I Sent Katrina Leskanich A Card
By Mitch Berg
Today, we’re told, is “One Hit Wonder Day”
Yes, today is One Hit Wonder Day, perhaps the only “Hallmark holiday” in which the honorees are denigrated as much as celebrated, victims of that peculiar human tendency to put folks on a pedestal and relish knocking them down.
As if any of us could make a song — just one — embraced by millions.
Well, it’s fun to think about.
I’ve always loved one-hit wonders – little snippets of musical history cast out into the ether, there to rattle around on late-night AM airwaves and trivia contests and “where are they now” shows.
Below the jump – some of my favorites.
“Westbound Number Nine” by the Flaming Ember – one of the great “white soul” songs of the late sixties:
Franky Perez was one of the best acts I saw in the early 2000’s; I saw him at the Basilica Block Party in 2003, and it was like watching a young Springsteen. Just freaking amazing. This – “Something Crazy” – was his one hit, and it was far from his best song; if you can find a copy of his debut album “Poor Man’s Son”, grab it. You’ll thank me.
I know – Honeymoon Suite had a zillion hits in Canada. Of course, due to Canadian media balance laws requiring radio stations to carry Canadian content, every garage band in Winnipeg had a hit in the eighties. But Honeymoon Suite was fun:
The cruelest cut of all? Big Country was, in a lot of ways, less annoying than U2 and just about as good:
I may need to do more for next year…
September 25th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Couldn’t locate a clip of Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music White Boy,” which on this date in 1976, was number 1 on the Billboard charts. Definitely one of the excellent one hit wonders!
September 25th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Can’t remember any others? I can help.
September 25th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
“Brother Louie” by Stories.
“How Long” by Ace.
“Why Can’t We Live Together” by Timmy Thomas.
September 25th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
The greatest ’80s Canadian band that none of you have ever heard of…
Laydeez and gemmum…. Rough Trade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TtgJYlx5hs
September 25th, 2012 at 7:38 pm
I think Honeymoon Suite also had a song called “Bad Attitude” that was pretty cool. Didn’t know they were Canadian but am not surprised. That was the era of Bryan Adams. He was pretty cool.
Heard a song on the radio a couple of weeks ago that I for sure have not heard since it came out in the 80’s – “Black Cars Look Better in the Shade”. By Gino Vanelli – he of “Living Inside Myself” fame. I guess you can’t call that a one-hit wonder but pretty close – and I had not heard that song since probably 1985 or whatever.
You know how even in the 90’s and early 2000’s radio stations would keep playing some 80’s tunes? In fact, some of them played quite a few of them. They haven’t gotten around to calling 80’s tunes “oldies” yet, but you know that’s on its’ way.
Anyway. “Black Cars” never got played during the later years, and I totally forgot about it. It’s a cool tune; reminds me of buying my first pair of Ray Ban’s. Because there was also at around the same time “Sunglasses at Night” by confirmed Canadian Corey Hart.
I think the Canadians were trying to infiltrate us.
September 26th, 2012 at 3:21 am
99 luftballoons….nena
September 26th, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Joe Deal or RedSquirrel on September 26, 2012 at 3:21 am said:
99 luftballoons….nena
The synthesizer drives me nuts, otherwise I like it.
David andDavid Boomtown.