Friday, February 17, 2006

That Thing You Do

What are some of your favorite One-Hit Wonders? These can be semi-current to way back in the rock and roll archives. Some of the more recent ones that come to mind are:

"The Freshmen" by The Verve Pipe
"Counting Blue Cars" by Dishwalla
"I Get Knocked Down" by Chumbawamba

In the 90s, a couple of the more prominent ones I remember were:

"Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus
"I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred
"Breakfast at Tiffany's" by Deep Blue Something
"Everything Falls Apart" by Dog's Eye View

In the 80s, I remember:

"Pop Muzik" by M
"Funkytown" by Lipps, Inc.
"I Melt With You" by Modern English
"Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners

just to name a few. I actually remember a ton of them from the 80s, but these may help you out.

The 70s had:

"One Toke Over the Line" by Brewer & Shipley
"Precious and Few" by Climax
"Seasons in the Sun" by Terry Jacks
"Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas
"Shannon" by Henry Gross

and I'll stop at the late 60s with:

"Summertime Blues" by Blue Cheer
"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Steam

You got good ones and you got bad ones, but everybody can think of some. What are some of your favorites? And, as always, you can detail why if you so choose.


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Isn't the Chumbawamba tune actually called "Tubthumping?"

"There She Goes" by the Las is one of the all-time great one-hit wonders because it's one of the all-time great pop tunes. It's just a perfectly-executed song.

Speaking of perfectly-executed pop songs that rate as all-time one hit wonders and all-time great pop tunes, period, how about "Walk Away, Renee" by the Left Banke? It's one of the most beautiful pop songs recorded in the history of rock and roll.

"Come On, Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners is a classic.

"One in a Million" by Eddie & the Tide.

"Wouldn't It Be Good?" by Nik Kershaw

"Driver's Seat" by Sniff & the Tears.

"Birds Fly" by Icicle Works.

And, of course, "I Melt With You" by Modern English.

The new wave era was full of one-hit wonders.

Oh, and here's one of the big guilty pleasures from my youth (and a video I see every once in a rare while on VH1 Classic): "Sweetheart" by Franke and the Knockouts. Anyone remember that tune?

DougALug said...

Life in a Northern Town - Dream Factory

Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles

Gum Wrappers Delight - Sugar Hill Gang

I'm The One - Mr. Big

Breakfast At Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something

Stay The Night - Eagle Eye Cherry

Superman - Four Doors Down

-Doug

Diabolical Genius said...

Brett, I agree. "There She Goes", "Come On, Eileen", and "Walk Away, Renee" were all good songs.

Doug, while I'm not familiar with it myself, the guys at work were discussing Eagle-eye Cherry as well and felt like they had a second hit. 'Course I guess it depends on how you define a hit.

I guess I think back to the 80's when I think of one-hit wonders for some reason. Who knows, folks more recent than that could have another hit in the future.

How about:

Somebody's watchin' me - Rockwell
Breakout - Swing Out Sister
She Breaks the Wind - Patrick Swayze
Party All the Time - Eddie Murphy
She Blinded Me with Science - Thomas Dolby
Something About You - Level 42
Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer
Obsession - Animotion
The Promise - When in Rome
I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow
Too Shy - Kajagoogoo (unless you count the theme from Neverending Story as a hit)
and Oh, Sheila - Ready for the World

And the non-80's songs that come to mind:
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred

Though this is not a sampling of my favorite songs, despite the snide comments that have been made about my musical tastes, I did like "Oh, Sheila".

Rich said...

"She Breaks the Wind"

Nice.

Diabolical Genius said...

Oh yeah, how about:

Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something

and

Funkytown - Lipps, Inc.

DougALug said...

Ken,

I'm not familiar with and other Eagle-Eye hit, and I did mention deep blue something.

-Doug

Diabolical Genius said...

How about:

"Come on, Eileen" -- Dexy's Midnight Runners

Rich said...

We need to get this thread

up, get back,
get right on track,
right on track
is that gonna
getcha back?

-- Right on Track, The Breakfast Club

What about Survivor's Eye of the Tiger? Did they do anything else?