106 The Greatest One-Hit-Wonders Of All Time

A one-hit wonder is a sad success for many musicians, and behind the term is the fact that the musician had no more hits in his career. Here’s how a host of artists wait in vain for their longed-for breakthrough after their the-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-all-times success.

But remember, having only one hit isn’t a pity because 99.9% of all musicians don’t even manage to do that.

The first One-Hit-Wonder was written by the American musician Carls Perkins and is called “Blue Suede Shoes” from 1955. The rock ‘n’ roll song, based on a story by Johnny Cash, sold more than a million copies in April 1956, prompting Perkins to receive a Cadillac as a gift from the owner of Sun Records.

The rapper “Vanilla Ice” shows that even one hit is enough to become rich and famous. With his hit single “Ice, Ice Baby,” released in 2001, he stormed the charts while proving to the world that white rappers could also be commercially successful in the rap business. Even today, “Vanilla Ice” performs their hit song in T.V. shows, events, and concerts.

Another excellent example of a flawless the-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-all-times was provided by the alternative rock band Chumbawamba with the song “Tubthumping” in 1997. The song was a worldwide hit that became so successful that Nike offered them $1.5 million to use the music for a commercial at the 1998 World Cup. However, the band turned down the offer from Nike.

Probably still angry about their decision today.

Among the greatest one-hit wonders of all time, there are plenty of good songs by talented performers, where one may ask why the success failed to materialize.

(For each list, we’ve created a Spotify playlist for you with all the songs listed here.)

The most successful one-hit wonders:

01. Sugarhill Gang – Rapper’s Delight (1979)

“Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang is one of the earliest songs that introduced the genre of hip-hop to a wide audience. Henry Jackson, Michael Wright, and Guy O’Brien formed the Sugarhill Gang back in the day and propelled a hip-hop song into the worldwide charts. With its dance to a disco beat, “Rapper’s Delight” reached #3 on the German charts and lasted a full 25 weeks.

In many parts of Europe, the song reached the top 10, while in the USA it reached number 36. Due to the song’s commercial success, the Sugarhill Gang had paved the way for hip-hop out of the underground scene.

02. Natalie Imbruglia – Torn (1997)

While Natalie Imbruglia was already a well-known actress in her native Australia, she first became known worldwide with her international hit “Torn.” A big part of the single’s success was Imbruglia’s music video, which was played countless times on MTV, Viva, and VH1.

The original version of the song is from 1995 and was written by the US band Erdnaswap. Really successful, however, was only the Cover version by Natalie Imbruglia from 1997. However, for the actress, on a musical level, it remained with this one-hit-wonder.

03. Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star (1979)

“Video Killed the Radio Star” is the first music video shown on MTV’s music channel. The song became the only number 1 hit of The Buggles’ duo from 1979 to 1981. In 2000, the video for the successful one-hit-wonder became the first video on MTV to be shown a million times. “Video Killed the Radio Star” is about an upheaval in society due to the spread of new modern technologies. In Germany, the song landed at number 2 in the charts.

In Austria, Switzerland and Great Britain, however, it reached number 1.

04. Chumbawamba – Tubthumping (1997)

“I get knocked down, but I get up again. You’re never going to keep me down!” are the most famous lines of the song “Tubthumping” by the band Chumbawamba. A song that invites intense head-nodding and the Celebration mood cheers. The term “Tubthumper” comes from anarchist jargon and refers to someone who makes his opinion known in public in a loud manner. “Tubthumping” was a one-time hit and landed at #11 in Germany.

In many countries like Italy, Ireland, Canada, or Australia the song could even climb to number 1 in the charts.

05. Fool’s Garden – Lemon Tree (1995)

German pop-rock band Fool’s Garden surprisingly landed an international one-hit-wonder in 1995. “Lemon Tree” was discovered somewhat by accident when the band performed it in a pub, and by chance, a radio host heard the song. SWF 3 included it in its program, and the song quickly spread beyond the borders of Germany via the lemon tree. “Lemon Tree” reached first place on the charts in Germany and Austria.

In Switzerland, it was enough for a good 2nd place. place and in Great Britain for number 26.

