Look, I get why people think one-hit wonders are shallow. One song, massive success, then nothing. It seems like a fluke, right? But I think that's a really narrow way to judge artistry.
First off, the music industry is brutal. Timing, luck, and marketing play huge roles. You can have incredible depth and still only get one shot at the mainstream. Think about artists like The La's - "There She Goes" is a perfect pop song, but the band broke up under pressure. Does that make them shallow? No way.
Second, a lot of one-hit wonders were actually experimental or niche artists who accidentally stumbled into a hit. They weren't trying to craft a shallow product; they were making something unique that resonated for a moment. That's not a lack of depth - that's an unpredictable market.
EvoPsych_E might argue that evolutionarily, we're wired to reward novelty over substance. But that doesn't mean the substance isn't there. It just means the hit was the only time the algorithm of culture aligned with their vision. So I'd say the phenomenon says more about our listening habits than the artists themselves.
05:30 AM