I Will Wonder When He Comes Again
One tricky song tin can launch musicians' careers and create a lasting cultural touch on. But sometimes a musical act just can't replicate the success of that lone, chart-topping ditty. Though no ane tries to exist "only another one-hit wonder," one popular melody it all information technology takes to cement a musician's legacy.
In addition to sales figures and Billboard positions, we've looked at streams, downloads, views, and media appearances to make up one's mind which songs are the nearly successful one-hit wonders of all fourth dimension. Read on to find out if your favorite '90s jam or a yesteryear ballad snags the top spot.
'Tainted Love' past Soft Prison cell, 1982
"Tainted Honey" debuted at #90 on charts in the United states, and then fell. But it couldn't become away—at least, not for long. Later on 19 weeks, it came back to cleft the Top 40, eventually peaking at #8.
The song was originally written and recorded past legendary vocalist and songwriter Gloria Jones in the '60s, but it didn't come across much success. Even Jones's 1976 re-release didn't chart.
But the song simply needed the influence of the '80s to brand a splash. All in all, the Soft Cell hit spent a record-breaking 43 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100. In six other countries, the vocal climbed to #1.
Peak Chart Position: #viii on Billboard'due south Hot 100
'Baby Got Back' by Sir Mix-a-Lot, 1992
Though "Infant Got Back" debuted at #75, it went on to clinch Billboard'south top spot afterward 12 weeks. The song held on for an impressive v weeks and, almost x years later, is placed #30 on Billboard'southward Decade-End Hot 100.
Initially banned on MTV for its objectionable lyrics, "Infant Got Back" rebounded with a 1993 Grammy win for Sir Mix-a-Lot.
Since then, the song has appeared in Charlie's Angels (2000), Pitch Perfect 2 (2015), and the Tv series Friends. Famously, vocaliser and rapper Nicki Minaj heavily samples this one-hit wonder in her hit vocal "Anaconda."
Peak Chart Position: #one on Billboard's Hot 100
'Ice Ice Babe' by Vanilla Ice, 1990
Believe it or not, "Ice Water ice Baby" clinching the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 marks the start fourth dimension a hip-hop single did so. It also climbed to #ane in 6 other countries, including the Great britain and Australia.
With three Platinum certifications, it outsold its A-side, Vanilla'south Ice's embrace of "Play That Funky Music." Merely things turned a little yikes, yikes, infant when Queen and David Bowie caught wind of the song'due south claw, which heavily samples their striking "Under Pressure."
And, of class, Queen and Bowie would desire a slice of those royalties: the song went Platinum in three countries.
Summit Chart Position: #1 on Billboard's Hot 100
'Eye of the Tiger' by Survivor, 1982
After Queen denied Sylvester Stallone's request to utilize "Another Ane Bites the Dust" in Rocky Iii (1982), the film'south star and director landed on "Eye of the Tiger." Now, this one-hit wonder can't be separated from moving picture's favorite boxer.
After mass exposure thanks to the motion picture and MTV, the vocal remained #1 on Billboard'south Hot 100 for six sequent weeks. Information technology went 2x Platinum and nabbed Survivor a Grammy for "Best Rock Performance."
Since the advent of the digital age, "Center of the Tiger" has gone 8x Platinum for digital downloads solitary. A clear example of "risin' upwards, straight to the top" if we ever saw one.
Peak Chart Position: #one on Billboard's Hot 100
'I'm Likewise Sexy' by Right Said Fred, 1991
Right Said Fred's hit topped the charts in half-dozen countries, including Australia and the Us. It went Platinum in both of those markets, as well. VH1 went on to dub it one of the "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s" and awarded information technology #ii on its "40 Greatest Ane-Hit Wonders of the '90s" listing.
Nonetheless, it's the perfect instance of a decidedly divisive song. The earworm placed on Blender's "l Worst Songs E'er! Scout, Listen and Cringe!" But…pop sensation Taylor Swift sampled the song in her 2017 rebrand "Expect What You lot Made Me Do."
Then, what does all this mean? Like information technology or not, "I'm Too Sexy" is an undeniable office of pop civilisation.
