ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "Closing Time" by Semisonic

[@Sunny-tu5ox]

I need a "Nirvana Killed My Career" counter on screen for every time I've had to hear the first 4 seconds of Smells Like Teen Spirit on this show lol

[@typicalfurry2747]

I think 3-5 at this point but I could be wrong

[@TwoSevenX]

Except Nirvana wasn't the villain this time. Closing Time has a book. You should read it.

[@Sunny-tu5ox]

@@TwoSevenX the song has a book or the band? I'm not being a smartass that actually sounds like a good read lol

[@matturner6890]

@@TwoSevenX I second the above comment, please tell us what's up. Or I might have to google it myself, oh no!

[@TwoSevenX]

@@matturner6890 YT won't let me post links but the title is "So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star: How I Machine-Gunned a Roomful Of Record Executives and Other True Tales from a Drummer's Life"

[@blinkusfishus2052]

The cut-away to Smells like teen spirit is my favourite re-occuring joke on this channel, i laugh. everytime.

[@businessgoose6057]

Same, it's getting to the point where "well the- " is shorthand for an image of someone about to propose marriage and a jock slapping the ring out of the guys hands

[@Ryan6586]

Cut* WITH THE LIGHTS OUT...

[@dcbandnerd]

Like a nuclear bomb dropped on the music world - straight from Seattle, Washington

[@Cdr2002]

Considering the company Todd keeps, I almost expect 90s Kid to show up

[@CelticRot]

Server here. Never play this at or after closing time, people stay and sing along.

[@camw621]

That's when the Merzbow comes in handy...

[@amadeus5081]

When I was a kid I worked in this theme park, and we were allowed to bring speakers. We closed at five but around like three Id turn on closing time in the hopes that people would think we were closed and leave.... never worked haha

[@ProgrammedForDamage]

@@camw621 Yep, that'll do it. Or the combination of Merzbow and Sunn O)))

[@MetalMarauder]

If you need people to leave blast penderecki’s threnody for the victims of hiroshima

[@midnighthope7752]

that's when you start playing it 5-10 minutes before close

[@davinvanhaaften7630]

“12 years later it doesn’t look like they’re going to make a new album soon” 19 years later, Semisonic makes a new ep that’s freaking amazing.

[@BrotherAlpha]

Thanks for the info. I will have to grab that EP.

[@florencec1707]

Toddstradamus on a roll lmao

[@louisclayton2465]

@@florencec1707 7 years isn't really anytime soon

[@hdervish2497]

I'm still mad at them about Closing Time, so I can't listen to it. What a tiresome and waaaay overplayed song

[@xenon8927]

I mean technically he was right. that wasn't soon.

[@cronkitesatellite]

I heard an interview with Semisonic a few years back and they said that when they went from radio station to radio station trying to promote their new single, the radio stations passed saying “We don’t need a new single from you because Closing Time still sells advertising space.” That little quote has always stuck with me.

[@jackalope2302]

Too much success

[@jasonwalker4003]

damn. that's heartbreaking

[@gab2876]

Ooof. Great and delightful song, but wow did it cast an unfortunate shadow over the band

[@CrypticCocktails]

As a bartender, I groan when bars play this after last call. Also as a bartender, I play this at last call sometimes.

[@notoriousblt1038]

As a person who works in a brewery, this song is banned in the kitchen

[@calmbbaer]

Sounds like you like to make yourself groan. Maybe you'd like their third album even better.

[@mb11]

The drummer was my creative nonfiction teacher in college. Was a really inspiring guy.

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

I love hearing about musicians-turned-professors. They all sound great and interesting

[@emivalx]

There's a video where Dan is doing a talk and he's talking about Closing Time. He said that the song is about him being excited about being a dad but, at the time, every rock song about being excited about becoming a parent sounded very corny and nobody really liked them so that's why Closing Time is a big metaphor and could have multiple interpretations. Ultimately, though, it kicks ass.

[@wolfhawk1999]

Yeah, that's what I thought the meaning was

[@calmbbaer]

There's a piece about this at songexploder.net/semisonic

[@hardnewstakenharder]

Brandon!

[@kimifw58]

That sign from Wayne's World was apparently a real thing before the movie. Music stores actually felt the need to forbid "Stairway to Heaven" from being played on their guitars.

[@a1goldenrunner]

Kimi FW lol wow that's trippy

[@RatelHBadger]

My local store has signs banning 7 Nation Army, Sweet Child of Mine and Enter Sandman

[@junkiejackflash]

My local music shop has that same sign. But my favorite employee there said even more than that, he hates hearing kids play Crazy Train

[@tyde4610]

we have an Another One Bites The Dust sign by the basses, but everytime i go to the basses, i play something complicated and merge aobtd into it

[@leocomerford]

@@tyde4610 'Honestly, officer, I was just playing "Good Times" ... Really! ... Would you accept "Ice Ice Baby"?'

