The stiff definition of a one-hit wonder in music is a song that has hit the sweet Top 40 of national or international pop charts. But, as with many rigid definitions, this one doesn't reflect on the real essence of the phenomena. For example, suppose we'd base our list of one-hit wonders on this rule. In that case, we should include such artists as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, and many others who were and still are renowned musicians despite having had only one hit song fitting into the description above. So what exactly is a one-hit wonder? Well, to make up for our lack of knowledge, we've talked to Andrius Kairys - a musician/songwriter with more than 20 years of experience in performing and writing song lyrics for famous Lithuanian pop stars. There's little he hasn't had experience with, having spent a better part of his life as a drummer. From being an original member of probably the most famous Lithuanian pop band Skamp to jamming with the renowned jazz composer Marcus Miller, he's probably done it all. Andrius has kindly agreed to tell us more about the conception of a song and the one-hit wonder phenomena itself.
Besides an exciting insight into the music industry, you'll find all of your favorite earworms on our list. From such despicably successful songs as Baha Men - Who Let The Dogs Out to Carl Douglas' Kung Fu Fighting, don't blame us if at least half of this list will fill your head broken record-style. So, scroll down below, vote for the most annoyingly awesome one-hit wonder songs, and see what Andrius had to say about the music industry!
#1 Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (2011)
You don't need a fancy studio to write a song, and Somebody That I Used To Know proves the point. Gotye wrote this mid-tempo art pop love song in his parent's barn on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. Of course, anything based on relationships and their untimely ending resonates with audiences, but that alone isn't the key to success. Gotye used a sample from Brazilian jazz guitarist Luiz Bonfa's song "Seville" and incorporated a jingle from a nursery rhyme "Baa Baa Black Sheep" on a played xylophone to his hit. Maybe the familiar sounds, the heartbreak, and the novel way he has combined them were what made Gotye a one-hit wonder?
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34points
#2 The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men (1982)
Now here's a song that has been rejected almost as many times as it has hit the top of the music charts once recorded. Initially, It's Raining Men was offered to Donna Summer, who was firmly against the song's "blasphemous" lyrics. The piece was then passed on to Diana Ross, Barbara Streisand, and Cher, all of whom said 'thanks, but no.' Finally, after long deliberation, a band called the Two Tons reluctantly recorded it in 1982. Shortly after the single's release, Two Tons changed their name into The Weather Girls, and the rest is history. Not only has this song appeared in many movies (for instance, Geri Halliwell's rendition in Bridget Jones's Diary), topped plenty of charts, but it is also perceived as an unofficial gay anthem. Yet, despite its huge fame, the mystery behind the song's meaning remains.
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31points
Creating a song usually starts with writing the music and the lyrics, then arranging it for instruments and vocals, later moving on to studio recording sessions, and finally, audio mastering. Though it might sound simple enough, in the words of Andrius, "it's an emotional rollercoaster - the process is often filled with distress, disagreements with producers, and finally feelings of elation and accomplishment." Each of the steps of a song's creation is equally important, though according to Andrius, "it's the final song, and its ability to resonate with the audience is what matters the most." He also added that "the idea for a song might come to you spontaneously, but it might also be quite a laborious task, on which you might spend months, if not years in some cases." And if you thought that creating a song is a one-person's job, it's actually not always the case - "it sometimes takes the input, suggestions, and ideas of several people until the song is completed."
#4 The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) (1993)
The Proclaimers, a Scottish duo consisting of twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid, have hit the jackpot with their I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) single. Released in 1988, it quickly became a regular occurrence in various charts worldwide for several years. Almost two decades later, in 2007, The Proclaimers re-recorded the song for UK's Comic Relief charity telethon, and this version of the piece outperformed the original chart run. Not bad for a song that Craig wrote while waiting to go to a football match.
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30points
#5 Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...) (1999)
Okay, folks, time for some fun facts! While maybe Mambo Nr.5 isn't on the peak of this list, it wins for the most random would-be use of a song. Mambo Nr. 5 was destined to become the theme song for the 2000 Democratic National Convention in the US, but the plan was quickly scratched. Yup, it's because the line "A little bit of Monica in my life" seemed too risque and might've been associated with the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal. Now that would've been fun to watch! Anyhow, the Mambo Nr. 5 version that we all know was recorded by a German artist Lou Bega and it's the second count of a song encountering legal issues on our list. See, it was originally composed and recorded by Cuban musician Dámaso Pérez Prado. Though Bega only used riffs from the original, it was still solid ground for a seven-year-long copyright trial.
