# What are your favority 80's one hit wonder songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032 "2004-10-01T15:26:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/21 "2004-10-01T17:27:02Z")
For me, _Tainted Love_ by Soft Cell is the epitome of 80’s one hit wonder pop music. ---
**Author:** ![Aitara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aitara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aitara)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/22 "2004-10-01T17:52:17Z")
Off the top of my head, my two favorites would be: _In a Big Country_ - Big Country _Tenderness_ - General Public (I -believe- this was on billboard, the video did receive quite a bit of airplay on MTV) Of course, as soon as I hit submit, I’ll think of many more. ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/23 "2004-10-01T18:01:09Z")
Another vote for \*Walking On Sunshine \* here. I also love _Black Velvet_ by Alannah Myles too. Thanks for some of the suggestions folks. Am going to find some of these tunes and definitely give them a listen. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/24 "2004-10-01T18:02:20Z")
Nena’s “99 Luftballons.” Love it! ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/25 "2004-10-01T18:03:05Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Nena’s “99 Luftballons.” Love it! Me too! Even the german version. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/26 "2004-10-01T18:08:42Z")
I don’t know if who sang this was a one-hit wonder, and if someone could help me out that’d be great. I think it’s a cover of the Rolling Stones, [I’m Free](http://www.keno.org/stones_lyrics/imfree.html) but I’m not a big Stones fan, so I don’t really know. CFNY always plays it when they have their “retro” night. **Sunspace** , I’m looking at you for some help here. I tried googling and all I got was a similiar song by the Soup Dragons. But I got a copy of it and that wasn’t it. Unless what they play on the radio is some kind of crazy club remix thing. Any help? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/27 "2004-10-01T18:12:44Z")
> [@Aitara](#): > > _In a Big Country_ - Big Country > > Of course, as soon as I hit submit, I’ll think of many more. Good one. And yes, I agree with most of what’s been posted and can’t help think of others. How about: I’m Gonna Be, by the Proclaimers Break Out, by Swing Out Sister Oh dear. Now I’m feeling all nostalgic. _sniff_ ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/28 "2004-10-01T18:18:59Z")
> [@Kid\_A](#): > > I think it’s a cover of the Rolling Stones, [I’m Free](http://www.keno.org/stones_lyrics/imfree.html) but I’m not a big Stones fan, so I don’t really know. > > CFNY always plays it when they have their “retro” night. **Sunspace** , I’m looking at you for some help here. > > I tried googling and all I got was a similiar song by the Soup Dragons. But I got a copy of it and that wasn’t it. Unless what they play on the radio is some kind of crazy club remix thing. > > Any help? IIRC, it was the Soup Dragons. I seem to remember there was a remix of it, somewhere. I remember about ten years ago I was in a College Bowl tournament where we received a six-part bonus question about 80’s one-hit wonders. Before I could answer the first part, our captain Doug says “Nominate Duke (to answer) all of these.” I did get all six, the last being “Name the band who sang ‘Waiting For A Star To Fall’.” Boy Meets Girl, of course. Mediocre song, but good memories! ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/29 "2004-10-01T18:25:29Z")
So many choices, so many already listed. I’m gonna go with “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” by **Glass Tiger** , although “Someday” was a pretty decent hit and “I Will Be There” was ultra-catchy, “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” gets some props for having Bryan Adams singing backup. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/30 "2004-10-01T18:26:18Z")
> [@vd](#): > > **Wall of Voodoo** : _Mexican Radio_ > > …eating barbequed iguana. _Mexican Radio_ is by **Timbuk3** , and is on their _Wall of Voodoo_ album. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/31 "2004-10-01T18:31:43Z")
“Sausalito Summernight” by **Diesel**. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/32 "2004-10-01T18:33:21Z")
Ooh, also “This Beat Goes On/Switchin’ to Glide” by **The Kings**. ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/33 "2004-10-01T18:37:17Z")
_“They Don’t Know”_ by Tracey Ullman. It sounds like it was lifted from a Lesley Gore album… ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/34 "2004-10-01T18:39:06Z")
Several nits to pick. Please pardon the annoyance: Big Country had at least two hits. (“Fields of Fire” being the other.) Men at Work had several hits. > [@Uvula Donor](#): > > Mexican Radio is by Timbuk3, and is on their Wall of Voodoo album. “Mexican Radio” (at least its original version) is by a _band_ called Wall of Voodoo. Some good songs so far. I’ll add a couple: **"Send Me an Angel"** by **Real Life** **"Love Plus One"** by **Haircut 100** And one I’m not sure about: **"She Blinded Me With Science"** by **Thomas Dolby** (Seems like he might have had another minor hit. “I Scare Myself” might have barely nudged into the charts.) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/35 "2004-10-01T19:00:45Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > Several of these are by groups who were one-hit wonders only in the U.S. and much bigger elsewhere, but that’s life. > > “Goody Two-Shoes” Adam Ant I was gonna post “what about ‘Strip’?” … but a quick check of [allmusic.com](http://allmusic.com) revealed that “Strip” stalled out at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart. Funny, though – our local radio stations (and MTV) played the hell out of “Strip”. However, I found that Adam Ant had two American Top-40 hits in the 90s (!) – “Room at the Top” (#17) and “Someday” (#39). I’ve never heard those songs, so I’ll go with Adam Ant as a one-hit wonder in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/36 "2004-10-01T19:04:22Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > And one I’m not sure about: > > **"She Blinded Me With Science"** by **Thomas Dolby** > > (Seems like he might have had another minor hit. “I Scare Myself” might have barely nudged into the charts.) As far as the American Billboard charts are concernec, Dolby qualifies as a one-hit wonder. “I Scare Myself” never hit the Hot 100. “Hyperactive!” stalled out at #62. “Airhead” got a lot of MTV play, but also never hit the Hot 100. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/37 "2004-10-01T19:11:29Z")
My fave…“Tell that Girl to Shut Up” by Transvision Vamp ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/38 "2004-10-01T19:20:30Z")
Thought of another one … “White Horse” by Laid Back ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/39 "2004-10-01T19:52:16Z")
I’m not sure of the date’s of these, not sure if they’re late seventies or early eighties. **J. Geils Band** - _Centerfold_ \*\*M \*\*- \*Pop Musik \* **The Buggles** - **Video Killed The Radio Star** ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/40 "2004-10-01T19:55:31Z")
> [@supervenusfreak](#): > > Me too! Even the german version. **Especially** the German version! The English lyrics are insipid. (I have no knowledge of how good or bad the German lyrics are and I’m happy in my blissful ignorance. So don’t tell me. La la la I can’t hear you la la la.) > [@bordelond](#): > > As far as the American Billboard charts are concernec, Dolby qualifies as a one-hit wonder. > > “I Scare Myself” never hit the Hot 100. “Hyperactive!” stalled out at #62. “Airhead” got a lot of MTV play, but also never hit the Hot 100. I was surprised just yesterday to hear “Hyperactive!” in the supermarket. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032.md?page=3)