Just because an artist gets labeled a one-hit wonder, that doesn\u2019t mean their impact on music is so easily forgotten. Many timeless and classic songs have been written and recorded by artists who enjoyed only one mainstream hit.<\/p>\n
In the below list of 40 Biggest One-Hit Wonders, we consider a song\u2019s commercial success as well as how it’s endured. The \u201880s are well-represented. The decade seemed to breed a large amount of one-hit wonders, many of whom rode the emerging new wave genre. Nine of our Top 10 one-hit wonders come from that decade, but the \u201860s, \u201870s and \u201890s still landed songs elsewhere on the list.<\/p>\n
40. Cutting Crew, “I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight”
\nThis chart-topping 1986 hit wasn’t inspired by a near-death experience but a sexual one. Cutting Crew singer Nick Van Eede came up with the song\u2019s chorus after a one-night tryst with a former girlfriend. \u201cWe got back together for one night after a year apart, and I guess there were some fireworks but all the time tinged with a feeling of, ‘Should I really be doing this?”\u201d the singer later recalled. The power ballad struck a chord with music fans and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. As a debut single, Cutting Crew couldn\u2019t have asked for a bigger introduction to the world, but with success came pressure. Cracks began to surface when none of their follow-up singles met commercial expectations. A battle with management kept the band\u2019s sophomore album from coming out until 1989. It bombed, and by 1993 the group had disbanded.<\/p>\n
39. Toni Basil, “Mickey”
\nThe song as infectious as a pep rally \u2013 so much so that its music video was cheerleader-themed \u2013 \u201cMickey\u201d burrowed its way into listeners\u2019 ears in January 1982. The track had originally been released by the British band Racey, but that version used the name \u201cKitty\u201d instead of \u201cMickey\u201d and didn’t include the song’s catchy \u201cYou\u2019re so fine, you blow my mind\u201d chant. Singer Toni Basil, who started her career as a choreographer after being a, yes, cheerleader in her youth, brought \u201cMickey\u201d to life. The song hit No. 1 in the U.S. and was certified platinum, but Basil never came close to that success with any of her other songs.<\/p>\n
38. The Knack, “My Sharona”
\nShould the Knack be considered a two-hit wonder? An argument can be made. After all, their single \u201cGood Girls Don\u2019t\u201d reached No. 11 on the Billboard chart, meaning they qualify for this list by the slimmest of margins. Still, ask the average music fan to sing a line from \u201cGood Girls Don\u2019t\u201d and they\u2019ll likely stare back with a blank face. Ask them for a part from \u201cMy Sharona\u201d and you\u2019ll likely get a rousing, \u201cMy, my, my, I, yi, woo!\u201d The 1979 single was an instant classic, Capitol Records’ fastest single to be certified gold since the Beatles\u2019 \u201cI Want to Hold Your Hand.\u201d The Knack\u2019s frontman, Doug Fieger, wrote \u201cMy Sharona\u201d after falling for a woman named Sharona, who appeared on the single\u2019s cover. While their relationship didn\u2019t last, the two reportedly remained close friends up until Fieger died in 2010.<\/p>\n
37. After the Fire, “Der Kommissar”
\nAustrian singer Falco deserves an honorable mention. His 1985 hit \u201cRock Me Amadeus\u201d didn\u2019t get enough votes from our writers to crack our Top 40, but he has a part in \u201cDer Kommissar\u201d: He released the original version of the hit song. His single, released in 1981, was sung in German and received just a little attention in the U.S. A year later the U.K. band After the Fire covered the song in English, scoring the only hit of their career. Success arrived too late for the band. After the Fire, which had been together since 1982, was crumbling as \u201cDer Kommissar\u201d was climbing the charts. The group had already broken up by the time the song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.<\/p>\n
36. Gary Numan, “Cars”
