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3 Songs That Are So Iconic You Might Have Forgotten the Bands Who Sing Them
Three enduring hit songs have become so familiar that listeners may remember the track more readily than the band behind it.
– “Come On Eileen” made Dexys Midnight Runners internationally famous, reaching number one in the UK, US and Australia in 1982–83 and winning Best British Single at the 1983 Brit Awards.– “I Love Rock ’n Roll” was originally released by London glam rock band The Arrows in 1975, before Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ 1981 cover became the better-known version.– “Video Killed the Radio Star” was The Buggles’ major hit, topping charts in 16 countries and becoming the first video shown on MTV; singer Trevor Horn said it reflected expectations that video technology would transform music and media.
In short
- Familiar hits can eclipse the artists who originally recorded them.
- Dexys Midnight Runners topped three national charts with “Come On Eileen”.
- The Buggles’ hit became MTV’s first video.
Explained simply
Some songs become part of everyday popular culture, while the groups that recorded them are less widely remembered. Their reach can grow through radio, television, awards and later performances or cover versions.
Dexys Midnight Runners were a British band whose best-known hit reached audiences around the world in the early 1980s. The Arrows were a London glam rock band; Joan Jett and the Blackhearts later introduced many listeners to their song through a cover. The Buggles were a British group whose music drew on new electronic sounds.
These songs also reflect changes in how music was shared and heard. “Video Killed the Radio Star” became closely linked to the arrival of music television, while the Arrows’ song shows how a cover can become more famous than the original.