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True by Spandau Ballet

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I think that we should add True by Spandau Ballet to the list since we have Take On Me by a-ha where both artists have had two Billboard Top 40 hits but only one was siginificant. 112.205.215.42 (talk) 04:47, 17 May 2018 (UTC)[reply]

The current inclusion criteria call for two independent reliable sources directly stating the act is a one-hit wonder. - SummerPhDv2.0 05:04, 17 May 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Not only do we need two sources for each entry, but the sources should be portraying the US point of view. Britannica doesn't do that. Binksternet (talk) 05:16, 17 May 2018 (UTC)[reply]
But there is one source that does, and is far more accurate. Billboard. 50.111.24.195 (talk) 04:10, 22 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]
That does not meet this article's current inclusion criteria. The discussion of your displeasure with the current criteria is at Talk:List_of_one-hit_wonders_in_the_United_States#Inclusion_Criteria. - SummerPhDv2.0 04:38, 22 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]
If the criteria of ONE Billboard Top 40 is the guideline, Spandau Ballet would not qualify, as "Gold" did make the Billboard Top 40. To be true to the criteria, it would have to be that A-ha should be removed from the list. 32.212.41.123 (talk) 22:50, 1 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]
We are not using that criteria. Rather, we are citing the media who have made their assessments of "one-hit wonder" status based on whatever they think is important. Binksternet (talk) 01:39, 2 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

I just added them yesterday, a Britannica source with a US point of view and a popular US radio show are the two sources I used as proof that they really are a one-hit-wonder in the US. Nintendoswitchfan (talk) 07:16, 23 May 2020 (UTC)[reply]

sfn/sfnp error

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Shoot, well now some citations like the first one for Polly Brown are messed up. They have an error, and I have literally absolutely NO idea how it got there. It's to the SPIN website. Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 06:55, 25 November 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Help with sfnps

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Hey, if anyone knows how to convert the Wayne Jancik 2008 book citations to sfnps, then please let me know! Cause I just tried to convert one, and an error came up. So of course, I didn't even try to go through with it. Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 05:45, 27 November 2023 (UTC)[reply]

add a new topic

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we should add collboration one hit wonders because there are many people who are one hit wonders for a song that they were featured in examples, Kiki Dee, Florence Welch, Rozes, chvrches, freshlyground, sabi, leighton meester ( I dont know how to do this)24.184.10.164 (talk) 15:39, 2 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Well, based on the page's vague criteria, none of these artists would be disqualified. Featured artists are just fine. Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 19:25, 2 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

One hit wonders of the 2020s

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Should there be a section about one hit wonders in the 2020s? There's plenty of those too. RockStarrMusicLover95 (talk) 01:48, 7 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

We can most definitely try to include a 2020s section. There have been several, mostly short-lived attempts to start a 2020s section in the past, but none have ever caught on or stuck. So as long as the entry has two reliable, US-based sources, then sure! Let's go add some entries! Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 05:06, 7 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]
At the moment i'm not seeing enough sources i think it's because the acts are still active and have a chance to release something, i will keep the section on my sandbox for now :). DanTheMusicMan2 (talk) 15:44, 9 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thin Lizzy

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Hlom10 keeps removing Thin Lizzy, including the reference that clearly states they were a one hit wonder (in those exact words). Others, feel free to opine on this, one way or another. Dennis Brown 2¢ 10:04, 14 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Unreliable Sources

