Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Jerry D in an upbeat mood after leaving radio. - Contributed

Every artiste wants a hit song. For some unlucky few, that's all they ever get, one hit. One hit wonders are the anticlimaxes of the entertainment business, they show just how hard it really is to stay afloat with music listeners.

There are many means of classifying a one hit wonder, some base it on success with the listeners, while others look on the charts as the true test. www.uglypc.ggh.org.uk/mrfront/ohwonders.html classifies a one hit wonder based on their status on international charts. Coming out of Jamaica on the list are Alphia and Donna with Uptown Top Ranking (Number 1 in 1978), Inner Circle's Sweat (A la la la long), which was Number 3 in 1993.

When it comes down to it, a one hit wonder has been unable to tap into the talent and repeat the success that made them huge. Businessman and broadcaster Jerry D states, "A one hit wonder has not tapped into, or come close to testing that level of success they had from one song." He says there are many one hit wonders including artistes such as Fabbi Dolly with Man Nuh Drink Bag Juice, which he claims was a monster hit.

MATTER OF INSPIRATION

Producer Cornell 'Scatta' Burnell also says making a hit is a matter of inspiration. The artiste in Jamaica is not the only one hit wonder, as some producers seem capable of producing only one hit riddim. He says, "As an artiste, you get a one inspiration that stops everything. To outdo that will never happen. It's not good for an artiste to buss at the top of his game, cause then he gonna need to come harder."

For Scatta, VC's By his deeds is a one hit wonder as he believes that VC cannot top that song.

According to Jerry D sometimes its just a matter of the right lyrics at the right time. He asserts that the industry is not properly set up from a marketing standpoint. There are more players in the business, thus, more competition.

However, according to Scatta, its not the nature of the business that is difficult. It is the artistes who are not putting in the right amount of work. He says, "They forget the substance, they put image first, girls first. You have to sell yourself to people, and they don't realise that. Look at Sean Paul, he didn't make success because of his skin colour. He had disciplined people around him, he went around and made people know him. When you get a little success and don't try anymore, that's how you become a one hit wonder."

He concurs that the biggest problem for Jamaican artistes is that they are too hype. They are not focussed on what they are doing, they compete among themselves.

Nonetheless, at the end of the day, the listeners are a key element in guaranteeing a hit, they are the ones who pay attention. They want to be moved, laugh, cry and identify with the song. If it fails to make that connection, the song will not be a hit, no matter how well produced or performed it may be.

Avid music listener Janelle Archer agrees with Jerry D as to what makes a hit, "the riddim and the lyrics that people can relate to, it reflects someone's experiences. Some people don't have what it takes to make it in the business, the creativity."