There are plenty of gorgeous, genre-changing songs out there that one would consider a masterpiece. On rarer occasions, though, some musicians release one solitary hit (a one-hit wonder, if you will) that serves as their single widely-known masterpiece. Let’s look at a few examples that I, personally, think are just about perfect.
“Come On Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners
When it comes to one-hit wonders, it’s rare for a list on this internet to not include the 1983 song “Come On Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners. There’s a good reason for that. This song is basically the perfect 1980s folk pop song.
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“Come On Eileen” feels like the 80s, yet has managed to be one of the most timeless tunes of all time. Its surface-level lyrics are excellent, and the deeper meaning (a critique of Catholic repression) is similarly intriguing. I’d be bold enough to say this is one of the best new wave songs of the decade.
“Just One Look” by Doris Troy
This is, by far, the most underrated song on this list. Doris Troy’s “Just One Look” peaked at no. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart back in 1963, and it’s wild that her career didn’t explode after this R&B composition hit the airwaves. Before the mid-1960s era of counterculture kicked off, Troy wrote and recorded this song, and plenty of artists from the era that followed covered it with great success, including Linda Ronstadt.
“Criminal” by Fiona Apple
It’s still crazy to me that Fiona Apple is technically a one-hit wonder, considering her song “Criminal” is a masterpiece, as are countless other songs by her. However, this bluesy 1997 hit was her only single to reach the US Hot 100. It was a bit of a controversial tune as well, as it explores the guilt one feels when using their sexuality and appeal to get what they want.
“Bulletproof” by La Roux
Alright, this one might be controversial. The 2009 song “Bulletproof” by La Roux is a shameless electropop song, and some old heads might take issue with lauding anything from that genre. Regardless, I think this song is one of the most masterful pop songs of its era. It was a huge sleeper hit in the US, and it topped the charts in the UK upon its release. And honestly, it has aged really well through multiple evolutions of pop. That’s a masterpiece in my book.
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