# What is your favorite one-hit wonder? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747 "2018-09-22T21:45:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/41 "2018-09-24T18:42:01Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I voted for a few songs, but I’m most impressed with _Flagpole Sitta_ by Harvey Danger. I remember when it came out I only really heard the chorus, but this song has some gems: > > _Hear the voices in my head > I swear to god it sounds like they’re snoring_ > > And this weird escalation: > > _Put me in the hospital for nerves > And then they had to commit me > You told them all I was crazy > They cut off my legs now I’m an amputee, god damn you_ > > This is my new favorite song, lol. Flagpole Sitta is both weirdly enduring and weirdly endearing. > **[Why Harvey Danger’s ’90s alt-rock hit “Flagpole Sitta” endures](https://www.avclub.com/why-harvey-danger-s-90s-alt-rock-hit-flagpole-sitta-1798286632)** > > Earlier this year, a very savvy TMZ snooper captured video footage of exiled NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and his girlfriend. The clip featured the pair hanging out in their kitchen in Russia, cooking dinner just like any other couple. This... ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/42 "2018-09-24T23:55:14Z")
I had to refer to youtube to check out the current front runner. Take On Me. I can’t recall ever hearing it before. sigh… I guess it came out after I stopped listening to Top 40. Glad to see Spirit in the Sky polling well. Great song. Wipe Out is doing great too. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/43 "2018-09-25T01:46:14Z")
I am astonished that Take One Me is in the lead. I remember it from when it was current, I always considered it very ordinary. (I just re-listened on YouTube to make sure my opinion hadn’t changed). I think the Hurricane Smith selection is the most underrated on our list. I wonder how many of you actually know it, or have listened to it once seeing it here. mmm ---
**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:** [September 25, 2018, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/44 "2018-09-25T02:30:43Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I am astonished that Take One Me is in the lead. I remember it from when it was current, I always considered it very ordinary. (I just re-listened on YouTube to make sure my opinion hadn’t changed). > > I think the Hurricane Smith selection is the most underrated on our list. I wonder how many of you actually know it, or have listened to it once seeing it here. > mmm I’m not surprised. “Take on Me” is quintessential 80s, has a hook like a MFer, and is just a beautifully composed song through and through. It’s no “I Melt With You,” but it’s close. Add to that the age group of the people taking the polls, and it should well be the favorite, if I were a betting man. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/45 "2018-09-25T03:07:49Z")
Is A-ha a one-hit wonder given that their single “The Sun Always Shines on T.V." was in the Billboard Top 20? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**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:** [September 25, 2018, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/46 "2018-09-25T03:12:52Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > Is A-ha a one-hit wonder given that their single “The Sun Always Shines on T.V." was in the Billboard Top 20? > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Nice tune. I don’t recognize it at all, but, yes, I suppose for consistency, that might be enough to disqualify it. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/47 "2018-09-25T04:14:33Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Break my stride - Matthew Wilder. Oh my gosh, the music is pretty milquetoast but after watching [THE Most Eighties Video Ever](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy46iOwWQiE), I’m struck by the over-the-top the dancers and outfits and that caucasian afro/porn’stache look. And by how many instruments they need to make a basic synthy-pop sound. I mean, it sounds like a keyboard, but the band is three electronic keyboard players, a guitarist AND a guy on the [Chapman Stick.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtXe5T7NFrE) I mean, that’s an amazingly complex, jazzy instrument… being (under)used in a vacuous pop song. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/48 "2018-09-25T05:50:26Z")
Dammit, I loves me some one hit wonders (I checked half the list, at least), but I’m still in the minority. A-Ha is in the lead. So it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/49 "2018-09-25T09:22:15Z")
