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February 27, 2007
The 59 Best One Hit Wonders Ever: #2-1
2. The Boomtown Rats - "I Don't Like Mondays" (1979) Yes, I know they had a string of top ten hits in the UK. But in the US, this was it -- this sad commentary inspired by US school shootings (god bless the NRA -- after all, it's important to protect our right to slaughter each other in cold blood). 16 year old Brenda Ann Spencer's father had given her a rifle for Christmas (now there's fatherly love for ya!), and merely a month later Spencer took it to school and slaughtered kids for no reason. Literally no reason; when asked why she did it, she issued the famous statement that became this song's title. The song captures the aimlessness, senselessness, absurdity and horror of the moment (not to mention the dozens others since) and the lost innocence they represent.
The Rats' never hit bigger here in the States, despite their success in the UK; even this song was only a minor chart success. But more than 25 years on, it stands out as a classic of post-punk (can't bring myself to call it new wave, though I don't know what I would call it, then). The staccato call-and-respond of the chorus... the epic or grand nature of the opening swell... the unusual-for-its-era violin and piano driven melody... the haunting line about the lesson today being how to die... it all adds up to a classic song from a band for whom it was the sole US hit, and thus the #2 OHW ever.
1. The Buggles - "Video Killed The Radio Star" (1979) We all know how this was the first video ever played on MTV, and the lore that rose up around that moment and the symbolism of the song's title in that use. But leave the (admittedly cool) video out of it for a second... this is a really, really cool song. True, if there'd never been a video clip, it would never have captured the imagination so deeply... but "Radio Star" is a very well constructed song - from opening to bridge to build to closing fade-out. And choosing to use the kind of distortion on the vocals that made them sound like they were coming out of an old grammaphone was a nice touch that added to the distinctiveness and air of the tune. One of my favorite songs ever, and far and away my number one One Hit Wonder of all time.
Comments
Great call on "I Don't Like Mondays" - which has to be one of the best roll-down-your-windows-and-sing-along-as-loud-as-you-can songs ever written.
Posted by: David at February 27, 2007 10:03 AM
As they said in the music industry.
"That's a wrap."
Take care buddy. I'm sure you'll be heard from soon.
Posted by: Corey at February 27, 2007 06:03 PM