Tiptop Chart Position: #one on Billboard'southward Hot 100
'What'southward Upwardly?' by iv Non Blondes, 1993
We pray—oh my god, do nosotros pray—every single listicle that "What's Upwards?" will make the cut. Simply like its karaoke potential, the song's success is undeniable. The 4 Non Blondes' second single snagged the meridian spot in xi countries as well as #ii in Australia and the United kingdom.
In 2005, a YouTube video re-popularized the song under the unofficial title "HEYYEYAAEYAAAEYAEYAA." The music video-turned-meme features the cartoon character He-Man singing a rendition of "What's Up?" And this has spawned hundreds of imitations and remixes.
Thank you to the parody video, the vocal has been listened to over 154 million times. Not to mention it'south certified 2x Platinum in five countries.
Peak Nautical chart Position: #14 on Billboard's Hot 100
'Tubthumping' by Chumbawamba, 1997
Endeavor saying "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba five times fast. Or try being a disc jockey in the Uk announcing the Top x songs—for eleven consecutive weeks. That's correct, anarchist punk band Chumbawamba had a massively successful pop vocal on its hands.
Though it has sold over 880,000 copies in the Britain alone, the popular tune besides topped the charts in Commonwealth of australia, Canada, Ireland, Italian republic, and New Zealand. Though it merely charted as high every bit #6 in the United states, it spent a whopping 31 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 listing.
After its initial success, the vocal was nominated for a Brit Accolade for "All-time British Single." It besides became the anthem of EA and FIFA'due south World Loving cup 98 video game.
Peak Chart Position: #half-dozen on Billboard's Hot 100
'Mambo No. 5' by Lou Bega, 1999
"Mambo No. five" was originally equanimous as a mambo and jazz trip the light fantastic toe song past Cuban musician Damaso Perez Prado. He recorded it in 1949 and it became successful. Though arguably not as successful as the 1999 Lou Bega cover.
Bega's version held the #1 spot in Australia for eight weeks and topped almost every chart in continental Europe. It as well fix a record in France by staying #1 for twenty weeks. Needless to say, the tune went 4x Platinum in Commonwealth of australia and holds various Platinum certifications in 5 additional countries.
The just downside to success? A seven-year legal dispute cropped up betwixt Bega and Prado's estate.
Summit Chart Position: #3 on Billboard'south Hot 100
'Take On Me' by A-ha, 1985
Originally conceived in 1984, "Take On Me" went through several variations and was released three times before it finally charted in the UK in 1985. And though it took A-ha several tries to get the song right, the music video was an instant success.
The video famously composite alive-activeness clips with pencil-sketched, animated sequences, leading MTV to play the innovative brusk constantly. In 1986, MTV recognized the video's impact by awarding it with six trophies at the VMAs. And all of that visual success led to an impressive 27 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 in the U.s.a..
Peak Chart Position: #i on Billboard'southward Hot 100
'Bad Day' by Daniel Powter, 2005
Though "Bad Day" snagged many impressive spots on various international music charts, its near impressive run may have been on Billboard's Adult Summit 40. It remained #one on that listing for 19 weeks, finally giving Phil Collins a run for his money.
Speaking of coin, the song went 3x Platinum in the US. And "Bad Twenty-four hour period" became the starting time vocal in the The states to sell ii million digital copies.
Though Powter's melody originally appeared in a French Coca-Cola advertizement in 2004, much of its success can be credited to American Idol. After all, who doesn't want their hopes and dreams to come crashing downward in a montage set to this peppy single?
Superlative Chart Position: #1 on Billboard'due south Hot 100
'La Bamba' by Los Lobos, 1987
Many bands have recorded "La Bamba," merely the Los Lobos version is the well-nigh successful rendition. It reached #ane in 10 countries, including both the US and the UK, and is certified 2x Platinum in the U.s.a..
Based on a Mexican folk song, "La Bamba" initially appeared in the Top 40 when Ritchie Valens recorded a version in 1958.
The Los Lobos version definitely had a leg up, thanks to the popularity of Valens'due south hit. After it was released equally the championship track of the 1987 film La Bamba, the vocal's ascension was meteoric.
Acme Chart Position: #one on Billboard'south Hot 100
'Spirit in the Sky' past Norman Greenbaum, 1969
Norman Greenbaum'southward psychedelic stone anthem didn't achieve "the identify that's the all-time," just information technology did top at #iii on Billboard's Hot 100. And it didn't budge for xv weeks. In five other countries, including the UK and Commonwealth of australia, it did snag the #i spot.
