Last week I wrote about predicting Gotye would be a one-hit wonder much to Madison’s dismay, and then seeing a Gotye song on her list of all-time favorites.
Today, history repeats itself. I left Vance Joy out of that first group of posts about future one-hit wonders, but mentioned him a few weeks later as a name I forgot to include. Madison didn’t chime in then, but she named a song by the Australian singer-songwriter on her Top 25.
‘Red Eye’ appears on Dream Your Life Away, the 2014 debut album that gave us his hit, ‘Riptide.’
This is a sweeping, romantic song, and another nice find by Madison. It sounds like something that would have fit neatly on the Once soundtrack.
She don’t like small places
Give her highways and by-ways
And don’t get stuck in her head
And it’s been so long
And I will read into everything you don’t say
All of your silent ways
[Pre-Chorus]
I’m a dog lying down on a warm bit of pavement
Checking this collar, you see what the name is
Think that it’s worth it? Well, I hope that you’re right
You’re falling asleep on the red eye tonight
[Chorus]
And you know that you’re looking well
Won’t you come through my door asking, “How was your day?”?
And you know that I’m still a dog
And I’m trusting my nose, will it show me the way?
[Verse 2]
I’m glad that you’re still here
Won’t you hold up a candle?
I’m stumbling in the dark
And when I needed hope
I remind myself that at least I got one thing right
It’ll always be right
[Pre-Chorus]
I’m a dog lying down on a warm bit of pavement
Checking this collar, you see what the name is
Think that it’s worth it? Well, I hope that you’re right
You’re falling asleep on the red eye tonight
[Chorus]
And you know that you’re looking well
Won’t you come through my door asking, “How was your day?”?
Well, you know that I’m still a dog
And I’m trusting my nose, will it show me the way?
[Post-Chorus]
Won’t you get out while you can?
Won’t you cover your eyes if you’re tired of seeing?
Won’t you get out while you can?
And try saving yourself
[Outro]
Can we talk in the morning?
Oh, baby, it’s late
Can we talk in the morning?
Oh, baby, it’s late
Can we talk in the morning?
(Tell me when, tell me when)
Oh, baby, it’s late
Can we talk in the morning?
(Tell me when, tell me when)
Oh, baby, it’s late
Baby, it’s late
(Tell me when, tell me when)
Ooh
(Tell me, tell me when, tell me when)
Ooh
(Tell me, tell me when, tell me when)
Ooh
(Tell me, tell me when, tell me when)
(Tell me)
Meet Me In Montauk 
I think I avoided chiming in because that one really hurt to read lol
But I’m glad to see the Vance Joy feature now! This was actually the very first song to pop into my mind when I thought of my 25 favorites. I call it one of my favorite songs every time I hear it, so it was only right that it have a permanent spot on my list.
I think there are two different types of “one hit wonders.”
There are those who sought out and achieved commercial success, then either never recorded again or never again achieved lightning in a bottle despite trying to do so.
Then you have someone like Ben Folds, Randy Newman, Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright, Aimee Mann, Elvis Costello, Josh Rouse and so on whose one time commercial success was either not desired, not sought out or purposely eschewed as they followed their muse rather than industry executives and recorded what they wanted, not necessarily what the masses wanted. I see Vance Joy falling into the latter category.
I was going to say something similar to what Dana already posted… especially these days where musicians can reach their audiences in so many intimate ways. If I’m not mistaken, Maddie say Vance Joy in a small concert in someone’s home. Riptide’s huge success, while I’m sure appreciated by the artist, was likely a shock. If Tift Merritt were to find one of her songs unexpectedly topping the charts, a one-hit wonder that would not her make.
Meanwhile, I’ve adored this song since Maddie first put it on a playlist for me; it is lush and hopeful. I like your thought that it would fit nicely on the soundtrack for “Once,” which is high praise indeed.