\nGary Numan had enjoyed success with the new wave group Tubeway Army, which scored a U.K. hit with their 1979 single \u201cAre ‘Friends’ Electric?\u201d That same year, Numan broke out as a solo act, scoring a worldwide hit with his debut single, \u201cCars.\u201d The song, inspired by a bout of road rage, found Numan embracing a poppier approach to songwriting. “This was the first time I had written a song with the intention of, ‘Maybe it could be a hit single,\u2019\u201d the singer admitted. \u201cCars\u201d hit No. 9 in the U.S. and No. 1 in the U.K. While Numan has enjoyed a respected career ever since, he\u2019s never again had a hit single.<\/p>\n
35. Mungo Jerry, “In the Summertime”
\nWhen you think \u201csound of summer\u201d you don\u2019t usually think \u201cjug band.\u201d But that’s exactly the style of music Mungo Jerry used in their 1970 hit. Reportedly written by singer Ray Dorset in just 10 minutes, the breezy track perfectly captures that time of year when \u201cthe weather is high.\u201d It reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the only Mungo Jerry song to earn mainstream attention in the States.<\/p>\n
34. Kajagoogoo, “Too Shy”
\nEnglish new wave group Kajagoogoo had been together for roughly five years \u2013 under the name Art Nouveau at first \u2013 before signing their first record deal in 1982. They struck gold with their debut single, \u201cToo Shy,\u201d which was produced by Duran Duran\u2019s Nick Rhodes. The band\u2019s label had pushed against the track, claiming it was too dark. \u201cThey wanted to release what they considered to be a brighter, poppier track,\u201d bassist Nick Beggs later recalled. Kajagoogoo looked poised for a bright career when, in 1983, \u201cToo Shy\u201d went Top 5 in 12 countries, including the U.S. While follow-up singles “Ooh to Be Aah” and “Hang on Now” did well in the U.K., neither registered in the U.S. The band broke up at the end of 1985, but \u201cToo Shy\u201d has remained a time capsule of the era, included in everything from the soundtrack to The Wedding Singer to the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.<\/p>\n
33. Peter Schilling, “Major Tom”
\nHere’s a rare occurrence where an artist created a sequel to someone else’s song. Singer Peter Schilling based \u201cMajor Tom\u201d on a character first created by David Bowie for the 1969 single \u201cSpace Oddity.\u201d Schilling\u2019s song kept up the interplanetary theme, with its chorus: \u201cEarth below us \/ Drifting, falling \/ Floating weightless \/ Calling, calling home.\u201d Released in 1983, \u201cMajor Tom\u201d reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, the only song of Schilling\u2019s career to chart in the U.S.<\/p>\n
32. The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, “Fire”
\nWith a demonic spoken word opening in which frontman Arthur Brown declared himself the “god of Hellfire,\u201d \u201cFire\u201d hardly seemed like the type of song that would find mainstream success. But the psychedelic rock track managed to ignite something in fans. The 1968 single hit No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 2 in the U.S., making it the Crazy World of Arthur Brown\u2019s most successful single. The group broke up in 1970 but returned in 2000, with material arriving sporadically ever since.<\/p>\n
31. Georgia Satellites, “Keep Your Hands to Yourself”
\nThey may be a one-hit wonder, but Georgia Satellites sure made an impact with their only mainstream single. When \u201cKeep Your Hands to Yourself\u201d reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987 \u2013 held out of the top spot by Bon Jovi\u2019s \u201cLivin\u2019 on a Prayer\u201d \u2013 the heavy-hitting song proved that southern rock could still thrive, while also inspiring heavier guitars in country songs. \u201cSomebody made the comment that it was the song that saved rock ‘n’ roll and ruined country music at the same time,\u201d singer Dan Baird once admitted to Rolling Stone. \u201cIt meant it brought rock ‘n’ roll back to its roots for a few minutes, but it turned the corner on country being afraid of dumb loud guitars.\u201d<\/p>\n
30. Shocking Blue, “Venus”
\nDutch rock group Shocking Blue had a few hits in their homeland in the late \u201860s, but it was 1969\u2019s \u201cVenus\u201d that brought international attention. The song, with its strummy guitar and groovy organ, climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Even though the band never came close to such heights again, \u201cVenus\u201d sold more than 5 million copies around the world and continues to be popular, appearing in everything from The Queen\u2019s Gambit to a long-running advertising campaign for Gillette, whose women\u2019s line of razors is called Venus.<\/p>\n
