Sept. 25 is National One-Hit Wonder Day. Here’s a list of some bands that made it big – just briefly. 

‘Tainted Love’ by Soft Cell (1982)

The song “Tainted Love” was originally recorded in 1964 by American artist Gloria Jones. Originally a commercial flop, the single was purchased by British DJ Richard Searling in 1973 while on a trip to the U.S. Searling played the track in clubs in Northern England, where the “Northern soul” movement was popular.

English vocal-and-synth duo Soft Cell recorded a version of the track in 1981, which shot to the top of the UK charts and then the U.S. charts as well – staying 43 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, a record at that time.

In 2006, Rihanna’s “S.O.S.” sampled the iconic hook of the song.

‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor, 1982

Sylvester Stallone wanted to use Queen’s song “Another One Bites the Dust” as the theme song for Rocky III. When Queen declined, Stallone asked American rock band Survivor to write a song for the movie. The result was “Eye of the Tiger” – their best-selling hit of all time. It spent 15 back-to-back weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.

‘What’s Up?’ by 4 Non Blondes, 1993

The phrase “What’s Up” doesn’t actually appear in the lyrics for thi song – it was given the name “What’s Up” so that record stores wouldn’t confuse the track with “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye. The all-woman band only produced one record – “Bigger, Better, Faster, More!” in 1992 before breaking up in 1994. Founder and vocalist Linda Perry went on to have a very successful songwriting career, writing hit songs for Christina Aguilera, Pink, Gwen Stefani, and other artists. 

‘Tubthumping’ by Chumbawamba (1997)

British rock band Chumbawamba credited a pub for the inspiration for “Tubthumping”. The band was living in Leeds at the time, near a bar called “Fforde Grene”, and had a next-door neighbor who would patronize the bar every weekend, falling down drunk while trying to get back into his house. 

‘Take On Me’ by A-ha (1985)

Norwegian synth-pop band achieved huge success with their 1985 hit “Take On Me” – largely thanks to the song’s creative music video, which featured a live-action animation sequence. The video took six months to create and took home six awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards.

‘La Bamba’ by Los Lobos, 1987

Los Lobos covered “La Bamba” – a Mexican folk song, famously recorded by Ritchie Valens in 1958 – for Valens’ 1987 biopic, La Bamba. Los Lobos’ version was the fourth non-English language song to top the Billboard Hot 100.

Check out this Jack White Player Study Course, and you’ll be shredding like the White Stripes and Raconteurs guitarist in no time!

Background

Jack White was born John Anthony Gillis in Detroit, Mich. in 1975. He was the youngest of ten children, and his earliest musical influences growing up were his older brothers, who were in a band called Catalyst. He started playing the drums in first grade after finding a kit in the family’s attic. While in elementary school, he started listening to bands like the Doors, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin.

As a teen, Jack started listening to the blues music and 1960s rock that would inform the sound of The White Stripes. Accepted into a seminary as a high schooler, he could have ended up becoming a priest – but he chose to go to a public high school instead, concerned that the seminary wouldn’t let him bring his new amplifier.

While attending high school, Jack played drums and trombone in band. He had an upholstery apprenticeship with a family friend who he credits for exposing him to punk rock music. They played music together, recording an album as “The Upholsterers”.

Following his apprenticeship, Jack actually opened an upholstery business of his own, but Jack claims his creative approaches -including making bills out in crayon and writing poetry inside the furniture – made it unprofitable. At 19, he had his first professional musician job as a drummer for the band “Goober & The Peas”. The band broke up in 1996, the same year Jack married Meg White, taking her last name. Meg learned to play the drums and the couple began performing as The White Stripes. They put out six albums before disbanding in 2011.

Jack has also put out music with The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, as well as solo albums. He co-founded Third Man Records in 2001.

Style

“Jack White Photo 2021” by David James Swanson is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Jack has a unique style that showcases his influences – blues music and garage rock. He prefers vintage guitars, as well as analog recording equipment and methods. His home studio in Nashville consists of just two rooms and two pieces of equipment: a Neve mixing console and two Studer A800 2-inch 8-track tape recorders. 

Legacy 

Jack has been nominated for 33 GRAMMY Awards and has won 12. He was awarded the title of “Nashville Music City Ambassador” in 2011. 

Once you learn Jack’s signature style, put it to work with this song lesson! 

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