Music buffs spark furious debate over 'best one hit wonder ever'

Daily Mail ^ | 9/25/24 | Emma Saletta

[week 71]

Music enthusiasts who prefer one-hit wonders over frequently-played radio hits can smile now National One-Hit Wonder Day is here.

Several X users have listed their favorite ones in honor of the day, most of which were released between the 1980s and 2010s.

Chart-topping hits like Gotye's 'Somebody I Used to Know' and Aqua's 'Barbie Girl' are just two of the many songs that were the top one-hit wonders

[hellinahandcart]

“Time is Tight.”

[heylady]

Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto

[crusty old prospector]

[dfwgator]

Nena war nicht schuldig!

[crusty old prospector]

She is still not guilty.

[week 71]

@ 185 - literally laughed out loud. Thankful for SunkenCiv’s posts

[Fiji Hill]

The old commie Pete Seeger actually owned the rights to that song ("The Lion Sleeps Tonight"). He made a lot of money from it.

Here's Pete & his comrades performing it.

Wimoweh--Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra, vocal by the Weavers (1952)

[Fiji Hill]

Ue O Muite Arukō (I look up as I walk; aka "Sukiyaki")--Sakamoto Kyu (1961)

[FamiliarFace]

I love Booker T and the MGs and I love Green Onions.

Great song.

[FamiliarFace]

Nobody has mentioned “What I Like About You” by The Romantics. I think it was a one-hit wonder.

[Christopher]

Stuck in the middle with you - Stealers Wheel

(Not including Gerry Rafferty's other work)

[Fiji Hill]

The Jaynetts had been waxing discs since the 1950s, but this is their only big hit.

Sally Go Round the Roses--The Jaynetts (1963)

Sally should have heeded the Jaynetts' warning not to go downtown.

Senate Hearing--Dickie Goodman (1963)

[Songcraft]

All the good ones have been posted already!   (Oh well, here's one I like that I didn't see here yet.)

     "The Fool" - Sanford Clark

[Dr. Sivana]

AFAIK he’s still with us.

Yup. I heard wrong.

[dfwgator]

Nobody has mentioned “What I Like About You” by The Romantics. I think it was a one-hit wonder.

---

They had a big hit with “Talking In Your Sleep”.

[GSWarrior]

Many people consider Whip It by DEVO a one hit wonder.

[GSWarrior]

Jimmy Loves Maryanne - Looking Glass

[Raven6]

Ah, the good old days... Moving around Berlin, listening to German Electronica by Kraftwerk. Enjoying Nena and her “99 Red Balloons.” Tolerating Falco’s “Der Kommissar.” Always running your SDR and getting clear. Smiling at the DDR boys when you let them pick you up again, just to mess with them. I miss Title 50 work... Reagan was President. Times were good.

[dfwgator]

Lighthouse - One Fine Morning

[Fiji Hill]

Time is Tight by Booker T. & the MGs (1969) was a hit as well as a favorite Oldie down through the years.

It is my understanding that some, or maybe even all, of the MGs were on Sam & Dave's Hold On! I'm Coming! (1966), a song that many of us on FR have come to love, for obvious reasons.