# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/61 "2004-10-01T23:20:24Z")
> [@Complex Conjugate](#): > > Hardly any of these bands mentioned are strictly speaking one-hit wonders! Infact some of the bands were the most duarbale bands of the period. I’m guessing you live in the U.K. The record charts in the U.S. are a different story. Of all the artists listed so far, only Falco (2), 'Til Tuesday (2), Men at Work (5), Men Without Hats (2), A-Ha (2), Katrina and the Waves (3), Adam Ant (3), The Dream Academy (2), General Public (2), Alannah Myles (2), Swing Out Sister (2), Glass Tiger (4), Real Life (3), The J. Geils Band (10), Survivor (8), Stacey Q (2), and Boy Meets Girl (2) had more than one hit on the _Billboard_ Top 40 chart. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/62 "2004-10-01T23:23:38Z")
Bourgeois Tagg–I Don’t Mind at All ---
**Author:** ![Complex\_Conjugate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Complex\_Conjugate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Complex_Conjugate)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/63 "2004-10-01T23:31:27Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > I’m guessing you live in the U.K. The record charts in the U.S. are a different story. > > Of all the artists listed so far, only Falco (2), 'Til Tuesday (2), Men at Work (5), Men Without Hats (2), A-Ha (2), Katrina and the Waves (3), Adam Ant (3), The Dream Academy (2), General Public (2), Alannah Myles (2), Swing Out Sister (2), Glass Tiger (4), Real Life (3), The J. Geils Band (10), Survivor (8), Stacey Q (2), and Boy Meets Girl (2) had more than one hit on the _Billboard_ Top 40 chart. Dexy’s Midnight Runners only had one US hit!!!?? This confirms my belief that the US is a cultural wasteland. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/64 "2004-10-01T23:55:37Z")
This is probably the '70s. I’m sure it must be. Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the Sky ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/65 "2004-10-02T00:03:46Z")
> [@Complex Conjugate](#): > > Dexy’s Midnight Runners only had one US hit!!!?? This confirms my belief that the US is a cultural wasteland. They only had 11 hits (including two #1’s) in the UK\*. Not exactly setting the world on fire, eh? \*Guiness World Records British Hit Singles 15th Edition ©2002 ---
**Author:** ![bytheway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bytheway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bytheway)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/66 "2004-10-02T00:11:53Z")
Lots of good ones listed above. Here’s mine: “What About Me” by Moving Pictures (1982) Just put it in my CD player and am listening to it now. Also, I believe “Lunatic Fringe” was by Red Rider. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/67 "2004-10-02T00:20:00Z")
I’m frightened by how many of these songs exist in my iTunes library. 😃 Some of the most often mentioned “one hit wonders” of the 80s did indeed release second singles which, in many cases, were superior songs. 'Til Tuesday’s follow up “Looking Over my Shoulder” was far better, IMO, than the cloying “Voices Carry.” A-Ha hurt themselves; there was so much notice about groundbreaking rotoscope animation in the video for “Take On Me” that people burned out on it. When they went back to rotoscoping for “The Sun Always Shines on TV” people didn’t pay much attention, and the single did nothing on the charts, either. All of Swing Out Sister’s debut album “It’s Better to Travel” was terrific, it just wasn’t pop, and therein was the rub; people expecting 12 tracks like “Breakout” had to be disappointed by songs like “After Hours” which were straight up chanteuse-nightclub modern poppish jazz. They’re still together and recording. Their latest album “Where Our Love Grows” comes out on October 19 and the tracks I’ve heard sound great, and are more in that light jazzy-pop genre. > [@supervenusfreak](#): > > _“They Don’t Know”_ by Tracey Ullman. It sounds like it was lifted from a Lesley Gore album… Actually it was written and originally recorded by the late, great Kirsty MacColl who was a good friend of Tracey’s. Kirsty sang backup on Tracey’s version, and the “Baby!” you hear right after the guitar solo mid-song is actually Kirsty; Tracey couldn’t pull it off successfully (to her own satisfaction) and asked Kirsty to sing it for her. The video, with a cameo from Paul McCartney, is outrageously adorable and kitschy, much like Ullman herself. One of my favorites is “The Politics of Dancing” by a band called The Reflex who I think would’ve had a greater success if not for the confusion between their band name and the Duran Duran song of the same name. I also always liked “Digging Your Scene” by The Blow Monkeys, but it may have been the name of the band (and the swanky video for the song) that really caught my attention. Another favorite is a song that came out in late '89 (just skirting the fine line of 80s one-hit-wonders) called “No More Lies” by a baby-voiced singer called Michel’le. She was, at the time, engaged to a vaguely known rapper who happened to produce her record for her and showed up in the video for the song. They broke up and she faded into obscurity. 15 years later, though, everyone knows her ex, the rapper – Dr. Dre. 🙂 > [@Complex Conjugate](#): > > Dexy’s Midnight Runners only had one US hit!!!?? This confirms my belief that the US is a cultural wasteland. Not only did they only have one US hit, no one in their right minds could say it was their best song. When I pointed out to someone that they released a 14-track greatest hits compilation in the UK, their eyes bugged out of their head. **enipla** , Norman Greenbaum’s version of “Spirit in the Sky” was released in the 70s (perhaps even the 60s) but it was released by weird new-wavers Doctor and the Medics in 1985. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/68 "2004-10-02T00:35:50Z")
> [@TeaElle](#): > > **enipla** , Norman Greenbaum’s version of “Spirit in the Sky” was released in the 70s (perhaps even the 60s) but it was released by weird new-wavers Doctor and the Medics in 1985. It was released in 1970. ---
**Author:** ![foxymoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d26b3c/32.png) [@foxymoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foxymoron)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/69 "2004-10-02T01:11:58Z")
> [@Captain Lance Murdoch](#): > > I would take Love is the Slug by Fuzzbox. > > Okay, it wasn’t a hit. [hijack] WooHoo! A fellow Fuzzbox fan! I actually came in here to say that they are my favorite no-hit wonder band. “Love is the Slug” and “Jackie” are my two favorite songs on _We’ve Got A Fuzzbox…_ [/hijack] On-topic: “(There’s) Always Something There To Remind Me” by Naked Eyes is one of my verymost favorite 80’s songs, and as far as I know, Naked Eyes didn’t have any other hits. But they do have a Best of… album, so I’m probably wrong. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/70 "2004-10-02T01:12:07Z")
> [@TeaElle](#): > > enipla, Norman Greenbaum’s version of “Spirit in the Sky” was released in the 70s (perhaps even the 60s) but it was released by weird new-wavers Doctor and the Medics in 1985. > [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > It was released in 1970. Was it re-released in '85? Whenever I think of one hit wonders I always think of Norman. Norman Greenbaum. First time I saw his picture was today. I always pictured him as a 13 year old Jewish kid playing guitar in the basment. WAY TO GO NORMAN! ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/71 "2004-10-02T01:22:15Z")
“Pilot of The Airwaves” by Charlie Dore “I Wish I Had A Girl (Who Walked Like That)” by Henry Lee Summer (he may have had another song low on the charts, something like “Heard It On The Radio”) “Walls Come Down” by Glenn Burtnick (he may have had more, this is the only song I’ve ever heard of his, though) Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/72 "2004-10-02T01:23:41Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Was it re-released in '85? Not by Greenbaum. His version has been in a ton of movies, though, so it seems to never go away. I read a story about him not too long ago that said he has been living off royalties of that one song for nearly 30 years. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/73 "2004-10-02T01:24:52Z")
> [@Sir Rhosis](#): > > “Pilot of The Airwaves” by Charlie Dore Great harmonies in that one. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/74 "2004-10-02T01:44:43Z")
