In the case of Tommy Tutone, “Angel Say No” was actually their first, minor hit. I remember thinking at the time that with a goofy name like that they would never have another hit, so I was surprised when they made it big with their second song. (Useful trivia I learned from this message board: if you are at a checkout that will take a phone number for a courtesy card, (local area code)-867-5309 almost always works).
Yeah, of all the songs listed there, the only one I remember occasionally still hearing on the radio is The Knack’s “Good Girls Don’t.” (I am familiar with “Baby Talks Dirty,” as well, from just general familiarity with the Knack’s work, but I can’t remember hearing it on the radio. It just sounds like a derivative of “My Sharona.”)
So, clearly, simply going on Top 40 success is probably not good enough to determine whether something is a one-hit wonder or not. This is really an interesting question to me, and I’ve been going through a number of definitions in my head as this and the other thread has progressed. I guess at the end of the day, it’s just a popularity contest: it’s a one-hit wonder if a majority of people say it’s a one-hit wonder and that one song is all that’s left in the cultural detritus, and there’s going to be a lot of disagreements. That said, at some point, there must some at least objective hurdle. Even if a lot of people don’t remember a certain song for whatever reason, if someone has two top 10 or top 5 charting songs or whatever bar we want to put on it, it wouldn’t be fair to call them a one-hit wonder.
I just realized this is somewhat misleading. While it did chart the highest in 1990 (at #76), it originally charted in 1983 (peaking at #78 on the Hot 100). There was a re-recording of it in 1990 (which I only learned of a few days ago, and it’s a forgettable re-recording,) though I’m not sure if it’s that particular version that charted in 1990. It would make sense that it would be, but I don’t see anything disambiguating which version hit #76 (or if they even make a distinction of two versions of the same song by the same band.)
I’m shocked that it only got as high as #76. To me, it’s just an iconic 80s song, and would be part of any 80s mix I’d put together. Yet, going by the numbers, it wasn’t really much of a hit at all.
Some trivia about me: I actually paid money to the channel Video Jukebox to see the Take On Me video. (Also Boys of Summer but that is not from a One Hit Wonder).
While it has vanished into the pop-culture memory hole, at the time it was big enough to inspire the Weird Al parody “Baby Likes Burping”. That’s gotta count for something! 
Granted, this was when Weird Al was just a college student sending in tapes to Dr. Demento, where it got a lot of airplay. It never showed up on any of his official albums, as by the time Al had a recording deal, the Knack song had already faded into obscurity.
Add me to the group who feel that “Take On Me” was a merely average pop song elevated to pop-culture icon by the groundbreaking video. Anyone else remember how for about the next two years every third TV commercial utilized the same sketch animation/live action technique?
I remember it on account of the Al Yankovic parody, “Taco Grande.”
See, for me what makes the song so god-damned infectious is, well, first it has that earworm of a synth hook, but the most memorable and iconic part of the song itself is that lead-up to “I’ll be gone in a day or two.” I find the emotional build in the chorus just brillians, starting with a low A, building melodically higher and higher, rhythm switches to a half-time feel for a bar or two, and finally ending in a falsetto two and half octaves up from the starting note on “two.” Gives me chills every time. It’s a great pop chorus. (Well, except for the fact that practically no one can actually sing it well. )
Incidentally, for the music historians out there, here’s an early version of “Take on Me” when it was known as “The Juicy Fruit Song” and the band was “Bridges.”
And here’s a demo version which gets a little silly at 0:42. This before the chorus was developed. It’s clearly recognizable in the verses but, man, is it itching for that chorus. Interesting seeing the development of this song.
I took the top ten vote getters and created a final poll found here.
mmm
Tainted Love and Spirit in the Sky are the Top 2 here. Both are good choices.
Just had an idea. Any time anyone uses the term “One Hit Wonder” it should be understood as “One Hit (Way Bigger Than Anything Else They Did) Wonder”.
Otherwise, every discussion on any board or in any bar devolves into “Are you serious?!? You are TOTALLY ignoring Norman Greenbaum’s song about canned ham! Or his ENTIRE album about Petaluma?”
As everyone else looks puzzled and whispers “Canned ham?”
I agree. And Stacy’s Mom isn’t even close to their best song.
Cool. The first one sounds a little like early R.E.M. in one of their punk-ish moments. Calling Rick Beato!
I think “Fire” by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown should be on the list.
Absolutely. I thought the same. I wish there was more of that basement tape somewhere, but, from my non-exhaustive searching, the only copy of the song on the internet is this clip or an edited version of this clip (from some documentary.)
A few months back, Wordman started a thread about a version of *Take On Me *performed by Lake Street Dive. There’s no telling what people will enjoy, but I recommend it.
Hearing a native speaker of English sing the lyrics is interesting. Many of the lines have the same casual “almost sense” as the title phrase. (“Take On Me”…?) I find the lyrics pleasant and powerful. Hearing/seeing the song rearranged and simplified might also be enlightening. For me, the song retains its power in this minimally produced version – which is impressive.
The singer, Rachel Price, knows when to undersell and when to hit a note hard.
Sorry, but Starland Vocal Band is on the list, although they’re polling poorly.
Not to mention it’s ground-breaking video was a huge smash in the early days of MTV. Good way to sear the song into the memories of a generation.
I’m with ya. I never knew this Seal track is called Crazy.
I voted for No Rain before realising I could’ve vote more than once. Mainly because Blind Melon are one of my favourite bands (though they are definitely a one hit wonder).
Otherwise, I would’ve voted for take on me as well.
In a day or two?
This blew my mind. I always assumed he was just singing “da do do do” (or something). I listened to the song again, couldn’t hear it so looked up the lyrics so I could come back here and tell you you’re hearing things. But that’s the line! Took a few more times but now I can’t not hear. Well, for the first two choruses. The third is still gibberish.
Also, the first A-ha song I heard was their Bond theme, the living daylights. Great song.