Artists whose first single was the best thing they ever did.

Really disagree with the Beta Band nomination in the first post; much as I love Champion Versions, Los Amigos is better in my mind.

Staggered that Doves haven't been mentioned so far.

cuz Here It Comes" is not the best thing they ever done did?

God no; Cedar Room by lightyears.

Beyonce

Lily Allen

(Crazy In Love was Beyonce's first single, right?)

(solo, yes)

What about Work It?

C'mon xhuxk, "Bible of the Beat" was Age of Chance's greatest moment, but was their second single.

There's an "original version" of "Ice Ice Baby"?

"Upside Down"? "Everything Flows"? "Arnold Layne"? WTFever.

Gnarls Barkley

if musically means work it out then yes, if she means crazy in love then no

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubd2uUPT5ww

Bell Biv Devoe - 'Poison'

Speaking of Poison, their first single was "Cry Tough", xhuck. (xposts)

the streets

Flo Rida

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_aHlHc_Vb4

ignore the shit video please. and everything else they ever did.

Phoenix

I had the misfortune recently of seeing the Guillemots with the Penguin Cafe Orchestra recently at the British Council birthday and it was one of the most insipid jam offs ive ever seen.

yep i bet. some dire shit. that song never fails to give me goosebumps however. the bastards.

i think it's because it sounds like dexys. and nothing else they did does.

how have they ended up working with alex ward and loads of other improv weirdos? seems another example of average band being presented with how middle of the road they actually are after finding fame and thrashing around trying to get in the wire

I have no axe to grind for Guillemots but I think the Alex Ward connection goes back several years so I don't think it was a sudden post-"fame" credibility grab. Their drummer was in skronky theatrical hardcore band Camp Blackfoot with him in the 90s if memory serves.

(May be mixing my facts here as I have v. little interest in Guillemots; saw CB a bunch and miss them, however)

The Sound--"Heyday"

Slipknot - "Wait and Bleed"

In a similar vein, Linkin Park - "One Step Closer".

Also The Sugababes.

and the Sugarcubes

Marshall Jefferson - Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem)
Hardfloor - Once Again Back (if B-sides to the artist's first single count)
Sven Väth - L'Esperanza

Scooter - Hyper Hyper
Jam & Spoon - Stella
ATB - 9pm (Till I Come)
Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You (although I guess this is only valid as a one-hit wonder, but it is a debut single that's the best of the whole genre)
Haddaway - What Is Love
Captain Jack - Captain Jack
Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe
Alcazar -Crying At The Discotheque

I was surprised that Put A Donk On It was not a first single.

Mariah Carey, "Vision of Love"

seal - crazy