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Defining Greatness: The One-Hit Wonder Scale

February 26th, 2008 11:14am EST Post a comment

Probably the most underrated term in the music industry is the "One Hit Wonder." Popularized in the 80s, one hit wonders are either regarded as artists with one hit (like Deee-Lite’s "Groove is in the Heart"), or artists who produced a song that everybody knows (like "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors).

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19 Member Comments

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Tue Feb 26 2008 17:28:12 By: The H8R (

706)
You biffed on Beck big time. Every one of his albums has hit singles, and "Where It's At?" isn't the biggest (at least in terms of recognizability) , "Loser" was. He's also a Grammy winner so you're next point about Norah is moot too.

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Tue Feb 26 2008 17:29:45 By: The H8R (

706)
And Hendrix a one-hit wonder? You're telling me if I walked the street and asked people about Hendrix songs they wouldn't know about Foxy Lady, Purple Haze and Voodoo Chile? 40 years later those songs are played 5 trillion times everyday around the world.

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Tue Feb 26 2008 17:41:59 By: Simbarashe (

15)
I believe Beck and Hendrix both had only one top 40 hit according to the Billboard 100. If you consider the Modern Rock Charts then yes, he had a few other hits. Same goes for Hendrix's "Watchtower". But that's my point about one hit wonder being an underrated term. There's such negative stigma that comes with it, when in reality, we've had some fantastic ones. I believe Beck has three Grammies; Norah Jones has ten.

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Tue Feb 26 2008 17:46:19 By: The H8R (

706)
"Loser" (the song that broke Beck and made many people wonder IF he would BECOME a one-hit-wonder) hit #10 on the Billboard singles chart, his highest placement.
These all were Top 100 Billboard Singles:
Devil's Haircut
Where It's At
Jackass
New Pollution
E-Pro
Girl

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Tue Feb 26 2008 17:56:57 By: Simbarashe (

15)
If a song hits 80 on the top 100 (by a major artist) do we consider that a hit? This used to be a debate back in the 80s when black/R&B artists would notch high on the R&B chart and barely crack the Top 100; there was no clear consensous on whether or not those songs were true hits. Hits are usually determined by songs that enter the Top 40. That all being said, you are right about "Loser" being his biggest hit.

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Tue Feb 26 2008 18:00:37 By: The H8R (

706)
Very well, I see what you're saying Simbarashe. I guess my definition of a "hit" also includes it's recognizability (especially down the road after it's initial release), not just the US Singles Chart position. See my points about Hendrix.

PS-Great article, just peeved by the Beck and Hendrix references ;P

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Tue Feb 26 2008 21:55:04 By: Keith Whitener (

56)
This was a fun one! I'd like to know of more artists like Beck and Radiohead that had only one hit but then had great careers. King Crimson with 21st Century Schizoid Man? Todd Rundgren with Bang the Drums All Day?

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Tue Feb 26 2008 22:09:55 By: Felix Lassiter (

3313)
Ha Ha X@@##! stinks no matter who drops it.

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Wed Feb 27 2008 03:16:26 By: maharishi joe (

1)
You haven't convinced me about Beck, mainly by virtue of the fact that he was called a one-hit wonder after Loser (until Odelay came out). If he was perceived by many as a one-hit wonder, then Loser must have been a hit (and come on, it *was* a hit--it was everywhere). Funny thing is, if you'd listed Beck as being a one-hit wonder for Loser, I wouldn't have thought twice about it!

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Wed Feb 27 2008 07:19:33 By: Keith Whitener (

56)
You're right, Joe. I have to take back my comments. Beck and Radiohead have plenty of songs that are frequently played on the radio and have had far reaching appeal for their music videos and concerts. And Radiohead's album's debut at #1 or #2. And Beck's chart well too. So, I don't think they're good choices.

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Wed Feb 27 2008 10:18:46 By: Simbarashe (

15)
Joe and Keith, I feel you on that, though I've got to defend my place on Radiohead. Their last four albums debuted in the top 3 on Billboard - sure - but only one of those albums (Kid A) went platinum in the US, and even that took eight months (and hasn't been certified multi-platinum since). One (1x) platinum by a major artist is considered a disappointment, as record labels expect 'multi'platinum sales. This is why I gave credit to Lauryn Hill for having one hit album since it sold almost ten million copies. Her follow-up Unplugged album only went platinum and it's only single didn't even chart. Going from 8 million units sold to 1 million sold is not good. With Beck, I nominated the wrong hit, but in regards to the singles Top 40 he still had only one hit (Loser). My description of him accurately describes his career since that hit.

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Thu Feb 28 2008 22:02:38 By: Keith Whitener (

56)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beck_discography#Sing les
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiohead_discography #Singles
How many country superstars break into the hot 100?

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Fri Feb 29 2008 05:14:13 By: Simbarashe (

15)
The answer to your question: more than one would think. But I still won't consider them popular hits until they hit the Top 40. I pointed out in one of my earlier comments about R&B artists back in the 80s. They've long suffered the same issues, and country wasn't really seriously considered mainstream until around ten years ago. with the emergence of CMT and the CMAs. With R&B in the 80s, many hits on the R&B charts weren't recognised outside of urban households. It took the likes of Michael Jackson, Prince, and Whitney Houston to crossover by adding a very commercial 'pop' element to their music. Very few pure R&B artists were ever able to breakthrough; Luther Vandross probably being the most famous of that small club. As for country, and country especially in the 90s, you had about three crossover artists, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and Billy Ray Cyrus (who was listed in this article). There were other very well known country artists, but you know where I'm going with this.

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Fri Feb 29 2008 07:40:47 By: LizzieFizzie33 (

194)
You forgot the Divynils, "I Touch Myself."

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Fri Feb 29 2008 09:23:26 By: big popcorn (

2172)
Best 1 hit wonder; in my opinion:
Breakfast at Tiffanys by Deep Blue Something

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Fri Feb 29 2008 13:50:46 By: Simbarashe (

15)
"I Touch Myself" would be a 4.5 on my scale.
"Breakfast at Tiffany's" would be a 3.0. Personally, I loved B.A.T. - didn't care for "I Touch Myself" too much but that chorus is always being played, especially on cheesy sitcoms. So it would figure a higher on my scale. Remember, the scale doesn't rate the quality of the song per se, just its impact on music (and other one hit wonders) in general. This is why "Macarena" figures so low. It's cultural impact was high, but it's backlash impact was even higher.

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Thu Mar 6 2008 16:23:52 By: lovetheweasel (

2043)
i think that some here are missing the point of the article. one hit wonder is one hit, and thats all. beck is truly a legend. he has so much good material, which has been named by you guys. freakin vanilla ice? thats a one hit wonder. hendrix? another legend. may have strarted out small, but they all do. the stones were a one hit wonder back in the sixties. this atricle isnt a then and now, this is just a then, b/c there is no now for these clowns. i am sorry fellas, but beck and hendrix shouldnt be commented on any where near these jerk offs on the list

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Sat Apr 26 2008 04:09:56 By: Gurty (

3)
wow

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Sat Apr 26 2008 04:13:18 By: Gurty (

3)
hi there i have a video too. Mines much worse in a sense, really when it comes down to it, who really gives a X@@##!. What a bizare, just bizare.

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