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.
Brandy has fans in all generations; TOP 5 all-time One Hit Wonder, no question.
The 60s and 70s IMO were the better One Hit Wonder decades simply because they were played during the AM days mostly.
As to The List:
1. Take On Me - A-Ha (absolute 80s Top 10) 2. Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners (apparently big in Europe. Meh.) 3. Tainted Love - Soft Cell (Seemed innocent enough at the time...BUT...winds up a Creepy-Pedo tune by a pedo-homo. See the YT video. Wow -- WHO KNEW??) 4. My Sharona - The Knack (Def) 5. Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles (Moderately popular. Too way out there at the time and NOT liked by many) 6. 867-5309 - Tommy Tutone (Top 10 All-Time OHW) 7. Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry (Hated. Grade F-) 8. Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum (Yup) 9. (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me - Naked Eyes (Remake from the 60s, see Dionne Warwick, which is much better) 10. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers (Grade: C) 11. Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass (A+) 12. Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy (A+) 13. I Melt With You - Modern English (Sleeper. But not as widely known as other OHWs.) 14. You Spin Me 'Round (Like A Record) - Dead Or Alive (Naah, not really. Maybe because it was too faggy?) 15. Mickey - Tony Basil (def) 16. The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats (True 80s OHW. Became annoying.) 17. Pop Muzik - M (Naah.) 18. Stacy's Mom - Fountains Of Wayne (??) 19. 99 Luftballoons - Nena (Big in Europe, not the US) 20. Closing Time - Semisonic (??) 21. Kung-Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas (Big in 1976. Typical crappy pseudo-disco fare at the time.) 22. No Rain - Blind Melon (??) 23. Funkytown - Lipps Inc. (??) 24. Cruel To Be Kind - Nick Lowe (Yup) 25. Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor (Yup) 26. Turning Japanese - The Vapors (Huh??) 27. I Touch Myself - The Divinyls (True 80s OHW. Subversive tune/vid at the time.) 28. Seasons In The Sun - Terry Jacks (HATED. The kind of mind-less AM radio drivel that ruined both Summers of '73 and '74.) 29. Tubthumping - Chumbawumba (??) 30. Cars - Gary Numan (Depressing, soul-less Industrial Synth. But yes, an 80s OHW.)
3. Tainted Love - Soft Cell (Seemed innocent enough at the time...BUT...winds up a Creepy-Pedo tune by a pedo-homo.
Remember that Ides of March song "Vehicle" from the 60's?
That had a creepy vibe, didn't realize it at the time.
I'm a friendly stranger in the black Sedan Won't you hop inside my car? I got pictures, got candy I'm a lovable man And I can take you to the nearest star
8. Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum (Yup)
Great song, still holds up over time.
24. Cruel To Be Kind - Nick Lowe (Yup)
Not sure if he can be classified as a OHW, his song "I Knew The Bride When She Used To Rock and Roll" made it to # 77, same with Thin Lizzy, they had two, The Knack had more than one, etc.
18. Stacy's Mom - Fountains Of Wayne (??)
They did a pretty good cover IMO of the Kinks "Better Things".
I really like this cover they did of "Bus Stop" by the Hollies.
I don't thnk the other tracks by Thin Lizzy and The Knack qualify as "One Hit Wonders" -- even though they may be good. A #77 isn't considered a real "Hit."
Spirit in the Sky is a major OHW, and yes I agree -- it still holds up well.
Heh, yeah, of course I recall "Vehicle" -- Right...pretty creepy lyrics. Like many tunes, we couldn't understand them at the time.
"...I love ya (love ya) I need ya (need ya) I wants ya gots to have you child Great God in heaven, you know I love you..."
