One Hit Wonders

I saw an article online about one hit wonders recently and I was surprised I knew most of the songs on there! Got me thinking about the one hit wonders I like, so listed below are some of mine. What are some other one hit wonders we can add to the list?

Soft Cell – “Tainted Love”
Orgy – “Blue Monday”
Marcy Playground – “Sex and Candy”
Natalie Imbruglia – “Torn”
Gravity Kills – “Guilty”
Awolnation — “Sail”
Danzig – “Mother”
OMC – “How Bizarre”
Harvey Danger – “Flagpole Sitta”
A-ha – “Take On Me”
Drowning Pool – “Bodies”

I feel like there are more one hit wonders out there now than there used to be. Not necessarily because of the artists or groups themselves, but likely because people don’t have to buy whole albums anymore. The digital age brought us the convenience of buying one or two songs at a time (though sometimes I think we miss out on their other hits!).

Great topic Sharon! I dont have any to add off the top of my head, but I will give it some thinking.
Unrelated note, Coolio died. RIP

One band that made the most of their one hit was Starland Vocal Band – “Afternoon Delight”. They won two Grammies.

The Amazing Cherry Bombs – “It’s hard to kiss the lips at night that chew your ass out all day long”

On of my fav’s.

In Drowning Pools defense, their lead singer OD’d.
DT

I will also argue Danzig. I have a few two of their CD’s.
DT

Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs – “Stay” (1960)
Bruce Channel – “Hey! Baby” (1961)
The Contours – “Do You Love Me” (1962)
Bobby Pickett – “Monster Mash” (1962)
Joanie Sommers – “Johnny Get Angry” (1962)
Bent Fabric – “Alley Cat” (1962)
The Cascades – “Rhythm of the Rain” (1962)
The Exciters – “Tell Him” (1962)

The Safaris — Wipeout
The Tokens — Lion Sleeps Tonight
The Champs — Tequila

deertracker wrote:

I will also argue Danzig. I have a few two of their CD’s.
DT

I was thinking the same. After Danzig left thr misfits he continued to make good music.

The Trashmen – Surfin’ Bird

Dexys Midnight Runners == Come on Eileen

Tommy Tutone-867-5309/Jenny
Dexy’s Midnight Runners-Come on Eileen
Toni Basil-Mickey
Vanilla Ice-Ice Ice Baby
Sir Mix A Lot- Baby Got Back

April Wine – I like to rock
Sniff & the Tears – Driver’s seat
Lipps Inc – Funkytown
Hocus Pocus – Focus

The Trogs – wild thing
The Kingsmen – Louie Louie
Looking Glass – Brandy “you’re a fine girl”
Steam – Na na hey hey kiss him goodbye
Human beinz – nobody but me

The Lonely Walleye – On Little Arbor Vitae

Sharon wrote:

Soft Cell – “Tainted Love”
Orgy – “Blue Monday”
Marcy Playground – “Sex and Candy”
Natalie Imbruglia – “Torn”
Gravity Kills – “Guilty”
Awolnation — “Sail”
Danzig – “Mother”
OMC – “How Bizarre”
Harvey Danger – “Flagpole Sitta”
A-ha – “Take On Me”
Drowning Pool – “Bodies”

It depends on how you define “hit”. Billboard #1? Billboard Top 40?

A few of the bands featured here actually had multiple hits if you define it as US Billboard top 40. And even more of these bands had varying success after their hit songs in the US, but back in their home countries/rrgions or in independent channels.

A-ha was definitely NOT a one hit wonder. They had a number one album and they had a second number one US Billboard hit song with The Sun Always Shines on TV. They also had significant success across multiple albums on the European charts and back in their home country of Norway.

Soft Cell did have only one US chart appearance, but they were in the UK’s top 40 many times and across multiple albums.

Success on the US charts is notoriously fickle. Because of the way US commercial radio operates the scope of music has always been very limited compared to other places like Europe.

Not to say that Europe doesn’t have its own quirks when it comes to the pop charts. David Hasselhoff had 12 albums released in Europe and he had multiple top 100 songs.

Billy Ray Cyrus- Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Diva- Whip It
Chumba Wumba- Tub Thumpin’
Flock of Seagulls- I Ran

Just a few that popped to mind for me.

I may or may not have done a Yo-Yo performance in the Elementary School talent show to OMC’s How Bizarre…

I still carry a sharpie with me when folks recognize me and want an autograph.

