# One hit wonders **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686 "2002-11-30T22:42:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/41 "2002-12-02T21:15:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dwc1970 \* > \*\*I don’t think any of these have been mentioned yet: > > One-hit wonders: > > Thompson Twins- Hold Me Now > > Here are some two-hit wonders: > > Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Time After Time- Cindi Lauper > > And three-hit wonders: > > Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Head Over Heals, Shout- Tears for Fears > > \*\* The Thompson Twins also had “Doctor Doctor” and “King For a Day”. Tears For Fears had a few other hits, including “Mad World” and “Break it Down Again”. And Cyndi also had a few others, such as “True Colors”, “She Bop”, and “All Through the Night”. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/42 "2002-12-02T21:33:30Z")
“We’ll Sing in the Sunshine” by Gale Garnet “Kick That Little Foot, Sally Ann” By Round Robin “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron” by Royal Guardsmen “Sukiyaki” (sorry, I don’t remember the singer’s name) :o “Primrose Lane” by Jerry Wallace “Calcutta” by Lawrence Welk “Ballad of Thunder Road” by Robert Mitchum (yes, _that_ Robert Mitchum!) 😃 “1900 Yesterday” by Liz Damon’s Orient Express ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/43 "2002-12-02T21:38:05Z")
You _had_ to bring up Dream Academy, didn’t you DWC? I **hate** that song. Every time I hear it I have flashbacks to the worst period in my life, even worse than the time I was married. Don’t forget: Lisa Loeb-Stay 99 Luftballoons-Nina What I Am-Edie Brickell (Mrs. Paul Simon) Steal My Sunshine-Len ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/44 "2002-12-02T21:49:24Z")
**dougie** , The Royal Guardsmen had two top-forty hits. The second was “Return of the Red Baron”. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/45 "2002-12-02T21:52:52Z")
How about **Rubber Ducky,** by Ernie? Yes, that **Rubber Ducky,** by that Ernie. It made it to #17 on the pop charts in '65 IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/46 "2002-12-02T22:12:39Z")
How about “The Ballad of the Green Berets” by SSgt Barry Sadler? He’s also a one-hit movie wonder, having had one [sort-of major role](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0062866) along with his hit song. Then he got blowed up training contras or some damn thing. I recently saw a commercial for some gospel singer, Christie somebody (“One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus”) with archival footage of Sadler praising her music. Wigged me out something awful. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/47 "2002-12-03T00:20:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > \*\*"“Sukiyaki” (sorry, I don’t remember the singer’s name) :o > \*\* Kyu Sakimoto. The undisputed king of rock ‘n’ roll. Died in that Korean Airliner shot down by the Russians. All the great ones die in plane crashes: Buddy Holly…Otis Redding…Kyu Sakimoto… ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/48 "2002-12-03T03:10:31Z")
How about Fastball? We haven’t really heard anything from them since “The Way” came out about six or so years ago. I know they released one single not too long after that, and I can remember the video, but I can’t think of the name. They still count as a OHW though. ---
**Author:** ![Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/db5fbb/32.png) [@Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/49 "2002-12-03T03:36:09Z")
One would do well to check the previous thread on this topic. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=140322](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=140322) ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/50 "2002-12-03T13:07:32Z")
I stand corrected, Jeff. :o In fact my newspaper at Redondo High, the _High Tide,_ mentioned that other title. I didn’t know it was a hit. “Tennessee Birdwalk”–John Blanchard & Misty Morgan “Deep Purple”–Nino Tempo & April Stevens “My Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes”–Edison Lighthouse “Hooked on a Feeling”–Blue Swede “Deck of Cards”–Wink Martindale “In the Summertime”–Mungo Jerry “When I Need You”–Leo Sayer ---
**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:** [December 3, 2002, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/51 "2002-12-03T13:32:16Z")
The mention of Nena’s 99 Luftballon got me thinking… OK, how 'bout Germany’s Trio with “Da Da Da”? Made famous in the 90s through that Volkswagen commericial, but I’m fairly certain it got radio play in the 80s as well. “Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco? Or was “Der Kommisar” pretty popular in the States as well? “In the Year 2525” by Zegar and Evans. “Laid” by James. Great band, but I don’t recall any other US charters from these guys. Yes, I know they did well in the UK. “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/52 "2002-12-03T13:33:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AwSnappity \* > \*\*How about Fastball? We haven’t really heard anything from them since “The Way” came out about six or