Ten 90's One Hit Wonders Who Didn't Deserve That Title
There are many bands and acts that are labeled “One Hit Wonders” who actually have more than one hit. There are also those who had other songs that could have been smash hits that never became singles. Here’s 10 bands from the 90’s who fit either or both of those descriptions; bands who had the potential to be much bigger than just another 90’s One Hit Wonder.
10. Ace of Base
Hit Song: "the Sign"
It’s really quite strange that this Swedish pop group group gets labeled as a 90’s One Hit Wonder act. They actually had three #1 singles. Their first single of their hit album the Sign, “All That She Wants” was certified platinum and reached the number 1 sport in several countries. It also hit number 2 on the U.S.’s Billboard Hot 100. This was the first song I had ever heard by the band, and quite possibly still my favorite. “Don’t Turn Around” was another massive hit off that album, gaining much of it’s success in European countries.
They continued to drop hit singles, including “Beautiful Life”, another Billboard Hot 100 track. It charted all over the globe and became a super popular club hit. Their continued success led to them selling over 30 million copies of their first four albums before their eventual breakup. Knowing that, how does this worldwide successful pop band keep showing up on “One Hit Wonder” lists?
9. Semisonic
Hit Song: "Closing Time"
Semisonic had a massive alternative rock hit with “Closing Time”. The song charted at #1 on the U.S. Modern Rock charts. Hilariously, it still gets played at bars around closing time to lets patrons know that it’s time to go. The song dwarfed their other singles, which were arguably just as good. Those semi successful tracks were “Singing in My Sleep”, “Secret Smile”, and “Chemistry”.
Not to knock “Closing Time”, but “Secret Smile” should have been the bigger hit. It’s a ballad that’s quite mesmerizing from start to finish that lead singer Dan Wilson said came to him in a dream. The song wound up on a few TV and movie soundtracks but ultimately was buried in the shadow cast by “Closing Time”.
“If I Run” is another outstanding single that pre-dated their big hit, and for whatever reason, just didn’t take off. It’s equally as catchy and has an energetic chorus that really sticks upon first listen. It contains all the necessary ingredients to be as big as “Closing Time”, but just didn’t receive the same radio push. It’s worth noting that Dan Wilson went on to write and produce Adele‘s 6x platinum success “Someone Like You”.
8. Lit
Hit Song: "My Own Worst Enemy"
This pop punk band scored their biggest hit with the summer anthem’ My Own Worst Enemy” on their debut album. They did manage to follow-up with a few singles that charted, but ultimately were nearly forgotten by the masses. Their second single “Zip-Lock” ended up on Malcolm in the Middle, which was huge at the time. It charted on a few billboards, and scored a cameo from Blink 182 in it’s music video.
“Miserable”, in my opinion the best of their debut album’s singles, is a fine mix of rock ballad meets punk. Lit managed to get Pamela Anderson to star in it’s music video as a giantess who ends up vore-ing the entire band. Their next album also produced a Top 10 Modern Rock Billboard hit with “Lipstick and Bruises”. After that single, Lit’s spark did begin to go out. They made an attempt at success again by going the country music route years into their career, but that seemed to fizzle out. Still, they had four successful singles, and songs popping up on popular shows and movies. Calling them 90’s One Hit Wonders just feels wrong.
7. the Flys
Hit Song: "Got You (Where I Want You)
6. the Verve Pipe
Hit Song: "the Freshman"
If you were alive in 1997, it was difficult to go a day without hearing the Verve Pipe’s alternative hit “the Freshmen”. The song peaked at #1 on the Modern Rock charts while landing on several other music charts as well. Is it their best song though? I would beg to differ.
Prior to that single, they had released a song called “Photograph” that I vividly remember hearing on alt rock stations. This song was truly incredible and while it did chart, it was nowhere near as successful. It’s infectious and almost hypnotizing, with particularly creative lyrics. In my humble opinion, it is a far superior track. The album, titled Villains, also featured the song “Villains”, which is total alt/grunge rock bliss, complete with organs and all. It was also a single, though it didn’t chart or appear on any soundtracks.
