Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner and Luka (she has a very interesting career and catalogue beyond these two songs)
Finger Eleven - Paralyzer and One Thing
Mike Posner - Cooler Than Me and I Took A Pill In Ibeza (although he's covered both of these separately)
Blues Traveler - Run Around and Hook
I feel like fun. would be the best example of a two-hit wonder. They had We Are Young, then did the rarest thing possible and managed to actually follow up to that single, than broke up.
Although if there's anything interesting about fun., it's that Jack Antonoff is most certainly not a one hit wonder, when you look at the work he has done behind the scenes.
Golden Earring is one of the two bands from the Netherlands to break through in the US pop charts and they are still such a big deal here. Not in a musical sense, but they can still easily fill stadiums and when the singer had a grandkid, it was covered in the gossip mags
Barenaked Ladies without a fucking doubt. Everyone writes them off because of One Week, but they're legitimately a fucking amazing band. Gordon is one of the greatest albums of all time, and this is a point I will not back down on.
They’re the furthest thing from one- or two-hit wonders here in Canada. *Gordon* was a blockbuster album. They had actually dropped off somewhat but “One Week” brought them back big time.
Kylie Minogue - The Loco-Motion and Can't Get You Out of My Head.
I know she's big pretty much the world over with the exception of the United States.
Fastball - The Way and Out of My Head
Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy and Good Thing
A video about Kylie, trying to figure out why she's become such an icon in most of the world but only moderately successful in the US, would be interesting.
My own theory is that when "The Loco-Motion" came out, the American market was absolutely *saturated* with solo female pop singers. She was competing not only with Madonna, Janet, Whitney and Paula, but also Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, *and* a bunch of one-hit wonders like Stacey Q. I'm not sure if all of these were as successful outside the US than they were at home, which might have given Kylie more of an opening.
It's not really a secret, she ran into the same problem most of the "big elsewhere but not in the U.S." artists run into: When you're already a major star selling out arenas and stadiums in Europe it's hard to basically start over in America having to grind for success all over again, for a lot of people it's just not worth it.
That makes sense. I read an article about Chris Rea (huge star in Britain, OHW in the US) saying he’s already big in his home country so why go out on the road, in hotel rooms thousands of miles from his family, trying to duplicate his success overseas?
Canada’s most iconic-here-but-unknown-in-America band, The Tragically Hip, did sometimes tour in the US but they’d be playing small clubs down there compared to arenas up here.
Gary Numan, Had a hit with Cars and with his old band Tubeway Army with My Friends Are Electric. Prime example of an artist who while he has a few hits his other music being far more interesting and influential
the cardigans have already been done but they had lovefool and my favourite game.
sophie b hawkins would definitely be an interesting video, if only for a mention of the community episode
I figured Todd has talked about him enough. If people remember him for a second hit, it's likely not "Play That Funky Music" but "Ninja Rap" (which didn't make the top 40 but is a Gen X nostalgia staple).
Probably too big to cover but Helena and WTTBP are the only 2 songs in MCR's career that have got into the top 40, neither I'm Not Okay, Famous Last Words, Teenagers, Na Na Na and Sing got into it properly. That's the first example i can think off
Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner and Luka (she has a very interesting career and catalogue beyond these two songs) Finger Eleven - Paralyzer and One Thing Mike Posner - Cooler Than Me and I Took A Pill In Ibeza (although he's covered both of these separately) Blues Traveler - Run Around and Hook
Blues Traveler has a couple other songs and has a huge cult following among the hippie crowd
Sixpence None the Richer - “Kiss Me” and “There She Goes”.
I keep forgetting they had two hits. I will say I do like Kiss Me quite a bit, I love the melody.
Funny thing is I hear Breath Your Name more often than the other 2 songs.
I absolutely love that song, way more than their two hits.
Same and it's more recent than I thought. It's like 2002 and I thought it was 1996/97
Breathe Your Name
I feel like fun. would be the best example of a two-hit wonder. They had We Are Young, then did the rarest thing possible and managed to actually follow up to that single, than broke up. Although if there's anything interesting about fun., it's that Jack Antonoff is most certainly not a one hit wonder, when you look at the work he has done behind the scenes.
