One-Hit Wonders With Follow-Ups Better Than the Hits
In honor of some unsung tracks, Audio Ink Radio offers its tally of one-hit wonders whose follow-ups were better than the hits. – Author: Anne Erickson, Hinder promo image via Hinder and Webster Public Relations
One-hit wonders get their name from the fact that a band or artist hit it big with one song and then never repeated quite that same level of chart success. But, listening to music throughout history, some follow ups to one-hit wonders were actually better than the songs that made these bands and artists famous. It’s funny how sometimes, the best songs aren’t the ones that reach the top of the charts. In honor of these unsung tracks, Audio Ink Radio offers its tally of one-hit wonders whose follow-up songs were better than the hits.
One-Hit Wonders With Even Better Follow-Ups
Blind Melon, “I Wonder,” Following “No Rain”
Blind Melon ruled the charts with their jangly single “No Rain” off their self-titled 1992 album, but they have plenty of other songs in their catalog. The band released “I Wonder” in 1993, which starts off acoustically and becomes an electronic work of art, but it never reached the heights of “No Rain.” But, it should have.
Hinder, “Better Than Me,” Following “Lips of an Angel”
Active rock band Hinder hit it big in 2006 with their heartfelt ballad “Lips of an Angel,” a song about missing your ex. The song hit No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a massive hit. Then, Hinder followed that track up with another emotive ballad, 2007’s “Better Than Me.” While that song reached No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, which is impressive, it didn’t do nearly as well as “Lips of an Angel,” and it’s difficult to know why. Instead of singing about an ex, here, then-Hinder vocalist Austin John Winkler sings about his girl being better than him and him loving her so much. It’s a great theme, and it’s surprising that this song didn’t do better.
Soft Cell, “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye,” Following “Tainted Love”
Soft Cell hit it big in 1981 with their upbeat, trippy pop song, “Tainted Love.” The song featured catchy lyrics and that synth-pop sound that was indicative of the era, and music lovers in the 1980s couldn’t get enough of it. It also served as an inspiration for many dance-pop songs to come. Soft Cell released “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” after that song, but it didn’t quite do as well. It’s also a great, synth-driven pop song, but just didn’t catch on as much as their first hit. While “Tainted Love” reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” didn’t make it onto that chart. It’s worth noting that these guys are still rocking it, too.
Wild Cherry, “Hot to Trot,” Following “Play That Funky Music”
Wild Cherry hit it big with their ubiquitous hit “Play That Funky Music.” Everything about “Play That Funky Music” is instantly recognizable, and it really thrived upon its release in 1976. They followed the song up with 1977’s “Baby Don’t You Know,” which sounded a lot like “Play That Funky Music” but didn’t do as well. Either way, they have one of the greatest funk songs of all time in “Play That Funky Music.”
For more one-hit wonder fun, check out Audio Ink Radio’s feature on the best from each decade.
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