_Walk the Dinosaur_ - Was, Not Was (video was funny as all heck, too) _Mercedes Boy_ - Pebbles _Punk Rock Girl_ - The Dead Milkmen (another hilarious video) ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/75 "2004-10-02T02:03:08Z")
Man, I hated _Come on Eileen_. With a serious passion. I had no idea there was a greatest hits album. I always find it funny to look at the differences between the US and UK charts for the time. Funny too how some people name a band, and I think I know what song’s coming, and they say something completely different. For the following bands, I definitely remember: **Shriekback** - _Nemesis_ **Captain Sensible** - _Wot_ **Alexi Sayle** - _Didn’t You Kill My Brother?_ Others that come to mind: **The Timelords** - _Doctorin’ the Tardis_ **Screamin’ Blue Messiahs** - _I Wanna Be A Flintstone_ (although I like the whole disc, especially _Jesus Chrysler Drives A Dodge_.) **National Velvet** - _Shine On_ and _Flesh Under Skin_ **Johnny Rotten & Afrikka Bambatta** - _World Destruction_ (I know they each had more hits, but this was their only one together!) And then the dance tunes! Some of which may be early 90’s, but it’s my thread and I’ll darn well do as I please: **Bizarre Inc.** - _I’m Gonna Get You_ **Bomb The Bass** - _Beat Dis_ **Captain Hollywood Project** - _More and More and More_ **Man To Man** - _Male Stripper_ **S-Express** - _Theme From S-Express_ There were other bands that had a couple of dance hits too, like **2 Unlimited** , **Black Box** , **Snap** & **Technotronic**. Boy, I have some downloa…, I mean, _buying_ to do. Yessssss, buying… ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/76 "2004-10-02T02:10:17Z")
OK, I’m back from Birthday Dinner with some more fave '80s one hit wonders. Let me just look through my singles… some of these will only be familiar to Canadians, as that’s where I lived at the time. “People Who Died” - The Jim Carroll Band “Too Bad” by Doug & The Slugs “Steal Away” by Robbie Dupree (which might as well be called “Steal The Riff From _What A Fool Believes_”) “Psycho Chicken” by The Fools (parody of “Psycho Killer”) “Moscow Drug Club” b/w “Nyet Nyet Soviet (Soviet Jewellery)” by BB Gabor “My Mistake” by The Kingbees “In My Room” by Billy Thorpe “The Friends Of Mr. Cairo” by Jon & Vangelis “Mercury Blues” by David Lindley “Harden My Heart” by Quarterflash (they hated that song for being so popular and ruining their career) “Mainstreet USA” by Union “Our House” by Madness “Talking In Your Sleep” by The Romantics “Break My Stride” by Matthew Wilder “Chayla” by The Dice “Had A Dream (Sleeping With The Enemy)” by Roger Hodgson “Wouldn’t It Be Good” by Nick Kershaw “If I Was” by Midge Ure “Polka Dot Undies” by Bowser And Blue Anybody like any of these? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/77 "2004-10-02T02:13:47Z")
I’ve got the Robbie Dupree album on vinyl. Great make-out song. What the hell was that song that was cool when you were 16, but is rather creepy now. The one that went, “She’s just 16 years old, leave her alone, they all say”? Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/78 "2004-10-02T02:16:50Z")
> [@Sir Rhosis](#): > > What the hell was that song that was cool when you were 16, but is rather creepy now. The one that went, “She’s just 16 years old, leave her alone, they all say”? > > Sir Rhosis That would be Benny Mardones’ “Into the Night”. He bookended the 80’s with that: #11 in June 1980 and #20 in May 1989. Same song, twice the creepiness. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/79 "2004-10-02T02:39:39Z")
> [@Sir Rhosis](#): > > What the hell was that song that was cool when you were 16, but is rather creepy now. The one that went, “She’s just 16 years old, leave her alone, they all say”? Sixteen’s legal in Canada, the U.K., most of Europe, and [at least 26 of the U.S. states](http://ageofconsent.com/ageofconsent.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Granuaile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecccb3/32.png) [@Granuaile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Granuaile)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032/80 "2004-10-02T05:31:46Z")
_Something About You_- Level 42 _Never Gonna Give You Up_- Rick Astley _You Spin Me Right Round_-Dead or Alive [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favority-80s-one-hit-wonder-songs/267032.md?page=5)