Comeback singles are a rarity in the musical world. Generating success in the music business is no easy feat, and generating it again after you’ve lost it once can feel virtually impossible.
A lot of people seemingly think that when an artist or band gets one big break, their career is set. That could not be farther from the truth, as the public will gladly toss an artist or band to the side in an instant if they are not fond of what they are releasing or how they are acting.
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Needless to say, fostering consistent fame and success is a balancing act. Many artists have failed and never returned from their fall. However, some have fallen and gotten back up on the horse. Some did it with just one song, including these three musical giants.
“What’s Love Got To Do With It” by Tina Turner
After Tina Turner split with her abusive spouse and former musical partner, Ike Turner, her notoriety as a musician plummeted. Although there is no single answer to why that is, her solo career was not performing at the same level as her career with Ike. However, that changed in 1984 when Tina Turner released her comeback single, “What’s Love Got to Do with It”.
Tina Turner’s 1984 hit, “What’s Love Got to Do with It”, is one of the most successful singles of the 1980s. Following its release, the single peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a smash hit worldwide.
“Walk This Way” by Run-DMC ft. Aerosmith
Aerosmith was one of the biggest bands of the 1970s. However, when the decade started to come to a close, Aerosmith’s notoriety began to decline due to substance abuse, internal band struggles, and the departure of original members Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. But by the late 80s, they returned to music’s peak with their unexpected collaboration with Run-DMC.
Released in 1987, Run-DMC’s cover of “Walk This Way,” featuring Aerosmith, climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Thanks to the momentum of this single, Aerosmith went on to release the album Permanent Vacation, featuring the band’s hit singles “Rag Doll” and “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”.
“Believe” by Cher
Closing out our list of comeback singles is the incomparable Cher. In the 1970s, Cher was one half of the iconic duo, Sonny & Cher. She was a central figure in pop culture of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. However, in the early 90s, health issues derailed her career a bit. This era is often cited as the lowest point of Cher’s career, but when 1998 came around, Cher introduced herself to a new generation and took off.
In 1998, Cher released her hit single, “Believe”. Following its release, this auto-tune staple peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the first time Cher reached No. 1 on the chart in 33 years. To this day, it is the biggest single of Cher’s career.
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More The List
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CIRCA 1966: Singer Mick Jagger of the rock and roll band "The Rolling Stones" performs onstage in circa 1966. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Aerosmith Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, Vorst-Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium, 31st October 1993. (Photo by Goedefroit Music/Getty Images) -
UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: John LENNON between 1970 and 1973. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) -
1972: (L-R) Jim Hodder, David Palmer, Denny Dias, Donald Fagen, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Walter Becker of the rock band "Steely Dan" pose for a portrait in 1972. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
Kyu Sakamoto. (1941-1985) Japanese singer, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Aruko" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. (Photo by Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images) -
Picture taken in 1974 in Stockholm shows the Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo". – Sweden's legendary disco group ABBA announced on April 27, 2018 that they have reunited to record two new songs, 35 years after their last single. The quartet split up in 1982 after dominating the disco scene for more than a decade with hits like "Waterloo", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper". (Photo by Olle LINDEBORG / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP via Getty Images)
