Sometimes songs improve in your memory. You recall them as being better than they really were. I hate to be the one who bursts anyone's bubble, but some of those same songs are in the "okay" range. Of the country music one hit wonders of the 1990s, there were a few that merited some more attention - and some that just did not. Here are a few one hit wonders of the 1990s from Rhett Akins, Chely Wright, and Mary Chapin Carpenter that, in retrospect, nearly but don't quite make the grade.
Videos by Wide Open Country
'Don't Get Me Started' by Rhett Akins
This song from 1996 on Akins' album Somebody New illustrates the fact that someone can have a giant-sized hit, then pretty much go off the grid afterward. Rhett Akins is known now for being the dad of country music star Thomas Rhett. Intriguingly, he wrote 34 number 1 songs for top stars such as Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, per his web site. His tremendous gift as a songwriter is absolutely indisputable but he is still a OHW for himself.
'Single White Female' by Chely Wright
'Single White Female" was a definite smash for Wright in 1999. It went to number 1 in this country and in Canada. Per The Boot, it "earned Wright several awards nominations, including ACM and CMT nods for its music video. Wright was also nominated for the CMA Horizon Award in 2000...." It's a cute, catchy song with kind of a novelty angle about looking for love. It's just alright.
'Shut Up and Kiss Me' by Mary Chapin Carpenter
This song released in 1994 was the sole chart-topping hit that the very talented Mary Chapin Carpenter ever had. She did have success on the charts with many other songs, per Yardbarker. But not like she did with this one. Per the outlet, Carpenter landed "a Grammy Award in 1995 for Best Female Country Vocal Performance." When I listen to the song, I can't help but ask myself what Shania Twain or Carrie Underwood would do with it. My guess is that they would bring hard-edged sass to it in a way that Carpenter does not. The song deserves to be belted-out.