29. The Vapors, “Turning Japanese”
\nDuring the new wave boom of the late ’70s and early \u201880s, it seemed like another new wave act was arriving from the U.K. each week. Among them was the Vapors, a quartet from Surrey that released their debut album, New Clear Days, in 1980. The lead single, \u201cTurning Japanese,\u201d was built on a Japanese-sounding motif, but the catchy song\u2019s narrative was often misinterpreted. \u201cIt was intended purely as a love song,\u201d singer Dave Fenton later explained. \u201cThe protagonist is sitting in his bedroom, which has become like a prison cell, pining over a photograph of his ex-girlfriend.\u201d \u201cTurning Japanese\u201d became the Vapors’ only hit, and by 1982 the band was over. \u201cWhen people ask if the song\u2019s become an albatross, I say no,\u201d Fenton admitted. \u201cI\u2019m pleased it happened to us. I\u2019d rather be a one-hit wonder than a no-hit wonder.\u201d<\/p>\n
28. Wild Cherry, “Play That Funky Music”
\nWild Cherry began life as a hard rock cover band in the Pittsburgh area. As the \u201870s rolled on, the group found it more difficult to book gigs, as disco and dance tunes had overtaken rock in popularity. \u201cOne night, I got the band in the dressing room and I told them, ‘We’ve got to play more of this disco stuff,’\u201d singer Rob Parissi recalled. “They went nuts: ‘We don’t want to be a disco band.’\u201d At one of Wild Cherry\u2019s shows, a Black audience member asked, \u201cAre you white boys going to play some funky music?\u201d An idea was spawned. \u201cPlay That Funky Music\u201d became a No. 1 single in 1976, reaching multiplatinum sales and earning Wild Cherry a pair of Grammy nominations. After failing to follow up \u201cPlay That Funky Music\u201d with another hit, they broke up in 1979.<\/p>\n
27. The Ides of March, “Vehicle”
\nIt\u2019s hard to deny the gravitational pull of \u201cVehicle\u201d when those horns kick in. The 1970 single was a breakout hit for the Ides of March, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. After years of touring around their native Illinois, \u201cVehicle\u201d elevated the Ides of March to national touring act. The band shared the stage with such luminaries as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin, but they were never able to score another hit. Even after ditching the brass section and trying to move in a new stylistic direction, nothing seemed to click. The Ides of March broke up in 1973, but the band\u2019s singer and co-founder, Jim Peterik, had a more successful second act when he founded Survivor in 1978 and scored several big hits in the \u201880s.<\/p>\n
26. The Proclaimers, “I\u2019m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”
\nWith their pasty, clean-cut and spectacled look, twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid hardly looked the part of chart-topping rock stars. Still, the Irish duo had a songwriting gift, including a knack for pop hooks. In 1988 their group the Proclaimers released the album Sunshine on Leith, featuring “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).\u201d The song hit first in the U.K., where it reached No. 11. Five years later it caught on in the U.S. thanks to its inclusion in the romantic comedy Benny & Joon. Rereleased as a single, \u201cI\u2019m Gonna Be (500 Miles)\u201d peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.<\/p>\n
25. The Contours, “Do You Love Me”
\n\u201cDo You Love Me\u201d was written by Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr., who had intended to give it to the Temptations to record. But the Temptations weren’t in the studio when Gordy went there, so he offered it to another Motown vocal group, the Contours. The group cemented its place in music history with “Do You Love Me.” The song remains a favorite at weddings, birthdays and bar mitzvahs.<\/p>\n
24. Iron Butterfly, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vidda”
\nIt\u2019s messy, there are mistakes in the recording and it’s words are difficult to understand – it was supposed to be “In the Garden of Eden.” But there’s something gloriously indulgent about \u201cIn-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.\u201d Running more than 17 minutes, the song is a long and winding psychedelic trip, complete with drums, guitar and soaring organ parts. Even though Iron Butterfly would never score another hit following this 1968 single, \u201cIn-A-Gadda-Da-Vida\u201d remains a cultural tentpole, appearing everywhere from The Simpsons to a popular sample in rap songs.<\/p>\n