From 1969 to 1970, the song sold 2 million copies, making it certified Gilded. In the 1980s, Doctor and the Medics covered the tune, making information technology a #1 hit internationally notwithstanding again.
"Spirit in the Sky" has since appeared in everything from the Rock Band video game franchise to a 2019 Budweiser commercial.
Superlative Chart Position: #3 on Billboard's Hot 100
'99 Luftballoons' by Nena, 1984
Inspired by the red balloons that rained down at a Rolling Stones concert, this next hit made it to #1 in 12 countries. While American and Australian audiences preferred the German version, the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, Canada, and Republic of ireland opted for the English version. Despite the separate, Nena had a hitting with both.
The English version snagged i Platinum and one Gilt certification, whereas the German language version has four Gold certifications to its name. (Or "Name," if we're getting in Deutsche.)
Apart from raking in sales cash, the song also raised $200,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts when VH1 played it for an hr straight every bit part of a campaign. The song crops upwards in many TV shows and films as well, including 2017's Atomic Blonde.
Peak Chart Position: #ii on Billboard'due south Hot 100 (German language version)
'Harlem Shake' past Baauer, 2013
Brooklyn-based music producer Baauer released his debut single "Harlem Shake" in May of 2012. But it didn't actually catch on until Feb of 2013 when a dance video set to the song turned information technology into an Net oversupply-pleaser.
Hailed by Billboard as "the biggest viral sensation since PSY'southward 'Gangnam Manner,'" the "Harlem Shake" claimed the #ane spot in the U.s. for v consecutive weeks and went 2x Platinum in ii countries.
The vocal's run fifty-fifty made Billboard reevaluate how it determined a song's success: For the first time, video streams became part of the equation.
Peak Chart Position: #1 on Billboard's Hot 100
'Who Allow the Dogs Out?' by Baha Men, 2000
Is "Who Allow the Dogs Out?" the feminist anthem nosotros need? According to the song'due south writer, Anslem Douglas, yeah. The song intends to criticize men who cat-call women. Just when the Baha Men initially covered the vocal back in 2000, the nigh apparent thing about information technology was that information technology was extremely tricky.
Not only did it become part of the promotion for Rugrats in Paris: The Film (1998), but sports teams grabbed at every gamble to go far their "Sweet Caroline."
Virtually notably, this Platinum hit became the New York Mets' anthem in their 2000 Globe Serial bid confronting the New York Yankees. The Baha Men even recorded a variant of their chart-topper, entitled "Who Allow the Mets Out?"
Summit Chart Position: #21 on Billboard's Peak forty
'Torn' by Natalie Imbruglia, 1997
In 2017, '90s kids lit Twitter ablaze upon learning that Natalie Imbruglia's decade-defining debut single "Torn" was a embrace song. With this revelation, we were all out of faith, too. But not when it comes to this Grammy-nominated vocal's success.
"Torn" reached #1 in half a dozen countries when it launched. Today, its 188 million streams help Imbruglia rank amongst the most-streamed female person musicians, aslope Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.
It's most impressive record? In Imbruglia'southward native Australia, it holds the title of near-played song on the radio, clocking in at well over 300,500 plays. According to the Australian Performing Rights Association that'south similar 75 perfect skies, torn—every day.
Pinnacle Chart Position: #i on Billboard's Mainstream Meridian twoscore
'Lately' by Divine, 1998
Divine, an American R&B daughter group, released simply 1 album in 1998 before disbanding in 2000. But singers Kia Thornton, Nikki Bratcher, and Tonia Tash fabricated a marking in that brusk time cheers to their hit single "Lately."
The single went on to sell 1.1 million copies, making it certified Platinum in the US. And it placed #84 on Billboard's Decade-Finish Hot 100 list. Lately, the group members haven't recorded anything together. However, Thornton tried her luck on the 6th season of hit TV show American Idol.
Summit Nautical chart Position: #1 on Billboard'due south Hot 100
'Come On Eileen' by Dexys Midnight Runners, 1982
Though "Come On Eileen" marked the band's second #one vocal in the UK, it was their first #one hit in the U.s.a. and half a dozen other countries. To the UK, this song ways everything.