so years ago. I know they released one single not too long after that, and I can remember the video, but I can’t think of the name. They still count as a OHW though. \*\* They also had “Fire Escape” which didn’t do as well but still got some play. Not much from there second album really broke, though. You may be interested to know that they have a greatest hits CD out now. Yep. Two albums and a Greatest Hits compilation. That’s only two more albums and two hits more than _I_ have and I don’t have a greatest hits CD… ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2002, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/53 "2002-12-04T03:50:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pulykamell \* > **"Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco? Or was “Der Kommisar” pretty popular in the States as well?** I think “Der Kommissar” became a hit when After the Fire covered it. Incidentally, I think that was After the Fire’s only hit. ---
**Author:** ![DeepPurple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@DeepPurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeepPurple)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2002, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/54 "2002-12-04T04:14:07Z")
Guster Airport Song Geggy Tah Whoever You Are Paper Lace The Night Chicago Died… ok, I really liked The Night Chicago Died ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/55 "2002-12-04T16:19:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > **I stand corrected, Jeff. :o In fact my newspaper at Redondo High, the _High Tide,_ mentioned that other title. I didn’t know it was a hit.** That’s understandable, I don’t think the second one was very far into the top forty. Did you know they recorded two other Snoopy songs? Didn’t get anywhere near as far with those and I don’t think their covers did very well either. ---
**Author:** ![Fish42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@Fish42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish42)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/56 "2002-12-04T16:26:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > \*\* > “When I Need You”–Leo Sayer \*\* Not only did Leo Sayer have more than one hit, he had more than one #1 hit. Both “When I Need You” and “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” topped the charts. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/57 "2002-12-05T07:56:31Z")
OK, Fish. I figure “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” was a disco hit, or something similar, and I was in my late twenties when it came out and never predisposed to dancing anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/58 "2002-12-05T08:11:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pulykamell \* > **"Laid" by James. Great band, but I don’t recall any other US charters from these guys. Yes, I know they did well in the UK.** I know they had several other songs that received a lot of airplay on alternative radio (at least where I live)–“Born of Frustration”, “Say Something”, “Sit Down”…not sure how far up the charts any of those went. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/59 "2002-12-05T16:49:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe K \* > \*\*IIRC, Jimi Hendrix is a OHW in the U.S. with “All Along The Watchtower”. I saw this on VH-1’s “One Hit Wonders”. > > [http://www.onehitwondercentral.com/](http://www.onehitwondercentral.com/) is a good site I’ve found concerning one hit wonders. \*\* But when I think of a one-hit-wonder, I think of someone who really wasn’t _good_ enough to sustain a major recording career. Jimi Hendrix was is a special case. He was really _too_ good to be popular among the average music fans; his music was too adventurous. The Beatles are about the only example I can recall of a band that was wonderfully inventive and adventurous without ever losing their mass appeal. ---
**Author:** ![mcms\_cricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@mcms\_cricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcms_cricket)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/60 "2002-12-05T17:17:50Z")
I have to go with javaman on this - to me a one-hit wonder isn’t someone with just one hit. There’s a talent issue here as well an “airplay” issue. People/bands like Jimi Hendrix, Cyndi Lauper (every single song on her first album got tons of airplay, I think), Greatful Dead, Chumbawumba, etc. There’s also a format issue. There are many bands (like GD, Chumbawumba, some of the alternative bands like XTC, Tears for Fears, ) who put out many albums and had a large following - but only had one or two songs that were ever on the basic top-40 American radio stations. I just don’t think those types of bands fall in the same category as a band/person who appears with one album - one song on that album flies up the charts and then the band/person completely disappears. A one-hit wonder is someone who isn’t good enough to sustain a career… Cricket, realizing that she needs more caffiene quickly before she posts another rambling message like this one… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686.md?page=4)