Rediscovering One-Hit Wonders
Art by Stella Bennett
Do you remember jamming out to “Call Me Maybe” in your tweens, or belting out the chorus of “Friday” to start off your weekend? If you are curious as to where some of these one-hit wonders have gone and what they have done since, this article is for you. Although their breakout moments have come and gone, artists such as Rebecca Black, Goyte, Vanessa Carleton, and Carly Rae Jepsen are worth rediscovering all over again. Although there are countless one-hit wonders, a few stand out for the music they have released since their main hit.
Rebecca Black’s hit “Friday” broke the internet after its release in 2011, catapulting Black into stardom. As “Friday” received more and more attention, the video was soon dubbed “the worst music video ever made” in a viral tweet. Black chose to be homeschooled to escape the bullying and taunts. In the decade since “Friday,” Black has embarked on a journey of self-discovery, starting a YouTube channel where she has opened up about depression and coming out as queer. Black also produced a comical remix of “Friday” featuring Dorian Electra, Big Freedia & 3OH!3; the remix makes fun of the meme the original has become over the past ten years. In June 2021, Black released an EP titled Rebecca Black Was Here, with highlights such as “Worth It For the Feeling,” “Girlfriend,” and “Better In My Memory.” With a dance-pop sound but more sophisticated vocals and a lot less autotune, the EP’s lead single “Girlfriend” brought 23-year-old Black back into the limelight. As the song title suggests, Black opens up about her relationships with women, singing “I’m getting back with my girlfriend” in the chorus. If there is one thing that stands out about this song, though, it is the banging electric guitar solo. Everytime I hear this solo, I can’t help but vigorously bob my head or pretend to play through the epic guitar runs. “Worth it for the Feeling,” another single on the album, is not nearly as catchy as “Girlfriend,” but Black’s honest lyrics about returning to a bittersweet relationship cut deep. The opening line “Gotta be more careful with the shit I’m manifesting / Is this all a dream or am I really being tested?” tells listeners all they need to know about the track. In the chorus, Black sings “Here we go again / Last time it took us down to the bitter end,” talking about how she has changed a lot since last being in a relationship, but wants to try again despite some red flags. The accompanying music video showcases Black wearing a red lingerie set and slower choreography, highlighting Black’s newer sensual side. Finally, “Blue” only has around 200,000 views on Spotify, but Black’s dreamy tone and echoey production make this an underrated, emotional track on the EP.
With his hit single “Somebody That I Used To Know,” Goyte is probably the most memorable one-hit wonder of our generation. However, after this track and the accompanying album Making Mirrors, Goyte disappeared from the public eye. He announced in 2014 that there would be no new Gotye music, signing off as Wally De Backer rather than his stage name. In some ways, Goyte really did become “Somebody That I Used To Know” - but while the era of Goyte may be finished, De Backer has continued releasing music as a drummer and singer in his band, The Basics. Formed with singer-songwriter Kris Schroeder in 2002 and later joined by guitarist Tim Heath, The Basics has a very different musical sound than Goyte. The Basics’ sound is classified as rock, but their tracks fit into many genres such as indie pop, reggae, and country. Since the release of “Somebody That I Used To Know,” The Basics have released two studio albums, The Age of Entitlement (2015) and B.A.S.I.C. (2019). If you are looking for tracks that sound more like Gotye, check out The Age of Entitlement, as the album prominently features De Backer’s memorable vocals. My personal favorite tracks are “Roundabout” and “Ashleigh Wakes.” The band’s fifth studio album, B.A.S.I.C., contains both original songs and covers: if you are a Beatles fan, make sure to take a listen to their cover of “Some Other Guy” and “Baby It’s You.” As a final piece of bad news, The Basics announced in 2021 that they are retiring from touring, but the band has an all-originals album coming out soon, which is something to keep an eye out for. Despite the fact that De Backer has not released new music as Goyte, his band has a lively sound that is absolutely worth listening to.
Vanessa Carleton’s “A Thousand Miles” is the kind of tune that gets stuck in your head for an entire afternoon, and is best accompanied by air piano playing and dramatic karaoke gestures. Since this initial 2001 sensation, Carleton has released five additional albums. In 2021, she released Love is an Art (Deluxe), a masterpiece of an album with many hidden gems including “Miner’s Canary,” “Salesman,” and “I Can’t Stay The Same.” The whole album feels like walking through an ancient forest - not a silent forest, but a forest that is palpably alive with stories, mythical creatures, and surreal happenings. To get into the album, take a listen to “I Know You Don’t Mean It.” One of my personal favorite Carleton tracks is “Willows,” from her 2015 album Liberman. The driving piano and floating vocal line of “Willows” is reminiscent of the Norwegian singer-songwriter AURORA. For example, the piano’s arpeggiated chords in Carelton’s “Willows” closely mirror the guitar’s arpeggiated chords in the acoustic version of AURORA’s “Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)” a track with a heavy Nordic-folk sound. Overall, the nature-inspired character of Carleton’s music compliments her alluring voice, and the amount of music she has released since 2001 is unbelievable.
Carly Rae Jepsen is best known for her single “Call Me Maybe” but, since the track’s release in 2012, Jepson has continued releasing music for her considerable fanbase. Jepsen released the album Dedicated in 2015, and followed that up with Dedicated Side B in 2020. Carly Rae Jepson’s new music is for indie listeners who cannot stay away from a clean electronic pop tune. A few tracks from Dedicated are absolute must-listens in my book. “This Love Isn’t Crazy” is the kind of shiny eclectic bop that you cannot get enough of. Jepsen’s lovestruck lyrics and catchy chorus oohs are so contagious I find myself smiling every time this track comes on. Similarly, “Stay Away” has breathier vocals, but a bubblegum-like track and a big bold chorus that you simply can’t stay away from!
Each of these four artists has taken a unique path after the hit track that made them famous, from Goyte’s retreat from music, to Rebecca Black’s recovery journey, to Vanessa Carelton’s constant music-making in the last two decades. Although many people still follow these artists today, the music they have produced since their main hits should be known by a wider audience.
Edited by Nate Culbert, editor of Music You Need To Know
Cover art by Stella Bennett