# i have found the quintessential 90s one-hit wonder. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041 "2002-10-20T01:45:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/21 "2002-10-20T15:21:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by interface2x \* > **Toad the Wet Sprocket broke up in 1998 after releasing four (?) albums. I believe their last release was a greatest hits type thing.** By the way, the guys from Toad are from the town where I now live. It was just on the news that they are getting back together. They are going to tour as the opening band for The Black Crows. Haj ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/22 "2002-10-20T15:32:48Z")
“Groove is in the Heart” it was everywhere for a while and never heard from them again. whoever they were. But, “Macarena” is probably the winner for the 90s. ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/23 "2002-10-20T16:19:37Z")
Hmmmm… I’ll nominate “Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger… Y’know, that one that goes… “Paranoid, paranoid that everybody’s coming to get me…” It was in some teenage thriller movie, so that should give it bonus factor point, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/24 "2002-10-20T16:27:21Z")
I just gotta put props out for **Sponge**. They also had a minor hit (at least on alternative stations) with _Wax Ecstatic_. And also **Ugly Kid Joe** had another hit with their remake of _Cat’s in the Cradle_ and a song called _Neighbours_. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/25 "2002-10-20T17:10:25Z")
informer by snow ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/26 "2002-10-20T17:27:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by amarinth \* > **"Groove is in the Heart" > it was everywhere for a while and never heard from them again. whoever they were.** Dee-Lite, I think. Or maybe I’m fabricating the stupid spelling. I’m glad someone finally mentioned Ice Ice Baby. I’m not ashamed to say I still listen to that sometimes. Well, a little ashamed. Ok, a lot. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/27 "2002-10-20T17:32:46Z")
How about “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/28 "2002-10-20T18:18:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WSLer \* > \*\*I’ve never heard of **either** of those groups nor have I ever heard **either** of the songs, so they must be **no** -hit wonders.😃 \*\* You’ve never heard of Sponge?? Maybe you didn’t know who they were, but I’d be _really_ surprised if you’ve never heard “Molly”, “Wax Estatic” or “Plowed” (which is often mislabled as “Human Wreckage”)" And for the record, Toad The Wet Sprocket has seven albums- Bread and Circus; Pale; Fear; Dulcinea; In Light Syurup; Coil; and PS(the aforementioned “greatest hits” album). top 40 singles: Walk on the Ocean All I Want Fall Down Come Down (#1 on several charts in april of 97’) Good Intentions Other songs that got air play: Whatever I Fear Crazy Life Fly From Heaven(banned from MTV etc) While I own their first six cds, I didn’t know all this off the top of my head, so the info is thanks to [ToadOnline.com is for sale | HugeDomains](http://www.toadonline.com/toad/time_line.html) Anyway, you are all wrong. The difinitive one hit wonder of the 90’s is “Cotton Eye Joe” by The Rednex 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/29 "2002-10-20T18:18:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WSLer \* > \*\*I’ve never heard of **either** of those groups nor have I ever heard **either** of the songs, so they must be **no** -hit wonders.😃 \*\* You’ve never heard of Sponge?? Maybe you didn’t know who they were, but I’d be _really_ surprised if you’ve never heard “Molly”, “Wax Estatic” or “Plowed” (which is often mislabled as “Human Wreckage”)" And for the record, Toad The Wet Sprocket has seven albums- Bread and Circus; Pale; Fear; Dulcinea; In Light Syurup; Coil; and PS(the aforementioned “greatest hits” album). top 40 singles: Walk on the Ocean All I Want Fall Down Come Down (#1 on several charts in april of 97’) Good Intentions Other songs that got air play: Whatever I Fear Crazy Life Fly From Heaven(banned from MTV etc) While I own their first six cds, I didn’t know all this off the top of my head, so the info is thanks to [ToadOnline.com is for sale | HugeDomains](http://www.toadonline.com/toad/time_line.html) Anyway, you are all wrong. The difinitive one hit wonder of the 90’s is “Cotton Eye Joe” by The Rednex 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/30 "2002-10-20T18:47:44Z")
I apologize for the lack of capitals in that last post 😛 It was my brother’s doing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![stylize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@stylize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stylize)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/31 "2002-10-20T19:43:54Z")
