40 Biggest One-Hit Wonders

Just as a result of an artist will get labeled a one-hit marvel, that doesn’t imply their impression on music is so simply forgotten. Many timeless and traditional songs have been written and recorded by artists who loved just one mainstream hit.

In the under checklist of 40 Biggest One-Hit Wonders, we contemplate a music’s business success in addition to the way it’s endured. The ‘80s are well-represented. The decade seemed to breed a large amount of one-hit wonders, many of whom rode the emerging new wave genre. Nine of our Top 10 one-hit wonders come from that decade, but the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘90s still landed songs elsewhere on the list.

40. Cutting Crew, “I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight”
This chart-topping 1986 hit wasn’t inspired by a near-death experience but a sexual one. Cutting Crew singer Nick Van Eede came up with the song’s refrain after a one-night tryst with a former girlfriend. “We got back together for one night after a year apart, and I guess there were some fireworks but all the time tinged with a feeling of, ‘Should I really be doing this?”” the singer later recalled. The energy ballad struck a chord with music followers and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. As a debut single, Cutting Crew couldn’t have requested for a much bigger introduction to the world, however with success got here strain. Cracks started to floor when none of their follow-up singles met business expectations. A battle with administration stored the band’s sophomore album from popping out till 1989. It bombed, and by 1993 the group had disbanded.

39. Toni Basil, “Mickey”
The music as infectious as a pep rally – a lot in order that its music video was cheerleader-themed – “Mickey” burrowed its approach into listeners’ ears in January 1982. The observe had initially been launched by the British band Racey, however that model used the identify “Kitty” as an alternative of “Mickey” and did not embody the music’s catchy “You’re so fine, you blow my mind” chant. Singer Toni Basil, who began her profession as a choreographer after being a, sure, cheerleader in her youth, introduced “Mickey” to life. The music hit No. 1 within the U.S. and was licensed platinum, however Basil by no means got here near that success with any of her different songs.

38. The Knack, “My Sharona”
Should the Knack be thought-about a two-hit marvel? An argument could be made. After all, their single “Good Girls Don’t” reached No. 11 on the Billboard chart, which means they qualify for this checklist by the slimmest of margins. Still, ask the typical music fan to sing a line from “Good Girls Don’t” they usually’ll seemingly stare again with a clean face. Ask them for a component from “My Sharona” and also you’ll seemingly get a rousing, “My, my, my, I, yi, woo!” The 1979 single was an prompt traditional, Capitol Records’ quickest single to be licensed gold for the reason that Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” The Knack’s frontman, Doug Fieger, wrote “My Sharona” after falling for a lady named Sharona, who appeared on the one’s cowl. While their relationship didn’t final, the 2 reportedly remained shut mates up till Fieger died in 2010.

37. After the Fire, “Der Kommissar”
Austrian singer Falco deserves an honorable point out. His 1985 hit “Rock Me Amadeus” didn’t get sufficient votes from our writers to crack our Top 40, however he has a component in “Der Kommissar”: He launched the unique model of the hit music. His single, launched in 1981, was sung in German and obtained just a bit consideration within the U.S. A 12 months later the U.Okay. band After the Fire coated the music in English, scoring the solely hit of their profession. Success arrived too late for the band. After the Fire, which had been collectively since 1982, was crumbling as “Der Kommissar” was climbing the charts. The group had already damaged up by the point the music peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

36. Gary Numan, “Cars”
Gary Numan had loved success with the brand new wave group Tubeway Army, which scored a U.Okay. hit with their 1979 single “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” That identical 12 months, Numan broke out as a solo act, scoring a worldwide hit together with his debut single, “Cars.” The music, impressed by a bout of highway rage, discovered Numan embracing a poppier method to songwriting. “This was the first time I had written a song with the intention of, ‘Maybe it could be a hit single,’” the singer admitted. “Cars” hit No. 9 in the U.S. and No. 1 in the U.K. While Numan has enjoyed a respected career ever since, he’s never again had a hit single.

