Today’s pick for a future one-hit wonder is controversial for a couple of reasons.
First, you could argue that fun. has had two hits. ‘We Are Young‘ was their blockbuster, hitting number one in multiple countries and spending more than a month in the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100. But today’s SOTD, the title song of their album Some Nights, was a pretty big hit in its own right. It reached #3 on the Hot 100 and topped a few of the smaller charts.
So maybe they can more accurately be called two-hit wonders, in the vein of Dutch band Golden Earring, who had hits in the 70s and 80s with ‘Radar Love’ and ‘Twilight Zone,’ respectively.
You can also argue that band member Jack Antonoff has already gone on to have a notable career, fronting the well-regarded indie band Bleachers and producing hits for stars such as Taylor Swift and Lorde.
But future success for one or more band members does not preclude the band itself from being a one-hit wonder. And fun., whether they record again after their current hiatus or not, will always be known as the ‘We Are Young’ band.
Some nights, I stay up cashing in my bad luck
Some nights, I call it a draw
Some nights, I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights, I wish they’d just fall off
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh, Lord, I’m still not sure what I stand for, oh
What do I stand for?
What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don’t know anymore
[Verse 1]
This is it, boys, this is war
What are we waiting for?
Why don’t we break the rules already?
I was never one to believe the hype
Save that for the black and white
Try twice as hard and I’m half as liked
But here they come again to jack my style
And that’s alright, I found a martyr in my bed tonight
She stops my bones from wondering
Just who I, who, I, who I am
Oh, who am I?
[Hook]
Well, some nights, I wish that this all would end
‘Cause I could use some friends for a change
And some nights, I’m scared you’ll forget me again
Some nights, I always win (I always win)
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I’m still not sure what I stand for, oh
What do I stand for?
What do I stand for?
Most nights, I don’t know
[Bridge]
(Oh, come on) So this is it?
I sold my soul for this?
Washed my hands of that for this?
I miss my mom and dad for this?
(Oh, come on) No
When I see stars, when I see stars, that’s all they are
When I hear songs, they sound like a swan
So, come on
Oh, come on
Oh, come on
Oh, come on
[Verse 2]
Well, that is it, guys, that is all
Five minutes in and I’m bored again
Ten years of this, I’m not sure if anybody understands
This one is not for the folks back home
Sorry to leave, Mom, I had to go
Who the fuck wants to die alone
All dried up in the desert sun?
[Verse 3]
My heart is breaking for my sister
And the con that she called “love”
And then I look into my nephew’s eyes
Man, you wouldn’t believe the most amazing things
That can come from some terrible nights
[Outro]
The other night, you wouldn’t believe
The dream I just had about you and me
I called you up, but we’d both agree
It’s for the best you didn’t listen
It’s for the best we get our distance, oh
For the best you didn’t listen
It’s for the best we get our distance, oh
Meet Me In Montauk 
I don’t think fun. fits the one hit wonder status for all the reasons you mentioned, the biggest one being the question of whether the band will continue to record. My guess is that, if they did, given Antonoff’s considerable talent, they could easily have another hit song.
To me, the definition of a one hit wonder must necessarily Include the fact that the artist or band continues to record for many years, even decades, without ever achieving another top ten or even top 40 single.
Hmmmm… not so sure this time around for all the reasons you already identified. When I think of this band, I actually think of today’s SOTD before their “bigger” hit, so that alone likely disqualifies them. Nope, I’m going to have to disagree with today’s selection.
Also disagree, but I wish fun. would come back for another album. Glad to have some favs from them, like “Barlights” which is for sure in my top songs list. And very very thankful to have Jack as such a presense in the recording world still.
Yes. As the rest of the commenters say I completely disagree with this choice though I think this whole theme week is an interesting one. Fun. never had the opportunity to see whether they had legs because they split up so soon after the album when they made it huge. The album went to #3 on the Billboard charts and although “Some Nights” and “We are Young” were the two biggest songs logistically (though “Carry On” also made it number 20 on the Billboard charts) they had a fervor surrounding them during that period. I can speak to my personal experience in school as a microcosm for I’m sure many schools in that everyone was talking about Fun. and in the middle school band everyone was showing how many Fun. songs they could play on piano. Yes, “We are Young” was the introduction. However, I’m sure it would’ve been like the “Piano Man” to Billy Joel for our generation if Fun. had continued to record. I conclude that due to the circumstances and due to the impressive fanbase they engendered at the time, they can’t be classified as one hit wonders.