The “I Love You Always Forever” singer is Donna Lewis and that is a good nominee since that was big “hit.” How about “Life is a Highway” by whatshisface? ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/32 "2002-10-20T21:13:22Z")
As per usual, I assume we are talking about U.S. Top 40 hits as listed by the Billboard Hot 100 Singles charts. > [@](#): > > [Ludovic] the rembrandts had a song a few years before friends with “thats just the way it is baby” Correct–it got to #14, “I’ll Be There For You” got to #17 > [@](#): > > [Bedrosian Bixby] Might I suggest “Unbelievable” by EMF Sorry, request denied – their follow-up, Lies, reached #18 on the chart. > [@](#): > > [Shy Guy] Then there’s Lisa Loeb with “Stay.” Do You Sleep? reached #18, and I believe there were others. (My book only goes through 1996) > [@](#): > > [gex gex] Ice Ice Baby. The ultimate 90s one hit wonder. Except for the fact that Vanilla Ice’s follow-up, Play That Funky Music, went all the way to #4. (How soon we forget) > [@](#): > > [Speaker for the Dead] informer by snow His follow-up, Girl I’ve Been Hurt, made it to #19 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/33 "2002-10-20T23:55:43Z")
Vanilla Ice did “Play that Funky Music”? Not the Wild Cherry song. Please, please tell me Vanilla Ice did his own crappy song called “Play That Funky Music”. Please tell me he didn’t do the Wild Cherry song. Ooooohhhhh, the pain, the agony at the thought of Vanilla Ice singing “Play that funky music white boy” _ **cringes at the thought** _ ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/34 "2002-10-21T02:13:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Thea Logica \* > \*\*Please tell me he didn’t do the Wild Cherry song. \*\* Of course you know he did it. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/35 "2002-10-21T02:33:34Z")
“Kill your Television” by Ned’s Atamic Dustbin ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/36 "2002-10-21T02:47:02Z")
Which FASTBALL song had the video where they’re all murdered in the townhouse of a deranged fan (played, I think, by Alyssa Milano)? ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/37 "2002-10-21T02:49:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stylize \* > \*\*How about “Life is a Highway” by whatshisface? \*\* “Wharshisface” otherwise known as Tom Cochrane. I hated that song. HATED, HATED, HATED it. Why? Because the local Top 40 station in the DC area played it **every 20 minutes** for solid months. I know this because i had to listen to it at work during the summer. I don’t know that Cochrane really counts because he had a few hits with _Red Ryder_ such as **Lunatic Fringe.** ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/38 "2002-10-21T05:24:23Z")
**Tag Team** Their hits so far have included: _(Whoomp) There It Is Addams Family (Whoomp) Whoomp! (There It Is) [House Mix] Whoomp! (Si Lo Es) Whoomp! (There It Is) [Remix 2000] Addams Family (Whoomp) There It Is (2000)_ ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/39 "2002-10-21T06:32:39Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by_\* 23skidoo \*\*\* > Hmmmm… I’ll nominate “Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger… Y’know, that one that goes… > > “Paranoid, paranoid that everybody’s coming to get me…” > > It was in some teenage thriller movie, so that should give it bonus factor point, or something. It’s ‘Flagpole Sitta’ and ‘paranoia.’ Harvey Danger is an _awesome_ band who were hamstrung by their uncommonly rapid rise to success. Their second album, _The King James Version_, is an incredibly catchy, yet very cerebral rock record. It went nowhere commercially, due to complete and utter lack of promotional dollars (_and_ the five bucks or whatever that _did_ go into promotion all went towards pushing the wrong single, in my opinion – ‘Sad Sweetheart of the Rodeo’ made a crappy one, while ‘Meetings With Remarkable Men (Show Me The Hero)’ would have been fabulous. They had the sense to lead off the album with it, but not to release it as the single. As the CDNOW reviewer put it, ‘Any record that references Jesus Christ and Kip Winger in the same song is worth hearing.’), but is an amazing listen. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041/40 "2002-10-21T10:02:44Z")
How about “Right Here, Right Now”, by Jesus Jones? Or was that late 80s? The thing about one-hit wonders is that unless their one hit was pretty major, they usually don’t get identified as such. There are many, many more artists that have only one MINOR hit. I guess the ratio of the one hit’s popularity to the artists’ subsequent obscurity isn’t high enough in those instances… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-found-the-quintessential-90s-one-hit-wonder/133041.md?page=3)