When it comes to one-hit wonders present in the world ofmusic,there’s no genre or time period that’s immune to this phenomenon. Heavy metal has experienced its fair shareof acts that went one-and-done, while even the exuberant fun within pop punk had bands with breakout songs that couldn’t ever repeat the secret sauce neededfor a popular sequel.
As for why these types of occurrences take place, the circumstancescan be wildly different from case to case. Even if we as listeners feel like artistsof certain decades deserved another shot at getting a hit, that doesn’t mean it will ultimately occur. Sometimes, bands can’t ever reconnect with enough fans in the same way as they once did.
In other instances, there’s simply not enough creativity from a one-hit hot ticket to stick out significantly from the pack again on the charts. Some groups even find they can’t return to the realm of mainstream success because of turbulent waters within their own dynamics; the biggest songfrom Dexys Midnight Runners' catalog is a prime example of this scenario.
All Related To A Dispute Over Writing Credit
Dexys Midnight Runners were an English pop-rock band primarily active in the ’80s (eventually reforming under the shortened name Dexys). Their biggest moment in the spotlight came with the release of their second studio album in 1982 (entitledToo-Rye-Ay), more specifically the LP’s second single, “Come On Eileen,“which topped the charts in both the United States and the UK.
This came at a pivotal point for the fluctuating group, whose founding members (guitarists/vocalists Kevin Archer and Kevin Rowland) had previously been growing more at odds with each other. Archer (feeling frustrated by Rowland’s erratic behavior as group leader) wound up departing Dexys to form another musical endeavor entitled the Blue Ox Babes in 1981.
After “Come On Eileen” became a hit on multiple continents, Archer insinuated (though never publicly) that Rowland had stolen the buildup to “Come On Eileen"from a demo tape of a song Archer had previously shown Rowland. He also claimed Rowland had taken the Celtic-folk-rock aesthetic of Dexys LPToo-Rye-Ayfrom the Blue Ox Babes.
While Rowland would later confess to lifting the style of “Come On Eileen” from Archer, he ultimately walked back these comments, saying he was in a “dark place” and doubting his talents when he made the statement. Rowland did admit he was inspired by the sound of Archer’s tape, buteverything else about “Come On Eileen” is original.
In The End, “Come On Eileen” Still Won
Evolving Into A Chart-Topping Success
Despite infighting in Dexys Midnight Runners and a lineup that kept changing, “Come On Eileen” was still a triumph. Not only was the track a massive success, but the song did so well that, when it became a number one smash in 1983, it managed to take the spotfrom Michael Jackson’s iconic hit “Billie Jean.”
“Come On Eileen"was also a rarity for its time, as a prevailing amount of number one hits in the ’80s were made with electric pianos and synthesizers. Dexys went in the opposite direction in their sound, which featured brass instruments, fiddles, and a soulful sense of Celtic folk-rock that wasn’t like anything on the radio back then.
The Success Of “Come On Eileen” Continues To Push The Band Forward
And Keeps The Legacy Of Dexys Midnight Runners Alive
After several attempts to revive the band following their 1987 breakup, Rowland was able to reboot Dexys Midnight Runners in the early 2000s (renaming them Dexys after 2011). While the group never again reached the heights of “Come On Eileen” and its success in the US (charting a few other songs in the UK),the song remains classic rock royalty.
In that sense, this has kept the story of Dexys Midnight Runners alive and continues to expose the sound of the group to newer generations as time goes on. That may seem like a lot to place on “Come On Eileen,” but as any diehard music fan will tell you, that’s the powerthat lies within just a single song.