[@PainCausingSamurai]

I think my favorite part of this series is finding out that many underappreciated musicians go on to have successful writing/producing careers.

[@Itcouldbebunnies]

Still waiting for him to do 'What's Up?', Linda Perry's post-4 Non Blondes songwriting success is just insane.

[@PainCausingSamurai]

@Eva Luna I'm waiting for him to tackle Nellie Fertado. 2 or three major successes, a major multilingual flop, and then happily leaving the mainstream music scene to focus on family and more meaningful, smaller scale projects

[@Itcouldbebunnies]

@@PainCausingSamurai I still have her first 3 albums, they're absolute bangers. She had quite a lot of hits, in my country at least. I probably should go check out the rest of her work to see if I like that too.

[@danzobeanz4818]

I always find it interesting to me how a band like Semisonic are both one hit wonders in my home country (UK) with 'Secret Smile', whilst also being one hit wonders in the US with 'Closing Time'

[@EdJonesVideos]

I had never heard 'Closing Time' before this video, but 'Secret Smile' has been rattling around in the back of my head for years (though I think I assumed it was by Keane or another UK band of that ilk). There really can't be all that many bands to have managed that

[@elberno4243]

Closing Time was a hit in the UK. They sold the single in Woolworths

[@Bldyiii]

Weird Al put their song in one of his polka medleys. Running with scissors I think. This makes this band important!

[@karda009]

Leonid Denisenko I’m so glad I started listening to those polka medleys. It introduced me to so many great songs and bands.

[@piccolo9365]

That’s actually how I heard about it

[@theknightsofawesomeness2701]

I discovered so many via Weird Al' s polka melody on poodle hat

[@rateeightx]

"Now That's What I Call Polka", Right?

[@partyponypowerhourafterhour]

Those medleys are why I know like 7 words from so many different songs

[@rockdinosaur8619]

Grew up in Minnesota. Trip Shakespeare played at my college twice, met the Wilson brothers, drunk as hell but nice guys. Saw them at First Avenue twice, great shows. I knew they were too quirky to make it big but loved them. Then I thought Semisonic would be huge after Closing Time, I was rooting for them. It's a shame lesser bands broke out bigger, but if you can't have many hits at least have one classic one. Will always remember the 90's and these guys were a big part of it.

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

Don't feel too sorry for ol' Dan. His BAND may have had one hit, but thanks to The Chicks and Adele, he himself has had three massive hits, the latter of which basically matches and exceeds the heights of the original!

[@rosbrughj]

FNT made it onto the "10 Things I Hate About You" soundtrack, which in my mind qualifies it as a minor hit. I wouldn't have heard of it otherwise.

[@dethisbtfl]

so that's where i heard that song

[@DecoraGarfoid]

I love it so much!

[@TMC1982Part2]

Semisonic's song "Never You Mind" was in another teen movie from 1999, Never Been Kissed with Drew Barrymore.

[@gemfyre855]

I loved FNT for ages before Closing Time ever came onto my personal radar.

[@thomasscott6146]

Dude every time i hear "every new begginning comes at some other beginnings end" i genuinely tear up this song is so good

[@ColeslawVariant]

This would play at the beginning of my long day in retail. Sears was cruel.

[@IsiahTomas]

Could be worse. Your home theatre department could be REALLY into dubstep.

[@eddiedingle767]

@@IsiahTomas I still think opening up the shift, and the doors to the store, with closing time is a huge middle finger. I can understand the dubstep at the home theater though, got to show off that fucking bass. Like playing Rehab by Amy Winehouse at a rehab

[@calmbbaer]

Hey, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

[@businessgoose6057]

Well their dead now.... seems like justice has been served

[@kimifw58]

Beginning? Why?

[@NimhLabs]

Wait... wait... are you telling me that "Trip Shakespeare" was not just a hallucination I had?

[@ginamolina820]

Katrina Payne Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m telling you, ma’am.

[@rateeightx]

Imagine Tripping And Reading Shakespeare While Listening To Trip Shakespeare While On A Trip To See A Play By Shakespeare.

[@vaneharris8947]

rate eightx is that the new Fall Out Boy song? 😉

[@NimhLabs]

@@vaneharris8947 I think it is a Homestuck refrance... of that one twilight fan demon lesbian character.

[@MsAngrybutterfly]

Right?! I thought I was the only one!

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

Man, coming back to this having listened to every Semisonic song and becoming a genuine fan of the band is weird. Because to me these are all hits, emotionally. And yet this video is where it all began.

[@milksweet6038]

I’m literally about to do that because he mentions them in the same breathe as fountains of Wayne a band I truly love & I think if I was a teen when semisonic came out I would have been big fan of them too.

