# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/61 "2009-11-21T07:35:06Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > 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.) I only remember “The Sun Always Shines on TV” because of the video, which brought the story of “Take On Me” to a surprisingly sad conclusion and also featured a whole bunch of mannequins. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/62 "2009-11-21T08:06:49Z")
‘Perfect’ by Fairground Attraction is my choice. Not sure if they had any other hits, but I sure haven’t heard them. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/63 "2009-11-21T09:27:39Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > _Take On Me_ by a-ha. Greatest 80s song, not just greatest one-hit wonder. (got the #3 spot on VH1’s list. Yes, sir. In triplicate. hh ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/64 "2009-11-21T09:34:35Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > [Somebody’s Watching Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD21JDMp86c) by Rockwell Damn those Geiko commercials! ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/65 "2009-11-21T09:35:32Z")
> [@Justin\_Credible](#): > > 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. This one was also one of the great ones. Take On Me just barely edges it out, saith I. hh ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/66 "2009-11-21T09:50:00Z")
Ice Ice Baby ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/67 "2009-11-21T10:24:37Z")
Cars by Gary Numan. What do I win? ---
**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 21, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/68 "2009-11-21T14:21:23Z")
> [@Talon\_Karrde](#): > > I love that song, but didn’t they have more than one hit? Was Fields of Fire a hit? **In a Big Country** made the VH1 list of one-hit wonders that the OP was talking about. I understand that **Big Country** had a loyal following (well deserved), and was more successful in the UK than the US. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/69 "2009-11-21T14:28:07Z")
_Walk Like an Egyptian_ count? I can’t offhand name any other Bangles song. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/70 "2009-11-21T14:34:12Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Cars by Gary Numan. What do I win? A coupon for 50 percent off on decorative floor mats from the JC Whitney catalog. ---
**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 21, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/71 "2009-11-21T14:34:52Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > _Walk Like an Egyptian_ count? I can’t offhand name any other Bangles song. What? 😕 Manic Monday Eternal Flame If She Knew What She Wants Walking Down Your Street Hazy Shade of Winter (a cover, but it was great) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/72 "2009-11-21T14:37:10Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Cars by Gary Numan. What do I win? An electric friend. > [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > _Walk Like an Egyptian_ count? I can’t offhand name any other Bangles song. “Manic Monday,” “Eternal Flame,” their cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Hazy Shade of Winter,” and “In Your Room” were all Top 10 hits; all but the last made #1 or #2. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/73 "2009-11-21T14:39:48Z")
Well, that’s what I get for not doing some minimal research. Though to be honest, I don’t recognize any of these titles. I just kinda liked that one song. ---
**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, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/74 "2009-11-21T14:40:19Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > _Walk Like an Egyptian_ count? I can’t offhand name any other Bangles song. I think Hero Takes a Fall was their first US single, although I can’t find if it charted. “Manic Monday” (#2 US) was their big hit, then “If She Knew What She Wants” (#29), then “Walk Like an Egyptian” (#1), then “Walking Down Your Street” (#11), all from the album “Different Light”. “Eternal Flame” also hit #1 from the follow up album. So, while “Walk Like an Egyptian” was their most gimmicky song, it’s far off base to say it was their only hit. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/75 "2009-11-21T15:12:25Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > 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. I had forgotten them! I’ve got the cassette of their album\* somewhere\* - have to have a look for it! How about [Einstein A Go Go](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZqUNEHYZgQ) by **Landscape**? They had another minor hit with _Norman Bates_, but it hardly charted at all, I think. “You better watch out, you better beware, because Albert says e =mc squared” ---
**Author:** ![Nom\_de\_Plume](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85f322/32.png) [@Nom\_de\_Plume](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nom_de_Plume)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/76 "2009-11-21T15:56:05Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > Technically two songs, but [The Kings - The Beat Goes On/Switching to Glide](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTjG8E1utyA) > > [The Records - Starry Eyes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTUWmXoxEsg) > > [Moon Martin - Rolene](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlS1qoGdH_8) (1979, but close enough…) > > Youtube blocked from work, so no guarantee on the links… I don’t know if it was a hit for him, but Moon Martin did "Bad Case of Loving You before Robert Palmer. ---
**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 22, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/77 "2009-11-22T00:38:21Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Cars by Gary Numan. What do I win? Good one! I love that song. I thought of another one today: Shattered Dreams by Johnny Hates Jazz. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/78 "2009-11-22T01:26:29Z")
I will add votes for In a Big Country, 867-5309, She Blinded Me With Science, I Melt With You, Turning Japanese, Send Me an Angel, and Tainted Love, and I also nominate… [Under the Milky Way](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-mQyRuHIuA) - **The Church** ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/79 "2009-11-22T02:14:25Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I’ll nominate the 81’ version of **Tainted Love** by _Soft Cell_ Always liked Sex Dwarf better, but it was probably only a big hit on KROQ ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319/80 "2009-11-22T03:26:59Z")
Kind of obscure, but great for the Electrical Engineers out there - \*Make A Circuit With Me \*by The Polecats: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA4foTap-WQ) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-one-hit-wonder-song-of-the-80s/518319.md?page=5)