They are the songs you love. You know the lyrics by heart, but may not be able to name the artist on a bet.
They are the one-hit wonders.
On this National One Hit Wonder Day (September 25), forget whatever playlist you have programmed on your phone and check out this list instead. These are the top 30 one-hit wonders as listed on Ranker, a site that lets the public vote and rank various categories.
While there will always be debate as to which decade was the best for music, the decade that was best for one-hit wonders appears to be the 1980s, which is the most-represented on this list.
Take On Me - A-Ha
Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
My Sharona - The Knack
Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles
867-5309 - Tommy Tutone
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum
(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me - Naked Eyes
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
I Melt With You - Modern English
You Spin Me 'Round (Like A Record) - Dead Or Alive
Mickey - Tony Basil
The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
Pop Muzik - M
Stacy's Mom - Fountains Of Wayne
99 Luftballoons - Nena
Closing Time - Semisonic
Kung-Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
No Rain - Blind Melon
Funkytown - Lipps Inc.
Cruel To Be Kind - Nick Lowe
Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor
Turning Japanese - The Vapors
I Touch Myself - The Divinyls
Seasons In The Sun - Terry Jacks
Tubthumping - Chumbawumba
Cars - Gary Numan
Poster Comment:
Out of these 30, I'd have to say that "Brandy" is my favorite.
Dood. No way in hell. I mean "I beg to differ". The '60s were it for one-hit wonders. I used to hide under the covers with my old tube radio to stay up late listening to KHJ, KRLA and the other homes of these classics.
Just try to tell me you can beat this clip; it'll crank up your day.
I mean "I beg to differ". The '60s were it for one-hit wonders.
Absolutely agree.
I think we all used to just wait for our favorites to come on the radio back then...one good ditty after another. From '65-'67 were glorious One/Two Hit Wonder days.
Loved that Gentrys 'Keep On Dancing' with its TV show clips.
Here's the Syndicate of Sound (still at it, live recently), sounding surprisingly good. (Was 'Little Girl' technically the first "rapping"??)
I can't believe Dick Biondi is still alive. That SoS performance is indeed pretty good. Gotta be tough to tour when you've got one memorable hit in the repertoire. White go-go boots still do the job, too.
