# Biggest one-hit wonder ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643 "2003-12-07T23:21:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/21 "2003-12-08T06:13:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ccwaterback \* > \*\*The Unicorn - Irish Rovers \*\* Um, and “Wasn’t That a Party?” and “Black Velvet Band” Damn I miss the Rovers! Oh, hey, and Lesley Gore also did “Sunshine, Lollipops”. Why, I’ll never know! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/22 "2003-12-08T06:27:57Z")
“I Can Help” by Billy Swan in 1974 went to # 1 ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/23 "2003-12-08T06:33:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Horseflesh \* > \*\*Icicle Works - “Whisper To A Scream” > > Flock of Seagulls - “I Ran (So Far Away)” > \*\* The actual song title by Icicle Works is _Birds Fly_. Didn’t Flock of Seagulls have a second hit? My own contribution will be _96 Tears_ by ? and the Mysterians. ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/24 "2003-12-08T07:35:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Didn’t Flock of Seagulls have a second hit? I know they had _at least_ one other hit with _Space Age Love Song_; it seems like there may have been another as well, but I’m not sure. > [@](#): > > I don’t know if they’d be considered a 1hw but WAR has been riding that low rider for a long time now. They had at least one other hit, _Why Can’t We Be Friends?_ For my own contribution, how about _Tainted Love_ by Soft Cell? I remember that being a _huge_ hit back around '82; I’m not sure if it went to #1 (though I expect it did), but I remember it stayed on the charts forever, and I still hear it fairly frequently. I’m virtually certain Soft Cell was a 1HW here in the states, though they may have been bigger in Britain, I’m not sure. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/25 "2003-12-08T08:06:15Z")
Vicky Lawrence…The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/26 "2003-12-08T17:59:14Z")
Don’t kill me, but… “Thinkin’ of you’s workin’ up my appetite Looking forward to a little afternoon delight Rubbin’ sticks and stones together makes the sparks ignite And the thought of lovin’ you is getting so exciting Sky rockets in flight Afternoon delight” :::d&r::: ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/27 "2003-12-08T18:20:30Z")
> [@](#): > > ## Didn’t Flock of Seagulls have a second hit? > > I know they had at least one other hit with Space Age Love Song; it seems like there may have been another as well, but I’m not sure. Yep. “The More You Live, The More You Love”. I’d have to nominate **Gary Numan - Cars** as one of the biggest one-hit-wonders of all time. This song is still played all the time and its amongst (if not THE) most remixed song ever. (Of course, Numan did have quite a few others hits over in the UK.) ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/28 "2003-12-08T18:42:38Z")
alright…, who else thought “That Thing You Do” is a genuine oldie? it is not right?? ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/29 "2003-12-08T19:03:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by t-keela \* > \*\*Vicky Lawrence…The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia \*\* Does this one really count? She did sing with the Young Americans when she was a teenager, but she was always more of a comic actress than a singer or musician. “Lights” is the only recording by her that I know of. How 'bout Lulu? She has a major hit with “To Sir with Love” back in the '60’s, and I seem to recall she got a lot of press praising her as some kind of emerging superstar. Then, so far as I know, she never had another record, let alone a hit. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/30 "2003-12-08T19:09:09Z")
“In the year 2525” also gets the award for biggest pile of crap ever. * * * BCS stands for “Best at Choosing Second” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/31 "2003-12-08T19:29:48Z")
**War** had hits with Low Rider, Why Can’t We Be Friends, Cisco Kid, Spill The Wine and Slippin’ Into Darkness-- just off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/32 "2003-12-08T19:50:43Z")
So, it seems to come down to “In the Year 2525” and “You Light Up My Life”, depending on how you want to view it. Thanks. I wonder if somehow you could find the most airplays for a OHW. That would tend to shift the focus to songs that are still played many years later. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/33 "2003-12-08T20:14:18Z")
Oh, and I got “2525”, and it’s hard that even got on the radio with any frequency. Talk about repetetive and lyrically lame. ---
**Author:** ![greck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ab992/32.png) [@greck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greck)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/34 "2003-12-08T20:19:01Z")
I dunno, I think having a cultural craze and an organized dance should be worth bonus points. Also bonus points if we all liked it at one point and really don’t like admitting it now. Even more if the artist had no discernable musical talent. Macarena - definitely a top choice Achy Breaky Heart- another great one Ice Ice baby- mostly cause “if there was a problem, yo I’ll solve it” Don’t Worry, Be Happy - I feel bad for Bobby Mc Ferrin. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/35 "2003-12-08T20:23:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ccwaterback \* > Gimme Some Lovin’ - Spencer Davis Group You never heard of ‘Keep on running’ or ‘I’m a man’, have you? And one might add that Stevie Winwood (who was only 17 when he recorded Gimme som lovin’), made quite a career after leaving the group, first to form ‘Traffic’ then going solo. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by t-keela_ > Rick Dees and “Disco Duck” come to mind… You missed the follow-up, then? **Dis-Gorilla.** 😛 How about M: Pop Muzik? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/36 "2003-12-08T20:54:09Z")
“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves was the first thing that popped to mind from the title, and the OP mentioned it. I think it’s still worth the nomination, not because it burned up the charts for months on end, but because _the freakin’ song won’t **die.** _ Every year you can count on half a dozen movie trailers and detergent commercials and whatnot using the song as a backdrop. I have no idea how much the songwriter and/or band make a year in royalties off the one song, but I’ll bet they don’t have to work a single day until they die. In a million years, when the cockroaches are advertising their _Clan of the Cave Bear_ style movie about the bizarre human creatures who built the giant ruined cities, “Walking on Sunshine” will be used in the advertising. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/37 "2003-12-08T21:26:23Z")
I cast my vote for _Gary Glitter’s_ **Rock and Roll: Part 2**. I don’t know of too many sporting events in the U.S. that do not feature this ubiquitous number. To my knowledge, Glitter never came close to another chart-maker (he did make the headlines a few years ago but it had nothing to do with his musical contributions). ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/38 "2003-12-08T21:48:14Z")
I really have a feeling that Mildred J. and Patty Smith Hill will [trump](http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/birthday.htm) anything you folks can come up with. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/39 "2003-12-08T21:49:09Z")
Kashagoogoo “Too Shy” ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643/40 "2003-12-08T23:17:34Z")
That would be Kajagoogoo, a group that split and the singer, Lihmal also had one hit: “The neverending story.” I realize that with this board being American and us focusing on the Billboard chart, there is a tendency to look over the fact that many bands, which might only have had one #1 in the US, had many hits in their home country. Most notable in the UK, such as Katrina & the Waves, which had a number of hits in Europe, not only that obnoxious song. Also, Gary ‘the pedophile’ Glitter had a whole bunch of hits in Europe. How about Nena and 99 Luftbalon? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-one-hit-wonder-ever/217643.md?page=3)