Matthew Wilder may be a one hit wonder but he somehow has never fell out of consciousness. His song “Break My Stride” now revived through TikTok. His Top of the Pops performance also goes viral for highlighting pop’s most unlikely looking star. Comments on YouTube compare him to everyone from Richard Simmons to Super Mario to the character Sammy in the Wedding Singer.
It is a weird song. Almost corny in its positivity. I loved it as a kid. As an adult, I have vacillated from love to hate and back depending on the day. I can think of very few songs that match it in terms of sheer optimism (Fitz and the Tantrums “The Walker” comes to mind. Also about walking. Not sure that’s a coincidence) and I’m not sure any top it.
His career is a weird path but quite accomplished. He produced Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus albums and wrote the music for the Disney movie Mulan, but also was the producer for No Doubt’s breakthrough Tragic Kingdom album.
When Matthew Wilder came up in conversation on a Facebook group (see he is still ubiquitous) someone listed him as a true one hit wonder. Here’s the thing, I was a huge Top 40 kid #raisedonradio and I remember the second hit.
The Kids American is a bit different vibe. It almost has to be. It was released in 1983 and fits into those 80s Reagan/LA Olympics era patriotic songs of the decade.
I didn’t think the bill I would pick to die on is Matthew Wilder wasn’t a one hit wonder but here we are.
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