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30points
#6 Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy (1988)
Here's another artist who isn't really a one-hit wonder - Bobby McFerrin has a discography of eighteen records and has collaborated with such greats as Chick Corea, Dizzy Gilespie, Quincy Jones, Al Jerreau, and many many others. However, none of his other works were so impactful as Don't Worry Be Happy, so we'll still consider it a one-hit wonder. What's interesting about this song is that it was the first-ever acapella song to have reached number one positions in Billboard's Hot 100 chart. All the 'instruments' that you hear in the background of McFerrin's singing are overdubbed voice parts and other sounds that he made himself. This kind of novelty and an honest happy-go-lucky tone of the piece is what has made it an iconic one.
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29points
Dreaming of writing a hit song about Pandas one day, the next question was, naturally, if there's a recipe we can use to accomplish that. It turns out there are some universal instructions to achieving the task, but it's not what you'd expect. "The recipe to creating a successful pop song is hard work." And here we thought that songs come to you in your sleep...
"Of course, it always helps if the songwriter has an original point of view - maybe his understanding of music is unconventional in some way. In some cases, the fearlessness of trying something weird and unexpected is the most important. Nothing's stupid if it catches the attention of the audience in the right way," Andrius elaborated. "You all know such pop songs like Ein Zwei Polizei or I Like To Move It, and they definitely fall under the 'unconventional' category."
#7 Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You (1973)
You might know this song from the iconic debut movie by Quentin Tarantino or from the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Supernatural series, who both re-enacted the same torture scene using the same cheerful song. But, what you might not know is that Stuck In The Middle With You was written and performed by Gerry Rafferty - remember the song called Baker Street and the historical sax solo in it? Well, it's the same Gerry! Also, this song was released in 1973, making it 48-years-old as of today. Something that stays relatable and enjoyable for such a long time is definitely a wonder hit in our book!
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29points
#8 Soft Cell - Tainted Love (1981)
As with plenty of the one-hit wonders on our list, the version of Tainted Love that has gained laurels was a cover and not an original song. Initially released by Gloria Jones in 1965, the song gained plenty of underground popularity but was a flop otherwise until English vocal-and-synth duo Soft Cell picked it up in 1981. Their version of this Northern soul piece reached the top number one position in six countries at the time and later gained numerous covers from various artists, including Marilyn Manson.
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28points
#9 The Archies - Sugar, Sugar (1969)
It turns out you don't even need to be a 'real' band to become a one-hit wonder. Sugar, Sugar, a song that's probably spinning in your head right now, was originally performed by the cartoon band The Archies, who were a part of an animated series called The Archie Show. However, before gracing many households' TV screens, this piece was offered to The Monkees, who, of course, forcefully rejected it. Nevertheless, The Archies and their Sugar, Sugar became a worldwide phenomenon and amassed six million sales of the single in 1969 worldwide.
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27points
We were curious if Andrius had an answer to how does one become a one-hit wonder, to which he answered, "It's either the work of a producer or Lady Luck has smiled upon you." However, in his opinion, becoming a one-hit wonder is not always a happy story. "I sometimes feel sorry for such artists - their fame is quick, and after that, it's oblivion." But, on the other hand, "Writing such a song is like winning a lottery - very unexpected, yet you can buy a house now. Or two. With glorious views of the Italian coastline." Naturally, we just had to ask which of the one-hit wonders is Andrius' favorite, and it's Informer by Canadian reggae musician Snow.
#10 A-Ha - Take On Me (1984)
Scandinavians are notoriously famous for their abilities to come up with one-hit-wonder artists and songs, so it probably wouldn't be too surprising to learn that Take On Me hails from Norway. This time though, the song wasn't based on some Eurovision Song Contest type of modus operandi but instead went in a less trodden path by combining synth pop with live instruments and unique falsetto singing supplied by Morten Harket. The video of this hit is also noteworthy as it was very innovative with its live-band pencil-sketch sequence.
