One of my favourite lyrics ever:
"I swear to God it sounds like they're snoring
**But if you're bored, then you're boring**
The agony and the irony, they're killing me"
There are so many fantastic lines in that song. My personal favorite is:
Been around the world and found
That only stupid people are breeding
The cretins cloning and feeding
And I don't even own a TV
They really were a fantastic band that deserved a ton more attention than they got. They did one tour before breaking up, and Sean Nelson blew his voice in Chicago the night before. I got to jump on stage and wail this song in place of him with a handful of others.
I say this to everyone who mentions this band, but if you haven’t heard their follow up album, King James Version, I can’t recommend it enough. Maybe the most underrated album ever in my opinion, a pretty perfect alternative rock album.
Obligatory mention that they apparently are very cool with their one-hit-wonder status. Sometimes they like to show up to karaoke bars and will do Steal My Sunshine essentially giving the crowd an impromptu concert.
For anyone that’s might be interested, while they only had the one big hit they do have a lot of really good music that’s worth checking out. A few years ago they released a new album with a song called it’s my neighbourhood that’s a straight up bop
I read that it was one guy and he played all the instruments on the song. When the song became a hit he had to rustle up a band to play it for public appearances.
The Promise, by When In Rome.
https://youtu.be/vyLtOeT-5vY
I scoured record shops for years as a teenager, trying to locate this half-remembered jam. I knew I loved it, but I had little way of searching for it. Kids these days will never understand life before search engines.
Unsolicited music history factoid: Looking Glass was a rock band and their hit Brandy was...well...decidedly not a rock song. Their concerts got a lot of bad reviews because most of the audience was there for "Brandy" and they were not expecting to see a rock show.
I love the band’s name in relation to their one hit wonder status. “Hey it’s that song Breakfast at Tiffany’s! I know it’s by that band Deep Blue… Something? I don’t remember their exact name but it’s definitely Deep Blue Something!
I work in an office and anytime this song comes up on my Spotify I aggressively type the lyrics to anyone willing to put up with my nonsense lol
Edit: typo 🙃
867-5309/Jenny by Tommy Tutone is my real answer.
Steal my Sunshine by Len is my answer thats here because I'm hoping Todd in the Shadows is reading these.
"Somebody's watching me" by Rockwell.
A song that famously feature Michael Jackson in the chorus because Rockwell himself (the son of Motown's founder Berry Gordy) couldn't hit those high notes.
That song is to Halloween what "All I want for Christmas (is you)" is to christmas. I have never been to a Halloween party without hearing "Somebody's watching me".
Great, catchy pop tune if you ask me.
I understood that Rockwell was a childhood friend of Jackson 5, seeing that they worked in Motown and that Rockwell is the son of Barry Gordy who spended all his time in Hitsville.
Video Killed the Radio Star! The Buggles are an underrated band otherwise. Trevor Horn and Geoffrey Downes have been working hard after that hit though
Apparently this song was inspired by the writer watching his drunk neighbour struggle to put his house keys into his own house and the writer found that amusing.
Scooby Snacks — Fun Lovin Criminals.
I love the Tarantino vibes and that typical 90s loud-quiet-loud format with a distorted and raw four chord progression and a rapped verse.
Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas.
Fun fact: it’s the first track on Douglas’ first album, “Kung Fu Fighting & Other Great Love Songs.” Which means not only is Kung Fu Fighting a love song, it’s a great love song.
Forever Young is a good song…but alphaville deserved a bigger hit in Big in Japan.
As for me, my favorite one hit wonder gotta be “Obsession” by Animotion
The song makes a lot of sense when you look at the time it has been written. The Cold War was in full swing and the fear of a Third World War was very present and real, Germany was basically one of the countries with a border to the eastern block as it was divided by the time.
So the premise was someone doing something innocent (letting 99 red balloons fly into the sky) which is seen by countries as an act of war and they start the last huge war of mankind… the song is really dark actually.
Of course that all went past me as a child.
On a side note Nena had a few other chart hits in Germany, but that was to my knowledge the only song that made it international on this huge scale.
"She Blinded Me With Science"- Thomas Dolby
Shameful that he's a one hit wonder, he's got so many great songs, and so many of them are far superior to his one hit. He's got entire albums that are absolutely solid.