23. Buckner & Garcia, “Pac-Man Fever”
\nHistory is filled with novelty hits but few enjoyed more of a cultural impact than Buckner & Garcia\u2019s \u201cPac-Man Fever.\u201d The 1981 single was recorded in response to the popular video game, which became a phenomenon across the globe in 1980. Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia were jingle writers from Akron and witnessed the excitement surrounding Pac-Man firsthand. \u201cPac-Man\u201d fever reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and inspired the duo to record an entire album of video game-inspired songs, including \u201cDo the Donkey Kong,\u201d \u201cOde to Centipede\u201d and \u201cFroggy’s Lament.\u201d Lightning didn\u2019t strike twice, and \u201cPac-Man Fever\u201d remained their only hit.<\/p>\n
22. Men Without Hats, “The Safety Dance”
\n\u201cThe Safety Dance\u201d was written by Men Without Hats singer Ivan Doroschuk after he\u2019d been thrown out of a club for \u201cpogoing,\u201d the bouncing new wave dance not always accepted by concerned staff. \u201cI was kind of mad that they wouldn\u2019t let me dance if I wanted to, so I took matters in my own hands and wrote an anthem for it,\u201d he later recalled. Doroschuk never expected \u201cThe Safety Dance\u201d to become a hit, but something about the song clicked with audiences. \u201cI think people can relate to the empowering kind of message of ‘The Safety Dance’: ‘You can dance if you want to,’\u201d Doroschuk explained in a later interview. \u201cAnd when the song first came out, it was the beginning of rap, and it was one of the only songs that had a spoken thing to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
21. The Church, “Under the Milky Way”
\n\u201cUnder the Milky Way\u201d proved to be both a blessing and a curse for the Australian band the Church. The 1988 single became the group\u2019s biggest international hit, introducing them to a larger audience and taking them on tours around the world. But there were plenty of drawbacks. “The guys in the band all hated each other, and they all hated me,\u201d singer Steve Kilbey explained in 2018. \u201cInstead of being grateful that I’d written this song which had dragged them into the spotlight they were sort of envious and miserable about it as well.” Even though the Church has enjoyed a career spanning more than four decades, \u201cUnder the Milky Way\u201d remains its only U.S. hit.<\/p>\n
20. Carl Douglas, “Kung Fu Fighting”
\nCarl Douglas was born in Jamaica and raised in England. Neither nation, it should be noted, is known for its contributions to martial arts. Still, that didn\u2019t stop Douglas from tapping into the popularity of Kung Fu movies in the \u201870s with his song \u201cKung Fu Fighting.\u201d The track was recorded in just 10 minutes and was meant to be the B-side of a single. \u201cI went over the top on the ‘huhs’ and the ‘hahs’ and the chopping sounds,\u201d producer Biddu recalled. \u201cIt was a B-side; who was going to listen?\u201d As it turned out, lots of people. \u201cKung Fu Fighting\u201d topped charts across the globe in 1974, selling more than 11 million copies worldwide. Douglas tried to capitalize on the track\u2019s popularity by recording a similar song, \u201cDance the Kung Fu,\u201d but it didn\u2019t receive the same excitement. He never scored another hit, but “Kung Fu Fighting” has remained omnipresent, used in TV shows and movies such as Dancing With the Stars, Scrubs, Beverly Hills Ninja, Rush Hour and Kung Fu Panda.<\/p>\n
19. Dead or Alive, “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)”
\nLiverpool group Dead or Alive had already made some noise in the U.K.\u2019s dance scene when they released their 1984 single “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record).\u201d The track catapulted them onto the world\u2019s stage, going Top 10 in 15 countries, including a No. 11 peak in the States. Although it would be their only hit, the catchy song would later be covered by a variety of artists, including Jessica Simpson and nu metal band Dope. Rapper Flo Rida also interpolated the song\u2019s chorus for his 2009 hit single with Kesha, \u201cRight Round.\u201d<\/p>\n
