One Hit Wonder: Your definition

[Bill M]

I was looking at a list of one hit wonders and saw "The Buggles" and their hit, "Video Killed the Radio Star" at the top.

In my opinion, I wouldn't classify The Buggles as a one hit wonder being that it was probably a launch pad for Downes' and Horn's careers.

[Chris2210]

By the strict definition, Yes are a one hit wonder [in the UK] Wondrous Stories being the only single ever to chart in the top 10. So are Blue Oyster Cult. and by the same metric, Boston are a 'no-hit wonder', with More than a Feeling making a lowly 22 - even though it's one of the songs that appears almost without exception in those 'monster hits of rock' style compilations.

So who gives a flying one?

[Old Frothingslosh]

I would defiantly classify them as One Hit Wonders as most people outside of Yes fandom have no clue who Horne or Downes are.

[luna65]

The Buggles are kind of difficult because of course they've had a life of sorts beyond the parameters of "Video Killed The Radio Star" just as the song has had a life beyond being a one-hit wonder. But in the sense that for many people the only reason they know the band is because of the song, that would classify it/them as a one-hit wonder.

[Bill M]

So who gives a flying one?

I am curious about the term. I was thinking that there might be a difference between a band that has one hit that charted and a one hit wonder. "Wonder" would be the key word here.

[Soundwaveseeker]

From my original understanding, and others may have a different take or definition about this, a One-hit wonder is an artist/band that literally has only one top chart single or one remembered song that stood the test of time, but they couldn't get arrested with anything else. These are often pop bands and ones that do not last. One album, a few singles, come-and-go artists that got pushed aside when the next thing came around. For example, the artist that did 'Kung Fu Fighting' or 1910 Fruit Gum Company 'Yummy Yummy Yummy'. Nena '99 Luft Baloons', etc. Just a couple examples, I could list a few more but then some people may say 'but wait, so-and-so had another hit in 1983 so they/he/she doesn't count' etc. Totally forgotten artists with one major hit.

I usually don't consider artists with a number of albums and cult followings who may have gotten lucky with one chart hit to be one-hit wonders. Usually it's by an artist that when you find out who did that big song you go 'who?'. There are a number of artists with like 12 albums and have a following, but only bothered the charts once. Other than 'Walk On The Wild Side', I don't think I've heard too much Lou Reed on the radio. But he wouldn't be a one-hi-wonder. Those artists may have critical acclaim or respect from followers of a certain genre, they just aren't chart topping acts. But with the one-hit-wonders, the song does always outlast the artist.

[pianozach]

Well, "the Buggles" are a One Hit Wonder.

BUT, the Buggles were Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn, both of whom have had hit records outside of The Buggles: Downes with Asia, and Horn with Yes (as producer).

Context counts.

[Ash Armstrong]

It would never occur to me to include the flippin' Buggles in the category of progressive music.

[Bill M]

It would never occur to me to include the flippin' Buggles in the category of progressive music.

Actually, my intention for this discussion was the term, one hit wonder. I just used the Buggles as an example, because of the association with Yes.

[luna65]

Context counts.

...which is pretty much exactly what I said too.

[Ash Armstrong]

Actually, my intention for this discussion was the term, one hit wonder. I just used the Buggles as an example, because of the association with Yes.

Are we talking of one commercially successful album?
If so , then Them Crooked Vultures probably qualify, but it's possible that may change...

[luna65]

Generally the term refers to a song rather than an album.

[Soundwaveseeker]

One hit wonders are generally known for one solitary song. For all the public knows, such an artist doesn't have any albums at all and made one single that has the same song on the flip side. These are artists who do not have multiple albums where they have a loyal fan base hip to their sound. These are artists where you go 'never f'ing heard of them' but you know the song from it being played on the radio at your local Taco Bell.

Buggles could kinda qualify as one hit wonders because they only had two albums and none of the other singles stood the test of time. If they had 9 Buggles albums throughout the years where they went through various phases but only Video Killed The Radio Star was their mainstream gateway to their catalogue, then they wouldn't really qualify as one hit wonders.

[Gilly Goodness]

"Barbie Girl" was a one hit wonder for AQUA and without it would Margot Robbie be starrin' in a new Barbie film to be released in 2023? This is a question that keeps me up at night.

[Gilly Goodness]

It's happenin', people!