In the entertainment industry, a sleeper hit refers to a film, television series, music release, video game, or other entertainment product that was unpromising on release but eventually became a surprise success. A sleeper hit may have little promotion or lack a successful launch but gradually develops a fandom following media attention, which in turn increases its public exposure and public interest in the product. As Variety puts it, "A 'sleeper hit' can be defined as the kind of show that catches us by surprise—programs whose popularity grows over time and can ultimately outshine the preordained hits." A sleeper hit often lacks star performers or high production values, but prevails, at times against its own makers' expectations, on the strength of such qualities as narrative, approach, or novelty, as well as market accidents. Sleeper hit films benefit theater owners because the owners keep a larger percentage of money from ticket sales.
"Misty" is a jazz standard written and originally recorded in 1954 by pianist Erroll Garner. He composed it as an instrumental in the traditional 32-bar format, and recorded it on July 27, 1954 for the album Contrasts. Lyrics were added later by Johnny Burke. It appeared on Johnny Mathis' 1959 album Heavenly, and this recording reached number 12 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart later that year. It has since become Mathis’ signature song.
"Mockingbird" is a song by American rapper Eminem from his fifth studio album Encore (2004). It was released as the fifth single from the album on April 25, 2005, through Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records, and Interscope Records. "Mockingbird" was later included on Eminem's greatest hits compilation album Curtain Call: The Hits (2005). "Mockingbird" was written and produced by Eminem himself and Luis Resto. Mockingbird is a song dedicated to Eminem’s two daughters, Hailie Jade and Alaina Marie, who were 9 and 10 years old at the time.
Mint Condition is an American R&B band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band is focused on diverse genres such as jazz, hip hop, funk and dance. Mint Condition has also been nominated for one Grammy and three Soul Train Awards. The group is credited with being one of the last major funk bands to chart before hip-hop and new jack swing dominated black music in the 1990s.
"Break My Stride" is a song performed by American recording artist Matthew Wilder. It was released in August 1983 as the lead single from his debut album, I Don't Speak the Language, and became a major worldwide hit single for him in late 1983 and spring 1984, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Cash Box Top 100.
"Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" is the debut single by Edison Lighthouse. The song reached the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart on the week ending 31 January 1970, where it remained for a total of five weeks. It also became the first number one single of the 1970s (not counting Rolf Harris's "Two Little Boys" which was a holdover from 1969).
"Year 3000" is a song performed by British pop rock band Busted. It was released on 13 January 2003 as the second single from their debut studio album Busted (2002).
Antonina Armato is an American songwriter, record producer, music producer and businesswoman. She is the co-founder and member of Rock Mafia, a record production/songwriting team. Antonina is credited for writing and producing for artists beginning in the 1980s. She has worked with Justin Bieber, Zedd, Gwen Stefani, Demi Lovato, Christina Aguilera, Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, No Doubt, Wyclef Jean, Green Day, Sheena Easton, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Flo Rida, Ellie Goulding, Tokio Hotel, Descendants 3, AGNEZ MO, Jojo Siwa, and BTS.
"S.O.S" is a song by American pop group Jonas Brothers. The song was released as the third single on August 3, 2007, from their second studio album Jonas Brothers. It was also their debut international single in Europe in May 2008 and in the United Kingdom in early June 2008.
"Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart" is a popular song written by Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller.
In Love & War is the fourth studio album by American singer Amerie, released November 3, 2009, on Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions for the album took place between 2008 and 2009 at Record Plant Studios in Hollywood, California and at other recording studios in Miami, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. The album serves as Amerie's first release after leaving Columbia Records and forming her own label, Feenix Rising, which released the album under exclusive license and distribution through the Island Def Jam Music Group.
"Tik Tok" is the debut single by American singer Kesha, who co-wrote the song with its producers Dr. Luke and Benny Blanco. It was released on August 7, 2009, as the lead and debut single from her debut studio album, Animal (2010).
Priscilla Renea Hamilton, known professionally as Muni Long, is an American singer and songwriter from Gifford, Florida. Under her birth name, she signed with Capitol Records to release her debut studio album Jukebox (2009), which was met with positive critical reception despite failing to chart. She then spent the following decade co-writing songs for other artists, including the hit singles "Promise This" for Cheryl, "California King Bed" for Rihanna, "Worth It" for Fifth Harmony, "Love So Soft" for Kelly Clarkson, "Imagine" for Ariana Grande, "Who Says" for Selena Gomez & the Scene, and the global hit "Timber" for Pitbull.
"Pretty Boy Swag" is a song by American rapper Soulja Boy, released as the first single from his third studio album The DeAndre Way (2010). It features production from G5 Kids, who helped to write the song along with Soulja Boy.
Meant to Be Mint is the debut studio album of R&B band Mint Condition. The album was released on June 11, 1991, on Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis' A&M imprint Perspective Records. Meant to Be Mint reached to no. 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
"U Send Me Swingin'" is a song performed by Mint Condition, issued as the second single from their second album From the Mint Factory. The song was produced by the band and written by the band's then-keyboardist Keri Lewis. Released in 1993, the song peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994.
"Melanin Magic", alternatively "Melanin Magic ", is a song by American rapper Remy Ma featuring American singer Chris Brown. It was written by the artists alongside Keirston Lewis, Ricky Kinchen, Stokley Williams, Atia "INK" Boggs, Jeffrey Allen, Lawrence Waddell, and producer Dallas Austin. The song was released via Reminisce Records on January 19, 2018. The song was nominated for the BET Her Award at the BET Awards 2018.
Dardan Aliu, known professionally as Regard, is a Kosovo-Albanian disc jockey (DJ) and producer. Born and raised in Ferizaj, Aliu made his international breakthrough in 2019 with his remix of Jay Sean's 2008 single "Ride It", which resulted as a commercial success worldwide.
"Relación" is a song recorded by Panamanian singer and songwriter Sech. The song was released on April 1, 2020 as the second single from his sophomore studio album 1 of 1, released a month later. It was written by the performer alongside its producers and Joshua Méndez and Ramses Herrera. The track was produced by Jorge Valdes and Miguel Andrés Martínez, better known as Dímelo Flow and Slow Mike. "Relación" became a top ten hit in Panama, Argentina and Spain as well as a very popular song on TikTok. In the United States, the track made it to the twenty-second position on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
Jacob Dodge Lawson,, known professionally as Jvke, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and social media personality. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, he started creating TikTok videos for his songs, one of which, "Upside Down", went viral in 2021. His debut album, This Is What ____ Feels Like (2022), peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200, while the song "Golden Hour" peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