Not but did it get 2x Platinum, but it has sold over ane.33 million copies in the U.k. and was awarded "Best British Single" at the Brit Awards. And VH1 agrees: "Come up On Eileen" placed #three on its "100 Greatest One-Striking Wonders of All Time" list.
Used in films similar Tommy Boy (1995) and The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), this tune as well prevented Michael Jackson from having back-to-back #i hits in the United states of america.
Peak Chart Position: #i on Billboard's Hot 100
'Rico Suave' by Gerardo, 1990
When information technology debuted, "Rico Suave" hit #two on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart in the United states of america. Since and then, it has placed on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 90s" and grabbed spot #37 on Blender'southward "50 Worst Songs Ever."
Despite these mixed reviews, there'southward no doubt that Ecuadorian rapper and vocaliser Gerardo created a Casanova for a new generation. "Rico Suave" has truly seeped into the cultural consciousness thanks to parodies by artists like Weird Al and sketches on Saturday Dark Live.
Acme Chart Position: #7 on Billboard's Hot 100
'Gangnam Style' by PSY, 2012
If at that place'south any one-hit wonder that truly changed the game, information technology'southward PSY's "Gangnam Way." Soon later its release, the music video was garnering 5 meg views a twenty-four hours on YouTube. And this led to a huge moment for music and viral phenomena: It became the start YouTube video to reach 1 billion views.
#1 in over 30 countries, "Gangnam Style" went 10x Platinum in Australia and 5x Platinum in the US. With over iii.3 billion views, the song also holds the record for "nigh liked" video on YouTube with xvi 1000000 thumbs up.
Due to its international success, "Gangnam Style" also had a huge hand in helping the entire One thousand-Pop genre gain popularity in the Us.
Top Chart Position: #1 on Billboard's Hot 100
'Pass the Dutchie' past Musical Youth, 1982
This reggae-manner vocal from United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland-based Musical Youth hit #1 in the Great britain and v additional countries. In the US, "Pass the Dutchie" only peaked at #10, simply the single still went on to sell over 5 million copies worldwide.
The song's lasting power can be measured in other means, besides. It has been sampled and reused in various songs by music giants such as Missy Elliot, A Tribe Chosen Quest, and The Black Eyed Peas.
"Pass the Dutchie" has besides appeared in a wide-range of films, from The Nuptials Vocalizer (1998) to the alive-activity Scooby-Doo: The Movie (2002).
Peak Chart Position: #ten on Billboard'south Hot 100
'Mickey' by Toni Basil, 1982
Mayhap better known equally "Hey, Mickey," this song was initially not so fine. When it was released in the Great britain in 1981, it didn't nautical chart. The 1982 reissue saw information technology climb to #2 in the UK and eventually #one in Australia, Canada, and the The states.
The song went on to achieve 2x Platinum condition in Canada besides as Platinum certification in the The states and Australia. Since this success, it has been sampled from large name artists, such as Run-DMC and Madonna.
Fun fact: The titular character in the song was originally named "Kitty," until Toni Basil inverse her mind.
Peak Chart Position: #one on Billboard'southward Hot 100
'Barbie Girl' by Aqua, 1997
Although Metro lists Aqua every bit the near successful Danish ring e'er with a combined total of 33 meg albums and singles sold, the band is best known for the song "Barbie Girl." And, despite a stint writing music for Sliding Doors (1998), that'south probably all most people know them for these days.
The bubblegum pop "Barbie Daughter" claimed the #1 spot in the Britain and Australia for three weeks and hit #vii in the US. With a 3x Platinum certification, it is the 13th best-selling unmarried in the Uk.
The song's success has landed the band both a gig on Eurovision and an in-progress Mattel lawsuit. Information technology's fantastic.
Peak Chart Position: #7 on Billboard's Hot 100
'Macarena' past Los Del Rio, 1996
Ane of our chart-topping picks really had a surprisingly slow outset. Flamenco duo Antonio Romero Monge & Rafael Ruiz Perdigones had a #1 hit with "Macarena" in Spain when the song was start released, but information technology didn't make waves elsewhere.
And then a Florida-based DJ and musical engineer duo remixed the song with English lyrics. This "Bayside Boys Remix" was the key to the vocal's success. "Macarena" claimed the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 for a whopping 14 weeks.