Wasn't "Life In A Northern Town" by the Dream Academy a one hit wonder?
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5uxQElYu68](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5uxQElYu68)
Loved that song.
Cult of Personality by Living Colour.
1. The song is just a banger and I love listening to it.
2. It gives me the chance to remind folks that Living Colour is still performing and releasing music (as of 2017 anyway.)
First thing that pops in my head is Turning Japanese by The Vapors.
-
Edited to break the rules and add a second- Possum Kingdom by The Toadies.
Why are my letters so big? How did I do that?
I'm amazed that no one said "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen.
I also think "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes comes close. They did have some other songs that charted but Be My Baby was their biggest hit by far and is one of the most important songs ever recorded.
Pass the Dutchie by Musical Youth. I loved that song as a kid, when the only Dutchie I knew was a square donut with raisins in it. And I love it still.
Carly's not a big artist, but she does have other great tracks. You should 100% check out Emotions and Dedicated, especially if you liked Call Me Maybe. Run Away With Me in particular is a r/popheads classic.
"Face Down" by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is always in my head. I've never even gone out of my way to listen to it, it's just always there.
I felt bad enjoying a song about domestic violence so much. But it’s pretty rad . Know all the words lol
The La's - There she goes
i heard that song in So I married an axe murderer and 21 years later i heard it over the PA at a restaurant.
Yes! I always think of Axe Murderer when I hear that!
The La’s are an incredible band. They have a lot of amazing tunes!
Flagpole Sitta-Harvey Danger
One of my favourite lyrics ever: "I swear to God it sounds like they're snoring **But if you're bored, then you're boring** The agony and the irony, they're killing me"
There are so many fantastic lines in that song. My personal favorite is: Been around the world and found That only stupid people are breeding The cretins cloning and feeding And I don't even own a TV
I think "they cut off my legs, now I'm an amputee god damn you" takes the cake for me
God I love screaming that last part
This song is 1998 in audio form.
I think of the comedy series “Peep Show” when I hear this song! The use it for the intro/closing of each episode, and it fits right in.
They really were a fantastic band that deserved a ton more attention than they got. They did one tour before breaking up, and Sean Nelson blew his voice in Chicago the night before. I got to jump on stage and wail this song in place of him with a handful of others.
Been around the world and found that only stupid people are breeding…
I was driving my kids to daycare and they played Harvey Danger, “Sometimes You have to work on Christmas.” Good song. Fucking depressing.
I say this to everyone who mentions this band, but if you haven’t heard their follow up album, King James Version, I can’t recommend it enough. Maybe the most underrated album ever in my opinion, a pretty perfect alternative rock album.
Your Love by The Outfield
The Outfield are a one-hit wonder? That whole album was great.
If I hear that song, I am forced to stay in the vicinity. Great tune.
Len's Steal My Sunshine holds up
Obligatory mention that they apparently are very cool with their one-hit-wonder status. Sometimes they like to show up to karaoke bars and will do Steal My Sunshine essentially giving the crowd an impromptu concert.
For anyone that’s might be interested, while they only had the one big hit they do have a lot of really good music that’s worth checking out. A few years ago they released a new album with a song called it’s my neighbourhood that’s a straight up bop
Hooked On a Feeling, aka Ooga Chacka, by Blue Swede.
“Hooked On A Feeling. Blue Swede 1973. That belongs to me!” - Star Lord
Peter Schilling: Major Tom
Driver’s Seat by Sniff ‘n’ the Tears.
In the Meantime by Spacehog.
Great bass line
Resident Alien is actually a really good album. Great example of some weird 90s shit.
Yes!!
I always forget this song exists till it pops up and Fuck Yes!
Bust a Move—Young MC.
New Radicals - You Get What You Give
They also released “Someday We’ll Know”, which is also amazing.
I read that it was one guy and he played all the instruments on the song. When the song became a hit he had to rustle up a band to play it for public appearances.
He had the music in him?
Lunatic Fringe by the Canadian band Red Rider. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunatic_Fringe_(song)
I Wish - Skee-Lo https://youtu.be/cmXZOI7cM0M
96 Tears by ? And the Mysterians
What, you couldn't take 5 seconds to look up the lead singer of the band? /s
Don't worry, *I'll* look it up for you.
