One-hit wonders usually fade into obscurity after their one major hit lights up the charts. That’s more or less the nature of being a one-hit wonder: You shine bright, and then disappear. However, a few bands and musicians have managed to be memorable and downright legendary despite only having one massive hit. What makes these musicians memorable, despite only having one hit? We think it comes down to playing the pop star game differently than most.
Sinead O’Connor’s Image Was Bigger Than Her One Claim To Fame
Even if you weren’t around in the 1980s and 1990s when Sinead O’Connor was at her peak, you probably still recognize her name, image, and hit song “Nothing Compares 2 U” today. Surprisingly, that song was O’Connor’s only claim to fame. A cover of a Prince song, “Nothing Compares 2 U” hit no. 1 across the charts internationally when it was released in 1990. O’Connor had a few additional hits, but none of them even cracked the Top 40 in the United States.
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So, O’Connor is technically a one-hit wonder. If that’s really the case, why is she still so memorable today?
It all comes down to a very simple fact about O’Connor, which she reiterated herself on numerous occasions: She was not a pop star. She was a protest singer.
O’Connor was a personality and a musician in equal amounts. She drew attention constantly, from her SNL debacle in which she tore up a photo of the pope to her adamant attempts to draw attention to racism, human rights violations, and feminist endeavors throughout her life. Her intention was always to draw attention to herself as a conduit of hope and awareness, trying to wake people up to the international horrors that were happening worldwide. And we think she was successful in that.
Devo Flipped The Script on One-Hit Wonders
Unlike Sinead O’Connor, Devo didn’t have any objective politics or greater causes to promote through their music. What made them memorable despite only having one major hit was their unique mix of satirical social commentary, performed with a very specific sense of humor.
New wave as a genre was still pretty new when Devo hit the scene. Nobody knew what to make of it yet. “Whip It” managed to become one of the most defining American contributions to the genre. Surprisingly, though, Devo didn’t have as big of a hit outside of that 1980 track. “Whip It” was their only Top 20 hit in the US, though they did have a few additional hits that made it lower on the charts internationally.
To put it simply, Devo is still memorable today despite being one-hit wonders because of their dedication to being weird. Their energy dome costumes, their syrupy synth tunes, their odd yet fascinating concepts such as “de-evolution”… All of these elements influenced multiple genres that followed new wave, and Devo is still unforgettable today.
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