[@RockinRobin411]

I'm from Minnesota, and I've got a few stories. When I was in high school, at rock music camp, the band I was in did that song. Our instructors were local musicians, and one of them was doing a project with John Munson at the time. When we were running it, he was on the phone with John Munson, who said he'd be at our final show, and we owed him five bucks. John Munson and two of the instructors from that music camp are now in a band together called the New Standards. They do a yearly holiday show with pretty much every big name in the local music scene making a guest appearance. When I was in college, at the music school I went to, they added an artist in residence program. Dan Wilson was that artist in residence, and one of those times, he had all of us collaboratively write a song as a class. It was a really silly song, but he said he prefers that songwriting environment over sitting and trying to think and reflect on profound ideas. My songwriting teacher was also a local musician of whom he had produced. Also, for some humor, when he was a weekly guest speaker for a class, a student asked him if he could do "Closing Time," he said "sorry I don't know it."

[@dibutler9151]

I was either a bad mother, or a great mother, depending on your perspective, but my son was 9 when this hit and he loved it and knew every word. This coincided with the school talent show, and I convinced him that it was fine to sing the song in front of the entire very conventional school staff, student body, and their parents and grandparents. It was pretty awesome, IMO. I wish I still had the old VHS of the event.

[@lunayoshi]

How would that make you a bad mother? That sounds awesome!

[@jackalope2302]

di butler You sound like a great mom. Does he still sing?

[@dibutler9151]

​@@jackalope2302Nope. He is, however, just like me in that we are music of all genres crazy & now at 27, he schedules his vacations around 3-4 day obscure music festivals. The reason I was so excited about him singing it, despite the adult-ish lyrics was because he was EXTREMELY shy and had a super out-going sister 20 months older and he would never do anything that put the spotlight on himself, mostly because he had a slight speech impediment and was very small for his age. He pulled it off like he did it all the time. BTW, I went for the double header of questionable parenting choices that year-his 11 yr old sister sang Shania Twain's Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under. Heh. You might not get this reference, but in the mid-70s there was a joke type single called, "The Streak," about public streakers. I was in 4th grade & played the streak character in our school talent night/"show."" This entailed wearing nothing but a very thin nude body suit, & running around causing hijinks with the audience & parents. My mom was ok w/that, and things were really, really different then, morality-wise. As for my kids, they both turned out great, so the lesson, (I guess), is use your own judgment when raising your kids, they're YOURS, after all.

[@dibutler9151]

@@lunayoshiThx, I tried. :D

[@jackalope2302]

@@dibutler9151 Ray Stevens right?

[@msminmichigan]

How did anyone grow up in the 90's and not know this song? It was everywhere. Every shitty teen drama of that decade had it in the graduation episode.

[@TapeCollageForEloise]

I grew up in the 90's and never remember hearing this song. I don't think it got much play outside the US. But like Todd said, Secret Smile was a hit here in the UK and I definitely remember that one.

[@brobocops]

actually that was that Vitamin C song or whatever it was called about graduation

[@boxycthulhu3519]

I grew up in the 2000s and I heard it everywhere. To me, it was one of those songs like Jump or Yellow Submarine that was just ingrained in my mind as far as I could remember.

[@ericdaniel323]

It wasnt released until '98, so...

[@storkksoundmedia7778]

Because most post who claim to be a 90s baby were born after 96

[@ryanscafuri7112]

They’re back! Semisonic are releasing their first album in 21 years this November

[@TheBeardMachine]

Its so strange, as a brit I've never heard closing time but I've heard Secret smile like a million times on all of the B radio stations.

[@SerenV11]

On a whim, my girlfriend and I dove into this band during a long car trip a while back, in part going off Todd's recommendation. They've since become one of our favorites (alongside The New Radicals, a duo we've dubbed "Semi-Rad") - "Great Divide" in particular sees a looot of play when we're out running errands and we're not *specifically* in the mood for something else, but we've spun all their stuff plenty and it all makes the time driving around a bit more fun. Kickass band, severely underappreciated, and we're sooo glad they dropped an EP a few months back. PS: Can't wait for your Dishwalla episode :v

[@ceramicholiness]

I'm not sure exactly why, but this is still one of my all-time favorite episodes of either Pop Song Reviews or OHW.

[@ReitheOffbeatOtaku]

Sir Amihck I think it might have to do with how unabashedly positive he is in this one

[@galactor123]

It's because of just how much he enjoys talking about it. It's why I hope Todd does a series on songs he likes at some point. I just feel like a lot of reviewers, kind of across the board, still think that the only thing that gets hits are stuff they hate. And I just think that is steadily becoming less and less true. I want to know what Todd thinks is real good music too, not just his views on crap.

