# Five music success stories that blur the line between luck and genius

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/five-music-success-stories-that-blur-the-line-between-luck-and-genius/
- Published: 2026-08-03T16:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-25T12:08:21+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/five-music-success-stories-that-blur-the-line-between-luck-and-genius/
- Topics: Americas, Entertainment, Music, World

## Key points

- Article examines five hit songs blending luck with musical genius
- Bowie's 'Space Oddity' timing coincided with the Apollo 11 moon landing
- Blur's parody track 'Song 2' became an unexpected major hit

## Summary

An article from Far Out Magazine explores five famous songs where it's unclear whether their success stemmed from artistic genius or sheer chance, touching on the unpredictable relationship between musicians and public taste. It cites Noel Gallagher's view that audiences don't know what they want until they get it, using examples from David Bowie, Blur and The Rolling Stones to illustrate how timing, circumstance and talent often intertwine in creating a hit.

Among the examples: Bowie's 'Space Oddity' became iconic partly due to its release just days before the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, with the song later played during the astronauts' return to Earth. Blur's 'Song 2' was written as a parody of 1990s American grunge acts like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, yet unexpectedly became one of the band's biggest hits. The Rolling Stones' 'Gimme Shelter' is highlighted for Merry Clayton's raw, unplanned vocal crack while singing "rape, murder, it's just a shot away", delivered while she was pregnant and recorded late at night, a moment now regarded as one of music's greatest vocal performances.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.