18. The Penguins, “Earth Angel”<\/p>\n
The only thing better than having a hit song is having one on your first try. “Earth Angel” – penned by Curtis Williams, Jesse Belvin and Gaynel Hodge – was released by the Penguins in 1954 as their debut single and became an enormous hit. “Earth Angel” was a demo; vocal group the Penguins had recorded the song in the garage of a cousin to the song’s producer, Dootsie Williams. No overdubs were needed. “Earth Angel” was the Penguin’s only hit, but it sold millions of copies and has been called one of the cornerstone songs of doo-wop.<\/p>\n
17. Lipps Inc, “Funkytown”
\nAnyone complaining about modern music stars being \u201cfabricated\u201d or \u201cindustry plants\u201d should take a look back in history. Record producer Steve Greenberg formed Lipps Inc. in 1979 as a vehicle for former beauty queen Cynthia Johnson, who was looking to transition into music. Greenberg loaded a group with session musicians and then wrote a song to break them. \u201cFunkytown\u201d became a massive worldwide hit. Lipps Inc. was never able to replicate the success, and Johnson eventually enjoyed a career second act in gospel music.<\/p>\n
16. Steam, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”
\nStudio musicians Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer and Paul Leka had worked together on various projects for a few years. In 1969, DeCarlo was recording songs with Leka producing when they decided to revisit an old idea. “I started writing while I was sitting at the piano going ‘Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.’ … Everything was ‘na na’ when you didn’t have a lyric,\u201d Leka recalled. The result was “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye,” which they planned to use as a B-side to DeCarlo\u2019s next single, but the record label loved it so much they wanted to make it the favored track. Due to contractual obligations, the single was released under the band name Steam, even though there wasn’t a real group at the time. “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has endured as a timeless kiss-off.<\/p>\n
15. Chumbawamba, “Tubthumping”
\nThere isn’t anything inherently interesting about Chumbawamba\u2019s \u201cTubthumping.\u201d The song repeats the same lyrical phrase \u2013 \u201cI get knocked down, but I get up again \/ You\u2019re never gonna keep me down” \u2013 a whopping 29 times. The only other lyrics generally cover a list of beverages \u2013 whiskey drink, vodka drink, lager drink, cider drink \u2013 and the act of \u201cpissing the night away.\u201d But the song was a massive international hit in 1997. It made the Top 10 in 17 different countries, including a peak of No. 6 in the U.S. Critics raved about the song, while its video was plastered all over MTV. But Chumbawamba was a political rock collective whose music sounded little like their one hit. Mainstream success wasn\u2019t their goal, so \u201cTubthumping\u201d was their only song to chart in the States.<\/p>\n
14. Ram Jam, “Black Betty”
\nThat riff, that thumping beat, that \u201cBam-ba-lam\u201d – there\u2019s no escaping the infectious excitement of Ram Jam\u2019s \u201cBlack Betty.\u201d The song began life as a 20th-century African-American work song. Exactly what \u201cBlack Betty\u201d is a nickname for has been debated, though the most common theory is a bottle of whiskey. Blues and folk legend Lead Belly recorded a popular a cappella version in 1939. More than 35 years later, New York rock band Ram Jam got their hands on it, turning “Black Betty” into a hard rocking hit. Ram Jam wasn\u2019t able to keep the momentum rolling, as band turmoil quickly brought the group to an end. They broke up in 1978, roughly a year after \u201cBlack Betty\u201d was released.<\/p>\n
13. Blind Melon, “No Rain”
\nBlind Melon was on top of the musical mountain in 1993 when their single \u201cNo Rain\u201d became a massive hit. The song’s popularity, further enhanced by its beloved \u201cBee Girl\u201d music video, helped push Blind Melon\u2019s self-titled debut album to multiplatinum sales. With performances opening for the Rolling Stones and a set at Woodstock \u201894, Blind Melon were enjoying the fruits of their success. But their sophomore album, Soup, sold poorly, and just months after its release, frontman Shannon Hoon died of a cocaine overdose at the age of 28. His death brought Blind Melon to a close.<\/p>\n
