A lot of the artists mentioned on this thread are far too new to have a "signature track" yet - Bruno Mars, Swedish House Mafia, LMFAO etc.

 

As for the Beatles, for me they fall into the same category as the likes of Elvis Presley, Abba, Michael Jackson etc where if you ask 100 people you'd probably get at least 8 different answers

 

I'd say...

 

Beatles - Hey Jude

Elvis Presley - Hound Dog

Abba - Dancing Queen / Mamma Mia

For me, a signature hit is a song that is so huge in terms of popularity, cultural impact, influence, etc, that it basically takes a life of its own, that becomes bigger than just "a hit by whoever", that transcends generations. It's a song that, if you simply mention the song title to someone in conversation (without mentioning the act), they would immediately know what you were talking about without even a moment's thought. Thus, in a way, it's not even associated with the artist anymore in that it can stand on its own and be remembered apart from that.

 

Not every act has a signature hit (some will never get one), and others could have multiple. Acts like Madonna, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, etc, are indeed good examples of people who have several. But this is mostly reserved for such huge acts.

 

I don't think most of the acts mentioned here really have a signature hit personally. I mean, someone like Usher is big but does he really have a song that essentially transcends him? To me, Usher will be remembered as a hitmaker in the sense that when people think of him 20 years or whatever from now it'll be like "oh yeah, he had so many hits back then", but I think those same people would be struggling to think of one exactly (or one would be thinking of Yeah!, someone else You Make Me Wanna, someone else U Got It Bad, someone else OMG, and so on and so forth).

There's about a dozen Elvis tracks I would say before "Hound Dog"

 

"Jailhouse Rock"

"Blue Suede Shoes" even though it was a cover

"Are You Lonesome To-Night?" again another cover

"Heartbreak Hotel"

"All Shook Up"

"Marie's The Name (His Latest Flame)"

"Return To Sender"

 

just for starters!

If Justin Timberlake's 'signature hit' isn't Cry Me A River then it damn well should be. I don't dislike him but I heard CMAR on the radio a couple of weeks ago and was shocked at how much I still love it. By far the best thing he ever put out.

 

But it was just a cover version, so I wouldn't count it as it's not a song that's tied specifically to him.

Edited January 29, 201213 yr by vidcapper

But it was just a cover version, so I wouldn't count it as it's not a song that's tied specifically to him.

 

 

Eh? Wasn't Timberlake's "Cry Me A River" a different song to the Julie London et al song?

Lily Allen- The Fear/ LDN

Ellie Goulding- Your Song/ Starry Eyed

Jack Johnson- Better Together

Calvin Harris- Ready for the Weekend

Katy B- Lights on- Although I much prefer 'Katy on a mission'

The Kooks- She moves in her own way

The Killers- Mr Brightside/ Human

Maroon 5- Moves like Jagger/ This Love

Katie Melua- 9 million bicycles

Amy MacDonald- This is the life

Michael Buble- Just haven't met you yet

Mumford and Sons- The Cave

Newton Faulkner- Teardrop/ Dream Catch me

Noah and the whale- LIFEGOESON

Owl City- Fireflies

Paulo Nutini- Pencil full of Lead

Plan B- She said

Snow Patrol- Chasing cars

Temper Trap- Sweet Disposition

 

 

 

Calvin Harris- Ready for the Weekend

 

Acceptable In The 80s or maybe I'm Not Alone I would say. I don't even remember how RFTW goes :P

Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend

 

Surely it's Complicated over Girlfriend (even Sk8er Boi over Girlfriend, tbh, I see the latter far more used in popular culture)? Most people consider Girlfriend a weak link in Avril's discography, despite being a big comeback hit (and it must be forgotten about now), while Complicated is constantly cited as one of her strongest, not to mention the one that started her off.

 

The Killers- Mr Brightside/ Human

 

Hmm, both are good choices, but there's also Somebody Told Me to consider. I think Mr Brightside would easily be the most recognisable song though, out of the 3. Like Girlfriend, Human was a big comeback hit, but not their most recognisable one now, although it's surely up there.

 

What about N-Dubz? (I know they haven't been around THAT long but they're hardly newbies either). I would say 'I Need You' as it remains their biggest hit but I dunno, perhaps something from 'Uncle B' would be closer to being their 'signature hit' (maybe Strong Again or Papa Can You Hear Me?)

 

I don't think I Need You can be their signature hit at all, it's barely remembered now, although not many of theirs are. I'd probably have to go with Strong Again, although it's still a weak example.

