one hit wonders

[gsh]

Yesterday on the radio I heard back to back 867-5309 by Tommy TwoTone and "Blinded by the light", as performed by Manfred Man. Pam commented on the back to back one hit wonders, and I started to think that since Manfred Man covered Springsteen does that count as a "one hit wonder". I think it doesn't. Since I have a meeting in three minutes, I want to find out what LJ land thinks.


[Poll #1565439]

Comments

[reedrover]

"Clicky!" = it depends on if the cover gets more play than the original version, and becomes the song for which that band is known.

[gsh]

I think the Manfred Man version is better known than the Springsteen version.

[dckermit.livejournal.com]

Definitely. Hence the "Yes" vote.

[badmagic.livejournal.com]

Only if the cover becomes more associated with the cover band than the original performer, e.g. "Tainted Love." A lot more associate that with Soft Cell than Motown.

[melaniesuzanne.livejournal.com]

Blinded by the Light is a Springsteen tune? Huh.

[gsh]

Yep, from his first album, "Greetings from Ashbury Park".

[sihaya09.livejournal.com]

And I said what about Breakfast at Tiffany's
She said I think I remember the film
and well I recall I said we both kinda liked it
so I said well that's the one thing we got!


(You're welcome.)

[gsh]

I find that such a sad song.

< chip-n-dale>
No, thank you!

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

If it's a hit, it's a hit. Most hits were not written by the artist who performed it -- why does it matter if someone else recorded it first? Your argument invalidates half the hits of the 50s. :)

[gsh]

I kind of feel that the song "belongs" to the first group that records it. And I'm perfectly fine with invalidating half the hits of the 50's, since I ain't that old. :)

[mtnwlf.livejournal.com]

It appears to me that you are outvoted my beloved. :)

[hannnahkl.livejournal.com]

Also, Manfred Mann doesn't qualify as a one-hit wonder, since "Mighty Quinn" was also a hit.

[elkor.livejournal.com]

And you've not seen nothing like the mighty Quinn!

My opinion:

[elkor.livejournal.com]

A "hit" is a song that hits the charts.

A one-hit-wonder is a band that only has one song on the charts, doesn't matter whether it is an original or a cover.