06. Soft Cell – Tainted Love (1981)

“Tainted Love” by synthpop duo Soft Cell is a cover version of the song of the same name by Gloria Jones. It was produced and written by Ed Cobb at that time. However, the big success came with the cover of Soft Cell. It was among the most successful songs of their career for the band.

In fact, “Tainted Love” was the most successful song of their career as a band worldwide. It reached number 1 in 18 countries and even reached number 8 in the U.S. Billboard charts and stayed in the charts for 43 weeks. Rihanna sampled the song in 2006 in her track “SOS.”

07. The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be (1988)

The Scottish band The Proclaimers landed a true one-hit wonder with “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”, which still has many fans today sing-along can. Especially in the USA, the song became famous through the movie Benny and Joon with Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson.

While “I’m Gonna Be” only reached number 40 in Germany, it landed at number 1 in Great Britain and managed a good 5 in Austria. The song has been covered several times, but the Proclaimers’ version remains one successful. According to some rumors, the song is about the girlfriend of one of the band members.

08. Dexys Midnight Runners – Come on Eileen (1982)

With “Come on Eileen,” Dexys Midnight Runners peaked in 1982. The single reached first place in Switzerland and Great Britain in the U.S. charts. In Germany, “Come On Eileen” also landed in the top ten.

With a peak placement at the 6. The song became a the-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-all-times when it reached number 2 in the German charts. In the song’s lyrics, Kevin Rowland processes an experience from his youth. The song is about his experience with the Catholic Church and the impurity that sex, according to the church, brings to a relationship.

09. Five Stairsteps – O-o-h Child (1970)

Before the single “O-o-h Child” the Five Stairsteps were hardly successful. 1970 single catapulted the band into the Top 10 of the American Billboard charts and was especially popular in Chicago and Detroit. Since its release in the 70s, the song has been covered more than 20 times.

With its uplifting message, the song created a good mood in the soul genre of the 70s. The line “Things Are Gonna Get Easier” conveyed that, despite hard times, things would eventually get easier again for listeners who felt they were being addressed.

10. A-Ha – Take on Me (1984)

To call A-Ha’s single “Take On Me,” a one-hit-wonder seems daring at first glance. A-Ha is one of the most successful bands in Europe.

The Norwegian band around singer Morten Harket first released the song under a different title and flopped miserably. It wasn’t until a unique music video accompanied the song that A-Ha’s career took off. The musicians are mainly known for this one music video created by Irish director Steve Barron in the USA. “Take On Me” reached #1 in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the U.S., and Norway, the band’s home country.

11. Nazareth – Love Hurts (1975)

In 1960, a band called The Everly Brothers released the first version of the song “Love Hurts”. Fifteen years later, a cover version of the same song would become the biggest hit of a Scottish hard rock band.

Nazareth turned the song into a real power ballad and landed at #1 on the charts in many countries. In Germany, it was only enough for place 30, but the single stayed 14 weeks in the German charts. The message of the song is simple but powerful.

Love hurts, and it hurts even more when it’s strong.

12. Los del Rio – La Macarena (1995)

In the mid-90s, a duo from Spain conquered the world’s dance floors. Los del Río, those from the river, were the names of the two men who reached the top of the charts with their song “Macarena.” In 1995 two musicians from the USA discovered the song and created the Bayside Boys Remix.

“La Macarena” stayed in the charts for 60 weeks in the USA. And also, in Europe, the song was on different charts for more than 30 weeks. In Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, the upbeat song was a big hit Summer hit at number 1. Even though not everyone could sing along with the mostly Spanish lyrics, most knew at least a few of the dance steps of the Macarena.

13. Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round (1984)

The band Dead or Alive had already made a name in Japan in the 80s. However, to be successful worldwide, they switched to the popular synthpop genre and created the song “You Spin Me Round” in 1984, which reached number 2 in the charts in Germany and even number 1 in Austria and the U.K. The band could not follow up on the success of this the-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-all-times.

Even the cover versions of the song on subsequent albums of the band could not change it.

