Name that '90s female one-hit-wonder song
November 7, 2010 3:33 PM Subscribe
I'm thinking of a song...from the '90s by a female pop artist who probably would be considered a one-hit-wonder. But I can't quite place it.
It's in my head, but I can't quite put my finger on this one. I remember it being a somewhat slow pop song by a solo female pop/rocker. I think it's from the early to mid '90s. I still hear it on pop/soft rock radio stations occasionally, and I'm pretty sure I've seen a music video for it.
It's vaguely along the lines of "I Love You (Always Forever)" by Donna Lewis or "Mouth" by Merril Bainbridge, but it is neither of these. It's not Meredith Brooks or Paula Cole or Shawn Colvin or Joan Osbourne or Dionne Farris or Natalie Imbruglia or Des'ree.
I don't think it was a very big hit, and I don't seem to find it on the Wikipedia list of 1990s one hit wonders. But like I said, it still gets airplay.
I think the title or lyrics may have a reference to water, but I'm not certain.
Any ideas?
It's in my head, but I can't quite put my finger on this one. I remember it being a somewhat slow pop song by a solo female pop/rocker. I think it's from the early to mid '90s. I still hear it on pop/soft rock radio stations occasionally, and I'm pretty sure I've seen a music video for it.
It's vaguely along the lines of "I Love You (Always Forever)" by Donna Lewis or "Mouth" by Merril Bainbridge, but it is neither of these. It's not Meredith Brooks or Paula Cole or Shawn Colvin or Joan Osbourne or Dionne Farris or Natalie Imbruglia or Des'ree.
I don't think it was a very big hit, and I don't seem to find it on the Wikipedia list of 1990s one hit wonders. But like I said, it still gets airplay.
I think the title or lyrics may have a reference to water, but I'm not certain.
Any ideas?
Listening to the two you mention, what comes to mind is "As I Lay Me Down" by Sophie B. Hawkins, from 1995.
Do you have any memory of what the video was like?
posted by katemonster at 3:54 PM on November 7, 2010
Do you have any memory of what the video was like?
posted by katemonster at 3:54 PM on November 7, 2010
billie myers - kiss the rain
Suzanne Vega - tom's Diner
on preview, I 2nd "As I Lay Me Down" by Sophie B. Hawkins,
posted by fizzix at 3:58 PM on November 7, 2010
Suzanne Vega - tom's Diner
on preview, I 2nd "As I Lay Me Down" by Sophie B. Hawkins,
posted by fizzix at 3:58 PM on November 7, 2010
Also by Sophie B Hawkins - Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover
or
Sixpence None The Richer - Kiss Me?
posted by Yorrick at 3:59 PM on November 7, 2010
or
Sixpence None The Richer - Kiss Me?
posted by Yorrick at 3:59 PM on November 7, 2010
Lisa Loeb - Stay
Sixpence None the Richer - There She Goes
Juliana Hatfield - Spin the Bottle
The Cardigans - Lovefool (I know this is on the Wikipedia list, but you didn't say it's definitely not on that list — only that you couldn't find it there. It's possible you overlooked it since the title isn't in the lyrics.)
posted by John Cohen at 4:00 PM on November 7, 2010
Sixpence None the Richer - There She Goes
Juliana Hatfield - Spin the Bottle
The Cardigans - Lovefool (I know this is on the Wikipedia list, but you didn't say it's definitely not on that list — only that you couldn't find it there. It's possible you overlooked it since the title isn't in the lyrics.)
posted by John Cohen at 4:00 PM on November 7, 2010
Crush by Jennifer Paige? (Also I am favouriting this thread because holy hell nostagia!)
posted by miss_kitty_fantastico at 4:02 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by miss_kitty_fantastico at 4:02 PM on November 7, 2010
html fail.
posted by miss_kitty_fantastico at 4:02 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by miss_kitty_fantastico at 4:02 PM on November 7, 2010
Response by poster: None of these, I'm afraid. Thanks for trying though!
I'm pretty sure the song was credited only to the singer's name, even though there was a band backing her. I think she may have played guitar in the video, standing around with the rest of the band in a bar or on some kind of small set. Unfortunately I don't remember much else from the video.
"Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" is getting pretty close, I think. It's in that vein and probably from that period.
posted by iamisaid at 4:13 PM on November 7, 2010
I'm pretty sure the song was credited only to the singer's name, even though there was a band backing her. I think she may have played guitar in the video, standing around with the rest of the band in a bar or on some kind of small set. Unfortunately I don't remember much else from the video.
"Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" is getting pretty close, I think. It's in that vein and probably from that period.
posted by iamisaid at 4:13 PM on November 7, 2010
I Do by Lisa Loeb? She had a backup band but most media just talked about her IIRC.
posted by nakedmolerats at 4:22 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by nakedmolerats at 4:22 PM on November 7, 2010
Best answer: I'm thinking maybe Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians, "What I Am?"
posted by hermitosis at 4:25 PM on November 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by hermitosis at 4:25 PM on November 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Edie Brickell? It's got that "dunk me in the shallow water before I get too deep" line.
posted by kpht at 4:25 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by kpht at 4:25 PM on November 7, 2010
Later than you specify but "Be Like Water" by Sarah Fimm?
posted by Morrigan at 4:29 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by Morrigan at 4:29 PM on November 7, 2010
Bright as Yellow - The Innocence Mission?
Here's Where the Story Ends - The Sundays?
posted by bcwinters at 4:48 PM on November 7, 2010
Here's Where the Story Ends - The Sundays?
posted by bcwinters at 4:48 PM on November 7, 2010
Sail Across the Water by Jane Siberry?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVtP-QumhuM&feature=youtube_gdata_player
posted by mattholomew at 4:50 PM on November 7, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVtP-QumhuM&feature=youtube_gdata_player
posted by mattholomew at 4:50 PM on November 7, 2010
Best answer: I know this is on the wikipedia list, but its title isn't contained within its lyric, so it's easily missed, and your description of the video is a pretty good fit: "What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes. Otherwise I concur with the Edie Brickell guesses.
posted by jocelmeow at 4:51 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by jocelmeow at 4:51 PM on November 7, 2010
Merril Bainbridge had a song called Under the Water that was released but didn't get much airtime.
posted by Metroid Baby at 4:58 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by Metroid Baby at 4:58 PM on November 7, 2010
Or maybe Missing by Everything but the Girl? ("like the deserts miss the rain")?
posted by nakedmolerats at 5:09 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by nakedmolerats at 5:09 PM on November 7, 2010
Oh, and your username reminded me of this one: Alisha's Attic - I Am, I Feel
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:11 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:11 PM on November 7, 2010
Dido?
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 5:13 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 5:13 PM on November 7, 2010
Fiona Apple?
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 5:16 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 5:16 PM on November 7, 2010
Best answer: Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians - What I Am? the music video's set on a small stage, and the lyrics include a line about "shallow water"
Jann Arden - Insensitive
Bic Runga - Sway
You could also take a look at the performers who played at Lilith Fair and see if any of those names ring a bell.
posted by amillionbillion at 5:32 PM on November 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Jann Arden - Insensitive
Bic Runga - Sway
You could also take a look at the performers who played at Lilith Fair and see if any of those names ring a bell.
posted by amillionbillion at 5:32 PM on November 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Jewel? Her big hits like You Were Meant For Me and Who Will Save Your Soul still get played on soft rock/AOR radio stations.
posted by ErikaB at 5:39 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by ErikaB at 5:39 PM on November 7, 2010
Or, another earlier one by Lisa Loeb: Stay. nakedmolerats already covered "I Do."
"Do You Sleep" has water and guitar playing in the video, though.
posted by 1UP at 6:11 PM on November 7, 2010
"Do You Sleep" has water and guitar playing in the video, though.
posted by 1UP at 6:11 PM on November 7, 2010
Stab in the dark guess: "Sleeping Satellite" by Tasmin Archer?
posted by Anima Mundi at 6:21 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by Anima Mundi at 6:21 PM on November 7, 2010
"Missing" by Everything But The Girl?
something by Jonatha Brooke?
posted by wobh at 6:42 PM on November 7, 2010
something by Jonatha Brooke?
posted by wobh at 6:42 PM on November 7, 2010
I came here to say Sleeping Satellite as well, but it's got a bit more soul than Donna Lewis (I hope)!
posted by mykescipark at 7:00 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by mykescipark at 7:00 PM on November 7, 2010
Mazzy Star is what popped into my head, for no real reason.
Fade into You?
posted by SaharaRose at 7:03 PM on November 7, 2010
Fade into You?
posted by SaharaRose at 7:03 PM on November 7, 2010
Response by poster: Yes! It was "What I Am?" by Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians. Thanks so much to all of you. A bunch of searching turned up nothing and I probably never would have found that one on my own. And even the "wrong" answers here reminded me of a bunch of other songs I'd totally forgotten. I'm loving this list as well.
posted by iamisaid at 8:23 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by iamisaid at 8:23 PM on November 7, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by hoperaiseshell at 3:39 PM on November 7, 2010 [1 favorite]