Anita Ward, Ring My Bell | 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏

In the 6^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏, we highlight “Ring My Bell” performed by Anita Ward. 

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  To be fair, it is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, it’s that ONE hit that earned them recognition. So, in the 6^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏, we dive into 🎵 “Ring My Bell”,  the one hit wonder by 🎙 Anita Ward.

“You can ring my bell, ring my bell / You can ring my bell, ring my bell.” Ring my bell, huh? Ah, the sexual innuendo is lit 🔥, 🎙 Anita Ward 😈. In her career, on the pop charts, Ward charted only two songs. 🎵 “Don’t Drop My Love” spent just five weeks on the charts, peaking at a tepid no. 87. That is NOT considered a hit – an understatement.  Furthermore, “Don’t Drop My Love” wasn’t a success on the R&B charts either, peaking modestly at no. 52. However, 🎵 “Ring My Bell”, her first charting song, spent two weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979 – that’s a big-time hit! Furthermore, “Ring My Bell” earned Ward the sole 🏆 Grammy nomination of her career for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female.  It is safe to say that Ward is rightfully characterized as a one-hit wonder.

“Ring My Bell” appeared on Ward’s second album of 1979, 💿 Songs of Love, renamed, you guessed it, 💿 Ring My Bell for its biggest hit. Written by 🎼 ✍ Frederick Knight (yes, the renowned 🎵 “I’ve Been Lonely For Song Long” artist), “Ring My Bell” is sexy without crossing any lines. Glad her man is home, Ward asserts in the first verse, “Well, lay back and relax while I put away the dishes /… Then you and me can rock-a-bye.” Woo! In the second verse, “The night is young and full of possibilities,” with Ward concluding the verse by saying, “Tonight was made for me and you.” What is clear is that the bell is going to be rung on this not-so-innocent disco gem.  Ward sings well, manages to be classy, yet also embraces pleasure. 🎵 “Ring My Bell” is a rad one-hit wonder, all told 💪.

🎙 Anita Ward • 💿 Ring My Bell • 🏷 601 Music • 🗓 1979

Anita Ward, Ring My Bell: 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏 No. 6 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; 601 Music; Julia Larsen, Kurchakto, RDNE Stock project, Victor Terrell from Pexels; Andrew Martin from Pixabay]