[@user-wo5tc9ux7u]

Sir Amihck 100th

[@SirLightsOut99]

Sir Amihck It was just good to see him review a band he actually liked.

[@Posiman]

@@galactor123 2 years later and he really seems to have moved towards more positive tone, either talking about music he enjoys or doing a devil's advocate for pop songs and pop acts many people hate. Even in songs he doesn't like he lists some positives. I'm so glad that KZbin has moved away from NostalgiaCritic-style angry rants towards nerdwriter1-style appreciative analyses.

[@Gillz93fyi]

Has Todd ever done 99 red balloons? If not, that would make for a great video.

[@augustusgoetz2170]

I like your profile picture.

[@daniellehall1857]

I vote for this

[@svenjansen2134]

Nena had a string of hits in Europe.

[@roserichardson9480]

@@svenjansen2134 Sure, but, like, similar can be said of Dexy's Midnight Runners, or Falco, or Midnight Oil. The "One Hit" angle largely relates to the American charts.

[@christiangoddard2933]

Actually he would have to do 99 Luft Balloons as that version hit number 1 in the states not the English translation version that was a hit in the UK

[@MegCazalet]

For the record, I, too, loved “Chemistry”. And I highly recommend the book “So You Wanna Be a Rock Star: How I Machine-Gunned a Roomful of Record Executives and Other True Tales from a Drummer’s Life” by Jacob Slichter, aka the drummer from Semisonic. It’s a pretty funny memoir about the thrill and awkwardness of being in a hit band, the denial and dawning horror at becoming a one-hit wonder, then finding a humbly sardonic perspective, skewering the shitty parts while still embracing the magic of whole thing. That “Closing Time” is the hit that propelled him through all that is really just bonus, but I think it made me root a little harder for the guys, and feel better about their Wonder status, because I love “Closing Time”, and because it has endured as a beloved staple.

[@IanNafziger]

Semisonic is coming back this year with a new album! Toddstradamus strikes again

[@guidokreeuseler9566]

All about chemistry was a pretty succesful record in Europe. I think it's more famous there than closing time. As for why the success didn't last, I guess they were too much of a "band next door" kind of act. Even if their songs are good, in the end it doesn't really stand out as consistently amazing. It's very servicable pop/rock by normal guys who played some great songs. It did not blow you away, but it was good fun and in the end, that's what matters for a rockband. Sadly for semisonic, excentricity and drama became a bigger selling point than just good songs. They had to get (a bit) weirder or outspoken/inventive (like Muse) or they had to get into the tabloid-press (like Oasis) with various conflicts and affairs. But they were probably not the sort of people to do either of those and stuck to their guns. Which, while showing integrity, made them less interesting to the casual audience, who probably began to view their music as "all the same" after the few hits.

[@TJ20232]

Secret Smile was a bigger record than Closing Time over here. Great song

[@mishaoosterhuis5260]

Exactly! I'm from The Netherlands, didn't recognize Closing Time... And then All About Chemistry played as one of the followup singles: 'Oooh, they're from this hit!'

[@princesskyrie]

"Toolmaster of Brainerd" also has a weird legacy: a Minneapolis comedian kept singing the song about the propmaster on this little puppet show he was working on because his last name rhymed. The nickname stuck, and thus Jef Maynard was officially credited as "Toolmaster" on MST3K. (The comic was "TV's" Frank Conniff, as the story goes.)

[@Coralskipper]

One thing I'm amazed that Todd didn't mention is that Closing Time is a borderline novelty song. It's about a very specific subject whose hook is the song. That's a hard hit to follow up with no matter how good your music is.

[@Drforrester31]

The prop master of MST3K was named Jeff Maynard, and his title in the credits was "Tool Master". I wonder if it's a Minnesota thing or if that's just a straight Trip Shakespeare reference

[@MarioWendorf]

If it is, my head will explode, zero hesitation

[@jarhead2o01]

If you were the real Dr. Forrester, you'd know!

[@Drforrester31]

J Red Ya got me!

[@jeremyjones5455]

Jeff Maynard confirmed it was a reference to Trip Shakespeare, in the behind-the-scenes special "This is MST3K". He said Frank Coniff was singing parodies of song lyrics and came up with "Toolmaster Jeff Maynard". They decided to use that in the credits, since his job encompassed more than just "props".

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

The combination of "Tool" and "Maynard" threw me the fuck off.

[@colefitzpatrick8431]

Aaaaand Semisonic just announced a brand-new EP, this year, with the lead single already out! "You're Not Alone"!

