# What one-hit-wonder songs were actually really good, even GREAT, songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 29, 2007, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148 "2007-11-29T05:33:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/221 "2008-09-09T01:47:37Z")
“Copperhead Road” by Steve Earle. Great song. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/222 "2008-09-09T01:54:00Z")
> [@Ring](#): > > Out of curiosity _is_ this a one hit wonder? _Billboard_ identifies this as being their only Top 40 hit on the Hot 100, so, yes, it is. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/223 "2008-09-09T02:03:52Z")
The Lion sleeps Tonight The Maccarenna Itst Bitsy teeny weenie Yellow polka Dot Bikini King Tut ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/224 "2008-09-09T02:11:12Z")
The Ketchup Song by Las Ketchup It doesn’t come within 1000 miles of Great Art, but it’s catchy as hell and every time I hear it I’m carrying it around for days in my head. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/225 "2008-09-09T02:13:04Z")
Its not Easy Being Green ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/226 "2008-09-09T02:39:19Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > _Year of the Cat_ - Al Stewart “Year Of The Cat” highest chart positon #8. “Time Passages” highest chart position #7. “Song On The Radio” highest chart positon #29. “Midnight Rocks” highest chart positon #24. “On The Border” highest chart positon #42. Not really a one-hit wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/227 "2008-09-09T03:07:12Z")
“Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger is catchy, witty, and sharp. It’s a regular fixture on some of my playlists, and people are usually pretty quick to be like “Ha! This song!?” By the halfway point, those people are singing along without any trace of irony. ---
**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/228 "2008-09-09T03:24:05Z")
> [@Governor\_Quinn](#): > > _Billboard_ identifies this as being their only Top 40 hit on the Hot 100, so, yes, it is. Thanks, actually that’s a surprise. I bought the album and most of the songs were pretty good. > [@](#): > > It’s been mentioned above, but just to second it, “Lovefool” by The Cardigans was actually a fantastic piece of pop, even if it was played to death at the time. [I don’t know if it’s technically a one-hit wonder or not…] I really liked “Lovefool”, and for a long time I’ve been trying to remember it’s name and who sang it. Thank God you resurrected this old honker. (I swear I already posted this, but, If so, I can’t find it.) ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/229 "2008-09-09T03:37:12Z")
Am i right to mention In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry? ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/230 "2008-09-09T05:51:05Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > “Tainted Love,” Soft Cel, which was actually a cover I don’t know. “Sex Dwarf” is one of my favorites by them. Did it ever appear on a chart? ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/231 "2008-09-09T08:50:32Z")
It seems appropriate to mention of my favorite one-hit wonder songs: [Timothy by the Bouys](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_(song)). A nicely ambiguous song about cannibalism that made it to #17. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanTigerTamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@SuntanTigerTamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanTigerTamer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/232 "2008-09-09T11:31:29Z")
Does \*\*? and The Mysterians \*\*“96 Tears” win the thread? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/233 "2008-09-09T12:52:30Z")
> [@SuntanTigerTamer](#): > > Does \*\*? and The Mysterians \*\*“96 Tears” win the thread? No. But good try. 🙂 Does anyone remember a song called **“Steamhammer Sam”** by a group called **Interferon** , from the 80’s? I’d send my left testicle to the person who could dredge up a link to that song for me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/234 "2008-09-09T12:58:36Z")
Missed the edit window. Phew, I’m glad I checked again myself. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzmyCJfsSiE](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzmyCJfsSiE) ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/235 "2008-09-09T13:09:28Z")
A couple of additions to the list: **You Were On My Mind** - The We Five **Sunny** - Bobby Hebb (one huge hit so he’s considered a one hit wonder although his musical career is pretty interesting [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby\_Hebb](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Hebb)) ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/236 "2008-09-09T13:17:07Z")
I haven’t checked the thread, so I don’t know whether this already got cited? [Billy Squier- The Stroke](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLHc-yIAPbg) It really was musically evocative and driving… I’d like to say that the music and the lyrics are somehow dissonant and juvenile, but they’re not. I like the acension and decension. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/237 "2008-09-09T13:57:39Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The best TWO hit wonder in the entire universe has to be Murray Head: “Superstar” and “One Night in Bangkok.” And kudos to Tim Rice’s lyrics. And… bonus trivia: Murray Head is the brother of Giles from Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Anthony Stewart Head)! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/238 "2008-09-09T14:25:21Z")
> [@rayh](#): > > “Year Of The Cat” highest chart positon #8. > > “Time Passages” highest chart position #7. > > “Song On The Radio” highest chart positon #29. > > “Midnight Rocks” highest chart positon #24. > > “On The Border” highest chart positon #42. > > Not really a one-hit wonder. Yes, [we know](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9221636&postcount=20). 😉 Although, I admit, I didn’t list the highest chart positions for any of them. ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/239 "2008-09-09T14:41:32Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > The songs I have bolded are actually quite good as pop songs. Granted, “867-5309” as performed by Tommy Tutone was still inchoate; you are perhaps right to say that rendition blows. Heyyyy, isn’t this against the rules? It wasn’t that bad although I am a fan of the ‘Less than Jake’ version of the song as well. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/240 "2008-09-09T14:48:20Z")
Julie Covington’s Don’t Cry For Me Argentina. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148.md?page=13)