One-hit wonders are often a very specific product of their time. Some musicians have managed to tap into the sound of their era with just one song, with so much precision that it becomes a massive international hit. But when it comes to the following one-hit wonders, I wouldn’t be surprised if a well-orchestrated modern-day cover could catapult them yet again to the top of the charts. Let’s look at a few one-hit wonders that would definitely chart again with covers!
Videos by American Songwriter
“Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye
I know what you’re thinking. Didn’t Doechii cover this song, and it has been a pretty big charting hit recently? Not really, actually. Doechii’s song “Anxiety” samples the same soundbite that Gotye used in “Somebody That I Used To Know”, but the two tunes are technically different songs. Both are stellar, either way.
That being said, I think Gotye’s 2010s indie pop gem would really shine with a 2020s modern-day cover. I can feel an indie pop revival happening! Or, maybe, that’s just wishful thinking.
“Bulletproof” by La Roux
Ah, the heyday of electropop. The late 2000s produced quite a few solid one-hit wonders in the genre, the most enduring being La Roux’s “Bulletproof”. Synth-pop is far from dead in the 2020s, and I think a big name in pop music could take this song and really breathe new life into it.
“Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba
Times are tough, and I think we’re overdue for a dance-rock anthem in the 2020s to get us through the difficulties of the modern age. “Tubthumping” has themes that are still relevant to today’s world, decades after it was released in 1997. It’s not a particularly political song (at least, compared to Chumbawamba’s other singles), but the theme of getting back up after getting knocked down would still resonate with a lot of people today.
“Save Tonight” by Eagle-Eye Cherry
Remember Eagle-Eye Cherry? This example of stellar one-hit wonders who would chart again with covers has aged pretty well since the 90s. The song “Save Tonight” was Cherry’s biggest hit, and I think we could all benefit from a solid, more modern alternative rock cover of this classic tune. Heck, Cherry could probably re-record a new version of the song, and I’d imagine it would do fairly well, at least in Europe.
Photo via screenshot of “Somebody That I Used To Know” Gotye music video
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