May

23

2012

Way Back Wednesday: One-Hit Wonders

Written by Trent | Filed under Way Back Wednesday

Eamon, Debelah Morgan and Blue Cantrell.

We loved them for a minute and then forgot they existed. The one-hit wonders are the most notorious and often most mocked members of the music industry, and Way Back Wednesday will showcase the brief moments in time when they were relevant.

With just a single Billboard Hot 100 top 40 song to their names, the one-hit wonders usually find success by pure chance. Whether failing to repeat their glory because of a lack of talent or as a result of label drama, these acts are often victims of the industry.

Watch some of the popular one-hit wonders in action below:

Blu Cantrell – ‘Hit ‘Em Up Style (Oops!)’

Debelah Morgan – ‘Dance With Me’

Des’Ree – ‘You Gott Be’

Eamon – ‘Fuck It’

Sir Mix-a-Lot – ‘Baby Got Back’

The Sugarhill Gang – ‘Rapper’s
Delight’

Toni Basil – ‘Mickey’

Truth Hurts – ‘Addictive (Ft. Rakim)’

It’s such a shame that Debelah Morgan and Blu Cantrell didn’t have more successful career because they are both amazing singers. They have the look, talent and presence to be major recording artists but the entertainment industry simply bested them. Hey, at least Cantrell had chart success outside of the US; similar to Kelly Rowland.

Which of these songs was your favourite? Can you think of any other artists today who are future one-hit wonders? Share your views below!

Thoughts?

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Keys: blue cantrell, debelah morgan, des'ree, eamon, los del rio, rakim, sir mix-a-lot, the sugarhill gang, toni basil, truth hurts, way back wednesday

7 Comments

1. Jonathan Gardner says:

   May 23, 2012 at 6:27 pm

   Blu deserved so much more.

   “Breathe” with Sean Paul was a HUGE hit worldwide though.

   Still outside that and “Hit Em Up Style (Oops)” that’s all that’s notable in her discography. Such a shame because she can really SAAAAAANG – and it’s not like she isn’t a stunner as well.

   Truth Hurts’ story is just tragic. Her career made and destroyed by her first hit. The Dr. Dre and the label should have made sure that sample was cleared.

   “Addictive” still gets regular rotation from me. R&B classic.
2. Kram says:

   May 23, 2012 at 7:37 pm

   Mambo #5!!!
3. pisces2g says:

   May 23, 2012 at 8:59 pm

   Beyonce and The Machine made blu disappear! they stole her soul and created baby blue with it!… thought i would get the foolishness ball rollin before everybody else lmao _/
4. SparkD says:

   May 23, 2012 at 10:23 pm

   Some of these people were POP one-hit wonders, but had moderate genre hits. Blu had another hit in the UK, Breath. Sir Mix-A-Lot and those boys from Seattle had a few moderate songs.
5. cjmyicecream says:

   May 24, 2012 at 12:42 am

   Willow smith is already a one hit wonder. lil girl got talent but she failed to make an impact on the industry. Trent u forgot J HOLIDAY lol
6. Ben M. says:

   May 24, 2012 at 3:03 am

   What happened with Truth Hurts…? I remember that song – it was a major hit in 2000-1… I was in the 8th or 9th grade lol
7. Kanyade says:

   May 24, 2012 at 11:00 am

   I owned at least two of Des’Ree’s albums and can tell you BOTH WERE GOOD. Sure, “Gotta Be” put her on the worldwide map and in GAP commercials, etc. but I tell you, this woman was a talent. Her lyrical skills were grande, amazing, beautiful. She was a storyteller. I’d say some of today’s artists could benefit from having songs written by the likes of Des’Ree, Terence Trent D’Arby and Van Hunt…if those talents were so inclined to write for these “pop” stars and “pop” tarts that covet high positions on the charts and radio. But I digress.

   Also, in regards to your list, Debelah Morgan’s album came too soon. It was an excellent dance record in a time where techno/dance/urban was being replaced by neo-soul and candy-coated popcorn music. I feel like she hit but at the wrong time.

   Trent I’d like to offer up two/three others, by way of comparison: Jeremy Jordan, Deborah Cox and Res. I bought the soundtrack to 90210 which featured at least two tracks by blue-eyed soulster Jeremy Jordan. Dude was discovered/produced by Al B. Sure, I believe and in my opinion was the Justin Timberlake BEFORE Justin Timberlake…but with more ‘genuine’ white-boy groove. I owned his first (only) album and it was a good endeavor. Deborah Cox had hits, yes, but she played within two genres: R&B and R&B flavored techno/dance. I feel like she’s never had the real strong break she is worthy of because as with Debelah, she has POWERHOUSE vocals. And while I’m at it let me add Kina from “Brownstone” who also had ridiculous vocals and who charted with “Girl From the Gutter”. I owned her record and it was good but I feel like she came on the scene before the scene was ready to accept a black, female rockstar with soulful vocals. Enter Res whose “How I Do” record established her as a black, female rockstar with “They Say Vision” but when put out, wasn’t received by the masses—though critics loved her album and rightly so! It is one of THE best albums I owned. Talk about crazy lyricism, moody songs, angry songs, songs that emoted, evoked and were clever and deep and light and fluffy altogether. Res still hasn’t gotten her just due if you ask me. Amerikkka wasn’t ready for her then and still isn’t now. And honestly there are a host of other artists I could name who charted and splashed on the scene but have now faded into independent obscurity (eg. not mainstream).

   Oh! One more…singer Lamya (r.i.p.) She passed in either 2006 or 2009, I can’t remember the year, but her album “Learning From Falling” defecates all over the ‘deep’ offerings of our black female pop stars today. I mean, completely defecates and obliterates much of the award-winning ‘writing’ that has won awards from our mainstream, well-known singers. Lamya’s album was an opus. I hate that she passed; her talent is lost to us now. If you don’t know to whom I refer please check her out and listen to each of the songs on that record. Follow the lyrics and recognize the genius-writer that lived and created and blessed us with amazingness!

   It is with regret that great artists with ridiculously great potential are eviscerated by ‘the machine’ that is pop music or the top 100 or whatever. I hate that “one-hit wonders” with good intentions to be more than that aren’t allowed the opportunity to continue or do not take hold the reigns given them after the success of their “one-hit”.

   There is truly NO business like show BUSINESS. (and branding).

   By the way, Remy Shand? WHERE YOU AT, MAN?!