Vance Joy, Riptide | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the sixth edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2026), we highlight “Riptide” by Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy.

[otw_shortcode_dropcap label=”I” size=”large” border_color_class=”otw-no-border-color” shadow=”shadow” square=”square”]t 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.  It is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, that ONE hit earned them recognition. So, in the sixth edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2026), we dive into “Riptide”, the one-hit wonder by Vance Joy.[/otw_shortcode_dropcap]

[nx_pullquote]“I was scared of dentists and the dark / I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations.”[/nx_pullquote] Those lyrics aren’t far-fetched. Keeping things magical, the handsome 😍 and talented 🤩 Aussie singer-songwriter Vance Joy (James Keogh, b. 1987) continues, “Oh, all my friends are turnin’ green / You’re the magician’s assistant in their dream.” Joy struck gold with his single, “Riptide”, which dates back to 2013. “Riptide” is the fourth track from Joy’s multiplatinum, 2014 album, Dream Your Life Away. It peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.  To date, it remains Joy’s sole charting entry on the pop charts. Beyond the track that earned a diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, Joy has been awarded other gold and platinum certifications, regardless of a lack of pop success, per se.  Joy penned “Riptide.” He produced it with John Castle and Edwin White.

“Riptide” features delightful, rhythmic accompaniment courtesy of ukulele (Vance Joy) and guitars (Joy and Ryan Hadlock).  Beyond the rhythmic strummed strings, the percussive touches accentuate the backdrop. Joy adorns the accompaniment with his buttery smooth, sweet vocals.  His tone is distinct and incredibly beautiful.  The verses shine with their narrative songwriting, from fear of dentists (the first verse) to “Cowboy’s runnin’ from himself / And she’s been livin’ on the highest shelf” (verse two).  Following a brief pre-chorus after each verse, the crème de la crème, the chorus, arrives in its irresistible glory:

“Lady, runnin’ down to the riptide

Taken away to the dark side

I wanna be your left-hand man

I love you when you’re singin’ that song, and

I got a lump in my throat ‘cause

You’re gonna sing the words wrong.”

Ooh-wee! What a vibe, what a vibe, what a mighty good vibe! Later, the bridge distinguishes itself from the verses and chorus. “I can’t have it, I can’t have it any other way,” Joy sings, and continues, “I swear she’s destined for the screen / Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you’ve ever seen.” Word.  All in all, “Riptide” is a fabulous folk/indie-pop song.  Joy has commented that it was a song that pieced together, but the pieces end up crafting one of the more memorable songs of the 2010s.