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A lot of the entries on this page have sources of questionable quality, like tiny websites with clickbait listicles or Sporcle quizzes. Given Wikipedia's policy on reliable sources, specifically about questionable or self-published sources, there seem to be a lot of entries that should either be removed or given proper sources. Janus Antoninus (talk) 23:03, 23 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The task will be easier if you point out specific sources to remove. Binksternet (talk) 01:38, 24 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Regarding your removal of Carly Rae Jepsen, it would be interesting for the reader if we write a paragraph about her career arc saying that she was considered a one-hit wonder for the three years between 2012 and 2015, despite the success of "Good Time", her second US hit single in 2012. Binksternet (talk) 01:55, 24 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Sure, some obvious examples of questionable sources besides the dozens of Sporcle references are the citations of hollywoodgossip.com, mentalitch.com, musicgrotto, popexpresso.com, playback.fm, reads-it.com, rtt80s.com, and 360degreesound.com. All of those are tiny websites that don't even have a Wikipedia page about them or about any parent publisher and that give no indication of criteria, methods, expertise, or anything else that would give independent confidence in their lists.
I'll also mention that there are plenty of other listicles cited from publications that other editors might consider dubious as a basis for saying a song is a one-hit wonder but that are at least well-established in pop culture or comedy (e.g. Buzzfeed, Cracked, Bustle, Pop Matters, Pop Crush) or are at least actual news sources (e.g. articles from random local radio stations or newspapers). I would put in a vote removing any Buzzfeed sources but that might just be prejudice. Otherwise I haven't seen any sign that those are questionable sources for this topic.
I agree that it's a good idea to add a line somewhere about Carly Rae Jepsen, given how widely discussed her not being a one-hit wonder is. The other two that I had removed recently on account of having multiple hits in the Top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100 - Psy and LMFAO - are probably also notable for being occasionally or temporarily called one-hit wonders but also being occasionally described as escaping one-hit wonder status (LMFAO is a particular weird case because they had two #1 hits in the US but they were close to the same time and their third Top 40 hit was a collab and not as massively famous). Psy though has some solid sources calling him a one-hit wonder so I don't see any policy reason to exclude him. Janus Antoninus (talk) 05:41, 24 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Janus Antoninus I went through and marked those (and a bunch of others) with {{Unreliable source?}}. There's still a lot more crap in there. --Ahecht (TALK
PAGE) 19:39, 29 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hozier broke his One-Hit Wonder status today! YAAAAAAYYYY!!! :D :D :D

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https://www.billboard.com/artist/hozier/ Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 01:53, 7 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I thought He was already removed from this list because of "Northern Attitude" but congrats to him for getting two top 10 hits in the US.DanTheMusicMan2 (talk) 15:49, 9 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Nazareth, A Flock of Seagulls and Randy Newman

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I noticed their are several artist who had more than one hit. Nazareth besides their song Love Hurts had another hit with Hair of the Dog. A Flock Of Seagulls had Space Age Love song which was a hit and Wishing I had a Photograph of you and Randy Newman who had several more hits than just Short People. He had You've Got a Friend in Me, as well as several more successful songs that appeared in Pixar films. Joey (talk) 14:43, 12 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@MrJoeytheMusicMan Yeah, I have a hard time classifying a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with with seven Grammy awards (three of which were in a "Best Song" category), two Academy Awards for Best Original Song, and three Emmys for Music and Lyrics as a one-hit wonder. --Ahecht (TALK
PAGE) 19:37, 29 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I think they should be removed from the list, their are a few other artist here and their I have noticed as not being one hit wonders. Joey (talk) 19:49, 29 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
A-ha has "The Sun Always Shines On TV", which peaked at #20 on Billboard Hot 100, #6 on Dance Club Songs, #5 on Dance Singles Sales, and #24 on Cash Box; and Dead Or Alive has "Brand New Lover" at #15 on Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on Dance Club Songs and Dance Singles Sales. Should they be removed? 67.43.190.226 (talk) 18:21, 23 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Extensive tagging of sources

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Pinging Ya Boy Alex! who alerted me. Earlier today, Ahecht tagged a bunch of sources as unreliable. Here's a list of the base websites along with my off-the-cuff assessment:

  • playback.fm – lacks a human author, probably automated web scraper
  • mentalitch.com – lacks a human author, probably AI-generated text
  • 360degreesound.com – looks okay to me because the website has multiple editors and contributors.[1]
  • medium.com – generally unreliable source, depending on the author and the topic. See WP:MEDIUM.
  • metv.com – lacks a named author, just "Staff". The "about" page does not name any editors or writers which is worrisome.[2]
  • www.musicgrotto.com – looks okay to me because the website has multiple editors and contributors.[3]
  • rtt80s.com – Wordpress blog, falls under WP:USERG. If someone can establish Paul Stroessner as a music critic or musicologist then this can be used.
  • sporcle.com – looks like a blogging platform which allows anyone to contribute. Same as medium.com. If the author doesn't use their real name then the reliability goes waaay down.
  • buzzfeed.com – possibly unreliable source, depending on the author and the topic. See WP:BUZZFEED.
  • tidal.com – lacks a human author, probably automated web scraper
  • reads-it.com – suspiciously automated appearance, with every article written by "Bobby McNeill" but no list of editors or contributors. The notional Bobby McNeill does not have a reputation as a music expert. Looks like AI-generated text.
  • cracked.com – looks okay to me because the website has multiple editors and contributors.[4]
  • watchmojo.com – I'm baffled because I can't find a list of editors and contributors, but writer Andy Hammersmith might be a pop culture journalist from Ohio.
  • whatculture.com – Maybe okay, maybe not. Writer Alexander Greensmith appears to be a real human, but the website does not list its editors and contributors.
  • hollywoodgossip.com – The named author is fake or a pseudonym: Tattle Taylor. Might be AI-generated text.
  • whosampled.com – lacks a human author, probably automated web scraper.
There are some other dodgy sources that were not tagged by Ahecht
  • junkee.com – The main problem here is that Junkee is based in Australia, so if they think a musical artist is a one-hit wonder, that has little relevance for the USA. The writer Nathan Jolly looks like a career music critic from Australia.
  • audacy.com – Questionable source, does not list its team of editors or contributors. The named author is Marni Zipper who works for Sony in Los Angeles as a digital marketer.

