3 Acoustic One-Hit Wonders That Will Make You Sing Along All Over Again

Everyone loves a hit song. And when it comes from a one-hit wonder band, somehow it is just that much more fun. To feel the peak and pinnacle of an artist or band’s work and know the joy and success that came from it is all that much better. But the cherry on the top of all of that is when the song is an acoustic-driven number. Indeed, who doesn’t love an acoustic song?

Here below, we wanted to explore three such examples. A trio of acoustic-driven, one-hit wonder tracks that both made bands smile and their audiences. Indeed, these are three acoustic one-hit wonders that will make any music listener sing along all over again.

[RELATED: 3 Energetic One-Hit Wonders That Are Perfect To Dance Along To]

“Save Tonight” by Eagle-Eye Cherry from Desireless (1997)

This catchy tune from Eagle-Eye Cherry opens with an acoustic guitar, almost like lead singer Eagle-Eye Lanoo Cherry is busking on the sidewalk. Then a bopping drum picks up and begins to drive the tune, getting our limbs moving as our lips continue to sing out the chorus. A song that was all over the radio and outlets like MTV’s Total Request Live, this song, which hit No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, still lives in the souls of many music fans today. And on it, Cherry croons,

Go on and close the curtains
‘Cause all we need is candlelight
You and me, and a bottle of wine
Gonna hold you tonight, uh, yeah

Well, we know I’m going away
And how I wish, I wish it weren’t so
So take this wine and drink with me
Let’s delay our misery

Save tonight
And fight the break of dawn
Come tomorrow
Tomorrow I’ll be gone
Save tonight
And fight the break of dawn
Come tomorrow
Tomorrow I’ll be gone

“Brick” by Ben Folds Five from Whatever and Ever Amen (1997)

When it comes to acoustic music, it doesn’t always have to be a six-string. Sometimes the song can be a solo piano playing rich, beautiful notes in an otherwise quiet room. And this tune is a prime example. A sad song about an abortion done the day after Christmas, this is also Folds’ most famous. While he has two tracks that hit in the ’70s on the Billboard Hot 100, it was this song that peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart and was in the Top 20 on three other Billboard charts. On it, Folds sings,

She’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly
Off the coast and I’m headed nowhere
She’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly

As weeks went by, it showed that she was not fine
They told me, “Son, it’s time to tell the truth”
And she broke down and I broke down
‘Cause I was tired of lying

“Mad World” by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules from the Donnie Darko Soundtrack (2003)

This song was originally written in 1982 by the new wave group Tears for Fears. It was covered two decades later by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for the soundtrack to the movie Donnie Darko. The acoustic piano-driven tune is melancholy and sad but is also a fan favorite. And on the track, which hit No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, Andrews sings about the craziness of the world, offering,

All around me are familiar faces
Worn-out places, worn-out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head, I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

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