Tag Archives: one hit wonder

Positive Cynicism

Positive Cynicism EP. 107: Wonder Why; Kajagoogoo and Limahl

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For the first time in the history of the Wonder Why series, we’re looking a two One Hit Wonders. Kajagoogoo hit the charts in 1983 with the single “Too Shy.” Two years later, after being fired from the band, Limahl charted with the theme song to the film, “The Neverending Story.”

@chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb break down the career of both the band and the artist to see if they worked better individually or together. For the first time in the history of the Wonder Why series, the reason for only having one hit may have been discovered. Listen and see if you agree with their insight.

Positive Cynicism

Positive Cynicism EP. 103: Wonder Why; Len

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Positive Cynicism EP. 103: Wonder Why; Len [ 1:08:07 | 0.01 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (635)

It’s the last stop on the throwback to 1999 month of Positive Cynicism. Jumping in the time machine, @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb head to great white north to check out a brother and sister who team up with a hip hop crew. The group known as Len burst onto the scene in the summer/fall of 1999 with the song “Steal My Sunshine.” Before the song was off the charts, Len seemed to vanish into thin air. Where did they go?

Chad and Mike break down the history of Len and try to understand why their career fizzled out so quickly. After the history lesson, Mike gives him impromptu thoughts on the hip hop bands he’d like to see on a package tour.

Positive Cynicism

Positive Cynicism EP. 98: Wonder Why; Skee Lo

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http://www.jitterymonkey.com/podcasts/positivecynicism/positive98.mp3 [ 1:18:47 | 0.01 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (703)

This month on Wonder Why, @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb hit the Santa Monica Pier for some skeeball while discussing the Wishfulness of Skee Lo’s 1995 hit. While Skee Lo may have wished he was taller, a baller, or he had a rabbit in a hat with a bat, maybe he should have wished for more success from his debut album.

While the album did garner two Grammy nominations and had tracks on the motion picture soundtracks for “Money Train” and “Big Bully,” some behind the scene battles derailed Skee Lo’s momentum.

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Positive Cynicism

Positive Cynicism EP. 94: Wonder Why; Carl Douglas

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Everyone was podcast listening. The latest edition of Wonder Why goes back in time to the early 1970s to a time when dance clubs were popular and martial arts were experiencing a rise in popularity. Combining these two elements, Jamaican singer/songwriter Carl Douglas created a chart topping smash with the song “Kung Fu Fighting.”

Hosts @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb debate whether “Kung Fu Fighting” is a novelty hit or if future singles by Carl Douglas were hampered by the perception of a gimmicky singer. Whatever side of the debate your on, one thing can’t be disputed, if you’re making a movie with a fight scene, “Kung Fu Fighting” must be included at some point.

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Positive Cynicism

Positive Cynicism EP. 85: Wonder Why; Saving Jane

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Positive Cynicism EP. 85: Wonder Why; Saving Jane [ 1:21:00 | 0.01 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (578)

On this edition of Wonder Why, @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb travel back to 2006. Once there the question changes from why did Saving Jane only have one hit to how to did Saving Jane manage to crack a chart dominated by hip-hop, R&B and without the aid of anyone guesting on their track.

Saving Jane hailed from Columbus, Ohio and hit the charts with their song “Girl Next Door.” A song that a few years later, some say was redone by one of the most popular artists of the 2000s. Is it plagiarism or simply a case of an age old story told through song?

After breaking down the career of Saving Jane, it’s time for the picks of the month. Mike goes with a band he recently saw in concert while Chad pulls inspiration from Saving Jane to make his pick.

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Positive Cynicism

Positive Cynicism EP. 81: Wonder Why; Scritti Politti

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Time to jump back into the time machine and examine another One Hit Wonder* from the ’80s. This month @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb break down the career of English band Scritti Politti. Hitting the U.S. charts in late 1985 with The Perfect Way, Scritti Politti were poised to follow up their British success. Or so it seemed. Unfortunately, future songs wouldn’t fare as well.

Mike gives all the details on the band’s formation and post The Perfect Way career while Chad adds very little to the conversation. After the discussion of Scritti Politti, it’s time for the Picks of the Month. Chad chooses the return album of an early 2000’s pop star while Mike goes with one of the 1990s/2000s alternative heavyweights.

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Positive Cynicism

Positive Cynicism Ep. 68: Wonder Why; Sly Fox

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Positive Cynicism EP. 68: Wonder Why; Sly Fox [ 39:57 | 54.87 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (669)

This month on Wonder Why, Chad “Limited Effort” Smart and Mike “Rabbit Hole” DeKalb attempt to talk about Sly Fox’s 1986 hit “Let’s Go All The Way” and figure out why the duo of “Mudbone” Cooper and Michael “Not Hector” Camacho didn’t find success with any follow up singles.

Breaking down the history of Sly Fox does get a bit funky at times. Find out the interesting use of the back beat of “Let’s Go All the Way” as well as what a couple of clowns had to do with exposing one of Mtv’s worst kept secrets.

Once they’ve exhausted the history of Sly Fox, @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb give your their holiday picks for the month.

Positive Cynicism

POSITIVE CYNCISM EP. 59. WONDER WHY: ROB BASE

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POSITIVE CYNCISM EP. 59. WONDER WHY: ROB BASE [ 1:16:07 | 0.01 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (562)

Drop the Beat. In this edition of Wonder Why, we’re kicking it old school style. Taking it back to the streets of Brooklyn as @chadsmart and @MikeDeKalb break down the history of Rob Base and DJ Easy Rock. The two rap pioneers hit the Top 40 chart with the infectious crowd-pleaser “It Takes Two” in 1988.  Personal issues and a changing musical landscape are two reasons the rap duo may have only had one chart hit. Even without chart success, Rob Base has had a steady career and still performs regularly on ’80s and ’90s throwback concerts.