I think we need to establish which of these can be considered reliable, and which are not. Following that, some entries will probably fall away. Binksternet (talk) 01:57, 30 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thank You! I will try to work this out. :) Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 03:13, 30 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Binksternet, Ya Boy Alex!: I didn't think I had tagged metv.com, just gave the references real names, but perhaps I should have. Not sure why I tagged 360degreesound -- I thought the site had looked a lot scammier when I visited it yesterday, but I might've done something like accidentally mistyped the URL or clicked on an ad. I'll remove those tags. --Ahecht (TALK
PAGE) 13:21, 30 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
@Binksternet As for cracked.com and whatculture.com, they are listed at Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Perennial sources#Cracked.com and WP:WHATCULTURE as "generally unreliable". --Ahecht (TALK
PAGE) 13:40, 30 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The One-Hit Wonders page on Top40Weekly has been updated!

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Check it out! 2016 is completed, as well as adding 2017, 2018 and 2019! Also, three new entries have been added prior to 2010:

Stone Poneys - Different Drum (January 27th, 1968) (#13)

Garbage - Stupid Girl (September 21st, 1996) (#24)

Weezer - Beverly Hills (October 8th, 2005) (#10)

Yaaaaay! :D

~ Alex :) Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 06:10, 8 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Bustle article

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Bustle has firm editorial oversight.[5] They are an online magazine. The article in question was written by a veteran entertainment journalist. Nothing unreliable that I can see in this case. Binksternet (talk) 22:25, 7 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, but this is your opinion, not a discussion. Have you reviewed both the article and what Wikipedia's reliable source guidance suggests?[6] The sentences are: "It's depressing, but really pretty at the same time. I can't tell you how many times I played this song on repeat." That doesn't cut it. Caro7200 (talk) 23:07, 7 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The bar is lower than you think. At Wikipedia:Reliable_sources/Perennial_sources, the Bustle online magazine is questioned for reliability but not deprecated. That means articles from Bustle are available to use unless proven unreliable on a case-by-case basis. Binksternet (talk) 23:26, 7 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Exactly. Have these two sentences made the article's case that the Wallflowers are a one-hit-wonder? The entire thing is closer to a listicle made up of a freelancer's musings. Caro7200 (talk) 23:36, 7 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]
There is no proof needed for the label "one-hit wonder" which tends to be a social construct rather than a precise statistical fact. If two media sources apply the label we have enough foundation to list that artist. Binksternet (talk) 00:18, 8 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I would hope it's two reliable media sources, but it doesn't seem to be. WP is built on reliable sources and the factuality of the statements made by those sources. This listicle doesn't provide any actual content. Caro7200 (talk) 00:30, 8 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Wallflowers as OHW

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Other sources discuss whether the Wallflowers are a one-hit wonder.

Several sources such as Grunge.com and a fan review published in the Deseret News talk about the Wallflowers being considered a one-hit wonder while adding contradictory text to negate the label. But enough positive application of the label appears in sources for us to list the band. Binksternet (talk) 00:53, 8 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Many, but not all, are better than Bustle, with some still not explicitly calling the band a one-hit-wonder (and which doesn't change the fact that they had four big radio hits). It may be time to get input from the broader music project on this: the whole issue is that one-hit-wonder and artist with one top 40 hit aren't synonymous. This article tries to have it both ways, and many others to boot, as other editors have noted. It often seems like a monument to Wayne Jancik and mediocre sourcing, curated by one editor. As you mentioned, Binksternet, "one-hit-wonder" has a certain meaning, of pop, frivolity, the rose-tinted past, etc. For one example, Frank Zappa had one big hit; the larger WP music community may not consider him a "one-hit-wonder", as a truly defining characteristic, especially as one source is a reproduction of a VH1 video listing. I'll raise the subject tomorrow at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Music or whichever broader page editors here deem appropriate. Thanks. Caro7200 (talk) 01:34, 8 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