[@LLAP2266]

I saw this Todd episode when it first came out and I really loved Semisonic from it, I even bought their vinyl I’m glad they’re creating new music

[@slugworth3111]

YANA

[@petertruckenmiller9826]

I live in Minneapolis and the members still play around

[@petertruckenmiller9826]

I've actually seen both semisonic and the twilight hours... they're still active in the area

[@GraspPrint]

hey I'm from Minneapolis

[@jeremyjones5455]

I saw them last night at First Ave. They were great! They even played a new song, and Dan said he has written several more that "sure sound like Semisonic"! New album in the works, perhaps?

[@drewanderson3429]

I live in Brainerd. The Tool Master of Brainerd makes no sense to me lol

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

@@jeremyjones5455 Omg. God I hope so!!!

[@jtanca1]

Oh man, I loved Semisonic back in the day too! Reminds me of Better Than Ezra

[@mashtunk101]

Yeah, a little bit! I think Better Than Ezra is better though, and that's not because my name is actually Ezra, either. Yep, I was in 7th grade when this band came out in 1995. I was also a drummer in a band that played the 1995 school talent show, doing Metallica and Iron Maiden tunes, been playing since I was 3 so I was kind of popular. Kind of a fucking dork but popular nonetheless. When this band came out though I couldn't fucking believe they were using my name. Needless to say, I've gotten a lot of, "you're name is Ezra? Like, Better Than Ezra, hahahaha!" Shit like that! Good times though. Don't like the album "Deluxe" as much as I did then though. I grew up listening to and being influenced by Jazz, Classic Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock, Blues, Glam Metal, Power Metal and Thrash Metal. I entered a phase around '94-95 where I was into Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Seven Mary Three, Weezer, Silverchair...ect! All that teenage bubblegum alternative grunge crap more or less..didn't last though. Now when I try to go back and listen to that shit today, I'm like, "What the fuck was wrong with me?" I can't stand those bands or anything that's been put out since...real music and rock and roll is dead.

[@college54114]

I’ve worked many retail and food service jobs over the course of my young adulthood, and I have such a fond feeling towards this song. The soundtrack to many closing shifts and it’s never gotten old for me because it always brings a feeling of “I’m getting off and going home soon”

[@MrJesusfreakerik]

In my opinion, Semisonic was one of the best bands of the 90s. They had a unique style that combined Pop punk, hard rock, indie, and electronics. Given to wonderful a power pop flavor. They deserved so much more hits. I also think Dan Wilson is also one of the most prolific songwriters of the decade. (outside the greats of course)

[@Beaglegirl19]

This has been one of my favorite songs since I was a kid. My parents had the Feeling Strangely Fine album and I would listen to it all the time growing up. Brings back awesome memories.

[@DannyBeans]

This is one of those rare songs that manage to stay beautiful while also rocking out.

[@mayisuppose]

Thank god for this episode, I adore Semisonic now. Genuinely one of my favourites.

[@intsoccersuperstar1]

The treble piano part of this song is Just like the way Rivers Cuomo sings “Wrestle with JIIIIMMMYYY” in Say It Ain’t So is

[@Guzuma]

secret smile should’ve been bigger outside the UK. im a simple man, i hear a hammond organ and/or a moody alt rock song, i fall in love

[@BeeKay5150]

A lot of these songs may have been released under the "alternative" banner, and may have gotten played on your local alternative station, but bands/songs like Semisonic and Closing Time were part of a crossover format called "Modern AC" (or as I called it - "MOMdern AC, because it was alternative your mom could listen to). Semisonic, Matchbox 20, Sarah McLachlan, all that kind of stuff. A lot more of this stuff stood the test of time than we think. It seems poppier than anything else we may have heard at the time. PS - Singing In My Sleep was the best song on that disc.

[@jordanneal576]

Dan Wilson is one of my favorite musicians, and Feeling Strangely Fine has been one of my favorite albums since high school. I think I listened to it every day for my entire senior year. Never You Mind is one of the greatest songs from the 90s IMO.

[@DJWarwing]

I actually played and sang this song at my graduation ceremony. The class demanded that I got to play at graduation, and so I played a slightly shortened version (along with the alcohol lyric changed because it's high school) on acoustic

[@aliendude2875]

@@Trouble_Bubble36 what? His story was plausible.

[@djunaskye6220]

Well, he performed a song, so it's likely that everyone did clap. Not sure about the standing up part though 😂

[@NecesaryEvil]

U gotta do BLIND MELON no Rain! They’re overlooked imo! RIP Shannon Hoon

[@joshcopley9039]

Probably the most under appreciated band of the 90's.

[@Mirokuofnite]

I got lucky and seen them right before Shannon Hoon died. It was the Page and Plant tour. First concert I ever attended. OCT 6 1995 at Cal Expo.

[@allcaps2888]

Change was a hit too

[@brianwalendy3735]

@@Mirokuofnite *saw

[@firstdanceweddings7019]

One Hit Wonderland Suggestion ...Tal Bachman "Shes So High" One Hit Wonder from around the same time 98-99.