After the discussion of Rob Base, Mike and Chad offer up their picks of the month for Septober. One’s a band with over a decade of of success, the other pick is a new band promoting their first album.

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Positive Cynicism

POSITIVE CYNICISM EP 52: WONDER WHY; MUNGO JERRY

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POSITIVE CYNICISM EP 52: WONDER WHY; MUNGO JERRY [ 1:19:26 | 0.01 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (641)

The seventh edition of Wonder Why is one for the books. Taking a trip back to the summer of 1970, @chadsmart and @mikedekalb examine the hit and “career” of English artist Ray Dorsett, pka Mungo Jerry. Mungo Jerry had a summertime hit with “In the Summertime.” A catchy jingle that peaked at #3 on the Billboard chart and then Mungo Jerry was only heard from again if you were in Europe. Why was there not a follow up hit?

Before the discussion begins, Mike talks about attending a recent concert by previous Wonder Why artist, Thomas Dolby.  After the Mungo Jerry discussion, Mike and Chad turn the focus to their picks of the month.  Find out what Gary Cherone, Tupac and Scott Caan have in common.

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Positive Cynicism

Positive Cynicism EP 48: Wonder Why; Autograph

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Positive Cynicism EP 48: Wonder Why; Autograph [ 1:28:23 | 0.01 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (719)

Another month, another edition of Wonder Why. This month, @chadsmart and @mikedekalb examine the career of 80’s hair metal band, Autograph. Opening for Van Halen and scoring a top 30 hit with their debut single, “Turn Up the Radio,” Autograph looked poised to make it big on the charts in 1985. Unfortunately, their success peaked with the first single. After the first album, Autograph continued to record throughout the 1980s releasing two more albums before the band members decided to go their separate ways.

Since the breakup, Autograph have reformed and released new albums including their 2017 release, Get Off Your Ass. During this edition of Wonder Why breakdown the career of Autograph and offer their assessments of why the band’s career didn’t reach continued heights alongside other 80s metal bands like Bon Jovi, Motley Crue and Ratt.

Wrapping up the show are the picks of the month. Find out why Mike thinks everyone should keep a Bob Marley CD in their car. While Chad advocates for everyone to buy Butch Walker’s latest (and every) album.

www.jitterymonkey.com

www.hockeytransplant.com

www.autographband.com

www.bobmarley.com

www.butchwalker.com

@NerdsUnitedShow

@my123cents

 

Positive Cynicism

Positive Cynicism EP 43: Wonder Why; Bobby Caldwell

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Positive Cynicism EP 43: Wonder Why; Bobby Caldwell [ 1:35:39 | 131.36 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (770)

@chadsmart and @mikedekalb return with another edition of Wonder Why. This edition features a listener suggested One Hit Wonder Choice. Chad and Mike break down the 1979 hit song What You Won’t Do for Love by Bobby Caldwell. While Mike was familiar with the song, Chad had never heard it before. What opinion do they have of the song and the debut album which included the song?

In addition to the discussion of Bobby Caldwell, @chadsmart continues the #SummerOfPositivity #GiveawayGalore by offering a unique prize which ties in with Bobby Caldwell’s late 1980s era.  This is one giveaway on which you don’t want to miss out.

For the wrap up segment, @mikedekalb chooses the options for the June edition of #WonderWhy and Mike and Chad give their #PicksOfTheMonth. What albums do they think you should be listening to this month? What do bicycles have in common with both their picks?

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www.bobbycaldwell.com
www.facebook.com/TheDittyBops/
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http://www.hockeytransplant.com/
@chadsmart
@mikedekalb
@jittery_monkey
@thehooch36
@kevinhunsperger
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@NerdsUnitedShow

 

Positive Cynicism

Positive Cynicism EP39: Wonder Why; The Proclaimers

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Positive Cynicism Episode 40: Wonder Why; The Proclaimers.

Once again, @chadsmart and @mikedekalb try to understand why certain bands only had one Top 40 hit in the United States.  This month they examine the duo of Scottish twins, Charlie and Craig Reid. The Proclaimers, as the twins are collectively known, achieved their US success in the summer of 1993 even though their song I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) was was their 1988 album “Sunshine on Leith.”  How did a five year old song finally break into the Top 40? What did The Proclaimers do before and after the success of their “one” hit?  Why does everyone in Scotland proclaim the duo as a national? Who is the Doctor who used a Proclaimers song as his wedding song?  All these questions and more are answered in a very thoroughly researched discussion.

Wrapping the episode is a discussion of what acts to book on the 2020 ’80s Cruise.

https://www.proclaimers.co.uk/

 

Twitter handles of Podcasts you should listen to after finishing Positive Cynicism

@NerdsUnitedShow

@my123cents

@stuckinthe80s

@TomAndJimsTop5

@Skullbusterod

@podzillapodcast (@PZ85sMr100, @The5StarMan)

 

 

Positive Cynicism

Positive Cynicism EP 34: Wonder Why: Believe It Or Not

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Positive Cynicism EP 34: Wonder Why: Believe It Or Not [ 0.01 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (746)

The second installment of Wonder Why is here. @chadsmart and @mikedekalb break down the one and only album by Joey Scarbury to see if any other song on the album lives up to the standard set by Joey’s hit single, “Believe It Or Not (Theme from The Greatest American Hero).”

I hope they talk about the song being referenced on Seinfeld.

And don’t forget you can subscribe to the show on any (or all) of the following platforms:

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