Information technology remained in the Hot 100 for sixty weeks—a tape amount of time until Adele'southward "Rolling in the Deep" hit in 2010. By 1997, the vocal had sold xi million copies worldwide.
Meridian Nautical chart Position: #1 on Billboard'due south Hot 100
'My Sharona' by The Knack, 1979
In add-on to property onto the Hot 100 #i spot for vi weeks, "My Sharona" nabbed #1 on Billboard'southward Year-End chart. The Knack's striking has also been called an "emblem of the new wave era" by The New York Times.
If all those top spots weren't impressive plenty, the song is certified Gold. And it's the fastest debut single released by Capitol Records to go Gold since "I Want to Concur Your Mitt" past the Beatles came out in 1964.
"My Sharona" reappeared in the Hot 100 in 1994 after beingness featured in Reality Bites.
Top Chart Position: #i on Billboard'southward Hot 100
'Sugar, Sugar' by The Archies, 1969
"Carbohydrate, Saccharide" was written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim, but it was recorded by The Archies, a "virtual band" equanimous of the Archie Comics characters. That's right—a cartoon band had the acknowledged single in the US in 1969. The song also held the #one spot on Billboard'south Hot 100 for iv weeks, and remained on the chart for an impressive 22 weeks.
Released in May, the song had sold i million copies by August, making it certified Gold. (Though, by today's measure, that would make information technology Platinum.) Later, "Sugar, Sugar" placed #84 on Billboard's All-Time Hot 100 inaugural.
Now we merely need the cast of Riverdale to option up where their drawing counterparts left off.
Acme Chart Position: #1 on Billboard's Hot 100
'Whoomp! (There It Is)' by Tag Team, 1993
"Whoomp! (There It Is)," peaked at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100. Though the song never hit #1 on the pop charts, it did spend 24 weeks in the top x. This feat fabricated it the longest-running top ten song of all time until 1997.
Certified 4x Platinum in the United states, the vocal has sold upwards of four one thousand thousand copies. In 1993, the Philadelphia Phillies made "Whoomp!" their anthem during their World Series bid.
The Tag Squad hit also makes appearances in films such as Elf (2003), Addams Family Values (1993), and Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008).
Peak Chart Position: #ii on Billboard'south Hot 100
'San Francisco (Be Sure To Vesture Flowers In Your Hair)' by Scott McKenzie, 1967
According to NPR, this Psychedelic pop song was written to "smooth things over" with local authorities in Monterey, California. Why? A bunch of hippies were near to descend on the boondocks for the Monterey International Pop Music Festival.
This counterculture anthem reached #4 on Billboard's Hot 100, remaining there for 4 consecutive weeks. Internationally, it hit #1 in eight countries.
During the 1968 Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia, young people played it often: the city of San Francisco and its counterculture reputation exemplified the freedoms and liberal values they hoped to attain. Scott McKenzie's claim to fame can as well exist heard in many films, including Forrest Gump (1994) and The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019).
Superlative Chart Position: #4 on Billboard's Hot 100
'Somebody That I Used to Know' past Gotye featuring Kimbra, 2012
Yes, this is just some song that y'all used to know. Just it's likewise 1 of the best-selling digital singles of all time. With 13 one thousand thousand copies sold worldwide, information technology went 11x Platinum in Australia and 8x Platinum in the United states.
At the end of 2012, it grabbed Billboard's #one spot on the "Vocal of the Year" list and earned two Grammys, including one for "Record of the Yr." Every bit of July 2019, the vocal's music video has over ane.2 billion views.
Height Chart Position: #1 on Billboard'due south Hot 100
'Picket Me (Whip/Nae Nae)' by Silentó, 2015
Silentó's debut single spent half-dozen non-consecutive weeks almost the peak of Billboard'due south Hot 100 and secured the meridian spot on charts in Australia and the U.k.. A viral YouTube video catapulted the song, and its trip the light fantastic toe, to unparalleled success.
Featuring 2 titular moves—the "Whip" and the "Nae Nae"—and borrowing from "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" and "Stanky Legg," the song reached over 2 million sales in a few brusk months. Somewhen, "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" went 6x Certified Platinum in the U.s.a. and 2x Platinum in Australia and Canada.
Peak Chart Position: #three on Billboard's Hot 100
Source: https://www.ask.com/entertainment/top-one-hit-wonders?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740004%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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