I wish I’d seen the nominations thread - I would have plugged Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose” which is possibly my all time favorite song ever. As it was, I had to give some love to some OHWs that apparently people who are not me think are kinda meh (noone likes ‘Friday on my Mind’? Le sigh…) ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/50 "2018-09-25T09:35:24Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > I wish I’d seen the nominations thread - I would have plugged Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose” which is possibly my all time favorite song ever. > > As it was, I had to give some love to some OHWs that apparently people who are not me think are kinda meh (noone likes ‘Friday on my Mind’? Le sigh…) Seal hit #7 with “Crazy”. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/51 "2018-09-25T09:39:57Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Well, I guess I’m one of those 1 out of 50 (and I bet a good percentage more who grew up at the time FYC was popular than that would name “Good Thing.”). But I also bet if you played “Good Thing” for them, they’d go "… Same here, except that the first song of theirs that spring to mind for me is [_Johnny Come Home_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H5Se-9XAVE). I hated it then and hated all their subsequent hits. I’ve ended up liking _Johnny Come Home_ quite a bit, not the other songs. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/52 "2018-09-25T10:20:11Z")
Would A-Ha be number one without that video? They also benefit by coming early in the list, like AAA towing. How about a final poll with the top ten vote getters? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/53 "2018-09-25T10:48:37Z")
> [@Wolf333](#): > > Seal hit #7 with “Crazy”. > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk There’s too many songs in the world called “Crazy” (my mind just automatically adds in “…for feeling so lonely…”) But I YouTubed it and … yeah, ok, a TWO hit wonder. (that song’s da bomb too) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/54 "2018-09-25T11:51:27Z")
FYC also released one of the greatest cover songs ever [Suspicious Minds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13iMsGNUHFo). The list could of had Bronski Beat, but I guess they are 2-hit wonders. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/55 "2018-09-25T14:18:48Z")
I voted for a bunch - some great songs on that list! - but if I had to pick just one, it’d be Sniff ‘n the Tears’s “Driver’s Seat”: [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blrHHRWKygw) And for fans of “Take On Me,” check out this _Family Guy_ homage: [Family Guy: Take On Me. - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hrkC6C__uY) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/56 "2018-09-25T14:38:31Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > And for fans of “Take On Me,”… There’s [a swing version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5z7cYSbsFU)… But someone also [did a great job on the “Literal Version”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HE9OQ4FnkQ) (apparently this is the video that started the trend). A lot of lines have become too much a part of my vocabulary: “There’s a handsome guy inside this comic…” “Makes me want to crumple something!” And my favorite (watch the video, it’ll make sense): _Climb through this hole…_ [show this guy then cut back to these two] \*You go through first… \* _ **I’m gunna kick some ass with my own pipe wrench.** _ ---
**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:** [September 25, 2018, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/57 "2018-09-25T14:38:56Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Would A-Ha be number one without that video? They also benefit by coming early in the list, like AAA towing. Just looking online, Rolling Stone named “Take On Me” their #1 one-hit wonder of all time. VH1 has it at #8 (“Macarena” is #1 there). Consequence of Sound has it as #5 (With “I Melt With You” at #1. I can dig that!) An internet poll site called “Ranker” has it at #2 (with “Tainted Love” #1). So this poll isn’t an anomaly or anything. I’m sure the video added to its enduring popularity, but it’s a great 80s song, perhaps _the_ quintessential 80s song. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2018, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/58 "2018-09-25T14:40:47Z")
> [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](#): > > Same here, except that the first song of theirs that spring to mind for me is [_Johnny Come Home_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H5Se-9XAVE). > > I hated it then and hated all their subsequent hits. I’ve ended up liking _Johnny Come Home_ quite a bit, not the other songs. Oh, totally forgot about that one! That is the best of the bunch that I know. I can’t say I’m much a fan of FYC–just couldn’t get into the lead singer’s voice. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/59 "2018-09-25T14:54:08Z")
I wish these songs had been posted along with the year in which they were released. I’ve definitely never heard of these songs, and I’m guessing it’s because they were released in the seventies, but I don’t know for sure. Also, I wish we could down-vote songs, so I could down-vote My Sharona! ---
**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:** [September 25, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/60 "2018-09-25T15:12:15Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > I wish these songs had been posted along with the year in which they were released. I’ve definitely never heard of these songs, and I’m guessing it’s because they were released in the seventies, but I don’t know for sure. > > Also, I wish we could down-vote songs, so I could down-vote My Sharona! Boo! Anyhow, this is not a particularly 70s-heavy list. It’s from all over. I’ll post the list chronological by when the song was a hit in a bit, after I finish up the research. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747.md?page=4)