# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/61 "2018-09-25T15:23:08Z")
My favorite one-hit wonder is “96 Tears” by ? And the Mysterians. Can’t understand why it’s not on the list. From the list, I choose “Double Shot.” ---
**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, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/62 "2018-09-25T15:25:07Z")
Here it is, sorted by **year of peak chart position**. This means that on cusp years like 1970 or 1980, it’s possible the song was released and already charting in '69 and '79, respectively, but I just went by the year of peak chart position. **1960s** : Barrett Strong - Money 1960 The Kingsmen – Louie, Louie 1963 The Surfaris - Wipe Out 1963 Gale Garnett – We’ll Sing in the Sunshine 1964 Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction 1965 Swingin’ Medallions – Double Shot (of My Baby’s Love) 1966 The Easybeats – Friday On My Mind 1967 Iron Butterfly – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida 1968 John Fred and his Playboy Band - Judy in Disguise (with glasses) 1968 Steam - Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye 1969 Zager & Evans - In the Year 2525 1969 **1970s** : Blues Image - Ride Captain Ride 1970 Ides of March - Vehicle 1970 Mungo Jerry – In the Summertime 1970 Norman Greenbaum – Spirit in the Sky 1970 The Shocking Blue - Venus 1970 Lee Michaels - Do You Know What I Mean 1971 Argent - Hold Your Head Up 1972 Arlo Guthrie – City of New Orleans 1972 Looking Glass – Brandy 1972 Focus – Hocus Pocus 1973 Hurricane Smith – Oh, Babe What Would You Say 1973 Sammy Johns - Chevy Van 1975 Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon Delight 1976 The Raspberries – Go All the Way 1976 Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music 1976 Ram Jam – Black Betty 1977 Sniff ‘n the Tears – Driver’s Seat 1979 The Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star 1979 The Knack - My Sharona 1979 **1980s** : Gary Numan – Cars 1980 The Kings – The Beat Goes On/Switching To Glide 1980 Soft Cell - Tainted Love 1982 Tommy Tutone – 867-5309/Jenny 1982 After the Fire – Der Kommissar 1983 Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen 1983 Taco - Puttin’ on the Ritz 1983 Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me with Science 1983 A-ha – Take On Me 1985 Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town 1986 Georgia Satellites – Keep Your Hands To Yourself 1987 T’Pau – Heart and Soul 1987 Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance 1989 **1990s** : Modern English – I Melt With You 1990 Gerardo - Rico Suave 1991 Right Said Fred - I’m Too Sexy 1992 Blind Melon – No Rain 1993 Harvey Danger – Flagpole Sitta 1998 Natalie Imbruglia – Torn 1998 **2000s** : Fountains of Wayne – Stacy’s Mom 2003 ---
**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, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/63 "2018-09-25T16:30:54Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > 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. Allow me to reiterate. That song never reaches anywhere near it’s level of popularity _without_ that video. ---
**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, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/64 "2018-09-25T16:38:55Z")
> [@digs](#): > > There’s [a swing version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5z7cYSbsFU)… I dig the trumpet. The vocals… not so much. A bad party-band version of “Take On Me” even appeared in the Oscar-winning _La La Land_: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqGUu-JnMyg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqGUu-JnMyg) ---
**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, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/65 "2018-09-25T16:42:45Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Allow me to reiterate. That song never reaches anywhere near it’s level of popularity _without_ that video. I really can’t say. I loved the song well before I saw the video. I think it would still be popular without a great video. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/66 "2018-09-25T17:29:21Z")
Happy National One-Hit Wonder Day! ---
**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, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/67 "2018-09-25T19:03:21Z")
Thank you **pulykamell** , you’re awesome. And I was right, almost every song I didn’t know was from before my time. I just didn’t realize how many of the songs were from the sixties! ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/68 "2018-09-25T19:35:24Z")
