Let’s face it: no matter how sophisticated your musical library may be, there are some themes out there that immediately ensnare your mind in a hypnotic trance impossible to break away from. Repeating the song over is incredibly pleasant, and in the following days you catch yourself humming the tune non-stop.
These songs are known as one hit wonders. While these songs are immortalized in the annals of music, their singers have faded into the background, consumed by the power of their creation. So, which are the best one hit wonders of all time? Consequence of Sound led the way by compiling 100 songs, and we have pitched in as well.
100. Europe – “The Final Countdown” (1986)
99. Emf – “Unbelievable” (1990)
98. Michael Sembello – “Maniac” (1983)
97. The Surfaris – “Wipe Out” (1963)
96. White Town – “Your Woman” (1997)
95. Wild Cherry – “Play That Funky Music” (1976)
94. Len – “Steal My Sunshine” (1999)
93. Ronald & Ruby – “Lollipop” (1958)
92. Billie Myers – “Kiss the Rain” (1997)
91. Grover Washington Jr. – “Just The Two Of Us” (1981)
90. Shocking Blue – “Venus” (1969)
89. Mark Morrison – “Return of the Mack” (1996)
88. The Cascades – “Rhythm of the Rain” (1962)
87. Luscious Jackson – “Naked Eye” (1996)
86. Pilot – “Magic” (1974)
85. The Darkness – “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” (2003)
84. Wall of Voodoo – “Mexican Radio” (1982)
83. Republica – “Ready to Go” (1996)
82. The Vines – “Get Free” (2002)
81. Everything But The Girl – “Missing” (Todd Terry Club Mix) (1994)
80. Bow Wow Wow – “I Want Candy” (1982)
79. Bobby Day – “Rockin’ Robin” (1958)
78. Anita Ward – “Ring My Bell” (1979)
77. Robert Knight – “Everlasting Love” (1967)
76. Lipps Inc. – “Funkytown” (1980)
75. Big Country – “In A Big Country” (1983)
74. The Flys – “Got You Where I Want You” (1998)
73. Barrett Strong – “Money (That’s What I Want)” (1959)
72. Toadies – “Possum Kingdom” (1994)
71. The Youngbloods – “Get Together” (1967)
70. Kris Kross – “Jump” (1992)
69. The Vapors – “Turning Japanese” (1980)
68. Primitive Radio Gods – “Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money In My Hand” (1996)
67. Bill Medley/Jennifer Warnes – “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” (1987)
66. The Capitols – “Cool Jerk” (1966)
65. Corona – “The Rhythm of the Night” (1993)
64. ? & The Mysterians – “96 Tears” (1966)
63. Edison Lighthouse – “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” (1970)
62. Peter Schilling – “Major Tom (Coming Home)” (1983)
61. Duncan Sheik – “Barely Breathing” (1996)
60. Norman Greenbaum – “Spirit in the Sky” (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cXrEPNvRO8
59. Sneaker Pimps – “6 Underground” (1996)
58. 4 Non Blondes – “What’s Up?” (1992)
57. Ten Years After – “I’d Love To Change The World” (1971)
56. Kajagoogoo – “Too Shy” (1983)
55. Eagle-Eye Cherry – “Save Tonight” (1997)
54. King Harvest – “Dancing in the Moonlight” (1972)
53. Tommy Tutone – “867-5309/Jenny” (1981)
52. Meredith Brooks – “Bitch” (1997)
51. The Casinos – “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” (1967)
50. Semisonic – “Closing Time” (1998)
49. Love And Rockets – “So Alive” (1989)
48. Divynls – “I Touch Myself” (1990)
47. The Ides of March – “Vehicle” (1970)
46. Mountain – “Mississippi Queen” (1970)
45. Thunderclap Newman – “Something in the Air” (1969)
44. King Missile – “Detachable Penis” (1992)
43. The Ad Libs – “The Boy from New York City” (1964)
42. Dead or Alive – “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)” (1984)
41. Jean Knight – “Mr. Big Stuff” (1971)
40. Phantom Planet – “California” (2001)
9. Flock of Seagulls – “I Ran (So Far Away)” (1982)
38. Marcie Blane – “Bobby’s Girl” (1962)
37. Dionne Farris – “I Know” (1995)
36. The Monotones – “Who Wrote the Book of Love?” (1958)
35. Real Life – “Send Me An Angel” (1989)
34. Marcy Playground – “Sex and Candy” (1997)
33. Billy Paul – “Me and Mrs. Jones” (1972)
32. Wheatus – “Teenage Dirtbag” (2000)
31. J. Frank Wilson And The Caveliers – “Last Kiss” (1964)
30. Young Mc – “Bust a Move” (1989)
29. Edie Brickell & New Bohemians – “What I Am” (1988)
28. Cheryl Lynn – “Got to Be Real” (1978)
27. The Exciters – “Tell Him” (1962)
26. Biz Markie – “Just a Friend” (1989)
25. When In Rome – “The Promise” (1987)
24. Blind Melon – “No Rain” (1992)
23. Steam – “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” (1969)
22. Bruce Channel – “Hey! Baby” (1961)
21. Concrete Blonde – “Joey” (1990)
20. Soft Cell – “Tainted Love” (1981)
19. The Human Beinz – “Nobody but Me” (1968)
18. Godley And Creme – “Cry” (1985)
17. Eddie Holman – “Hey There Lonely Girl” (1969)
