ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "Missing" by Everything But the Girl

Having heard this song a thousand times in the Nineties (but never having the opportunity to make out to it), I never appreciated "Missing." Until today. Thanks, Todd.

Rish Outfield

I was strongly considering requesting Swing Out Sister for OHW!

protondonor

I actually knew about this band before watching this episode for once, because I listened to the Terry Gross interview of Tracy Thorn. It was really interesting. They're still married by the way. The twins are teenagers getting ready for college.

De

If I don't recognize the artist or name, I have the same reaction. There's only been one or two I've not recognized.

Stephanie Martin

"… the Rebirth of Cool Phive …" Well, THAT series is a new rabbit hole for me to go down now…

Noah Ramon

Hearing some of the descriptions of sophistipop, I kept wanting to say "STYLE COUNCIL. THE WORDS YOU WANT ARE STYLE COUNCIL." (Although, WHOA NELLY would Swing Out Sister make an amusing little OHW someday.)

Noah Ramon

As a Brit, it's often a huge surprise to me which bands count a one-hit wonders and which don't. I would never have thought that EBTG would qualify in the US. And I didn't even know that this song was by them.

Steve Harper

Man that joke near the end had me in stitches. Legit laughing out loud XD

Phoenician

Oh I love this song... the remix is okay but I think the original version is more wonderfully desolate.

I'll Think of a Clever Display Name Later

That was when? 1994? God, time flies...

Young MC lived in Queens since age 3, that absolutely does not count

Todd in the Shadows

The British are terrible at doing rap? Young M.C. says otherwise.

LifeIsStrange

I'm sad that EBtG had to be a OHW episode. "Bobby D" and "Driving" were heavily-played songs in my home as a kid, and I ended up with at least all their 90s albums. "Walking Wounded" was the first CD (vs. tape) I ever purchased. `:-D Thanks for covering this one, Todd!

Melissa Avery-Weir

Brits can't rap`? "Men's not hot" is not representative for british hip hop, Todd.

I was thinking you'd mention this being the theme to Chris Kattan's Mango character from SNL, similar to the way the Roxbury duo have "What Is Love." "No! You can't have-a the Mango!"

Jon Heiman

I hope she got requested for OHW.

LifeIsStrange

I actually remember searching for this song on YouTube years ago and someone misattributed it to Sade, that's how unknown the name of this band is.

Ah yes. Sophistipop, beatnik music disappeared after the 80's. Than the Wild West of the late 90's happened. We went from Eric Clapton to Britney Spears in 3 to 4 years.

Josh Spicer

There is a chance that people weren't aware of what "Missing" was at the time. A lot of people (like me) forgot the song until "the deserts miss the rain".

Josh Spicer

Reminds me somewhat of a reverse Vanessa Carlton. Started with the usual pop piano sound. Turned it into experimental piano coffee shop type music. I love me some Vanessa Carlton so any reference i can make I'll take it.

Josh Spicer

My most common OHW experience is me looking at the notification email, thinking, "I don't know this one," then hearing Todd play the first couple of notes and immediately recognizing it.

Alina

Me too!!!! That was the sad truth of growing up without Genius or lyric videos...

You were completely correct about that one line. I didn't remember this song at all until you mentioned "the deserts miss the rain" line then it all came back.

Kuro_Neko

I was absolutely devastated by how badly "Missing" lost to "Fade into You" in the Song vs. Song poll. Like the deserts lose the rain. It was definitely one of the best pop songs of the mid-'90s.

Jacqueline Sailer

I was all about the UK at the time, so I have EBTG, Massive Attack, Portishead all on vinyl. I did listen to the whole Walking Wounded a lot at the time, well, basically all of the Rebirth of Cool Phive artists.

Joss Strand

Steamroller of grief is a great way to put One Sweet Day.

Deanna Banana

When this came out, I misheard is as "I miss you, like the desert's mystery" and didn't realize I've been hearing it wrong for what, 20+ years?

Stephanie Martin

Hey, don't dis the UK Grime scene.

J Singh