Here are all the songs with the year each was released: After the Fire – Der Kommissar - 1983 A-ha – Take On Me - 1985 Argent - Hold Your Head Up - 1972 Arlo Guthrie – City of New Orleans - 1972 Barrett Strong - Money - 1960 Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction - 1965 Blind Melon – No Rain - 1993 Blues Image - Ride Captain Ride - 1970 Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen - 1983 Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town - 1986 Focus – Hocus Pocus - 1973 Fountains of Wayne – Stacy’s Mom - 2003 Gale Garnett – We’ll Sing in the Sunshine - 1964 Gary Numan – Cars - 1980 Georgia Satellites – Keep Your Hands To Yourself - 1986 Gerardo - Rico Suave - 1991 Harvey Danger – Flagpole Sitta - 1998 Hurricane Smith – Oh, Babe What Would You Say - 1972 Ides of March - Vehicle - 1970 Iron Butterfly – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - 1968 John Fred and his Playboy Band - Judy in Disguise (with glasses) - 1967 Lee Michaels - Do You Know What I Mean - 1971 Looking Glass – Brandy - 1972 Modern English – I Melt With You - 1982 Mungo Jerry – In the Summertime - 1970 Natalie Imbruglia – Torn - 1998 Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance - 1989 Norman Greenbaum – Spirit in the Sky - 1970 Ram Jam – Black Betty - 1977 Right Said Fred - I’m Too Sexy - 1992 Sammy Johns - Chevy Van - 1975 Sniff ‘n the Tears – Driver’s Seat - 1979 Soft Cell - Tainted Love - 1982 Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon Delight - 1976 Steam - Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - 1969 Swingin’ Medallions – Double Shot (of My Baby’s Love) - 1966 T’Pau – Heart and Soul - 1987 Taco - Puttin’ on the Ritz - 1983 The Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star - 1979 The Easybeats – Friday On My Mind - 1967 The Kings – This Beat Goes On/Switching To Glide - 1980 The Kingsmen – Louie, Louie - 1963 The Knack - My Sharona - 1979 The Raspberries – Go All the Way - 1972 The Shocking Blue - Venus - 1969 The Surfaris - Wipe Out - 1963 Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me with Science - 1983 Tommy Tutone – 867-5309/Jenny - 1982 Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music - 1976 Zager & Evans - In the Year 2525 - 1969 ---
**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, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/69 "2018-09-25T20:05:02Z")
Thanks **Jeff Lichtman**! It must have been old people making these nominations. If I hadn’t started listening to eighties music when hip hop became popular, I’d probably only know about half a dozen on this whole list! ---
**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 26, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/70 "2018-09-26T01:49:58Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > 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? Sure, we can do that. Let’s give it a few more days to ripen. Back to Take On Me. I listened to it again today, and it does nothing for me. I acknowledge I’m in the minority. I had no idea it was so popular. mmm ---
**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 26, 2018, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/71 "2018-09-26T03:01:01Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I really can’t say. I loved the song well before I saw the video. I think it would still be popular without a great video. I don’t think it’s possible to divorce a song from its setting. There’s a whole generation of songs that were introduced via their video, and for many of us cannot be separated from the visuals. Take On Me was a brilliant piece of animation\* ("…four months spent doing hand-drawn drawings. It was very thorough stuff.” That might be an understatement: Illustrator Mike Patterson came up with more than 3,000 sketches for the final clip)… \*[from An EW article.](https://ew.com/article/2015/10/26/a-ha-video-take-on-me/) Now, that also applies to other songs from other times. When my kids ask why I love the “British Invasion” rock of the early 60s, I have to explain how amazing it sounded at the time. The Top 40 (the only songs we heard on the radio) was dominated by white, schmaltzy Easy Listening like Pat Boone and Perry Como. Imagine a suppressed kid from the suburbs suddenly hearing the Beatles, the Stones and the Yardbirds… and then shocking his parents by playing \*Louie, Louie. \* So some of the One Hit Wonders from the 60s and 70s fit this category. Like _Take On Me_, they might not stand up without their cultural significance… but we can never hear them without that significance. ---
**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 26, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/72 "2018-09-26T03:08:06Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I don’t think it’s possible to divorce a song from its setting. Oh, i certainly agree. All I could say is that I know I fell in love with the song well before I ever saw the video for it (we didn’t have cable or MTV or any of that around the house.) But, of course, it being in the radio rotation may have been influenced by the video’s popularity. I don’t know. Would “Thriller” or “Sledgehammer” have been as much hits without the video? I actually do think they would, but there’s no alternate universe to compare with. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/73 "2018-09-26T03:47:20Z")
For the _third time_, the The Kingsmen are **not** , in any way shape or form, a one hit wonder. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/74 "2018-09-26T03:50:52Z")