35. Mungo Jerry, “In the Summertime”
When you think “sound of summer” you don’t usually think “jug band.” But that’s exactly the style of music Mungo Jerry used in their 1970 hit. Reportedly written by singer Ray Dorset in just 10 minutes, the breezy track perfectly captures that time of year when “the weather is high.” It reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the only Mungo Jerry song to earn mainstream attention in the States.

34. Kajagoogoo, “Too Shy”
English new wave group Kajagoogoo had been together for roughly five years – under the name Art Nouveau at first – before signing their first record deal in 1982. They struck gold with their debut single, “Too Shy,” which was produced by Duran Duran’s Nick Rhodes. The band’s label had pushed against the track, claiming it was too dark. “They wanted to release what they considered to be a brighter, poppier track,” bassist Nick Beggs later recalled. Kajagoogoo looked poised for a bright career when, in 1983, “Too Shy” went Top 5 in 12 countries, including the U.S. While follow-up singles “Ooh to Be Aah” and “Hang on Now” did well in the U.K., neither registered in the U.S. The band broke up at the end of 1985, but “Too Shy” has remained a time capsule of the era, included in everything from the soundtrack to The Wedding Singer to the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.

33. Peter Schilling, “Major Tom”
Here’s a rare occurrence where an artist created a sequel to someone else’s song. Singer Peter Schilling based “Major Tom” on a character first created by David Bowie for the 1969 single “Space Oddity.” Schilling’s song kept up the interplanetary theme, with its chorus: “Earth below us / Drifting, falling / Floating weightless / Calling, calling home.” Released in 1983, “Major Tom” reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, the only song of Schilling’s career to chart in the U.S.

32. The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, “Fire”
With a demonic spoken word opening in which frontman Arthur Brown declared himself the “god of Hellfire,” “Fire” hardly appeared like the kind of music that will discover mainstream success. But the psychedelic rock observe managed to ignite one thing in followers. The 1968 single hit No. 1 within the U.Okay. and No. 2 within the U.S., making it the Crazy World of Arthur Brown’s most profitable single. The group broke up in 1970 however returned in 2000, with materials arriving sporadically ever since.

31. Georgia Satellites, “Keep Your Hands to Yourself”
They could also be a one-hit marvel, however Georgia Satellites certain made an impression with their solely mainstream single. When “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987 – held out of the highest spot by Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” – the heavy-hitting music proved that southern rock might nonetheless thrive, whereas additionally inspiring heavier guitars in nation songs. “Somebody made the comment that it was the song that saved rock ‘n’ roll and ruined country music at the same time,” singer Dan Baird as soon as admitted to Rolling Stone. “It meant it brought rock ‘n’ roll back to its roots for a few minutes, but it turned the corner on country being afraid of dumb loud guitars.”

30. Shocking Blue, “Venus”
Dutch rock group Shocking Blue had a couple of hits of their homeland within the late ‘60s, but it was 1969’s “Venus” that introduced worldwide consideration. The music, with its strummy guitar and groovy organ, climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Even although the band by no means got here near such heights once more, “Venus” offered greater than 5 million copies around the globe and continues to be well-liked, showing in all the pieces from The Queen’s Gambit to a long-running promoting marketing campaign for Gillette, whose girls’s line of razors is known as Venus.

29. The Vapors, “Turning Japanese”
During the brand new wave growth of the late ’70s and early ‘80s, it seemed like another new wave act was arriving from the U.K. each week. Among them was the Vapors, a quartet from Surrey that released their debut album, New Clear Days, in 1980. The lead single, “Turning Japanese,” was built on a Japanese-sounding motif, but the catchy song’s narrative was usually misinterpreted. “It was intended purely as a love song,” singer Dave Fenton later defined. “The protagonist is sitting in his bedroom, which has become like a prison cell, pining over a photograph of his ex-girlfriend.” “Turning Japanese” turned the Vapors’ solely hit, and by 1982 the band was over. “When people ask if the song’s become an albatross, I say no,” Fenton admitted. “I’m pleased it happened to us. I’d rather be a one-hit wonder than a no-hit wonder.”