Steven Krapfl wrote:

Billy Ray Cyrus- Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Diva- Whip It
Chumba Wumba- Tub Thumpin’
Flock of Seagulls- I Ran

Just a few that popped to mind for me.

Sorry Steve, can’t resist…

Billy Ray Cyrus’ big hit was Achey Breaky Heart (although I think he charted a couple more in the 90s). Boot Scootin’ Boogie was one of MANY hits by Country Duo Brooks and Dunn.

And Divo sang Whip It, but that may have been auto-corrected.

I hope no hard feelings. I’m a font of worthless music trivia. I can’t help myself.

To get back on-topic:
Deep Blue Something – Breakfast at Tiffany’s

404 ERROR wrote:

I may or may not have done a Yo-Yo performance in the Elementary School talent show to OMC’s How Bizarre…

I remember you mentioning that in the Stupid Human Tricks thread!! And now the song is stuck in my head again!
http://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/what-is-your-stupid-human-trick/

Thunder78.
The one hit wonder police!

ThunderLund78 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Steven Krapfl wrote:</div>
Billy Ray Cyrus- Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Diva- Whip It
Chumba Wumba- Tub Thumpin’
Flock of Seagulls- I Ran

Just a few that popped to mind for me.

Sorry Steve, can’t resist…

Billy Ray Cyrus’ big hit was Achey Breaky Heart (although I think he charted a couple more in the 90s). Boot Scootin’ Boogie was one of MANY hits by Country Duo Brooks and Dunn.

And Divo sang Whip It, but that may have been auto-corrected.

I hope no hard feelings. I’m a font of worthless music trivia. I can’t help myself.

To get back on-topic:
Deep Blue Something – Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Yup, it was such a hit, I forgot, lol!
It was my stupid iPhone, that thing has the pickiest of auto corrects. I didn’t even look, however Breakfast At Tiffany’s was an awesome song!

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

It depends on how you define “hit”. Billboard #1? Billboard Top 40?

A few of the bands featured here actually had multiple hits if you define it as US Billboard top 40. And even more of these bands had varying success after their hit songs in the US, but back in their home countries/rrgions or in independent channels.

A-ha was definitely NOT a one hit wonder. They had a number one album and they had a second number one US Billboard hit song with The Sun Always Shines on TV. They also had significant success across multiple albums on the European charts and back in their home country of Norway.

Soft Cell did have only one US chart appearance, but they were in the UK’s top 40 many times and across multiple albums.

Success on the US charts is notoriously fickle. Because of the way US commercial radio operates the scope of music has always been very limited compared to other places like Europe.

Not to say that Europe doesn’t have its own quirks when it comes to the pop charts. David Hasselhoff had 12 albums released in Europe and he had multiple top 100 songs.

A great example of this would be Gary Numan/Tubeway Army. Quite notable in the punk/new wave era but only known for the song “Cars”. I think Devo falls into this category as well. Devo had too many albums and were too influential to be considered a one hit wonder. The fact that Lilly Tomlin booted Devo off the Midnight Special show after seeing the video for “Whip It” adds to the lore.

There is another category as well: Bands that had longer careers with cult followings. Radiohead charted with “Creep” and The Grateful Dead with “Touch of Grey” but I don’t think anyone would categorize these groups as one hit wonders.

Did marc cohn have any other hits than walking in Memphis? Song has been covered so many times now. Absolutely fantastic song.

ThunderLund78 wrote:

Diva- Whip It

And Divo sang Whip It, but that may have been auto-corrected.

One more correction: It’s actually Devo. Short for De-Evolution.

The mashup of poet Francis Scott Key’s lyrics and the musical stylings of John Stafford Smith made a pretty solid one hit wonder. Heck, it’s so powerful it brings some people to a knee.

tegg wrote:

One more correction: It’s actually Devo. Short for De-Evolution.

I hearby turn in my one-hit wonder police badge! Officer Tegg will be taking over my patrol!

Awesome factoid!

ThunderLund78 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>tegg wrote:</div>
One more correction: It’s actually Devo. Short for De-Evolution.

I hearby turn in my one-hit wonder police badge! Officer Tegg will be taking over my patrol!

Awesome factoid!

LOL! What about Ini Kamoze, Here Comes the Hotstepper? If i misspelled, assume autocorrect:)

That’s what I was known as at 15 y/o after a couple beers. lol

No one’s gonna talk about the best One Hit Wonder of the early 2000’s?…

My D1ck – Mickey Avalon