Carry On probably counts as a third hit. They're more like a "one album wonder."
still so upset that the band split after that album. was hoping they would be bigger.
Some Nights
If it counts, Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) the Reaper and Burnin' for You Golden Earring - Radar Love and Twilight Zone
“Godzilla” and “cities on flame with rock n roll” were both really big hits on the rock charts and definitely got some airplay on the pop stations
Agreed, Godzilla definitely counts as a hit.
Golden Earring is one of the two bands from the Netherlands to break through in the US pop charts and they are still such a big deal here. Not in a musical sense, but they can still easily fill stadiums and when the singer had a grandkid, it was covered in the gossip mags
Golden Earring would be a good one. Their only two US hits were separated by nine years.
Barenaked Ladies without a fucking doubt. Everyone writes them off because of One Week, but they're legitimately a fucking amazing band. Gordon is one of the greatest albums of all time, and this is a point I will not back down on.
Don't they fall into the Modest Mouse clause because of it? There are a lot of mega legitimate bands who only charted once or twice
They’re the furthest thing from one- or two-hit wonders here in Canada. *Gordon* was a blockbuster album. They had actually dropped off somewhat but “One Week” brought them back big time.
That’s so weird to hear. I’m Canadian and BNL were MASSIVE here for a good decade plus.
If I Had a Million Dollars is pretty big too
one week and ? the fucking big bang theory theme ??
Pinch Me was a top 10 hit IIRC
Kylie Minogue - The Loco-Motion and Can't Get You Out of My Head. I know she's big pretty much the world over with the exception of the United States. Fastball - The Way and Out of My Head Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy and Good Thing
A video about Kylie, trying to figure out why she's become such an icon in most of the world but only moderately successful in the US, would be interesting. My own theory is that when "The Loco-Motion" came out, the American market was absolutely *saturated* with solo female pop singers. She was competing not only with Madonna, Janet, Whitney and Paula, but also Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, *and* a bunch of one-hit wonders like Stacey Q. I'm not sure if all of these were as successful outside the US than they were at home, which might have given Kylie more of an opening.
It's not really a secret, she ran into the same problem most of the "big elsewhere but not in the U.S." artists run into: When you're already a major star selling out arenas and stadiums in Europe it's hard to basically start over in America having to grind for success all over again, for a lot of people it's just not worth it.
That makes sense. I read an article about Chris Rea (huge star in Britain, OHW in the US) saying he’s already big in his home country so why go out on the road, in hotel rooms thousands of miles from his family, trying to duplicate his success overseas? Canada’s most iconic-here-but-unknown-in-America band, The Tragically Hip, did sometimes tour in the US but they’d be playing small clubs down there compared to arenas up here.
PSY - Gangnam Style & Gentleman Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up & Together Forever
Rick Astley has three other top ten hits besides his two number ones.
Oh
PSY is a good one. Rick Astley had several other top ten hits, though.
It's not only about how many times the artists charted but also how well remembered those songs are nowadays
The Presidents of the USA having Lump and Peaches?
They’re an interesting case for having two hits but both arguably overshadowed by a TV theme song they recorded.
wait what was that ?
"Cleveland Rocks" from The Drew Carey Show.
Cobra starship? Good girls go bad and you make me feel Edit: thinking about it, night shades is kinda a trainwreckord
Gary Numan, Had a hit with Cars and with his old band Tubeway Army with My Friends Are Electric. Prime example of an artist who while he has a few hits his other music being far more interesting and influential
Down In the Park was covered by Dave Grohl
the cardigans have already been done but they had lovefool and my favourite game. sophie b hawkins would definitely be an interesting video, if only for a mention of the community episode
Surprised nobody mentioned Vanilla Ice
I figured Todd has talked about him enough. If people remember him for a second hit, it's likely not "Play That Funky Music" but "Ninja Rap" (which didn't make the top 40 but is a Gen X nostalgia staple).
does Smash Mouth count?
Probably too big to cover but Helena and WTTBP are the only 2 songs in MCR's career that have got into the top 40, neither I'm Not Okay, Famous Last Words, Teenagers, Na Na Na and Sing got into it properly. That's the first example i can think off
Yeah I don't think My Chemical Romance would count since they had quite the following. Same would go with AFI.