Bobbyisms: No more one-hit wonders

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I write about random things a lot. I write a lot about random things. Did you know that it was Michael Jackson who wrote "Do the Bartman" for the TV show The Simpsons way back in 1990? Evidently he was a big fan of the young show and happily contributed the song, which was released as a charting single complete with a music video directed by Pixar's Brad Bird.

The song was released on The Simpsons Sing The Blues, which featured an impressive list of guest musicians and actually rose to the number three spot on the Billboard charts. And while the Simpsons have released other albums in the time since, "Do the Bartman" stands alone as a fan favourite and the series' only number-one single.

There have been a lot of changes in the music industry since the early 1990s. Most currently students in college were born around that time, which means they've sadly missed the grunge explosion, the new British Invasion and the new era of alternative rock. So when you think about it, most people of a college age became musically aware around 1997 and beyond, when downloading became available to the masses and pop music began its resurgence thanks to boy bands and solo female artists.

And of all the musical phenomena that have come and gone since the new music industry was born, few things are as noticeable in the current musical climate as the lack of one-hit wonder artists.

As 2001 rolled into 2002, we reached the end of an era. If you weren't paying attention then, it's difficult to describe, but radio shifted from the pop into a new rock age fueled by the success of Nickelback's album Silver Side Up (which was released on September 11, 2001) and its monster single "How You Remind Me." Similar rock bands — particularly in Canada — exploded in popularity and sustained a few years of popularity before paving the way for the rise of indie music in 2003/04.

The summer of 2001 was the most disposable season for music yet, and one of the most fun summers for music to date. Picture turning on the radio and hearing Blu Cantrell's "Hit 'Em Up Style" alongside Destiny's Child's "Bootylicious," or hearing 112's "Peaches & Cream" right after "Lady Marmalade" from Moulin Rouge. Eve and Gwen Stefani released "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" together while Geri Halliwell gave a new take on "It's Raining Men." Groups like 'N Sync released their last albums, while we would never grow old with artists like Eve 6, City High, Dream, 98º or Shaggy.

Ten years later, artists don't simply disappear like they used to. Rebecca Black will be able to produce terrible pop songs as long as YouTube exists, and it will take more than just backlash over her performance on Saturday Night Live to keep down Lana Del Rey. For better or for worse, the Internet has a way of preserving new artists and music in ways few could have expected in 2001, and popularity has become more subjective than ever.

But isn't it funny to think sometimes that good, hard-working acts like Vertical Horizon or Craig David could have found lasting popularity if only they'd been able to hang on just a little longer?

For more of the latest music news, views, online streams and more, consider following this column on Twitter @fsu_bobbyisms or via Tumblr at bobbyisms.com. What have you been listening to lately? I'm out of words.