2020s OHWs

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Is it alright if we add one-hit wonders from the 2020s as well? WazzupMyBoyz (talk) 19:14, 21 June 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Spinditty can now be used

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I would like to let everyone know that the Canadian website Spinditty.com has a number of articles on One-Hit Wonders, and I have been able to establish the article's writer as an American writer and critic. The articles/lists are also coming from an American perspective. Therefore, we can use the pages as a source for entries! Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 19:59, 5 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]

ive tried to add that one in the past but it was blacklisted therefore blocked to use has it been lifted? DanTheMusicMan2 (talk) 20:21, 5 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I've been able to establish the writer as American, however I am not able to lift the blacklist status. If you know a way around the issue, then we very much appreciate that. :) Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 20:28, 5 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Huge oversight within the page

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Firstly, putting all of the one hit wonders in a template makes it near-impossible to edit without unbearable lag, along with heaps of trouble trying to find a specific song due to how ctrl+f works. We should remove the templates and use some sort of paste so it's visually appealing.

Secondly, should we add (featuring so-and-so) within one hit wonders that might have other people who do have more hits. An example is Phillip Bailey - Easy Lover, despite the fact Phil Collins actually sings for longer within the song 203.221.12.54 (talk) 10:37, 26 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I write the entries in my sandbox, copy my work, then I go to "edit source" next to the decade and paste it in there. :) Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 01:48, 3 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The guideline at WP:TOOBIG says a Wikipedia page might be too big if it has more than 6,000 words of readable prose. This article is mostly list entries, so it has only 5,096 words of readable prose. If we include the list entries, it's more like 12,000 words, which is quite large.
I could see breaking up this page into two chunks, one with the prose explanation and the first three decades, the other with the remaining decades. Note that there were seven articles, one per decade, prior to this discussion in 2017: Talk:List_of_2010s_one-hit_wonders_in_the_United_States#Inclusion_criteria. After that discussion, the entries were pared waaay down and merged. Binksternet (talk) 02:19, 3 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The seven articles (one for each decade) were better than this subjective list. 99.118.250.37 (talk) 17:46, 7 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

New definition of One-Hit Wonders

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Been thinking this through. I notice some of the one hit wonders here on the lists are from the top 50 to top 100 on the Hot 100 like "My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit and "I Know What Boys Like" by The Waitresses. Even "Lunatic Fringe" by Red Riders, which did not chart on Hot 100, rather Mainstream Rock chart, especially me putting Robin Beck back with her "Sweet Talk" which only charted on Dance Club Chart (formerly called Disco Top 100 at the time). If anything at least hits top 50 to top 100, or some cases, Bubbling Under Hot 100, or any other singles charts by Billboard or even Cashbox, can they still count as one hit wonders if one chart alone regardless if top 40 or under? 67.43.190.226 (talk) 19:15, 29 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]

We don't go by chart ratings, Top 40 or Top 50/100 whatever. We go by reliable sources saying that the artist is a one-hit wonder in the context of the USA. Binksternet (talk) 20:07, 29 July 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The One-Hit Wonders page on Top40Weekly has been updated again!

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I just found out that the page has been updated again! This primarily adds new artists (main artists and features) who were left out before. I am very happy about this! :)

~ Alex Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 02:08, 3 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Billy Ray Cyrus

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@Ya Boy Alex! You reverted my removal of Billy Ray Cyrus, as Old Town Road is credited primarily to Lil Nas X, but Cyrus' Billboard page credits him for the remix of Old Town Road as a number one (Achy Breaky Heart was number 4), as a featured artist. The non-Cyrus version is not listed on Lil Nas X's page. Xeroctic (talk) 09:01, 9 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