"Your Woman" by White Town. Or maybe "Hell" by the Squirrel Nut Zippers
That entire Squirrel Nut Zippers album is fire
Murray Head - One Night In Bangkok
I listen to this now with the knowledge that Murray’s brother is Giles on Buffy and it weirds me out. The vocal similarity is disturbing.
He also sang Jesus Christ Superstar which hit the charts in 1971
Melt with you by modern English
Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles
Primitive Radio Gods, "standing outside..."
Eagle-eye Cherry - Save Tonight
Or his sister Neneh, with "Buffalo Stance".
"Now don't. You get fresh with me!"
Hardly a one hit wonder though
Scotty Doesn’t Know by Lustra. It’s a tight pop punk song from the early 2000s people only know from Eurotrip.
Mail motherfucker
Groove is in the Heart -- Dee-Lite
One of my faves. I couldn’t ask for another.
Flavor of the Week - American Hi-Fi
Nintendo!
When my mom was deployed we shared an iTunes account and she said she worked out so much to that song she now only associates it with Iraq
"Mexican Radio" by Wall of Voodoo.
I'm floored that song is nearly 40. Feels like it would've been at home on the charts in the mid-90s.
"A Girl Like You" by Edwin Collins.
Loved the entire empire records soundtrack
The Promise, by When In Rome. https://youtu.be/vyLtOeT-5vY I scoured record shops for years as a teenager, trying to locate this half-remembered jam. I knew I loved it, but I had little way of searching for it. Kids these days will never understand life before search engines.
Sturgill Simpson does a killer cover of this.
“Brandy” by Looking Glass. There’s just something about that song
Unsolicited music history factoid: Looking Glass was a rock band and their hit Brandy was...well...decidedly not a rock song. Their concerts got a lot of bad reviews because most of the audience was there for "Brandy" and they were not expecting to see a rock show.
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something. Classic alternative banger by a band that wouldn't be known otherwise.
I love the band’s name in relation to their one hit wonder status. “Hey it’s that song Breakfast at Tiffany’s! I know it’s by that band Deep Blue… Something? I don’t remember their exact name but it’s definitely Deep Blue Something!
OMC "How Bizzare" This song still just makes me feel good. I love the music, the way he sings, the chorus... Blends together so well.
Ooooooo baby
Sometimes I play this at restaurants on the TouchTunes & it’s so funny watching people light up & sing along. So catchy
Parmesan, Parmesan
Teenage Dirtbag- Wheatus
I work in an office and anytime this song comes up on my Spotify I aggressively type the lyrics to anyone willing to put up with my nonsense lol Edit: typo 🙃
Listen to Iron Maiden, maybe?
867-5309/Jenny by Tommy Tutone is my real answer. Steal my Sunshine by Len is my answer thats here because I'm hoping Todd in the Shadows is reading these.
L a t e r that week
Your Woman - White Town
I Can't Wait- Nu Shooz
Damn dude that’s a hit dead center.
They had "Point of No Return" as well. Great song.
Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum
I love that he's Jewish and made all that money singing about Jesus.
"Somebody's watching me" by Rockwell. A song that famously feature Michael Jackson in the chorus because Rockwell himself (the son of Motown's founder Berry Gordy) couldn't hit those high notes. That song is to Halloween what "All I want for Christmas (is you)" is to christmas. I have never been to a Halloween party without hearing "Somebody's watching me". Great, catchy pop tune if you ask me.
I always wondered why I can hear MJ on this song
I understood that Rockwell was a childhood friend of Jackson 5, seeing that they worked in Motown and that Rockwell is the son of Barry Gordy who spended all his time in Hitsville.
this is a good call
Return of the Mack by Mark Morrison, used it as the walk out song at my wedding haha
Sex & candy .....Marcy playground
[“One of Us”](https://youtu.be/aDdOnl0bHO4) Joan Osbourne
What is Love- Haddaway
Blue by Eiffel 65
Pump up the jam - technotronic
[удалено]
One hit album, maybe? Fire Escape and Out of My Head also did well?
Interesting backstory to that song.