And neither is A-Ha, thay had a top 20 hit with “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” and a number of other singel charter. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/75 "2018-09-26T03:59:06Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I don’t think it’s possible to divorce a song from its setting. > > There’s a whole generation of songs that were introduced via their video, and for many of us cannot be separated from the visuals. I think you may be overestimating. When the song was released, radio was still the dominant means of exposure to new music. That is, a heck of a lot more people out there had radios (at home, at work, and in their cars) than cable TV, and that’s going to be how the majority of people first heard and fell in love with the song. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/76 "2018-09-26T07:20:38Z")
The following artists from the list had more than one song in the U.S. top 40. In each case, I’ve put the song from the list first, followed by the artist’s other hits: **A-ha** Take On Me The Sun Always Shines on T.V. **Dream Academy** Life in a Northern Town The Love Parade **Gerardo** Rico Suave We Want the Funk **Lee Michaels** Do You Know What I Mean Can I Get a Witness **Looking Glass** Brandy Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne **Natalie Imbruglia** Torn Wishing I Was There **Neneh Cherry** Buffalo Stance Kisses on the Wind **The Kingsmen** Louie, Louie Money The Jolly Green Giant **The Knack** My Sharona Good Girls Don’t Baby Talks Dirty **The Raspberries** Go All the Way I Wanna Be With You Let’s Pretend Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) **Tommy Tutone** 867-5309/Jenny Angel Say No ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/77 "2018-09-26T09:47:02Z")
I’m sorry, Jeff. Every one of your examples that I’m familiar with (that is, all but Lee Michaels, Looking Glass, and Neneh Cherry), for me, emphasizes the opposite point you’re trying to make. I have never heard, nor heard of, the “other hit(s)” you’ve listed for each artist. These artists are all the epitome of one-hit wonders. _Tommy Tutone_, fercryinoutloud! Something interesting is going on here. I’m guessing that, typically, enough people purchase the follow-up single to a big hit to make it “chart” — but that is not a hit, really. It has no cultural impact (okay, maybe in Japan or something). Hey, I’ve done it myself — not with singles, but with albums. For example, I own the Firm’s very forgettable\* second LP. (This was Jimmy Page’s late-80s band). I listened to the thing once. But Billboard considered it a purchased product like any other! \*Actually, “Spirit of your Love” is a nice song. ---
**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 26, 2018, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/78 "2018-09-26T10:03:55Z")
Wikipedia is loaded with interesting info about Louie Louie: [ul] [li]International Louie Louie Day is April 11[/li][li]The Kingsmen paid $50 to make their recording of Louie Louie[/li][li]The songs actual, original title contains no comma[/li][li]Paul Revere and the Raiders recorded Louie Louie in the same studio as the Kingsmen, just one week later[/li][li]One of the artists that knocked the Kingsmen out of the number one slot on the Hot 100 is the Singing Nun[/li][/ul] mmm ---
**Author:** ![Tea\_Scones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Tea\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tea_Scones)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/79 "2018-09-26T10:32:34Z")
Its not on the list but…The Crash Test Dummies - Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/t05G0983BcI/maxresdefault.jpg "Crash Test Dummies - Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm (HQ)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t05G0983BcI) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747/80 "2018-09-26T13:21:32Z")
Hard to choose between “Hocus Pocus” and “This Beat Goes On/Switchin’ To Glide” so I voted for both. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-one-hit-wonder/821747.md?page=5)