My reason for reinstating Billy Ray Cyrus was because Achy Breaky Heart was a song put out by Cyrus as the main/lead artist, where as his appearance on Old Town Road was as a feature. There is a notable difference between being the main artist of a song and simply being a feature on the song. A song is directly credited to the main artist, and the featured artist is just mentioned on the side. One of the near countless examples of how this works is the song The Monster by Eminem ft. Rihanna. Eminem raps the verses and Rihanna sings the chorus. However, people know The Monster to be an Eminem song; not a Rihanna song. Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 17:01, 9 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Would it be useful to add a footnote onto the list mentioning Cyrus' other song, and that Achy Breaky Heart is a one-hit wonder as a solo artist? Xeroctic (talk) 13:54, 10 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
There is already a pattern for handling this. In his book, Jancik separates the times that a person appears in a song versus the times they get top billing on a song. The only time they qualify for one hit wonder is when they are getting top billing by name. Examples include Roger Daltrey in a solo song versus Daltrey as a band member in the Who. I think Billy Ray Cyrus should only be counted for his work as solo artist leading his own band. Binksternet (talk) 15:44, 10 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Just as a correction to my previous message, I meant 'by himself' instead of 'solo artist', Cyrus was not a part of a band. Xeroctic (talk) 08:01, 12 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

2020s Section

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I was thinking about this actually just the other day. I think we should have at least five entries (with two sources each of course) that peaked after 2019 before we can officially have a 2020s Section. Then comes the minor question of how long do we have to wait until we can most likely say that someone is a one-hit wonder? Or someone who at least looks destined to become a one-hit wonder. Ya Boy Alex! (talk) 04:18, 15 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Afroman

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Afroman is definitely not a one hit wonder. Crazy Rap (Colt 45) is also very popular in addition to Because I Got High. 72.241.148.203 (talk) 06:05, 15 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Ozzy Osbourne

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And in what universe is Ozzy a 1 hit wonder? I'm not even a big Ozzy fan but he's one of the most famous rock singers ever. Even if you're excluding his work with Black Sabbath, he was a very successful solo artist. 72.241.148.203 (talk) 06:10, 15 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

More artists on this terrible list that are most definitely not one hit wonders

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Sinead O'Connor, Frank Zappa, and Warren Zevon (my favorite artist ever btw). None of those 3, nor the 2 artists that I mentioned in previous threads are even remotely close to being 1 hit wonders. This whole list is bunk. 72.241.148.203 (talk) 06:20, 15 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Don't know about Zappa but Sinead and Warren only had one additional minor hit which is not the same as a hit DanTheMusicMan2 (talk) 10:17, 15 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

J-five ?

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I remember that J-five's song "Modern Times" was a major hit in 2005. But, since 2005, this rapper has totally vanished. He hasn't released any disc. Today he has been forgotten : from him, people only remember "Modern Times". Therefore, could J-five be added to this list of one-hit-wonders ? Thank you very much for your answers. Julius-leclerc (talk) 10:36, 17 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I can't see that it was a hit from here Modern Times (song) in the United States, however that is not the requirement on this page it's references calling it a one-Hit wonder but i can't see anything yet. DanTheMusicMan2 (talk) 15:17, 17 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Idea for organizing the list / categorizing one-hit wonders

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I've been following this article since it had the original chart format. I understand why it was changed, but even with remodeling, there's still much room for debate and I think I have a solution and I would have no problem undertaking the editing as long as it is approved by whoever is in charge.

Oddly enough, the idea I have was inspired by the article for "List of Suicides" - dark, I know, but here's why I bring it up: The top section of the article goes over cases that were confirmed; at the bottom, however, there's a segment for cases that were disputed. I think that can apply to this article because of how flexible the term is "one-hit wonder" is used. Fair warning: you are going to read the word "one-hit wonder" a lot in the following thesis.

Confirmed one-hit wonders

While it can still be organized chronologically, a top section can be used for confirmed one-hit wonders where it is proven they only have one hit and therefore, no one will argue. For example, I'm sure we are all in agreement that Zager & Evans are one-hit wonders for "In the 2525"... They only had one Billboard Top 40 appearance, ergo, it's very obvious they meet the criteria.

Disputed one-hit wonders

The section below, on the other hand, can be disputed one-hit wonders. These are artists who can be mistaken as one-hit wonders, or are mistakenly believed to match this criteria. For example, A Flock of Seagulls is listed here for "I Ran (So Far Away)" despite having other Top 40 hits. Yes, I'm fine with them being considered one-hit wonders, but the public deserves an explanation that "Space Age Love Song" and "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" could've also been the band's only sole hit had things been slightly different (both charted at #30, and #26 respectively).