28. Wild Cherry, “Play That Funky Music”
Wild Cherry started life as a tough rock cowl band within the Pittsburgh space. As the ‘70s rolled on, the group discovered it tougher to e-book gigs, as disco and dance tunes had overtaken rock in recognition. “One night, I got the band in the dressing room and I told them, ‘We’ve got to play more of this disco stuff,’” singer Rob Parissi recalled. “They went nuts: ‘We don’t want to be a disco band.’” At one of Wild Cherry’s shows, a Black audience member asked, “Are you white boys going to play some funky music?” An idea was spawned. “Play That Funky Music” became a No. 1 single in 1976, reaching multiplatinum sales and earning Wild Cherry a pair of Grammy nominations. After failing to follow up “Play That Funky Music” with another hit, they broke up in 1979.

27. The Ides of March, “Vehicle”
It’s hard to deny the gravitational pull of “Vehicle” when those horns kick in. The 1970 single was a breakout hit for the Ides of March, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. After years of touring around their native Illinois, “Vehicle” elevated the Ides of March to national touring act. The band shared the stage with such luminaries as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin, but they were never able to score another hit. Even after ditching the brass section and trying to move in a new stylistic direction, nothing seemed to click. The Ides of March broke up in 1973, but the band’s singer and co-founder, Jim Peterik, had a more successful second act when he founded Survivor in 1978 and scored several big hits in the ‘80s.

26. The Proclaimers, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”
With their pasty, clean-cut and spectacled look, twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid hardly looked the part of chart-topping rock stars. Still, the Irish duo had a songwriting gift, including a knack for pop hooks. In 1988 their group the Proclaimers released the album Sunshine on Leith, featuring “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” The music hit first within the U.Okay., the place it reached No. 11. Five years later it caught on within the U.S. because of its inclusion within the romantic comedy Benny & Joon. Rereleased as a single, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

25. The Contours, “Do You Love Me”
“Do You Love Me” was written by Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr., who had supposed to provide it to the Temptations to report. But the Temptations weren’t within the studio when Gordy went there, so he provided it to a different Motown vocal group, the Contours. The group cemented its place in music historical past with “Do You Love Me.” The music stays a favourite at weddings, birthdays and bar mitzvahs.

24. Iron Butterfly, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vidda”
It’s messy, there are errors within the recording and it is phrases are obscure – it was purported to be “In the Garden of Eden.” But there’s one thing gloriously indulgent about “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” Running greater than 17 minutes, the music is an extended and winding psychedelic journey, full with drums, guitar and hovering organ elements. Even although Iron Butterfly would by no means rating one other hit following this 1968 single, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” stays a cultural tentpole, showing in every single place from The Simpsons to a preferred pattern in rap songs.

23. Buckner & Garcia, “Pac-Man Fever”
History is crammed with novelty hits however few loved extra of a cultural impression than Buckner & Garcia’s “Pac-Man Fever.” The 1981 single was recorded in response to the well-liked online game, which turned a phenomenon throughout the globe in 1980. Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia had been jingle writers from Akron and witnessed the thrill surrounding Pac-Man firsthand. “Pac-Man” fever reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and impressed the duo to report a complete album of video game-inspired songs, together with “Do the Donkey Kong,” “Ode to Centipede” and “Froggy’s Lament.” Lightning didn’t strike twice, and “Pac-Man Fever” remained their solely hit.

22. Men Without Hats, “The Safety Dance”
“The Safety Dance” was written by Men Without Hats singer Ivan Doroschuk after he’d been thrown out of a membership for “pogoing,” the bouncing new wave dance not all the time accepted by involved employees. “I was kind of mad that they wouldn’t let me dance if I wanted to, so I took matters in my own hands and wrote an anthem for it,” he later recalled. Doroschuk by no means anticipated “The Safety Dance” to develop into successful, however one thing in regards to the music clicked with audiences. “I think people can relate to the empowering kind of message of ‘The Safety Dance’: ‘You can dance if you want to,’” Doroschuk defined in a later interview. “And when the song first came out, it was the beginning of rap, and it was one of the only songs that had a spoken thing to it.”

