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February 23, 2007
The 59 Best One Hit Wonders Ever: #11-#9
11. The Standells - "Dirty Water" (1966) Perhaps the first "punk" band, in attitude if not sound, the California-based Standells recorded the song that is perhaps more closely associated with Boston than any other. I liked the song before arriving in Boston for school, but after the song became the Red Sox' victory tune, played at Fenway after every Sox win, I absolutely fell in love with it. Those opening six notes are enough to give me an adrenaline jolt no matter where I am or what I'm doing when I hear it. One of two national anthems for Red Sox Nation (along with the Dropkick Murphys' "Tessie"), which is yet another reason why the Sox are better than the Yankees -- the Yankees' rev up their fans with disco (YMCA and "Cotton Eye Joe"), while the Sox use Irish pub punk and proto-punk.
10. Band-Aid - "Do They Know It's Christmas" (1984) Tim, I was messing with you when I said I didn't include this one; I just didn't want you pressuring me to move it higher than #10. :-) But - it absolutely earned its top ten status... this is the single best Christmas song ever. No, not just the best rock and roll Christmas song, but the best Christmas song, period. What more should a Christmas song be than a reminder that the spirit of the season is supposed to be giving and remembering those less fortunate? And when you compare this charity song to the US version -- the insipid, self-congratulating, and excruciatingly droning "We Are The World" -- Band Aid's effort climbs even higher in esteem. The all-star lineup has a few head-scratchers -- opening with Paul Young? Giving no-show David Bowie's line to Paul freaking Young??? -- but in general is a great time capsule of the who's who of BritPop of the mid-80s... and besides that, it's just a really good song. From the opening "African" sounding drums to the way the song rolls into an ending chorus that sounds joyous and optimistic despite its heavy subject, this is an all-time classic and will remain the standard by which both charity singles and Christmas songs by pop stars should be judged.
9. Tommy Tutone - "867-5309 (Jenny)" (1982) As long as you didn't have this phone number, "Jenny" was a great song, and one of the seminal tunes of the 1980s. The band got branded by their label as a "new wave" band to capitalize on the hot trend of the day, but this was primarily accomplished by putting skinny ties on a bar band. The basic guitar riff is pure garage rock, the theme of the song (unrequited passion) is one of rock's classic themes, and there's no denying the catchiness of the hook. Yes, the band had a minor hit in 1980 that went to #37 on the charts, but I still count Tommy Tutone as a OHW and list "867-5309 (Jenny)" as the 9th best OHW of all time.
Comments
I will now think it's Christmas all day.
Posted by: Jill at February 23, 2007 10:29 AM
*rubs hands together* Gettin' good now.
Posted by: Eden at February 23, 2007 11:23 AM
finally some quality tunes have re-entered the countdown.
BandAid -- one of the three best songs of the 80s despite giving Paul Young two lines. I'll never understand that one.
Posted by: Marquette Hoops at February 23, 2007 11:37 AM
btw, when did the "Cotton Eyed Joe" become disco Mudge?
Its a country classic. Sadly, it was a prom song for me. sad but true
Posted by: Marquette Hoops at February 23, 2007 11:39 AM
