4 Songs That Are More Famous Than Their Singers

Many musicians dream of writing the perfect song. They dream of writing the kind of song that will cement their legacy for decades to come. At times, a musician will write too perfect a song and end up screwing themselves in the future. They suffer the “one-hit wonder” curse, or create a song that overshadows the rest of their catalog. Though it might be a sore subject to some, there is no argument: some songs are more famous than their singers. Find four such songs below.

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“Bittersweet Symphony” – The Verve

We’d feel pretty comfortable saying there are very few people in the world who haven’t heard The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony.” However, very few people within that majority can actually name the band that sings it. The Verve had a complicated history, eventually resulting in three different breakups. Despite their tumultuous time as a band, they did earn this legacy-making track. The swell of strings that plays throughout this song is iconic. It’s able to stand on its own without the rest of the song to bolster it.

“Play That Funky Music” – Wild Cherry

“Play That Funky Music” is a staple at parties and other celebrations. The infectious chorus has lasted decades in the collective consciousness, but not everyone who knows the words to this song knows the band that performed it. Wild Cherry didn’t have a very long tenure, so listeners can be forgiven for not giving them name recognition. Although we may not know who to attribute it to, “Play That Funky Music” has been a crowd pleaser for decades, and it doesn’t seem to be losing traction anytime soon.

“I Melt with You” – Modern English

Next on our list of songs that are more famous than their singers is “I Melt with You.” This track has been used in countless movies and television shows. It has an unmatched sense of nostalgia for listeners from multiple generations. However, that nostalgia isn’t the result of a widespread Modern English fanbase; it’s more to do with the ubiquity of this song. Modern English suffered the “one-hit wonder” fate. While they have meritable songs elsewhere in their catalog, “I Melt with You” casts a shadow over them.

“Come on Eileen” – Dexys Midnight Runners

It has been a long time since many of us have been to a wedding and not heard “Come on Eileen.” Its perpetual use at such celebrations, and the iconic needle drop in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, have made this song a staple, even if we can’t name the band that sings it. Being a one-hit wonder is a double-edged sword. On one hand, you can rest easy knowing you’ve written a song that virtually everybody has heard, but on the other, your career will always be boiled down to a single stellar moment. “Come on Eileen” is undoubtedly a stellar moment for Dexys Midnight Runners, even if many only know the song and not the band that is responsible for it.

(Photo by C Brandon/Redferns)