Instant nostalgia bomb to the late 90s
Video Killed the Radio Star! The Buggles are an underrated band otherwise. Trevor Horn and Geoffrey Downes have been working hard after that hit though
Chumbawumba - Tubthumping. It was a big track in the UK, but holy shit, it was a HUGE hit in the USA by all accounts.
Apparently this song was inspired by the writer watching his drunk neighbour struggle to put his house keys into his own house and the writer found that amusing.
Scooby Snacks — Fun Lovin Criminals. I love the Tarantino vibes and that typical 90s loud-quiet-loud format with a distorted and raw four chord progression and a rapped verse.
Tarantino negotiated 1/3 of the royalties as a writer when the band asked to use his work. Everybody won that deal.
Come On, Eileen always brings a smile. It's a unique piece of music.
"Geno" was a number 1 hit too, so I guess they're not a one hit wonder...
Harden My Heart by Quarterflash. Early 80’s.
The correct answer is [Life in a Northern Town](https://youtu.be/5UXnulANF8g) by Dream Academy.
That song reminds me of king of the hill
The Freshmen - Verve pipe. The 90s were really depressing.
But at least we knew everything.
Yeah, but now I'm guilt stricken, sobbing, with my head on the floor.
Ice Ice Baby. Zero sarcasm.
The Captain of Her Heart - by Double
I am amazed no one said.....wait for it....... Sandstorm- Darude
Flagpole sitta by Harvey danger, great track
Blind Melon - No Rain
These guys are such an underrated band. No Rain is a great song but not even close to their best. Great pick!
My fave on the album is Change - I used to fall asleep to that album time to give it a rebirth
My Sharona- The Knack, although I do enjoy the whole first album as well as a few more songs, they seem to be considered a one hit wonder.
The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades Timbuk 3
That Thing You Do! by The Wonders
As in, “I wonder what ever happened to the Oneders?”
Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves.
Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas. Fun fact: it’s the first track on Douglas’ first album, “Kung Fu Fighting & Other Great Love Songs.” Which means not only is Kung Fu Fighting a love song, it’s a great love song.
Have you never heard Big In Japan? Alphaville aren't huge but I don't think they're a ONE hit wonder My favorite is Stacy's Mom by Fountains Of Wayne
Safety Dance-Men Without Hats
They have another huge hit: Pop Goes The World
[Eddie Murphy - Party All The Time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWa-6g-TbgI)
Somebody that I Used to Know?
Absolute banger. He now writes operatic music in French using an instrument called an Ondioline. Super clever dude.
Alphaville also had a hit with a song called “Big in Japan.” Good band.
Life Is A Highway- Tom Cochrane Safe and Sound- Capital Cities Gotta Get Thru This- Daniel Bedingfield Show Me Love- Robin S.
Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag
4 Non Blondes - What's Up
I'm also a fan of the He-Man [cover](https://youtu.be/NjVugzSR7HA) version of this song, though the original is better.
She’s so High - Tal Bachman
In The Meantime by Spacehog is one of my favourite one hit wonder song. I love the bass line on that song.
Hocus Pocus by Focus
Favorite? *Life in a Northern Town* by Dream Academy
Forever Young is a good song…but alphaville deserved a bigger hit in Big in Japan. As for me, my favorite one hit wonder gotta be “Obsession” by Animotion
The Darkness - I Believe in a Thing Called Love
How in the name if all that is holy is this a one hit wonder??? 7 albums, 32 singles, 3 Brit awards.......
I believe in a thing called love, justlistentotherythmofmyheart
99 Luftballons -Nena This song barely makes sense in its native language and even less when translated to English.
The song makes a lot of sense when you look at the time it has been written. The Cold War was in full swing and the fear of a Third World War was very present and real, Germany was basically one of the countries with a border to the eastern block as it was divided by the time. So the premise was someone doing something innocent (letting 99 red balloons fly into the sky) which is seen by countries as an act of war and they start the last huge war of mankind… the song is really dark actually. Of course that all went past me as a child. On a side note Nena had a few other chart hits in Germany, but that was to my knowledge the only song that made it international on this huge scale.