[@jackalope2302]

I was in love with the chick in that video.

[@JeremyForTheWin]

if you think one hit wonderland has peaked, well, you ain't seen nothin yet

[@Silencedlemon]

I am totally going to listen to all of semisonics albums now, they sound awesome!

[@Quinnknights]

+Silenced Lemon I don't know about awesome but they are well worth having a few of their songs added to a playlist. Esp one with a good 90's vibe.

[@josephklinger900]

Listened to 'Singing to me in my sleep' yesterday, still love that song.

[@seymourglass26]

A lot of the conceits and lyrics from this band (even just from this video) are genuinely poetic. Not a fan before, but they immediately have my respect.

[@nadirahcharles]

This was great thank you! I'm from Minnesota so I never thought of Semisonic as one hit wonders, because the radio stations played a lot of their songs. I also met them at an Amie Mann concert, they were very sweet.

[@EWUFBIiswatching]

Dude, Semisonic has a couple other great songs. “Singing in my sleep” and “Never you mind” are two of my favorite songs of all time.

[@memyself3510]

Never you mind is probably my favorite by them

[@jasbitmaster]

New EP by Semisonic came out this year. 2020 truly is a strange time.

[@cjwilliams1124]

Gave me chills when you mentioned "Singing in my Sleep" maybe the only good thing to come out of a past relationship i had. Brilliant song, and one of the only ones I ever shared with that person.

[@Chad_Thundercock]

They had a lot of undiscovered gems. Chemistry, Singing in my sleep, Secret Smile. Just give them a shot.

[@prenticeclark1454]

I’m 8 years late finding this video but I feel like I have to comment. I LOVE Semisonic. I have all 3 of their albums, know every song. So many fantastic catchy tunes and thoughtful lyrics. I found out about them in the mid-90s right when their first album was released - I heard them live opening for Aimee Mann (what a perfect choice). Usually an unknown opening band is meh and you’re barely paying attention, but their songs were AMAZING and I was riveted. The next day I went out and bought their record immediately. Between Semisonic and Aimee, I still remember this concert as one of the best I ever heard

[@tenkenroo]

Wow i never would have known semisonic was as good as that. Shame they were a one hit wonder.

[@magicmanscott40k]

The Wolf his voice great. im hooked.

[@lucase.2546]

If you enjoy Semisonic (especially if you enjoy its vocals and bass) for the love of God check out Trip Shakespeare. It's one of my favorite bands.

[@brentbrown5625]

trip shakespeare was better. they were incubus before incubus was. incuwas?

[@YouaNumbahOneRacist]

Gosh, reaaaaally Richard? I wonder where you got that information from. You must tell me!

[@Karmy.]

I absolutely love FNT

[@MusicMeg2012]

I was waiting for that Office reference

[@balkanboi06]

I watched that episode of Andy singing it recently.

[@dizzym9554]

Just wanted to say this video got me into Semisonic years back and I fell in love with the band, Follow became my wife and I's song, we played it at our wedding. So, yeah... Thanks Todd. You really brought something important into my life by making this video.

[@DrSininsinity]

Man, All about chemistry is a nice song. It was a hit here in Brazil, brought nice memories.

[@crazzylarry1]

I'm from Canada (Quebec), I remember "Surprise" and "Secret Smile" being on the radio and MTV, definetely not as big a hit as Closing Time, but I wouldn't call them 1-hit wonders where I'm from.

[@deer5319]

I heard both Closing Time and Someone Like You on the radio yesterday

[@brendanb2982]

Dan: " The game was rigged from the start. "

[@tinysalmon4]

I went to an arts high school in the Twin Cities and Dan Wilson came in to visit when I was a senior (2007 or 2008) and played Closing Time for us (with our music teacher accompanying on piano). One of the coolest things that happened to me in high school.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Semisonic and especially their album 'Feeling Strangely Fine' are underrated. Another stand-out on that album is 'Never You Mind'.

[@HobGungan]

I feel like a common running joke when discussing Early '90s career projections is "GODAMMIT, KURT!"

[@cremetangerine82]

A joke you can set your watch to on 1990s OHW episodes!

[@err0r-403]

F.N.T. was a really good song. I still listen to it occasionally.

[@mikeralston777]

I read the drummers book. It was evocative and poignant and fascinating in that he managed to fill a book with the story of how they had this one monster song. He does manage to convey the surreality of it though, in particular how it felt to have the song precede them into every city they went to.

[@neilknight2379]

So, a four-year retrospective, since I first saw this review when it first came out in 2013. Todd convinced me to look into this band. I now own all their albums, including the 20th Century Masters “hits” album. I also managed to find (by pure happenstance, honestly, I wasn't trying) both of Trip Shakespeare's major releases on CD. Naturally, I bought them.

