What exactly is a “flash in the pan” hit, you ask? A flash in the pan hit song is one that catapults to fame, either via sales or through the charts, only to quickly become totally forgotten. These types of hit songs could fall into the “one-hit wonder” category, too. Let’s take a look at just four examples!
1. “She Ain’t Worth It” by Glenn Medeiros
This hit new jack swing song from 1990 hit no. 1 for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s a stellar piece of work, complete with a rap breakdown from Bobby Brown. However, if you don’t remember this song at all, you’re not alone.
Videos by American Songwriter
“She Ain’t Worth It” disappeared as quickly as it showed up on the charts. Glenn Medeiros enjoyed a few hits before and after “She Ain’t Worth It”, but none of them hit no. 1 in the US. Today, “She Ain’t Worth It” has barely a million streams on Spotify. We don’t get it!
2. “Incomplete” by Sisqo
This flash in the pan hit song is probably not the first song that comes to mind when you see Sisqo’s name. This R&B singer is better known for the addictive track “Thong Song” from 2000.
Surprisingly, “Thong Song” only hit no. 3 on the Hot 100 chart, while “Incomplete” hit no. 1. Yet, few can recall “Incomplete” at all.
3. “In The Year 2525” by Zager And Evans
This Zager And Evans hit from the late 1960s was a no. 1 hit on the charts for eight entire weeks in 1969. Shockingly, few listeners other than diehard novelty fans remember this song. If you were around at the time and were a fan of psychedelic rock, you might still remember it. But the song itself virtually disappeared from the collective memory of a whole generation, and it doesn’t make sense why.
“In The Year 2525” got a little bit of new exposure when it was featured on the soundtrack to Gentlemen Broncos, but few would be able to recall the tune from memory. Zager And Evans broke up soon after, and they’re still considered one-hit wonders today.
4. “Mr. Custer” by Larry Verne
Let’s go even further back, shall we? This flash in the pan hit song is a march novelty tune by Larry Verne that was first released back in 1960. The comedic track was a no. 1 hit in the US on the Hot 100 singles chart.
Despite being quite the earworm at the time, “Mr. Custer” disappeared (more or less, depending on where you lived and what stations you were tuned into) from public consciousness with impressive speed. Verne tried to capitalize on the hit by using the same melody for a different song in 1964, but it failed to chart. The only person who seemed to remember the tune was Ray Stevens, who covered it in 1969.
Photo by Dezo Hoffman/Shutterstock
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.