1 Hit Wonders is a tribute to recording artists
who only had one hit song and then disappeared into obscurity, never to be
heard of again. That is until now, in Barnyard Theatre’s current production at
the Gateway venue.
“Since the birth of rock and roll, we have experienced
one hit wonders on the pop charts - such as guitar legend Carl Perkins who said
not to step on his Blue Suede Shoes,” says the Barnyard creative team. ”This single-hit trend gained
momentum in the 1960’s with songs like Do You Love Me by The Contours
and Wipe Out by the Surfaris. In the 1970’s we experienced some
outrageous dance floor one hit wonders, if we think back to songs like Knock
On Wood, Play That Funky Music, Le Freak (Freak Out), Rapper’s
Delight and Kung Fu Fighting, to name but a few.
“In the 1980’s we experienced a new sound of one hit
wonders with songs such as You Spin Me Round, 99 Red Balloons and (I
Just) Died In Your Arms. These bands had some outrageous names such as
Cutting Crew and Dead Or Alive. In the 1990’s we had some crazy one hit wonders
with songs such as Who Let The Dogs Out, Macarena, Ice Ice
Baby, and let’s not forget the ultimate … I’m Too Sexy For My Shirt.
Into the new millennium, we have an avalanche of one-hit wonders such as Gangnam
Style, The Ketchup Song and I Like The Way You Move by Psy,
Las Ketchup and The Body Rockers.
“This phenomenon of one-hit-wonders looks set to continue
well into the future, but the 80’s and 90’s is when these hits songs really
made an impact on the soundtrack of our lives.”
1 Hit Wonders features a talented 10-piece cast performing
more than 60 songs. They include vocalists Andrew Webster (also narrator), Lee Paver, Gift Gwe,
Caelee Vercueil and Anastasia Dilima. The band will be made up of Barry Thomson
on guitar and vocals, with Calli Thomson on keyboards, Kelly Joubert on bass
guitar, Ruan Oosthuyzen on drums and Ola on saxophone.
1 Hit Wonders runs until July 10 July at The
Barnyard Theatre at Gateway. Tickets
R155 pp from Wednesday to Saturday (R120 pp every Tuesday night and R110 pp for
Sunday matinees) For bookings and enquiries, phone The Barnyard Theatre on 031 566
3045 or visit www.barnyard.durban.
For
further information, e-mail gateway@barnyardtheatres.co.za
or visit www.facebook.com/gatewaybarnyard