Like the aforementioned band, the Verve Pipe had an album without much or any filler songs. “Reverend Girl”, ‘Cup of Tea”, and “Penny Is Poison” were all exceptional songs that never left the album. Their follow-up album spawned a single with “Hero”, but it faded fast from radio. Not too long after the band went on hiatus to return nearly 13 years later with the album Overboard. That album featured a standout and beautifully crafted track called “I Want to Bury You”, and it didn’t release as a single. Once again, the potential to be listed amongst iconic alternative rock bands was there, but the opportunity was somehow missed.
5. the Cardigans
Hit Song: "Lovefool"
The Cardigans biggest hit was “Lovefool”, which peaked at #2 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. The song was as equally catchy as it was lulling. Not a bad song at all, but not their best work either. It’s true that this would be the song they’d be remembered for, but some may remember that incredible album that followed…
Gran Turismo released two years later and experimented with a more electronic sound. It felt like it was paying homage to trip hop, notably acts like the Sneaker Pimps and Portishead. This album would go on to spawn three singles, “My Favourite Game”, “Erase/Rewind”, and “Hanging Around”. All of these songs are superior to “Lovefool”, both lyrically and musicianship-wise, but none of them made the same splash. The multi-Grammy-winning metal band the Deftones must have been listening. Years after Gran Turismo released, they paid tribute with a refreshing cover of the non-single “Do You Believe”.
How big does a hit need to be before a band is dubbed a 90’s One Hit Wonder? The Cardigans made big enough waves with four singles, wound up on soundtracks, and seem to be respected by bigger bands. Do they really belong under this umbrella or is society’s overall attention span to blame?
4. the Verve
Hit Song: "bittersweet Symphony"
I remember Rolling Stone magazine hyping the Verve up to be the next big thing by putting lead singer, Richard Ashcroft, on their cover. This was following the release of their massively popular ballad “Bittersweet Symphony”. The song itself used a sample of an orchestral version of the Rolling Stones‘ classic “the Last Time”. This led to the band being unjustly sued and not making a dime on the track for over 20 years. It’s a long story, but once you listen to the whole thing, I’m fairly confident you’ll take the Verve’s side on it. The Stones themselves did eventually.
Even with the band being stripped of the song’s royalties, it’s without a doubt the Verve’s most well-known track It appears in ads and in movies, and is currently making it’s rounds on TikTok. It charted at #4 in the U.S. while appearing on multiple other charts throughout the world. It truly is an iconic song. With all that being said, the band had some other incredible work too that has mostly been overlooked. The album, Urban Hymns, produced three other singles, “the Drugs Don’t Work”, Lucky Man”, and “Sonnet”.
While “Lucky Man” did chart on the U.S. Modern Rock chart and the others on a few different music charts, they were completely overshadowed by the success and legal issues surrounding “Bittersweet Symphony”. That hit single’s name really took on a double-meaning. While the band did achieve cult following status, they would find themselves unfairly placed on 90’s One Hit Wonders lists across the web.
3. Chumbawamba
Hit Song: "Tubthumping"
When it comes to bands carrying the “90’s One Hit Wonder” label, Chumbawamba perhaps catches the most flack. While “Tubthumping” was a smash hit, the band actually had several other hits. The album Tubthumper had two other singles with “Amnesia” and “Drip, Drip, Drip”, and it’s very much bursting at the seams with songs that should have been monster hits. “Outsider”, “Creepy Crawling”, and “I Want More” are a few infectious examples.
The band has 14 albums in their catalogue, some of which have also generated singles. “Timebomb” predates their smash hit, and really had the energy and charm to be just as big. The critically acclaimed single “Pass It Along” had all the elements to be a massive hit single as well, but somehow flew under the radar. The band transitioned into a more folk sounding act, and still continued to put out quality work that just never landed on radio. They even poke fun at themselves having only one hit on the 2010 track “Torturing James Hetfield”. I’m glad they can laugh at themselves, but it’s still a little sad to see a band with so many memorable and well-written tracks go down as one of the most renowned “One Hit Wonders”.
