Song Challenge Day 48 - A One Hit Wonder

"I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" by Boyce and Hart

This one's a little bit odd to categorize as a one hit wonder. But it is the only song performed by this group to break out and have any real success, so I'd say it qualifies.

The reason that it feels strange to call this a one hit wonder, is because of these two performers were actually very prolific songwriters. So they had lots of hits over the years, but not with them singing. Most of the hits they wrote were performed by The Monkees. Boyce and Hart actually recorded vocals on many of the songs that would later become hits for the Monkees, but mostly the vocals were used as guide tracks for when the Monkees themselves recorded vocals on to the songs prior to official release. I believe every Monkees album had songs written by these two on it.

Based on this performance video, I'm not sure Boyce and Hart really were cut out for being center stage, or maybe it was just a general 60s goofiness. But either way, they definitely knew how to write hit songs, not just for the Monkees, but several other prominent 60's artists as well.

Musically, this song is a good representation of 60s bubble-gum pop, but I like that the lyrics actually provide a bit of an interesting twist. In this case it's the other side of the "let's be friends" breakup scenario, with hints of regret and self-loathing thrown in.

The thing that puts this song over the top are the ad libs tossed out periodically ("come on now"). It's hard to tell if they were intentional or if someone just got into the moment and threw it out there and they kept it. But that's part of what I like about them. It's all very formulaic, but there are hints that maybe they knew a little chaos would add to the appeal.