different to being a one hit wonder. Having one big hit then never really troubling the top 20 would be a better definition for me. Take the Wonderstuff, big in the late 80s to mid 90s and still drawing a good crowd even now. They only had 1 number 1 (Dizzy with Vic and Bob) but had 17 top 20 singles and 3 top 10 albums (OK I needed Wikipedia for some of the details). Hardly anyone under the age of 35 knows that they even existed.

More recently you could look at Passenger, one big song that people know (only reached number 2) but loads of high charting albums, massive global following and currently supporting Ed Shearan on tour. All of his work is independently produced and not aimed at chart success but by some definitions, a one hit wonder.
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If you said The Wonderstuff to me I'd immediately think of Size of a Cow. Fine band in their day, saw them a few times
 
GB72 said:
I think that being known for one song is very different to being a one hit wonder. Having one big hit then never really troubling the top 20 would be a better definition for me. Take the Wonderstuff, big in the late 80s to mid 90s and still drawing a good crowd even now. They only had 1 number 1 (Dizzy with Vic and Bob) but had 17 top 20 singles and 3 top 10 albums (OK I needed Wikipedia for some of the details). Hardly anyone under the age of 35 knows that they even existed.

More recently you could look at Passenger, one big song that people know (only reached number 2) but loads of high charting albums, massive global following and currently supporting Ed Shearan on tour. All of his work is independently produced and not aimed at chart success but by some definitions, a one hit wonder.
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... is the very definition of one hit wonder
 
GB72 said:
I think that being known for one song is very different to being a one hit wonder. Having one big hit then never really troubling the top 20 would be a better definition for me. Take the Wonderstuff, big in the late 80s to mid 90s and still drawing a good crowd even now. They only had 1 number 1 (Dizzy with Vic and Bob) but had 17 top 20 singles and 3 top 10 albums (OK I needed Wikipedia for some of the details). Hardly anyone under the age of 35 knows that they even existed.

More recently you could look at Passenger, one big song that people know (only reached number 2) but loads of high charting albums, massive global following and currently supporting Ed Shearan on tour. All of his work is independently produced and not aimed at chart success but by some definitions, a one hit wonder.
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I had a girlfriend back in the 80's who was a real Fan of TWS, she went to all their Gigs, loved them... she was gorgeousness too. Show how shallow i was back then , i had to break up with her as i hated them..what a knob i was:ROFLMAO:
 
need_my_wedge said:
Soft Cell were excellent in the 80's, Tainted Love, Say Hello Wave Goodbye and Bedsitter were three hits they had, although my old man always refused to play them in the car because he couldn't take Marc Almonds sexuality. Marc Almonds Tennament Symphony album is superb, a lot of good covers in there, especially "Jacky", one of his best tracks ever.
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Went to a pub called the flamingo years ago ( 80's). They put on a soft cell record 12" vinyl version " tainted love" it linked straight into another song. It wasn't so much the song, but a bird went onto the dance floor in a catsuit. For about 10 minutes, she and she alone just owned the dance floor. It was empty except for her, every guys chin was on the floor. Every girl was thinking " slapper". That song was made for her. The DJ said he played the whole of the 12" for her.
Soft Cell epitomised 80's music and fashion.
 
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