12. Big Country, “In a Big Country”
\nThe \u201880s were all about being big: big hair, big cars and big songs. The Scottish band Big Country scored a massive hit in 1983 with \u201cIn a Big Country,\u201d a soaring song about harnessing hope and optimism. With guitar parts engineered to sound like bagpipes, the track sounded unlike anything else on the radio. It reached No. 3 on Billboard\u2019s Mainstream Rock chart and No. 17 on the Hot 100, and its video earned heavy rotation on MTV. It marked a career highwater mark for Big Country, who never again came close to such commercial success.<\/p>\n
11. Autograph, “Turn Up the Radio”
\nAutograph got a head start when they were selected by drummer Keni Richards’ friend David Lee Roth to open 48 shows on Van Halen’s 1984 tour before releasing an album or even signing a record contract. The attention scored them a deal, and “Turn Up the Radio,” the first single from their debut album Sign In Please, cracked the Top 30. The song’s profile was further boosted by appearances in Miami Vice and several movies. But even after releasing two more albums in the ’80s, the band never broke through to the next level.<\/p>\n
10. Norman Greenbaum, “Spirit in the Sky”
\nAfter bouncing around bands, Norman Greenbaum became a solo artist in the late \u201860s. He penned \u201cSpirit in the Sky\u201d as a folk song, but producer Erik Jacobsen helped build it into a psychedelic rocker, a song instantly recognizable from its first notes. “I’m just some Jewish musician who really dug gospel music,\u201d Greenbaum explained to Rolling Stone. \u201cI decided there was a larger Jesus gospel market out there than a Jehovah one.” In 1970, \u201cSpirit in the Sky\u201d hit No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 3 in the U.S. Sixteen years later, British glam rock band Doctor and the Medics topped the U.K. chart with a cover. It happened again in 2003 when Gareth Gates reached No. 1 in the U.K. with his rendition. As such, the track has the distinct honor of having been No. 1 in the U.K. three different times by three different artists.<\/p>\n
9. Eddy Grant, “Electric Avenue”
\nAfter two decades of success in the U.K., both with his band the Equals and as a solo act, Eddy Grant finally invaded the U.S. in 1983, thanks to \u201cElectric Avenue.\u201d The track\u2019s subject matter, race riots in the Brixton area of London, was likely lost on American listeners, but its reggae rhythm and catchy chorus connected all the same. The single reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum. Even though Grant has remained a popular presence in music, another hit has eluded him.<\/p>\n
8. Tommy Tutone, “867-5309\/Jenny”
\nNot only was there never a real Jenny, there was never even a Tommy Tutone. The band scored their only hit in 1981 with “867-5309\/Jenny,\u201d which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is about a girl\u2019s phone number written on the bathroom wall, a story the group initially claimed was true. But in 2004 co-writer Alex Call set the record straight. \u201cDespite all the mythology to the contrary, I actually just came up with the ‘Jenny’ and the telephone number and the music and all that just sitting in my backyard. There was no Jenny,” he explained. \u201cTommy Tutone’s been using the story for years that there was a Jenny and she ran a recording studio and so forth. It makes a better story, but it’s not true.\u201d<\/p>\n
7. Modern English, “I Melt With You”<\/p>\n
When Modern English wrote “I Melt With You” in the early ’80s, England was in a pretty bleak place economically: A deep recession was taking place as the government attempted to deal with inflation. Everyone felt the effects. “There was no money. There’d be no power \u2014 you’d be at home with candles,” Modern English singer Robbie Grey later explained. It was the ideal time for a lucrative hit song, which Modern English landed with “I Melt With You” in 1982. Ironically, the song was bigger in the U.S., reaching No. 78 on the Hot 100. Modern English never had another hit.<\/p>\n
6. Dexys Midnight Runners, “Come On Eileen”