16. Spacehog – “In the Meantime” (1996)
15. Macy Gray – “I Try” (1999)
14. Free – “Alright Now” (1970)
13. Dexys Midnight Runners – “Come on Eileen” (1982)
12. Doris Troy – “Just One Look” (1963)
11. Nazareth – “Love Hurts” (1975)
10. Haddaway – “What Is Love” (1993)
Three words and a repetitive beat are enough to place this song at the top of the list of songs that will endure in the memory of millions of people. This song became the icon of Eurodance, and it is unmissable in any nostalgic playlist that honors the parties of the nineties.
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9. The Church – “Under the Milky Way” (1988)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6jhpaX7fNQ
No one could ever forget a rock band that named itself The Church; however, there seems to be some confusion as to who is the original interpreter of this song, which was blasted across all speakers during the eighties. If you scour the discography of The Church, you will find it difficult to encounter other songs similar to “Under The Milky Way.” This Australian band is still active, and only its most avid followers can confirm its vitality after its one hit wonder.
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8. Nena – “99 Red ballons” (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La4Dcd1aUcE
This hit conquered Europe in its original German version, “99 Luftballons.” The guaranteed success encouraged Nena to record a second version and wade into the English-speaking audience. This song is a great reminder of the unrestrained dancing that took hold of the dance floor and the overall fabulous vibe of the eighties.
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7. Harvey Danger – “Flagpole Sitta” (1997)
The disappearance of Nirvana left a void in the grunge genre, and as a result, we saw a plethora of performers calling themselves part of the alternative rock movement. One of the most ambiguous experiments of the period was Harvey Danger, a band that defined itself as indie and took advantage of those who had lost their musical compass.
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6. The Contours – “Do You Love Me” (1962)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azKPeIWdE6I
The same year Zimmerman arrived to New York and became Bob Dylan, a quartet with a unique rhythm broke into the musical scene with such strength that all you could hear in the following months was “Do You Love Me.” Its mixture of R&B and soul became the guilty pleasure of an entire generation, which would then welcome the arrival of the psychedelic revolution.
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5. A-Ha – “Take on Me” (1984)
It played on MTV for over a year, and its catchy tune ensured that it lived in the minds of each person in the decade and the following as well. A-Ha was never able to move past this one hit wonder, but it certainly influenced other performers, and the public acquired a new appreciation for synth-pop music.
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4. Five Stairsteps – “O-O-H Child” (1970)
Before the Jackson 5 hit the stage, a family from Chicago stepped into the world of blues with a fresh voice and unstudied choreographies. The feelings evoked in the music, the improvisation, and the lyrical simplicity of the Five Stairsteps led them to occupy the privileged position in the Top of the Charts during a great part of the 1970s.
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3. Natalie Imbruglia – “Torn” (1997)
A romantic reproach sung with a lilting accent and a touch of rebellion. This song was toted around in every discman, and it was a must in a mixtape that soon turned into a CD.
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2. The Sugarhill Gang – “Rapper’s Delight” (1979)
A necessary stepping stone in Rap history. This song forced you to show the rhythm you carry is found within. No one could resist dancing to the beat of this song, and the over 3,000 words used in this song delighted any rapper and served as a source of inspiration.
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1. Modern English – “I Melt with You” (1982)
A hit that put the band Modern English on the map. “I Melt With You” disappeared just as quickly as it rose to stardom, and the band also faded into oblivion.
What songs do you think should also be considered one hit wonders? These themes evoke nostalgic memories in all of us, and while many of the performers faded into oblivion, their songs continue to be sung and appreciated by millions of people. Without a doubt, one hit wonders mark a unique stage in a person’s life.