Golden hits: 10 artists who became fabulously rich thanks to just one song

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Musicians and singers sometimes struggle for years to achieve success. They stoically endure everyday problems and an unsettled personal life in order to reach the top of the musical Olympus. However, there are cases that are completely incredible: thanks to just one song, the singer suddenly becomes not only famous, but also very rich. True, the performers no longer succeed in repeating their success. They remain the heroes of one, but truly golden hit.

Consuelo Velazquez - Besame Mucho

One of the most famous Mexican compositions in the world came to light thanks to the impressionable young pianist Consuelo Velazquez. She perceives music so emotionally that after one of the operas she listened to, she poured out her feelings in the form of music. Despite the fact that Consuelo Velazquez continued to write music, as popular around the world as "Besame Mucho", she did not.

It is not known how much money the author of the hit managed to get, but Sunny Skylar, who had a chance to adapt the hit for America, admitted frankly that his home and the education of his children are income from "Besame Mucho".

READ ALSO: "Vertical expression of horizontal desires": how one of the best hits of the 20th century was born. "Besame Mucho" >>

Kaoma - Lambada, Los Kjarkas - Llorando Se Fue

The first performers of the summer incendiary hit were the Los Kjarkas group from Bolivia. True, in their performance the composition was called Llorando Se Fue and was not as fiery and energetic as the world-famous Lambada of the French group Kaoma.

However, the fact that the authorship belongs to Los Kjarkas was established by the court, which the Bolivian team won over the producer Kaoma. Los Kjarkas are now eligible for royalties when the composition is used on radio or television.

Los Del Rio - Macarena

The famous Macarena was born in 1992, and in 1993 she was introduced to the audience as a rumba. No one could have imagined that by 1996 the song would become one of the most popular hits in the world.

The songwriters and performers of the song Antonio Romero Monje and Rafael Ruiz Perdigonez joined the duo Los Del Rio back in the 1960s, specializing in the creation of Andalusian folk music.

Macarena was not their only song, but it was it that made Spanish artists rich and famous. Although their income from sales of the hit was only 25%, this was quite enough for the performers to forget about the need forever.

Bobby McFerrin - Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Bobby McFerrin can be called a darling of fate. It seems that he quite easily achieves in this life everything that he would like. Collaboration with the best jazzmen, several Grammy awards. Nevertheless, the musician is best known for the very composition that he never sings at his concerts. For Bobby McFerrin, the song's success came as a surprise, and the revenue generated from the sales was pretty decent. Radio ads using a hit alone can cost about $ 100,000 per track.

READ ALSO: "Don't Worry, Be Happy" is the first acapella composition to top the music charts >>

PSY - Gangnam Style

The performer simply rose to fame thanks to a video posted on YouTube. As you know, this resource does not skimp on paying for a video gaining more than 1000 views. The eccentric Korean's video has been viewed more than 3 billion times in six years, which means that it brought him income of at least $ 3 million.

Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby

Back in 1990, it was impossible to even imagine that a rap song would become an absolute hit. And, nevertheless, Vanilla Ice with his rap single reached the top of the American chart, having managed to generate income of almost $ 20 million by 2017. This is despite the fact that the rapper's attempts to break into television and cinema can hardly be called successful.

Gotye feat. Kimbra - Somebody That I Used To Know

The duet of the Belgian-Australian electronic engineer and the New Zealand singer was so successful that it allowed the performers to win two Grammy awards at once. Later, the musicians preferred an independent path in art.

By the way, Gaultier refused to receive profit from views paid by YouTube, justifying his act by an elementary unwillingness to participate in the art trade. He just didn't need $ 10 million.

Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy

Brothers Richard and Fred Fairbrass formed their own group in 1989, and in 1991 their hit "I’m Too Sexy" was released. The lightweight and frivolous song, however, allowed the band to achieve worldwide fame, recognition and wealth in a very short time.

4 Non Blondes - What’s Up

This composition, written in 1993 by Linda Perry, is today performed by Lady Gaga and Pink, and is often used in films and video games. The first performers of the golden hit were the members of the female rock group 4 Non Blondes. True, the group broke up pretty quickly, and the former vocalist of the female rock team became the songwriter for famous performers.

Chumbawamba - Tubthumping

This British group was not easy going to its own glory. For a long time, the musicians could not even decide on their own style, playing anarcho-punk, and then folk, ethnic, popular music. The performers try to illuminate the problems of society in their work, do not hesitate to speak from the stage about violence, racism, struggle for rights. However, the group was in obscurity for a long time, until in 1997 it exploded with the song "Tubthumping". In 2002, the team decided to sell Tubthumping to General Motors. True, the money received went to help those who are fighting the same company.

Many stars are proud that they were able to achieve everything on their own, without support from outside. However, the ability to use the chance given by fate is also an undoubted advantage. Unfortunately, not all singers who took off on the musical Olympus thanks to the support of their soulmate, managed to stay on top.