Dr. Venus Nicolino: The Lasting Power of One-Hit Wonders on the Radio and in Your Life 

By Tom White, in partnership with Mediaite

The name Soft Cell likely means nothing to you, but the pop duo created a song, “Tainted Love,” that’s lived rent-free in the heads of millions for decades. You couldn’t pick Cheryl Lynn out of a lineup, but — if you’re lucky —- you’ve shimmy-swayed your way across the dance floor to her classic, “Got To Be Real.” The same might be said for La Roux’s “Bulletproof” or Deee-Lite’s “Groove Is in the Heart.”

Memorable as they are, however, these one-hit wonders traditionally get dismissed by critics. As is her fashion, bestselling author Dr. Venus Nicolino believes traditional thinking is wrong. 

Every person who mocks the accomplishments of someone like Norwegian band a-ha (creators of uber-earworm “Take on Me”) or film director Richard Kelly (who made the cult classic Donnie Darko but little else of note) is making a big mistake, as far as Nicolino is concerned. 

“One-hit wonders get no love,” Nicolino — affectionately known as Dr. V — said in a video on her popular TikTok channel. “Mostly, they get clowned by people who should be thankful that they got to hear or see something special. That filmmaker who only caught lightning in a bottle once. Or the musician who played out but plays on forever with that one perfect tune that haunts us all.” 

Of course, most one-hit wonders created other works; they’re just best known for the one. Still, they deserve credit for their accomplishments. And Nicolino says that, much in the same way, people should give themselves credit for the one-hit wonders in their life, no matter how few or far between they might be. 

Who Is Dr. Venus Nicolino? 

Having an uncommon take is common for Dr. Venus Nicolino. She’s known for her irreverent style that defies traditional approaches to psychological issues. She’s an expert in the field, having earned a master’s in counseling psychology and a master’s and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Based in Los Angeles, Nicolino is the bestselling author of Bad Advice: How to Survive and Thrive in an Age of Bulls–t and also hosts ”The Tea With Dr. V” podcast and a popular TikTok channel where she posts videos on a wide variety of topics. 

When it comes to one-hit wonders, Dr. V says people deserve praise for creating something that resonates so deeply with others. After all, Harper

Lee published just one novel in her lifetime, and no one questions her greatness or the enduring appeal of To Kill a Mockingbird. Why not extend the same regard for lesser but certainly memorable works like the film version of American Psycho (the only movie most people know from talented indie director Mary Harron) or “Funkytown” by Lipps Inc.? 

More importantly, says Nicolino, people should extend this same regard to their own accomplishments. Because while it’s typically critics and hipsters who don’t give credit where it’s due to one-hit wonders, the person not giving you credit is probably, well, you. 

Celebrate Your One-Hit Wonders, Says Dr. Venus Nicolino 

When she talks about people not giving themselves credit for their actions, Nicolino is hitting upon a common issue. People tend to have difficulty giving themselves credit for the good things they’ve done — their own personal “one-hit wonders” — but find it easy to criticize themselves in many different, equally terrible ways. 

An example of this is the imposter syndrome. Those who suffer from this feel everything they’ve achieved is undeserved. They live in fear of being unmasked and shown for the frauds they believe they are deep inside. It’s horrible, but unfortunately, it’s just one instance among many of how people can keep themselves from feeling good about themselves. 

Like those who dismiss famous one-hit wonders, people may not give themselves credit for their actions, according to Dr. Venus Nicolino. Of course, when she refers to a one-hit wonder in this context, she doesn’t mean just doing one good thing in your life and calling it a day. Rather, she means recognizing that you can’t be perfectly fantastic 365 days a year, every year, until death. 

“Shouldn’t we all aspire to have that one hit that makes a difference? Shouldn’t we lean on those random hits we produce, even if they only come every 12 months or so?” Nicolino asked. “You’re damn right.”

She added that the “biggest hit” of your personal life might have been visiting a sick relative or checking up on a young person going through a tough time. She said, “Perhaps you haven’t done much that you’re proud of since. But you did it at one point in time. So, you can lean on that, knowing you can produce another hit.” 

The Power of a One-Hit Wonder 

Dr. Venus Nicolino noted that, much like in our personal lives, one-hit wonders can come in many forms. She joked in her video, “The person who invented margaritas probably didn’t have many breakthroughs after that — and understandably so.” 

On a more serious note, she said people can find inspiration from relatively unknown people who had one shining moment in the public consciousness. She noted that sports offers many such examples, including the inspirational story of the boxer Buster Douglas. 

On Feb. 11, 1990, in a match in Tokyo, Douglas knocked out heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. It not only represented the first defeat in Tyson’s career, but also the first time anyone had ever even knocked Tyson off his feet. Making his feat even more incredible is the fact that Douglas won the match in the 10th round after having been knocked down by Tyson in the eighth round. Douglas got knocked out by Evander Holyfield in the third round of his next fight — then retired. 

“Buster Douglas was the biggest one-hit wonder ever, knocking out Mike Tyson only to get embarrassed in his next fight, then fade into retirement,” said Nicolino. “But he opened the door to possibilities with his biggest feat ever, not only for other fighters who gained courage against Tyson, but for underdogs everywhere who saw what can happen on their best night.” 

The same can happen when people do something in their own lives, showing love or caring to another. Even if you don’t do it every day or even

every week, it’s important to know the impact these “one-hit wonders” can have on the world, said Nicolino. People who see others do generous acts or achieve something noteworthy often view them as inspiration. 

“Your one hit may have generated more acts of kindness from others who you never knew you inspired,” said Dr. Venus Nicolino. “So, don’t dismiss your one-hit wonders. They’ve got lasting power.”

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