 

Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc or possibly Clint Eastwood

 

I'd lean towards Feel Good Inc these days, Clint Eastwood is a long lasting hit, but Feel Good Inc feels more revolutionary. Also, Dare should complete their top 3, it's definitely recognisable to a wider audience than the rest of their singles, and it was a #1, but I wouldn't call it the signature hit.

Lily Allen- The Fear/ LDN

Ellie Goulding- Your Song/ Starry Eyed

Jack Johnson- Better Together

Calvin Harris- Ready for the Weekend

Katy B- Lights on- Although I much prefer 'Katy on a mission'

The Kooks- She moves in her own way

The Killers- Mr Brightside/ Human

Maroon 5- Moves like Jagger/ This Love

Katie Melua- 9 million bicycles

Amy MacDonald- This is the life

Michael Buble- Just haven't met you yet

Mumford and Sons- The Cave

Newton Faulkner- Teardrop/ Dream Catch me

Noah and the whale- LIFEGOESON

Owl City- Fireflies

Paulo Nutini- Pencil full of Lead

Plan B- She said

Snow Patrol- Chasing cars

Temper Trap- Sweet Disposition

 

The vast majority of them aren't signature songs.

 

I thought JT's 'Cry Me A River' was an original song... :mellow:

^ It is, the Cry Me A River sung by Michael Buble/Susan Boyle is totally different, it's a jazz standard which has been around for like 60 years.

Edited January 29, 201213 yr by Liаm

Surely Madonna's would be Hung Up? Its usually the song associated with her nowadays.

 

Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Outta My Head

 

Can't Get You OUT OF My Head, lazy bum.

I'd definitely say Hung Up for Madonna, especially given it's arguably pretty much unique in that it's more recognisable than the song it samples, I mean you hear the 'time goes by, so slowly...' and you think Madonna rather than Abba. Also it must be one of her biggest sellers surely?

I don't get how anyone who's had about four singles/hits can have a signature hit?! Most people seem to be naming the biggest hit from acts who've had one reasonably successful album!

THE DEFINITIVE LIST

 

Des'ree - Life

Chumbawamba - Tubthumping

Deetah - Relax

Billie Myers - Kiss The Rain

Little Trees - Help! I'm A Fish

 

I think going back to the point I made in the iTunes thread, you get a good idea by looking at what radio play, what people buy and what they listen to. Websites like iTunes, Compare My Radio and Last.fm whilst not wholly accurate do give a good indicator, although it will always be different in different parts of the world.

I don't get how anyone who's had about four singles/hits can have a signature hit?! Most people seem to be naming the biggest hit from acts who've had one reasonably successful album!

 

:lol:

 

I agree...when I see people commenting on N-Dubz, Katy B., Pixie lott signature hits etc. etc. it makes me laugh...their career never reached out of UK and let alone having a signature hits.

 

Personally, I would consider a signature hits only the likes of:

 

Nirvana - Smells Like A Teen Spirit

Rihanna - Umbrella

Amy Winehouse - Rehab

Madonna - Like A Virgin=Vogue

MJ - Thriller=Billie Jean

Britney - Baby One More Time=Oops I Did It Again

Beyonce - Irreplacable=Single Ladies

Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On

Justin - Sexyback

Xtina - Beautiful

Duffy - Mercy

Coldplay - Clocks=Viva La Vida

Jennifer Lopez - Jenny From The Block

Adele - Someone Like You=Rolling In The Deep

Mariah Carey - Hero

Whitney - I will always love you

Nelly - Dilemma

Eminem - Lose Yourself=Stan

Dido-White Flag

BEP-Where Is The Love=I Gotta Feeling

I agree, I think an artist should reach a certain 'level' before they start being assigned signature hits, personally I think it's stupid saying Pixie Lott, N-Dubz etc. have signature hits because they really don't'. By that logic, Cover Drive's signature hit is Twilight :lol:

The worst ones are the likes of The Temper Trap who've had one hit single ANYWHERE!

With N-Dubz, it's more of a case of there not being a standout hit to associate them with, I think. They have been around for a few years, just about as long as Duffy or The Saturdays, for example. Adele has also been around that long, but she's already reached that level so quickly. Like I said, if there was one, it'd be Strong Again. But I don't think there is.

But it was just a cover version, so I wouldn't count it as it's not a song that's tied specifically to him.

 

WHAT

 

Inna - Hot

 

Iyaz - Replay

 

:lol:

Edited January 29, 201213 yr by SKOB