Category: Movies

“Stand by Me” (20) is a song originally performed in 1961 by American singer-songwriter Ben E. King and written by him, along with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who together used the pseudonym Elmo Glick. According to King, the title is derived from, and was inspired by, a spiritual written by Sam Cooke and J. […]

“Summertime” (21) is an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, although the song is also co-credited to Ira Gershwin. Gershwin began composing the song in December 1933, attempting to create his own […]

“Season of the Witch” (22) is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan released in August 1966 on his third studio album, Sunshine Superman. The song is credited to Donovan, although sometime collaborator Shawn Phillips has also claimed authorship. Because of a dispute with Donovan’s record company, a UK edition with the song was not released […]

“Woodstock” (24) is a song written by Joni Mitchell. She composed the song based on what she had heard from her then-boyfriend Graham Nash about the Woodstock Music & Art Festival 1969. She had not been there herself, since a manager had told her that it would, instead, be more advantageous for her to appear […]

La Bamba (26) has its origin in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. The oldest recorded version known is that of Alvaro Hernández Ortiz, who recorded the song with the name of “El Jarocho”. His recording was released on the Victor label in Mexico in 1938 or 1939, and was reissued on a 1997 compilation by […]

In our final post about UK One Hit Wonders, I have choosen some songs for an honourable mention. “Fire” is a 1968 song written by Arthur Brown, Vincent Crane, Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker. Performed by Thhe Crazy World of Arthur Brown, it was released as a single and on the band’s epoonymously named debut […]

Our next selection of One Hit Wonders take through the higher reaches of the Top Twenty from No.’s 11-15 “Saturday Night” (15) is a song by Italian Eurodance project Whigfield, fronted by Danish-born Sannie Charlotte Carlson. It was first released in 1992 in Italy and November 1993 in Spain through Prodisc. In 1994, it was […]

“Mr. Brightside” is the first single released by American band the Killers. It was released as the band’s debut single and is from their debut studio album, Hot Fuss (2004). Written by band members Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning, it was one of the first songs the Killers ever wrote. Two music videos were made […]

“Chasing Cars” is a song by Scottish-Northern Irish band Snow Patrol. It was released as the second single from their fourth studio album, Eyes Open (2006). It was recorded in 2005 and released on in June 2006 in the United States and July 2006 in the United Kingdom. The song gained significant popularity in the […]

“Shallow” is a song performed by American singer Laady Gaga and American actor and filmmaker Bradley Cooper. It was released through Interscoope Records in September 2018, as the lead single from the soundtrack to the 2018 musical romantic drama film, A Star is Born. “Shallow” was written by Gaga with Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando and […]