[@ChandlerKeithFlow]

11:13 Hi, I'm from 2020 and I just wanna say: Toddstradamus strikes again. This might be one of his most impressive botched predictions. i mean, who would've thought Semisonic would make a comeback almost 2 decades later.

[@albertramos4900]

Thanks for this video, I'm one of those pop nerds, Semisonic was a very underrated special band and Dan Wilson is still writing great songs

[@milczyciel]

Yay, this is so on spot! I moved in to the UK in the summer of 2014 and while I can safely say, that I never heard "Closing Time" before, the very moment when Tod played that clip from "Secret Smile" I was like "Heeey!That's the same band huh?" I heard it quite a few times on the radio in the last year, so yes - it is indeed popular in the UK. But so it was back home, in Poland, though I can't say if it broke into any "top tens". Needles to say I like it and I'm going to play it to my gf right now :) Being (as for today) tad too old for that "masturbatory" part, I have to say that it was probably for the better that I never tried to check on their third album. Kinda, rubs me the wrong way. Heh. OK, I'll show myself out...

[@zoomusicboy138]

+milczyciel Having grown up in the UK, 'Secret Smile' was definitely the song i knew this band for rather than 'Closing Time'

[@kimbotheweenie]

+milczyciel Secret Smile is the UK's Closing Time. Semisonic are probably the only band to technically have two one-hit wonders... Which definitely means they deserve more credit than they got.

[@Harv72b]

+kimboisaweenie And Ima have to agree with Todd, in that "Singing In My Sleep" was probably their best single. Even though that basically makes two of us who think that.

[@jennyknopps1291]

@@Harv72b make that 3 people.

[@marias-i3333]

@@jennyknopps1291 make that 4. Or 5. I put it as the first track of a mix cd i made for my gf and i's 1 month anniversary We've been together for 2.5 years

[@dannork1240]

My one trip outside the USA (to Scotland) gave me my “I miss home” moment. We were at a McDonald’s (shut up, it was the only food place open when we arrived late at night) This song was new-ish at the time and when itcame on the radio, all the Scottish teenagers working there that night started singing along and our counter worker said “I love this song!” as he joined the chorus. I felt so proud of the home town team (I lived in Minneapolis at the time) but was too jet lagged to say anything coherent about seeing Trip Shakespeare or Semisonic in town.

[@Ertwin123]

What do you mean there have never been songs about bars closing before this. Leonard Cohen also has a song called closing time

[@pronkb000]

And Tom Waits has a whole album about it.

[@boheyo]

@@pronkb000 Would be a lot more effective at getting me out of a bar.

[@jeevithrai7994]

@@boheyo This is a smooth jazzy piano album(his debut, actually) so before the rock gargler voice. That album's a very pleasant listen, actually.

[@BadgerCheese94]

I never thought of this band as a "One Hit Wonder" band cuz I've known a ton of their songs like "Gone to the Movies," "Chemistry," "Secret Smile.." etc. etc. Btw I was just recently in Minneapolis. Kick ass city, and this band's music captures the atmosphere up there.

[@cissyiniguez]

I was in a long distance relationship for a while, so I have a fondness for DND

[@ccobian]

Secret Smile is awesome.

[@influencer20XX]

Hell yeah man!! Mpls dude here, its an underrated gem

[@djohnson2499]

Love me some Semisonic. Feeling Strangely Fine is a great album start to finish too.

[@ALWTunes]

Breaks my heart that this band will only be thought of as a one hit wonder. They had so many great songs and Dan Wilson is an amazing songwriter.

[@cassandralyris4918]

I can confirm that Trip Shakespeare lyrics make more sense if you're from Minnesota. As for Semisonic, I've always been a bit sad that they became one hit wonders.

[@2120musiclover]

I saw them open for Matchbox20 when i was in middle school. They were pretty great

[@d_hurl]

Classic song, i like how this video allows almost 14 minutes worth of enjoyment to it. its almost like it stretches out the song= so instead of just listening to it like 5 times, it just extends the gratification. sorta

[@inkanddew3820]

Kind of wanna hear Todd talk about phish. Love that band and grew up with it all my life. My parents were super into jam bands and went to their concerts like every month. I know all the slang terms the fans use and the culture that formed around Phish. Good memories.

[@jdust4]

Stacy's Mom by Fountains of Wayne for next One Hit Wonderland?

[@jackalope2302]

That Guy Yes

[@worsel555]

Wasn't Sink To The Bottom their first hit? I always thought that should have been the theme song to the movie Titanic.

[@AdamTPersonette]

I am a big Fountains of Wayne and they deserve SO much more!

