10 One Hit Wonders, Made by the Movies
Filed under: Classics, Music & Musicals, Fandom, Lists
Our pal Christopher Campbell has put together a pretty cool top ten list over at Spout Blog. Inspired by the frenzy surrounding Paramore, who has been fortunate enough to land two songs on the Twilight soundtrack, he's put together a list of one hit wonders made by the movies. As memorable (and impossible to eradicate from easy listening stations) as Lookin' For Love, King of Wishful Thinking, and Stay (I Missed You) are, they're really just that one song from that one movie -- you know the one ... yeah, that movie! (By the way, the above three are from Urban Cowboy, Pretty Woman, and Reality Bites, respectively.)
The best thing about these lists is the debate they inspire. I disagree that Chris Isaak's Wicked Game fits the mold, as I think it's associated less with Wild at Heart than with a sandy and sexy Helena Christensen. In coming up with nominations of our own, Scott Weinberg and I immediately disagreed on whether Peter Cetera and Glory of Love from Karate Kid II qualified, or if Cetera being in Chicago was an automatic pass. (I say no, Scott says yes.) But we did manage to nominate Better Than Ezra's Circle of Friends from Empire Records, Gerard McMann's Cry Little Sister from The Lost Boys, and Chris DeBurgh's Lady in Red from Working Girl. Campbell, with his vast knowledge, could veto all three. What about you, readers? Give us some of your nominations, debate the popularity of Chris Isaak, or at least help us decide whether Glory of Love qualifies.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-03-2008 @ 1:55PM
Jackryan said...
The Proclaimers' 500 Miles song from Bennie & Joon.
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12-03-2008 @ 3:29PM
Patrick R said...
I'd argue that Peter Cetera doesn't count. Campbell writes that his list represents "artists who would be a lot less famous had they not licensed a single to a soundtrack." Even if you ignore how closely his voice was associated with Chicago, he also had several other top 10 singles in his solo career ("Next Time I Fall," "One Good Woman," that song from Baywatch). Chris DeBurgh's inclusion seems dubious as well. First, because "Lady in Red" actually went to #3 on the Billboard charts in 1987, a full year before Working Girl came out. Plus, the guy's had four studio albums enter the top 10, plus another 3 "best of" albums in the top 10.
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12-03-2008 @ 3:07PM
Gary said...
Chris DeBurgh is a no no, as much as I hate his putrid, rancid take on love songs he was very successful longer before Working Girl came out.
The Proclaimers?? Nooo way, I don't even remember that song being in Benny and Joon to be honest but the Proclaimers were huge when I was young, a great band. 500 miles may well be there most remembered song but one hit wonders?? no.
Check out the awsome "Letter from America"....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-OzdiaJZkw
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12-03-2008 @ 3:51PM
T said...
Hmm, well Paramore has had a few "hits" on the alternative/Top 40 chart already, so not sure what the "frenzy" is about, this guy seems like a moron.
"Misery Business" and "Crush, Crush" being a recent hits of theirs
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12-03-2008 @ 3:46PM
techstar25 said...
If Peter Cetera's "Glory of Love" qualifies, then you have to also qualify "Blaze Of Glory", from Young Guns II. It was released by Jon Bon Jovi (his very first release as a SOLO artist, and his only solo hit). He too was in a pretty successful band prior to that single.
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12-03-2008 @ 3:55PM
techstar25 said...
Paramore is probably not the best example to use here. Their album went platinum way back in July of this year, and it was already gold in the UK and Ireland according to Wikipedia. This is all before being featured on the Twilight soundtrack.
In fact one could argue that it's Paramore's popularity that is driving the sales of the Twilight soundtrack and not the other way around.
Chris Campbell most definitely DOES NOT have his finger on the pulse of the tween-MTV-pseudo-pop-punk-rock scene. ;)
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12-03-2008 @ 4:14PM
lw said...
"I Can Dream About You" from Streets of Fire by Dan Hartman would qualify.
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12-03-2008 @ 7:52PM
CLS said...
OMD 'If You Leave' - Pretty in Pink
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12-05-2008 @ 5:16PM
Mike said...
How about Flashdance (What A Feeling) and Maniac? Two for the price of one!
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12-04-2008 @ 3:15AM
Joe said...
Peter Cetera had "Feels Like Heaven, After All with Cher(from the film Chances Are), Restless Heart, Even a Fool Can See, One Good Woman, Forever Tonight with Crystal Gayle, The Next Time I Fall with Amy Grant. How could you consider him a One Hit Wonder???
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12-04-2008 @ 10:19AM
Henry said...
Don't You Forget About Me (Simple Minds) - THE BREAKFAST CLUB
Man In Motion (?) - ST. ELMO'S FIRE
Weird Science (Oingo Boingo) - WEIRD SCIENCE
Axel F (Herbie Hancock) - BEVERLY HILLS COP
Fame (Irene Cara) - FAME
The Time of My Life (?) - Dirty Dancing
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12-04-2008 @ 4:00PM
Patrick R said...
Herbie Hancock is a virtual legend of his genre and winner of over 12 Grammy Awards, but then again he also did not write "Axel F." That was by Harold Faltermeyer, a German composer. Besides that, the song doesn't really suit the criteria of the original list because it's not just a single that was licensed for the movie, it was actually part of the score and is the main character's theme (which is why it's named after him).