14. The Knack – My Sharona (1979)

Like many other songs, “My Sharona” is also about a woman and love. The lead singer of The Knack fell in love with a woman named Sharona, who inspired him to write many songs concisely.

One of the songs was dedicated to her and was given “My Sharona,” despite initial contradictions from the bandmates. While the song reached the top of the charts in the U.S., it was good enough for number 12 in Germany. Because “My Sharona” was so haunting and easy to sing along to, it stayed there for 15 weeks.

15. Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting (1974)

In 1974 the Jamaican Carl Douglas landed a megahit. The song “Kung-Fu Fighting” hit the top of the charts in many countries.

Among them were Australia, Germany, Canada, France, South Africa, Ireland, and many more. The track was initially intended to be released only as a B-side of another single. Still, fortunately, the record company realized the potential of the single and released it as an A-side. The song owes its success to the clubs of the 70s that popularized “Kung-Fu Fighting.”

With eleven million records sold worldwide, it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime hit.

16. Ram Jam – Black Betty (1977)

Who would have thought that South American workers’ songs from the 20th century would be a hit?. Century would once conquer the worldwide charts.

The song brought the U.S. rock band Ram Jam a hitherto unknown success. With many “Bam-a-lam,” the song became the band’s most successful song and reached an excellent 25th place in Germany. Place. Black Betty” remained in the German charts for 22 weeks.

In France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, it even reached the Top 10.

17. Norman Greenbaum – Spirit In The Sky (1969)

After the US-American Norman Greenbaum parted ways with his band at the end of the 60s, he set to work on his solo album. When he heard a gospel song on T.V., he thought about releasing such a gospel song himself on his album. The result was a song in which gospel meets psychedelic rock. “Spirit In The Sky” reached number 1 in the German charts in 1970.

Also, in the USA, Great Britain, Switzerland, and Austria, the song could conquer the Top 10. Norman Greenbaum was well off with his one-hit-wonder. Because not only in the charts, the song was successful, also advertising companies had a great interest in Greenbaum’s song.

18. The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony (1997)

The Verve sampled an instrumental version of a Rolling Stones song called “The Last Time” in the late 1990s. Due to minor changes to the original material, the single brought the band success and a dispute over licenses, which The Verve ultimately lost.

Whether in commercials, soundtracks, or other uses, all proceeds from the song do not go to the British band but to the Rolling Stones. “Bitter Sweet Symphony” remained the band’s most successful song, and the song’s name became a bitter reality for the band.

19. 4 Non Blondes – What’s Up (1993)

“What’s Up” first appeared on the band 4 Non-Blondes’ debut album in 1992 and was released as the second single in 1993. The song reached the top of the charts in more than a dozen countries. Countries like Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and many others were among them. “What’s Up” was used on the soundtrack of several movies, including “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” with Chloë Grace Moretz and “Young Adult” with Charlize Theron. The song remained the band’s only chart success, and in 1994 singer and lead guitarist Linda Perry left the band.

Since then, she has collaborated with the likes of Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, and Celine Dion.

20. Lou Bega – Mambo № 5 (1999)

Every summer needs a hit. In the summer of 1999, it was the “Mambo № 5” in the version by Lou Bega.

For his hit song, Bega used the music of Pérez Prado from 1949. The old theme was provided with a text, and also the melody of the refrain was modified. Then nothing stood in the way of the one-hit-wonder—the single sold millions of copies.

Top positions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Great Britain brought Lou Bega and his record company multiple platinum awards. An Earworm was created, which did not let go of the people in 1999 so fast.

Places 21-106 of the best one-hit wonders of all time:

Each song is linked to the corresponding music video via the title.

One-Hit Wonder Spotify Playlist:

One-hit wonders abound, and some remain forever relevant and become the best evergreens. Others, however, disappear from the scene after a short time.

Even today, Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” is a popular song that many people can sing along to. In addition, it often serves as a sampler in modern pieces. Los del Ríos’ “La Macarena,” on the other hand, was the phenomenon of a long summer when nearly everyone could imitate the dance moves from the accompanying music video.

A one-hit wonder doesn’t always have to be one of the best songs in the world, but for a short time, these songs kept their artists in the spotlight.