\nIn 1982, English band Dexys Midnight Runners delivered one of the \u201880s most memorable songs. With a distinctive Celtic fiddle, \u201cCome On Eileen\u201d didn’t sound like any other song at the time. Part of its charm was its simplicity. Anyone at any age could sing along, especially the track’s climatic \u201cToo-ra-loo-ra Too-ra-loo-rye-ay\u201d section. \u201cCome On Eileen\u201d reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983, the only U.S. hit for Dexys Midnight Runners.<\/p>\n
5. Nena, “99 Luftballons”
\nIt takes guts, talent and a bit of luck to turn nuclear war into a timeless song. Gabriele Susanne Kerner \u2013 better known by her stage name Nena \u2013 had all of that in 1983. \u201c99 Luftballons\u201d was originally released in Nena\u2019s native German. The language barrier didn\u2019t stop it from climbing the charts all over the world, including a peak of No. 2 in the U.S., where an English version called “99 Red Balloons” was released. Nena never scored another hit and had broken up by the end of the \u201880s, but Kerner continued having success in Germany for years as a solo act.<\/p>\n
4. Soft Cell, “Tainted Love”
\nBritish soul singer Gloria Jones originally released \u201cTainted Love\u201d in 1965. The song wasn’t a hit and was largely forgotten until Soft Cell got their hands on it. By adding a male perspective, along with a sinister vocal delivery, the synth-pop duo turned their icy track into a worldwide hit. Their version of \u201cTainted Love\u201d became a chart-topper in 1981, reaching No. 1 in 17 countries and peaking at No. 8 in the U.S. Its 43 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 set a then-record for the longest consecutive stay on the chart. It was the band\u2019s only hit in the U.S., but they remained popular in the U.K.<\/p>\n
3. Frankie Goes to Hollywood, “Relax”
\nDecades after its 1983 release, kids in their teens and 20s are still buying T-shirts that read “Frankie Say Relax.” \u201cRelax\u201d was quite controversial when it was released because of its overtly sexual subject matter (\u201cRelax, don\u2019t do it \/ When you want to come\u201d). The track was banned by the BBC, which unintentionally gave the Liverpool-based Frankie Goes to Hollywood more attention than they ever imagined. \u201cRelax\u201d hit No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 10 in the U.S. While Frankie Goes to Hollywood had a few more hits in Europe, they never again clicked with American listeners.<\/p>\n
2. A-ha, “Take On Me”<\/p>\n
Oddly enough, when a-ha released “Take On Me” as a single in the U.K. in 1984, it flopped, reaching only No. 137. (For what it’s worth, it did make it to No. 3 in the band’s home country of Norway.) They tried releasing the song two more times in 1985, and finally, it took off, making it to No. 2 and No. 1 on the U.K. and U.S. charts, respectively. This was helped by an innovative, animated pencil-sketch video that was played often on MTV and won multiple awards. Pretty impressive for a song that band members Pal Waaktaar and Magne Furuholmen first started fleshing out as teenagers.<\/p>\n
1. The Buggles, “Video Killed the Radio Star”
\nEnglish new wave group the Buggles was active for only five years, from 1977 to 1982. Made up of singer and bassist Trevor Horn and keyboardist Geoff Downes, the duo experimented with rapidly changing studio technology. They released their synth-heavy debut album The Age of Plastic in 1980, which included the single \u201cVideo Killed the Radio Star.\u201d While the song became a hit all over the world, the U.S. was slow to catch on. The track peaked at No. 40 and then started to fade. Then MTV premiered in August 1981, and \u201cVideo Killed the Radio Star\u201d was the first video to air on the fledgling network. It became a symbolic change of the guards for the way audiences consumed music. Both members of the Buggles have gone on to other successful endeavors (as producers and members of Yes and Asia), but \u201cVideo Killed the Radio Star\u201d remains a pivotal snapshot in history.<\/p>\n
20 Greatest Comeback Albums
\nBecoming a successful artist is difficult. Remaining on top forever is downright impossible.
\nGallery Credit: UCR Staff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Just because an artist gets labeled a one-hit wonder, that doesn\u2019t mean their impact on music is so easily forgotten. Many timeless and classic songs … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2602,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"\n