Sometimes an artist puts out just one song that blows you away while everything else he/she does just kind of lies there. This isn’t the same as a one-hit wonder, because often these songs aren’t hits. It’s more of a one-wow wonder, a song that stands so far above its peers that it may as well be the only thing the person ever releases.
Pete Yorn’s ‘Just Another’ is among my favorite one-wow wonders.
Nestled in the third spot of his debut album, Musicforthemorningafter, ‘Just Another’ sneaks up on you. Gentle acoustic strumming and brushed drums lead to Yorn’s whispered vocals in the first verse. But the song takes off at the chorus:
Trying to get over your stardom,
And I could never see you depart us
And you’re my baby… you’re just another girl
Now, I gotta be honest, I have no idea what that means. But it sure sounds great.
And I don’t want to give the impression that Musicforthemorningafter is a bad album, because it’s actually a pretty good one. All I know is I’ve listened to the album maybe three times in its entirety but I’ve listened to this song dozens.
What are some of your one-wow wonders?
Meet Me In Montauk 
How about “Hook” by Blues Traveler? I rarely if ever listen to that album in its entirety, but I do get the urge to listen to that one song. I guess it’s true; “The hook brings [me] back.” On that they (and I) can rely.
And “Kiss of the Rose” on Seal’s self-titled album. I can go through periods of obsession with that song, playing it again and again and again. Love that one – definitely a “one-wow wonder” for me.
This song doesn’t grab me as a “one-wow wonder,” but to each their own. I like his sound, but going back to our earlier discussion, I don’t find the voice or sound all that original. Still, a lovely song to be sure.
As for my one-wows–lemme think…Month of Sundays and Sunset Grill might qualify from Henley. American Girl from Petty. Her First Mistake from Lovette. New Lace Sleeves from Costello. Crazy from Seal. Fast Car from Chapman. Chelsea Morning from Mitchell. Tangled up In Blue by Dylan. I’m sure I could go on…
Those are all artists that you value apart from those songs, though. The “one-wow wonder” concept should come into play when you really don’t like (or at least care about) any other music by the artist.
I agree with Clay. You couldn’t possibly be suggesting that you only appreciate and love those songs off of the albums in which they are featured. I don’t buy it (with the exception of “Crazy,” perhaps) So think a bit more and get back to us 🙂
well, if I understood correctly, you like Yorn, but were overwhelmed by that one song. So, I was picking artists I liked, but who had a particular song that wows me…Anyway, I’ll think more on this and duly report.
I don’t know Yorn at all beyond this album, and on this album that’s the one song that really gets me. That’s my criteria for the one-wow wonder.
I suppose another challenge might be to find artists you actively dislike but who have one song you really enjoy. I’ll have to think about that one.