21. The Church, “Under the Milky Way”
“Under the Milky Way” proved to be each a blessing and a curse for the Australian band the Church. The 1988 single turned the group’s greatest worldwide hit, introducing them to a bigger viewers and taking them on excursions around the globe. But there have been loads of drawbacks. “The guys in the band all hated each other, and they all hated me,” singer Steve Kilbey explained in 2018. “Instead of being grateful that I’d written this song which had dragged them into the spotlight they were sort of envious and miserable about it as well.” Even although the Church has loved a profession spanning greater than 4 many years, “Under the Milky Way” stays its solely U.S. hit.

20. Carl Douglas, “Kung Fu Fighting”
Carl Douglas was born in Jamaica and raised in England. Neither nation, it needs to be famous, is thought for its contributions to martial arts. Still, that didn’t cease Douglas from tapping into the recognition of Kung Fu films within the ‘70s with his song “Kung Fu Fighting.” The track was recorded in just 10 minutes and was meant to be the B-side of a single. “I went over the top on the ‘huhs’ and the ‘hahs’ and the chopping sounds,” producer Biddu recalled. “It was a B-side; who was going to listen?” As it turned out, lots of people. “Kung Fu Fighting” topped charts across the globe in 1974, selling more than 11 million copies worldwide. Douglas tried to capitalize on the track’s recognition by recording an identical music, “Dance the Kung Fu,” however it didn’t obtain the identical pleasure. He by no means scored one other hit, however “Kung Fu Fighting” has remained omnipresent, used in TV exhibits and films equivalent to Dancing With the Stars, Scrubs, Beverly Hills Ninja, Rush Hour and Kung Fu Panda.

19. Dead or Alive, “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)”
Liverpool group Dead or Alive had already made some noise within the U.Okay.’s dance scene once they launched their 1984 single “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record).” The track catapulted them onto the world’s stage, going Top 10 in 15 countries, including a No. 11 peak in the States. Although it would be their only hit, the catchy song would later be covered by a variety of artists, including Jessica Simpson and nu metal band Dope. Rapper Flo Rida also interpolated the song’s chorus for his 2009 hit single with Kesha, “Right Round.”

18. The Penguins, “Earth Angel”

The only thing better than having a hit song is having one on your first try. “Earth Angel” – penned by Curtis Williams, Jesse Belvin and Gaynel Hodge – was released by the Penguins in 1954 as their debut single and became an enormous hit. “Earth Angel” was a demo; vocal group the Penguins had recorded the song in the garage of a cousin to the song’s producer, Dootsie Williams. No overdubs were needed. “Earth Angel” was the Penguin’s only hit, but it sold millions of copies and has been called one of the cornerstone songs of doo-wop.

17. Lipps Inc, “Funkytown”
Anyone complaining about modern music stars being “fabricated” or “industry plants” should take a look back in history. Record producer Steve Greenberg formed Lipps Inc. in 1979 as a vehicle for former beauty queen Cynthia Johnson, who was looking to transition into music. Greenberg loaded a group with session musicians and then wrote a song to break them. “Funkytown” became a massive worldwide hit. Lipps Inc. was never able to replicate the success, and Johnson eventually enjoyed a career second act in gospel music.

16. Steam, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye(*40*)I began writing whereas I used to be sitting on the piano going ‘Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.’ … Everything was ‘na na’ when you did not have a lyric,” Leka recalled. The end result was “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye,” which they deliberate to use as a B-side to DeCarlo’s subsequent single, however the report label beloved it a lot they needed to make it the favored observe. Due to contractual obligations, the one was launched beneath the band identify Steam, despite the fact that there wasn’t an actual group on the time. “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has endured as a timeless kiss-off.