Other artists included on this list who are also not technically one-hit wonders would include:

  • Don McLean - "American Pie" - He had five other US Top 40 Hits
  • Gary Glitter - "Rock & Roll Pt. 2" - He reached #35 with "I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock and Roll)"
  • Michael Sembello - "Maniac" - He also had a hit with "Automatic Man".
  • Naked Eyes - "Always Something There to Remind Me" - Technically a two-hit wonder with "Promises, Promises"
  • Madness - "Our House" - Also had a hit with "It Must Be Love"
  • Men Without Hats - "The Safety Dance" - Also had a later hit with "Pop Goes the World".

I can pull out more examples, but I also WILL NOT ARGUE FOR THEIR REMOVAL FROM THIS LIST as I understand why they are thought to be so... And I understand why people are unsure if "Take On Me" is worthy of being included because of this rule as well. By adding a disputed section, it can clear the air that yes, some do indeed recognize these acts as one-off, but they're technically not.

With this section, there would be a comment box to explain why the act is disputed. It would need one piece of researching opining that the song is a one-hit wonder, with another article opining that or proving that it isn't.

From here on out, everything else is optional, but will still categorize songs appropriately and in a more effective manner.

Songs considered one-hit wonders despite low chart performance

The first thing to consider here is songs considered one-hit wonders despite poor chart performance. There's songs on here that did not reach the Top 40, but I have no problem recognizing as the sole hit. Songs like "I Melt with You", "Mexican Radio", "I Want Candy", "What Do All the People Know"... I have no problem recognizing them. However, the fact stands: these artists did only have one hit, even if it is minor in comparison to those within the Top 40. I just think we should go the extra mile and state, this does not apply to Billboard magazine's definition, but rather, more of a band's legacy a viewed by the general public.

Renowned artists who are technically one-hit wonders

Likewise, we can even include a 'controversial one-hit wonders' section. This is where cases such as Jimi Hendrix, Rush, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Iggy Pop, etc. are pointed as only having one Billboard Top 40 hit despite their massive influence and followings. I'm not happy that Jimi Hendrix has only had one Top 40 hit, but it's still interesting and worth pointing out.

Acts that are mistaken as one-hit wonders

We can even go a step further and have a section for Artists mistakenly referred to as one-hit wonders. I know that Rick Astley is not a one-hit wonder. You know that too. However, on National One-Hit Wonder Day (September 25th), one of the newscasters said: "Happy One-Hit Wonder Day! What's your favorite one-off song? Mine is "Never Gonna Give You Up"." And yes, I do know there is an article for "Signature Songs", but seeing as we're researchers on this subject, it's our job to inform the public to preserve an artist's musical reputation.

Regional one-hit wonders

The last ideas worth pointing out, and this one I do not expect to even be considered, but am still pitching anyway are regional one-hit wonders and one-hit wonders on smaller charts. Songs in the US that became sole hits, but only in a small geographic portion. For example "Rubber Biscuit" by The Chips was a radio hit on the east coast and is now fondly remembered as their only big track. "Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)" by Dramarama became large in Los Angeles before its inclusion in the Nightmare on Elm Street series; the song has become a cult hit and essentially all they are known for singing, despite not making a dent on any of the charts.

One-hit wonders based on performance on other charts

As for one-hit wonders on other charts, this can be where we address that the 90's radio airplay chart accounted for several artists typically associated as one-hit wonders. "Pepper" by the Butthole Surfers, "Novocaine for the Soul" by Eels, and "Lovefool" by The Cardigans are considered one-hit wonders on this list, however they charted on the US airplay charts, not the Billboard Top 40. Again, I have no problem considering them as one-hit wonders. But I'd also go and say that Soul Coughing is a one-hit wonder for "Circles" as it's their only hit on the US Mainstream Rock chart & US Bubbling Under 100 charts. Am I going to add them to this list - no... Not unless I have permission at least.

Regardless, these are all factors that I think can help organize the list far better, clear up confusion about what counts and why or why not, and give more artists a chance to have their biggest song be exposed to a greater audience.

Thank you for attending my TEDTalk.

tl;dr: We can organize this list chronologically as:

  • Confirmed one-hit wonders
  • Disputed one-hit wonders
  • Songs considered one-hit wonders despite low chart performance [optional]
  • Highly-regarded acts that are technically one-hit wonders [optional]
  • Songs mistaken as one-hit wonders [optional]
  • Regional one-hit wonders [optional]
  • One-hit wonders based on other US music charts [optional]

Exiasprip (talk) 21:54, 21 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

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