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27points
#11 Cutting Crew - (I Just) Died In Your Arms (1987)
If you'd like to know the exact meaning behind the song, remember the term la petite mort, and you'll get it. This power ballad and debut single was released by an English pop rock band Cutting Crew way back in 1896 and then released to the United States a year later. There, this super hit has even reached the number 1 position on Billboard's Hot 100 list. In early 2020, (I Just) Died In Your Arms was re-released as an orchestral version, together with several other renditions for the band's second compilation album.
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27points
#12 Afroman - Because I Got High (2001)
Seemingly cheerful and delivered in a relaxed, I-chill-for-living tone, the song actually talks about finding your life in shambles after depending on cannabis for way too long. Written and performed by American rapper Afroman, this song was released in 2001 and rose from obscurity to popularity after circulating around the Internet for some time. However, Afroman isn't your typical one-hit wonder, as he has recorded more than thirty albums and has been hustling his homemade records since he was eight. Nevertheless, Because I Got High is his only chart-topper to this day.
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27points
Lastly, we asked Andrius to advise fledgling musicians and performers aiming for a career in the music industry. And it's beyond simple "You have to work your a** off if you hope to succeed. Or, you can always just play around and see what happens."
Thank you, Andrius, for sharing your knowledge with us and our readers! We're off to nod our heads to the beat of Informer, and as for you, dear reader, keep on scrolling down, to read more about the all-time best one-hit wonders featured on our list!
#13 Blue Swede - Hooked On A Feeling (1974)
Now that's a one-hit wonder version of a song that's wildly different from its original version. First recorded by B.J. Thomas in 1968, it didn't have the legendary "Ooga-Chaka-Ooga" passage. Also, the instrumental part of the song relied heavily on the charms of an electric sitar. Then, by its second rendition, made by a British musician Jonathan King, Hooked On A Feeling was supplemented by the iconic intro. Finally, in 1974, the band Blue Swede embellished the "Ooga-Chaka" part even more, and after that, the song became out-of-control famous. Also, it's the second song from our list included in Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs soundtrack. I guess the man just loves himself a good one-hit wonder!
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26points
#14 The Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star (1979)
Video Killed The Radio Star, a new wave synth-pop song released in 1979, instantly found substantial commercial success, topping many charts worldwide. It's another great example of how something original and never-heard-before can gain popularity among the masses. But oh the irony - although the song expresses concerns about the impact of modern technologies on media arts, Video Killed The Radio star was the first-ever music video to be played on MTV in August 1981. Though The Buggles have continued with their music careers for several decades, they will forever be known by this iconic one-hit wonder.
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26points
#15 Natalie Imbruglia - Torn (1997)
Name one other song that made so many teenage girls sigh and cry into their pillows over some Josh or Lucas; I'll wait. In all seriousness, though, Natalie Imbruglia's Torn was a massive success for a debuting artist. The song wasn't originally written by or meant for Natalie and was first recorded in Danish by Lis Sørensen. But it was definitely Imbruglia's talent that made this piece into a megahit. Later, the singer did have more singles that had reached the Top 40 in various charts, but Torn is her career-defining moment, unparalleled to her later works.
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26points
#16 Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy (1991)
I admit I was fooled into thinking that I'm Too Sexy is a cheesy no-brainer, two-chord tune that has gained popularity purely because of its simplicity. However, it is actually a decently composed ditty meant to make fun of self-centered bodybuilders and the apparatus of the fashion industry. So good, in fact, that the Fairbrass brothers of Right Said Fred secured themselves a performance for none other but Queen Elizabeth herself. Not only that, but they've also performed with Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, and David Bowie. The things you learn!
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25points
#20 Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting (1974)
Recorded purely as a space filler for the B side of Carl Douglas' I Want To Give You My Everything single vinyl, this song was made in ten minutes, thinking nobody would listen to it anyway. Upon its release, Kung Fu Fighting did not perform well in the UK charts but gained some popularity in clubs. But, right after its release in the US, Kung Fu Fighting shot straight to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, not only gaining notorious popularity but also an unlikely title. In 1975, Kung Fu Fighting was declared the year's highest-earning soul music track played on jukeboxes in the United States. Composed using the quintessential Oriental riff, embellished with 'huhs' and 'hahs' together with chopping sounds, it was right on time for the ‘70s martial arts film craze.
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24points