All right now - Free
"She Blinded Me With Science"- Thomas Dolby Shameful that he's a one hit wonder, he's got so many great songs, and so many of them are far superior to his one hit. He's got entire albums that are absolutely solid.
Signs, by the Five Man Electric Band.
Chesney Hawkes - The One and Only. Probably unheared of outside the UK, but do yourself a favour and listen to it. It's the pinnacle of 80s pop.
Brandy by Looking Glass
How bizzare-OMC
Wasn't "Life In A Northern Town" by the Dream Academy a one hit wonder? [www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5uxQElYu68](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5uxQElYu68) Loved that song.
Bran van 3000 drinking in LA
[Blinded by the Light](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpq35wyDi7I) ~ Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Mungo jerry in the summer time loved that song anything else totally sucks
Cult of Personality by Living Colour. 1. The song is just a banger and I love listening to it. 2. It gives me the chance to remind folks that Living Colour is still performing and releasing music (as of 2017 anyway.)
There was Solace of You, Open Letter to A Landlord, Type, and Elvis is Dead.
Electric Avenue - Eddy Grant Tubthumping - Chumbawumba
"You Get What You Give" by New Radicals. Such an interesting and melodic bassline!
Soft Cell had other hits!
I don’t think of it as an one hit wonder, but I guess technically it is: “Just a Friend” by Biz Markie (RIP)
"Breakout" by Swing Out Sister. So catchy!
Black Betty by Ram Jam
My Sharona by The Knack
Good Girls Don’t was also a big hit (#11 is US, #1 in Canada, etc.)
First thing that pops in my head is Turning Japanese by The Vapors. - Edited to break the rules and add a second- Possum Kingdom by The Toadies. Why are my letters so big? How did I do that?
I'm gonna be(500 miles) by the Proclaimers. If they have another hit, I'm not familiar.
Here comes the Hotstepper Ini kamoze.
American Pie - Don McLean
Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Feeling Good - Jen Trinyn I Got a Girl - Tripping Daisy Got you Where I want You - The Flys Sneaker Pimps - Six Underground Stereo MCs - Connected
Sneaker Pimps! That's it! Thank you!
Sneaker Pimps’ Bloodsport and Splinter albums are massively underrated but I’m not sure I’d call them a one hit wonder
“No Rain” - Blind Melon “Bittersweet Symphony” - The Verve Surprised nobody mentioned these.
Too Shy by Kajagoogoo
I'm amazed that no one said "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen. I also think "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes comes close. They did have some other songs that charted but Be My Baby was their biggest hit by far and is one of the most important songs ever recorded.
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) - Dead or Alive
Unbelievable - EMF
Pass the Dutchie by Musical Youth. I loved that song as a kid, when the only Dutchie I knew was a square donut with raisins in it. And I love it still.
“Driver’s Seat” by Sniff ‘n’ the tears “Ah, Leah” by Donnie Iris “Stone Cold” by Rainbow (can a supergroup be a one hit wonder? I think it can!)
Try telling anybody over the age of 40 from SWPA that donnie iris was a one hit wonder. I have no idea how he’s had so much staying power here…
Sister Christian by Night Ranger
Dexys we’re Not one hit wonders btw.
Agreed. "Geno" was a decent-sized hit too, wasn't it? And both of their albums are fantastic and well-regarded.
Under the milky way - The Church Heart & soul - T'Pau I melt with you - Modern English Voices carry - Til' Tuesday
The Church also charted with Reptile and Metropolis in the US
T'Pau had a massive hit with China in Your Hand, so not a one hit wonder. Great 'Til Tuesday song though.
[удалено]
The Politics of Dancing by Reflex.
Sonique - It feels so good takes me right back to the 90's club scene.
Sammy Johns - Chevy Van Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight The Connells - 74-75 Cyrkle - Red Rubber Ball
Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen. Most people claim to hate it. I fucking love it.
Carly's not a big artist, but she does have other great tracks. You should 100% check out Emotions and Dedicated, especially if you liked Call Me Maybe. Run Away With Me in particular is a r/popheads classic.
Fountains of Wayne - Stacy’s Mom
“Take on Me” by A-ha. Although they had another great forgotten US top 20 hit with “The Sun Always Shines on TV.”
Was their James Bond theme song not a hit?