one hit wonders — ALL ARTICLES

One Hit Wonders: The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony” Struck the Right Chord

‘C’est la vie’ in song form, ‘90s hit “Bitter Sweet Symphony” carries a legacy as complicated as its sentiments.

CULTURAL CONTEXTSAfterglow ATXApril 8, 2021myah taylor, one hit wonders, britpop

One Hit Wonders: A German Anti-War Song’s Meteoric Rise to the Top

In 1983, the obscure, Berlin-based band, Nena, unexpectedly broke through the decade's mold of big hair and brick-sized phones with its hit anti-war single, "99 Luftballons."

CULTURAL CONTEXTSAfterglow ATXMarch 10, 2021grace robertson, one hit wonders, nena

One Hit Wonders: How Adulation Boosted Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know”

At a time when upbeat pop dominated the airwaves and rap was on its way to ruling the mainstream, Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” rode the coattails of numerous covers and an indie pop boom to become one of 2012’s unexpected hits.

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