No-Hit Wonder: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
{{quote|"''We are not [[Smashmouth]]; we do not have a radio hit. We're not a [[One-Hit Wonder]], we're a [[Self-Deprecation|ten year failure.]]''"|'''Chris Demakes''' of [[Less Than Jake]]}}
{{quote|"''We are not [[Smash Mouth]]; we do not have a radio hit. We're not a [[One-Hit Wonder]], we're a [[Self-Deprecation|ten year failure.]]''"|'''Chris Demakes''' of [[Less Than Jake]]}}


The music business can be quite fickle. For every [[One-Hit Wonder]], there's at least one act who manages a streak of hits that lasts for decades, or at least a handful of big hits.
The music business can be quite fickle. For every [[One-Hit Wonder]], there's at least one act who manages a streak of hits that lasts for decades, or at least a handful of big hits.
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{{examples}}
{{examples}}
* [[Ryan Adams (Music)|Ryan Adams]] has had only two charting singles stateside (yes, one of them is his near-hit "New York, New York"), but both peaked so low they might as well have not charted. Internationally, he's had more luck, with six hits in the UK.
* [[Ryan Adams]] has had only two charting singles stateside (yes, one of them is his near-hit "New York, New York"), but both peaked so low they might as well have not charted. Internationally, he's had more luck, with six hits in the UK.
* Famed Canadian roots rock group [[The Band]] was one of the most influential groups of the late 60s and early 70s, but never had a song reach the Top 20 in the USA. (They did have two albums go gold and reach the top ten).
* Famed Canadian roots rock group [[The Band]] was one of the most influential groups of the late 60s and early 70s, but never had a song reach the Top 20 in the USA. (They did have two albums go gold and reach the top ten).
* Comedian [[Tim Wilson]] has been recording since 1993, mixing live stand-up comedy with comedic songs, done either live or in studio. Despite his lack of chart success, Wilson is a regular fixture on ''[[The Bob and Tom Show]]'' and has album sales in the millions.
* Comedian [[Tim Wilson]] has been recording since 1993, mixing live stand-up comedy with comedic songs, done either live or in studio. Despite his lack of chart success, Wilson is a regular fixture on ''[[The Bob and Tom Show]]'' and has album sales in the millions.
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* [[The Ramones]]. One of the most influential bands of all time. Highest charting single? "Rockaway Beach", which only made #66 on the US Pop chart in 1978.
* [[The Ramones]]. One of the most influential bands of all time. Highest charting single? "Rockaway Beach", which only made #66 on the US Pop chart in 1978.
* The [[Velvet Underground]], who barely scraped the lowest part of the Billboard chart with their first two albums.
* The [[Velvet Underground]], who barely scraped the lowest part of the Billboard chart with their first two albums.
* [[Judas Priest (Music)|Judas Priest]]. Their biggest hit "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" peaked at #67.
* [[Judas Priest]]. Their biggest hit "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" peaked at #67.
* Cledus T. Judd, a country music parodist, has been constantly recording since 1995. He didn't even chart until 2000, and his best chart entry is #48 country. Yet he's recorded over a dozen albums and even had one go gold without a charting single.
* Cledus T. Judd, a country music parodist, has been constantly recording since 1995. He didn't even chart until 2000, and his best chart entry is #48 country. Yet he's recorded over a dozen albums and even had one go gold without a charting single.
* [[Wire]]. Did well on the Independent Music charts, but for the most part have remained just under the radar since their formation. Almost had hits with "Outdoor Miner" and "Kidney Bingos".
* [[Wire]]. Did well on the Independent Music charts, but for the most part have remained just under the radar since their formation. Almost had hits with "Outdoor Miner" and "Kidney Bingos".
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* [[Dropkick Murphys]] have never charted on any singles chart (nope, not even the Billboard Modern Rock Chart) despite steady album sales and massive regional popularity in the [[Hollywood New England|New England]] area of the United States. In fact, their song "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" is one of a few songs to ever sell over 1,000,000 digital copies in the United States without ever charting on the Billboard Hot 100.
* [[Dropkick Murphys]] have never charted on any singles chart (nope, not even the Billboard Modern Rock Chart) despite steady album sales and massive regional popularity in the [[Hollywood New England|New England]] area of the United States. In fact, their song "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" is one of a few songs to ever sell over 1,000,000 digital copies in the United States without ever charting on the Billboard Hot 100.
* Welsh Psychedelic folk band Gorky's Zygotic Mynci is probably one of the more unfortunate examples of this trope. Despite decent album sales, critical acclaim on both sides of the pond, a cult following and the endorsement of beloved BBC DJ and indie tastemaker John Peel, the band failed to have any of their singles make the Top 40 in the UK. In fact, they had singles that charted at #41, #42, #43, #47 and #49. The fact that they sounded nothing like the [[Britpop|other contemporary young British guitar bands]] at the time probably only further hindered their chart success.
* Welsh Psychedelic folk band Gorky's Zygotic Mynci is probably one of the more unfortunate examples of this trope. Despite decent album sales, critical acclaim on both sides of the pond, a cult following and the endorsement of beloved BBC DJ and indie tastemaker John Peel, the band failed to have any of their singles make the Top 40 in the UK. In fact, they had singles that charted at #41, #42, #43, #47 and #49. The fact that they sounded nothing like the [[Britpop|other contemporary young British guitar bands]] at the time probably only further hindered their chart success.
* [[Progressive Rock]] band [[Gentle Giant (Music)|Gentle Giant]]'s biggest hit was their album ''Free Hand'' which managed to get up to #48 in the U.S. And these guys lasted for 11 albums before breaking up.
* [[Progressive Rock]] band [[Gentle Giant (band)|Gentle Giant]]'s biggest hit was their album ''Free Hand'' which managed to get up to #48 in the U.S. And these guys lasted for 11 albums before breaking up.
* The 4½-decade career of NRBQ would qualify as legendary if it hadn't happened almost completely under the radar. The now-familiar epithet "Greatest Band you've Never Heard Of" was originally coined in the '70s to describe them.
* The 4½-decade career of NRBQ would qualify as legendary if it hadn't happened almost completely under the radar. The now-familiar epithet "Greatest Band you've Never Heard Of" was originally coined in the '70s to describe them.
* [[Primus]] (and their many, many splinter acts) only managed to land a #62 single (#12 in the UK) with "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver", and Top 10 albums with ''Pork Soda'' and ''Tales From The Punchbowl'' in 1993 and 1995 respectively, but have kept a loyal following since their formation in 1984.
* [[Primus]] (and their many, many splinter acts) only managed to land a #62 single (#12 in the UK) with "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver", and Top 10 albums with ''Pork Soda'' and ''Tales From The Punchbowl'' in 1993 and 1995 respectively, but have kept a loyal following since their formation in 1984.
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