2. eels
Hit Song: "Novacaine for the Soul"
Eels have consistently changed members throughout the years, with the exception of founder Mark Oliver Everett, commonly known to fans as E. E had released a few solo albums and the single “Hello Cruel World” before adding new members to his act and changing the name to Eels. It was at this time he scored his first and biggest hit, “Novacaine for the Soul”, charting at #1 on the Modern Rock charts. It was a fantastic, almost dreamy alt rocker that was popular for a short time. The album, titled Beautiful Freak, had two other outstanding singles, “Susan’s House” and “Your Lucky Day in Hell”, which have since been forgotten by most.
The second album contained minor hits such as “Last Stop: This Town” and the American Beauty soundtrack’s “Cancer for the Cure”. Following those singles, “Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues” would go on to chart in the UK and appear in the comedy EuroTrip. It was often mislabeled and shared as “Beautiful Day” on P2P software in it’s heyday. Eels would go on to receive critical acclaim for their next few albums, and drop singles that the radio didn’t seem to pick up at all. Many people will recognize their songs that have appeared in three of the blockbuster Shrek films: “My Beloved Monster”, “I Need Some Sleep”, and “Losing Streak”. Even with a little push from Shrek, the band unfortunately gets stamped as a 90’s One Hit Wonder act. I don’t think Everett minds though, since he hasn’t seemed to slow down, dropping quality albums every few years.
1. Marcy Playground
Hit Song: "Sex and Candy"
Marcy Playground seem to appear on every 90’s One Hit Wonders list I come across, and it irks me more than some of the others. Everybody knows “Sex and Candy”, that post-grunge/psychedelic sexy alt rock slow jam. The song charted all over the world and stayed at #1 on the Modern Rock charts for a record-setting 15 weeks. That song is so massive that it still appears on shows and movies to this day, and was covered by Maroon 5. I liked it so much that I didn’t hesitate to buy their debut album. Upon first listen I realized that this band was capable of so much more than one successful song. The album was a masterpiece from start to finish. “Saint Joe on the School Bus” and “Sherry Fraser” were both released as singles, but neither took off like the former.
THE SONG WAS A GIFT & A CURSE
As a teen, I’d stay up late watching music videos on MTV. I remember seeing the brand new Marcy Playground single drop as a video with cuts from the new film Cruel Intentions. That song was called “Comin’ Up From Behind”, appearing on the movie’s soundtrack. I thought for sure that this would be their 2nd big hit. Even with it being attached to a very popular movie on an exceptional playlist of a soundtrack, the song received little to no airplay. Their next single, “It’s Saturday” from their sophomore effort, would chart at #25 but fade quickly from the mainstream. Once again, that album was packed with songs that should have been alt rock hits, and eventually dubbed “classics”. The vast majority of my peers, however, seemed unaware that it existed. The band was already starting to be known as “that Sex and Candy band” at this this point.
Then came the new millennium. It seemed official now to the masses that Marcy Playground were in fact a 90’s One Hit Wonder group. By 2004, they had released yet another album with zero filler and four singles, and yet again, the radio barely touched it. The same thing happened with the album after, and the rarities album after that. Like the Beatles, these guys were releasing albums that were creative and compelling from beginning to end. Unlike the Beatles though, the radio didn’t bother with them after their first triumph. Why? There’s really no good answer, but it is unfortunate that band with so much quality work to give has to bear that demeaning tag.
Honorable Mentions
SILVERCHAIR: Although this three-part band from Australia are largely considered to be “One Hit Wonders” in the U.S., that title doesn’t stick elsewhere. In their home country, aside from the ever popular grunge rocker “Tomorrow”, they went on to have notable commercial success with several singles and critically acclaimed albums until they eventually split in 2011.
OUR LADY PEACE: Like Silverchair, these Canadians are primarily known in America for one song, usually “Superman’s Dead”, but did very well for themselves in their own country. After that song’s success, they had several singles reach #1 and #2 there, including “One Man Army” and “Somewhere Out There”.
THE TOADIES: This band’s debut album Rubberneck produced five singles, “Possum Kingdom” being the biggest of them. That album has a cult following amongst grunge rock enthusiasts but the band never saw mainstream success beyond it. “Tyler” deserved much more notoriety than it received.
If you enjoy Hip-Hop, be sure to check out my previous article regarding Eminem’s Best (New-ish) Tracks HERE.
And be sure to check out these custom playlists featuring some of the bands above:
