You can thank LarryLars for today's Music Monday. His private message debate with Scott inspired the idea that maybe, just maybe, it was worth taking a look at those so-called one-hit wonders who are famous for a second song. C'mon, we all forget things sometimes, right? These days it's easy to get distracted! So why not start with the guy who'll never live down making "The Day The Music Died" into a household name...
Don McLean - Vincent (Starry Starry Night)
This pretty tribute to Vincent Van Gogh scores artist Don McLean a little street cred, because this right here was supposedly Tupac's favorite song. It was a big hit in Europe and did okay in the States, but over the years this has mostly been forgotten in favor of its more famous younger brother, American Pie. Even still, this song turns up from time to time. Remember that episode of The Simpsons with Homer's mom?
That's what we're talking about. The artists who give you that "Oh, yeah, I forgot about that!" moment when their other song starts to play. After the jump, we've got four more. Then it'll be your turn to offer some examples! Especially you, LarryLars, since this post is all your fault. See you inside?
Bonnie Tyler - It's A Heartache
Even newborn children know Bonnie Tyler's Meatloaf-sounding 80s smash, Total Eclipse Of The Heart, but turn around, bright eyes, because this earlier bar-rock classic was made for a beer and a jukebox. Listen to that smokey voice purr out the pain! And without the accursed Jim Steinman telling her what to say!
Gloria Gaynor - Never Can Say Goodbye
That's right, she's Gloria Gaynor, and she will survive. Everybody knows the latter, but some people forget she charted with the former as well, in 1974. Naturally, she also had a full career besides these two songs and she did other less famous things as well (including the amazingly named Noctura: Granddaughter Of Dracula) but when it comes to hits, this one is pretty solid for a second-best.
Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch - Wildside
Boston kid rapping about the evil of drugs over a Lou Reed sample? It just doesn't get more 1990s than this! To be fair, Mark Walburg did grow past this persona, and he does seem a little embarrassed to talk about what he did before he was a serious actor. However this video proves that Good Vibrations wasn't just a youthful indiscretion, because Monsieur Mark threw down a follow-up before calling it quits.
Falco - Vienna Calling
When you think national pride, you think of boasting Dominican rappers or maybe swaggering Puerto Rican singers. There's nothing wrong with being proud of who where you came from, of course, but… well, how often does someone try to rep Vienna? And yet, here's Falco, with a hit more focused than the history-packed Rock Me Amadeus, a song that was also about Vienna in a way. Falco's long since gone, but I expect he's still an Austrian hero… because who else can you think of to take his place?
Know any good one-hit wonders that actually had a second hit? Got a favorite band you're sick of seeing misrepresented? Are you a closet Madness fan who knows for a fact that "Our House" wasn't all they ever did? Throw the songs in the comments below, then stop by our turntable.fm room for a little more music fun. Who knows, maybe you'll be like LarryLars and get to teach us a thing or two!
