# Best one-hit wonder song of the 80's? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319 "2009-11-20T19:24:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![McGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@McGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McGeek)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/41 "2009-11-20T21:36:09Z")
OK, I can stop reading this thread now that someone has nominated “She Blinded Me with Science”. Nothing else will top that for me. “Walking on Sunshine” and “Turning Japanese” would be up there in my book. Some of the other suggestions given are good too. In general, though, I think most 80s music was cheesy and devoid of soul. “Take on Me” and that horrible Breakfast Club song “Don’t You Forget About Me” are among my least favorites. “Rock Me Amadeus” is probably my very least favorite because I had a co-worker who would just trawl the radio dial till he found that song or one of its re-mixes, some of which went on for like 10 minutes, then as soon as it ended he would find it again on another station. He could literally keep that song playing for about 80% of our 6 hour shift. And even without that co-worker, I don’t see anything good about that song anyway. I can see how some might not like Come On Eileen, it does border on being too bubblegummy or something I can’t quite put my finger on. Howevber, I do find it strangely appealing. And I agree it’s unique. Wouldn’t rate it the best one though. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/42 "2009-11-20T21:42:40Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > _Come On Eileen_ conjures up too many naughty images for me. Every time I hear the song, I remember a joke from that time period: Q: What’s the one thing that’s worse than Grease on Olivia Newton-John? A:… 😃 My vote is for _She Blinded Me With Science_. Yes, Thomas Dolby had a few other minor hits, but that one was far and away his biggest…and it’s still a damned cool song. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/43 "2009-11-20T21:53:46Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Falco’s [Der Kommisar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Kommissar_%28song%29)was not a hit in the US or UK. A little explanation would help here I think. Falco’s version (with German lyrics) hit #74 in the US. This was the video with him skating from the police. After The Fire (ATF) did a cover (with English lyrics) and this hit #5 in the US. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/44 "2009-11-20T22:47:44Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > By my count, Dexy’s had [two number ones and six singles in the top 20](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexys_Midnight_Runners#Singles). Hardly one-hit wonders. Next you’ll be telling me that The Beatles’ debut was on the Ed Sullivan Show and World War II started in 1941. > > If you think Dexy’s had only one hit, you are really missing out. Checkout Geno and Let’s Get This Straight at the very least. > > Pet peeve of mine. Sorry. My pet peeve is someone replying to the thread without reading all of it. Over-react much? :rolleyes: It’s a fluff thread. Take a deep breath, put on your DMR cd and bounce around the room! Read post 19, and you’ll see that I put the caveat on this being based on US charts. (actually, that was VH1’s caveat). By the way, the Beatles debut was on the Ed Sullivan Show and WWII started in 1941. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/45 "2009-11-20T23:13:47Z")
What about Real Life [Send Me An angel](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6zBjYIyz-0)? ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/46 "2009-11-20T23:21:21Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > _I Melt With You_ by Modern English gets my vote. > > _Come On Eileen_ conjures up too many naughty images for me. Another vote for modern english ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/47 "2009-11-20T23:21:26Z")
I’m not expecting to grow flowers in the desert, But I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime In a big country, dreams stay with you… ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/48 "2009-11-20T23:48:11Z")
Definitely **Take On Me** , with **I Ran** close behind. Those are two of my favorite songs period. I know both bands had more hits, and both have quite a few more songs that I like, but I think they still qualify as one hit wonders for purposes of this thread. To get a new song on the list, how about **Your Love** by The Outfield? I still listen to that one a fair amount too. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/49 "2009-11-21T00:08:50Z")
\*Fast Car \*by Tracy Chapman. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/50 "2009-11-21T00:15:28Z")
First two that came to mind for me were _I Melt With You_ by Modern English and _Take On Me_ by a-ha (although a-ha did have another Top 40 hit with “The Sun Always Shines on TV.” I’d still consider them a one-hit wonder, though. I have no recollection whatsoever of that song.) ---
**Author:** ![BlimeyORiley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BlimeyORiley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlimeyORiley)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/51 "2009-11-21T00:29:06Z")
I have always considered the ultimate one hit wonder was Althea and Donna - Uptown Top Ranking [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7iD_qZ3hTDo/hqdefault.jpg "Althea & Donna--Upton Top Ranking") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iD_qZ3hTDo) though huge in the UK not sure it made it over the pond, and I see was 1978 so doesn’t qualify as 80’s. If I have to play be the rules how about Video Killed the Radio Star - Buggles – oops that don’t work either Alright Come on Eileen ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/52 "2009-11-21T01:14:22Z")
[AEIOU sometimes Y](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJWjWkzi9lM) by Ebn-Ozn. ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/53 "2009-11-21T02:33:04Z")
I also came in to say **She Blinded Me With Science.** Superb song. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/54 "2009-11-21T02:45:23Z")
I thought of another one, [Major Tom (Coming Home)](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x237g1_peter-schilling-major-tom_music), by Peter Schilling. Don’t tell me, **Dung Beetle** , let me guess… ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/55 "2009-11-21T02:58:53Z")
My favorite one hit wonder is [Mary’s Prayer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hqgC3W9GUI) by Danny Wilson. I think it is one of the all-time great pop singles in terms of music and production. The band released one album only and as far as I know one other single, [Second Summer of Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJxIblwPKJE&feature=PlayList&p=271E27570A801FF7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=20), nearly as good and I only heard it once on air. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/56 "2009-11-21T04:15:45Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I thought of another one, [Major Tom (Coming Home)](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x237g1_peter-schilling-major-tom_music), by Peter Schilling. Yes, but have you ever heard the original? Major Tom ([Völlig losgelöst](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql4kaofJ02c&feature=related)) ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/57 "2009-11-21T04:49:33Z")
[Somebody’s Watching Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD21JDMp86c) by Rockwell ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/58 "2009-11-21T05:11:31Z")
> [@Sidney Evgeni Jordan](#): > > I’m not expecting to grow flowers in the desert, > But I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime > > In a big country, dreams stay with you… I love that song, but didn’t they have more than one hit? Was Fields of Fire a hit? ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/59 "2009-11-21T05:28:06Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > \*Fast Car \*by Tracy Chapman. Her [Give Me One Reason](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Give_Me_One_Reason) charted in 1995. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/60 "2009-11-21T06:33:21Z")
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