[@harlo1979]

Denise and sink to the bottom

[@kylehegedus5498]

R.I.P. Adam Schlesinger 😢

[@MikeSparksMusic]

Yes! “Singing in My Sleep” is great!

[@chelmrtz]

Semisonic was legit one of my favorite bands in high school. Singing in my sleep is an absolute jam

[@crunchyfrog555]

I saw them at Glastonbury around 2000-ish. They were really good, and I loved the fact the drummer played keyboard at the same time.

[@Ozz04]

Semisonic is such an amazing band, I love their upbeat, sex positive sound.

[@LordmonkeyTRM]

Nice to find out what Louis Theroux did before weirdo bothering.

[@mayisuppose]

Underrated comment.

[@rubberchix]

none of them look like him

[@RobGalo]

"Singing In My Sleep" got a lot of airplay in Cleveland, OH for some weird reason. I remember catching it both on the adult contemporary pop station my school bus driver played and then on the alt-rock station my older sister jammed. The things you remember from twenty-four years ago... Liked it a lot more than "Closing Time" because of it having a "dreamy" sound and once I was in high school I got into Sigur Ros and shoegaze, go figure.

[@rodneyrankin3878]

FEELING STRANGELY FINE is a fantastic record. Thank you for giving Semisonic some love!

[@StormyKopaAMVs]

I utterly fucking lost it when Todd mentioned "the Dixie Chicks' giant middle finger to country music" at 11:50 xDD

[@bigfatbattery]

Wasn’t that F.N.T song one of the standout tracks from the movie “10 things I hate about you”? Semi sonic were pretty big here in Australia, I remember all 3 of the singles being pretty big on radio....and still get a pretty good run on the rock stations here like Triple M

[@davidlyday7373]

This is a serious surprise to me. I've listened to almost all these songs, I would not have considered them a one hit wonder

[@codybaird8811]

Saw them play this live at an outdoor show in Mankato, Minnesota last year, along with fellow OHWs Del Amitri I did already know of several of their songs before I saw this video, I just wanted to add that hearing it live by the guys who wrote it is a sensational experience, just because it's such a well-known song that it's easy to forget it didn't always exist (to a lesser extent, I felt the same when Del Amitri played "Roll to Me" with the winking smile that said "We know that most of you only know this one")

[@petercahill6696]

I don't really see Good Riddance as a great graduation song, at least not when you have plenty of fond memories and you want to leave feeling like you're on a high note. Good Riddance is a sarcastic and bitter song.

[@toffletorte]

Peter Cahill Great graduation song for people who hated high school.

[@BiggieTrismegistus]

I graduated high school in 1999 and it amazed me how everyone misinterpreted that song. It's called "Good Riddance" for god's sake.

[@ReitheOffbeatOtaku]

@@BiggieTrismegistus I think it's mostly because those strings towards the end of the song sound so blissful and nostalgic. The full title is "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)", and I kind of see it as the lyrics capturing the first part of the title, and the strings capturing the second.

[@BiggieTrismegistus]

@@ReitheOffbeatOtaku Could be. I also think many people are bad at interpreting lyrics too. Many people think Bruce Springsteen's "Born In The USA" is a real "America is awesome" song when it's anything but.

[@ReitheOffbeatOtaku]

@@BiggieTrismegistus That's true, though I think a lot of cases like that are more just people hearing the song in the background enough to get the instrumental and chorus memorized, but not going out of their way to learn the rest of the lyrics.

[@randud]

FNT is the soundtrack To the paintball in 10 Things I hate about you

[@JennaLeigh]

Always loved 'Closing Time' and thought they had more in them than "just" this song. I'm a sucker for a well crafted lyric, and they kill it! "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end...."💞💞

[@etepeteseat7424]

That second Semisonic album is fantastic. Glad to learn someone else appreciates it.

[@drewanderson3429]

For the record, I'm from Brainerd and that song makes no more sense to me than it does to you

[@mihalyponyiczki1855]

hey Hope that I don't fall in love with you is a song by Tom Waits, and it's about a lonely guy in a closing bar (and the albums called Closing Time by the way) - just saying, Todd :D

[@lollerkeet]

How Soon is Now is about failing to pick up too

[@ChaplainDMK]

And well Leonard Cohen had a pretty famous song called Closing time

[@bcubed72]

@@ChaplainDMK Yeah, there's gotta be a dozen songs about Last Call. Maybe not in 90s Alt Rock, I guess TitS meant.

[@gsofficial]

This is definitely the most played, or overplayed, song of the 90s. It's also probably the most loved and hated song of the 90s. It's been played so many times at so many bars that it's both.

[@NinjaRich]

I recently found your channel and have been watching all of your one hit wonderland videos in a row and I waited until last to watch this one since I love Semisonic. Singing in my sleep is one of my favorite pop songs, Dan Wilson is a brilliant songwriter