If You Can't Name These One Hit Wonders, Stop Listening To Music
- by Danielle Lasher
- – on
- in Entertainment
Music is a part of culture around the world. There are musical giants that have several records that go platinum or diamond multiple times. These artists are the ones that people end up telling their children and grandchildren about as they get older. They shape how music is in a given time. People pay big money to see them in concert—causing hysteria when tickets are released. These artists can be top 40 artists or artists that conquer their genre's chart. They are the Lady Gaga’s, the Ed Sheeran’s, and the Beyonce’s of the music world.
Then, there are those that have one great song that everyone knows. This can be a catchy song that gets overplayed on the radio, or can be an artist that goes viral for fifteen minutes. Once their few minutes of fame are up, we never hear from them or see them again. We call these artists one hit wonders, as that one song is their claim to fame. These songs can create great feelings of nostalgia when we hear them on the radio or on playlists. This often prompts us to think: “Where are they now?” Do you think you know music? See if you have what it takes to determine the song and the artist based on one line of the song.
The hook says: “Move with me, chant with me, and if you’re good, I’ll take you home with me.” What song is this?
This song was a massive dance hit in the nineties. Most people only know a word or two of the incredibly catchy chorus. Every wedding, prom, and bat mitzvah most people have been to have involved this song with its correlating dance. While it is not quite a line dance, it was a huge dance craze and can be put in that category. The hook says: “Move with me, chant with me, and if you’re good, I’ll take you home with me.” What song is this?
The lyrics state: “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you are never gonna keep me down.” What song is this?
Many people use this one hit wonder’s song as an inspirational song to never give up. However, when the words are read or listened to closely, it can be said that this may not be the message that the artist intended. Another late nineties song, this was a song brought from the United Kingdom over to the United States. It is incredibly catchy and can generate a good giggle. The lyrics state: “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you are never gonna keep me down.” What song is this?
Which song says: “Life in plastic, it’s fantastic?”
This one hit wonder will get nineties babies singing at the top of their lungs. An innocent sounding song, the lyrics to this one hit wonder were surprisingly dirty—especially since the song tended to be targeted at children. The music video was just as much fun as the song, displaying a colorful world of fun. Looking back, nineties children laugh that they were allowed to listen to this song without their parents flipping out. Which song says: “Life in plastic, it’s fantastic?”
What song says: “When the party was nice, the party was bumpin’, hey yippie yi yo?”
This song became very popular with nineties children, as it was associated with Nickelodeon’s Rugrats movie franchise. It is often considered an obnoxious song, despite its fun rhythm and lyrics. The artists behind this song initially did not want to record the song and wanted to keep it as a funny one that they would perform from time to time. Little did they know, the song would be their one hit. What song says: “When the party was nice, the party was bumpin’, hey yippie yi yo?”
What song starts with: “Yo VIP, let’s kick it?”
The artist behind this one hit wonder has become more well-known than his song was. This song was inspired by one of the greatest songs of all time and even took some of the instrumentals from the song. This song is ultimately about the power and strength of new music, particularly by the artist singing it. It is a song full of similes that may or may not make sense. So, any guesses what song starts with: “Yo VIP, let’s kick it?”
What song says: “Oh baby, I want to get wit’cha and take your picture?”
This super hit rap song remains an anthem to this day. Scandalous for the time, this early nineties song vocalized an unpopular opinion. Today, this song is often played through another rap song that sampled it to relay a similar message. The music video for the original one hit wonder was comical, featuring the message of the song in backgrounds and as stages for the rapper. What song says: “Oh baby, I want to get wit’cha and take your picture?”
What song is it that tells the song’s namesake that: “You’re so fine you blow my mind?”
This song brings up images of cheerleaders and high school whenever it is played. The one hit wonder was released in the late seventies and remains relevant today in movies like the Bring It On series. The artist behind the song moved on to be a successful choreographer after none of the other songs took flight like this one. This song is also frequently sampled. What song is it that tells the song’s namesake that: “You’re so fine you blow my mind?”
What one hit wonder states: “We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind?”
This song’s lyrics do not necessarily fit the song’s title. This is a fun eighties song that encourages movement and lightheartedness. The song is a bit repetitive, which gets the lyrics easily stuck in the heads of listeners, likely why this song rose to fame. While this song sounds like a European pop song, the artists are actually based out of Canada. What one hit wonder states: “We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind?”
What song and artist tell us: “You can tell the world you was never my girl, you can burn my clothes up when I’m gone?”
This country song was part goofy, part depressing. Known for his mullet hairstyle, this musician became even more famous later in his life through a different medium, but this was the only song that hit anywhere on the charts. This song went platinum in the United States and three times platinum in Australia. So, what classic song and artist tell us: “You can tell the world you was never my girl, you can burn my clothes up when I’m gone?”
Do you know what song tells listeners to: “Jump up and down and move it all around?”
This song had two versions to it: the radio version and the Disney version. What sounds like an innocent song can actually be really risqué when it comes down to it. Little do most people know that this one hit wonder was a remake of another song! This song has inspired listicle-like song remakes of it since it hit the airwaves in the late nineties. Do you know what song tells listeners to: “Jump up and down and move it all around?”
What song begs: “Baby don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, no more?”
This one hit wonder was played in dance clubs all through the nineties and still gets people moving today. It is a fun song that sounds like it was around the start of EDM and was brought over from the United Kingdom. This song comes with a dance move that is more of a head bob. It is a catchy beat that fit right in with nineties club music. What song begs: “Baby don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, no more?”
The song starts off innocently enough with: “Her name is Noelle, I have a dream about her.” What song is it?
This song was the high school outcasts’ anthem. Most people thought it was a major artist, when it was really this one hit wonder. This song caused a bit of controversy for its lyrics that encouraged violence in school, especially in a post-Columbine era. This song is a form of validation for those that do not conform to “normal” behavior. The song starts off innocently enough with: “Her name is Noelle, I have a dream about her.” What song is it?
One notable line says: “This is what we’ve waited for, this is it boys, this is war.” What one hit wonder is it?
Depending on what version of this song you heard, you may not even know the English version. Originally recorded in German, this song rose to fame in the eighties. It is a relatively upbeat song with a deep political meaning. This song protested nuclear missiles, but most people miss that message. In the English version, this song’s notable line says: “This is what we’ve waited for, this is it boys, this is war.” What one hit wonder is it, though?
What song says: “When I wake up, well I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next to you?”
This song has stayed relevant through pop culture references despite being released in the late eighties. It has been parodied in movies by stars like Melissa McCarthy. This song is a goofy sounding love song that was recorded by Scottish recording artists. One of the notable parts of the song does not even consist of real words, just sounds. What song says: “When I wake up, well I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next to you?”
What one hit wonder tells listeners to: “Get ready, all you lonely girls, and leave those umbrellas at home?”
This song has become a popular song in drag clubs across the country. Released in the early eighties, this song talked about a phenomenon that would solve lonely people’s problems. It is a lighthearted song with strong vocals. The song gets a little dirty, but remains discreet. There is drama, comedy, and great musicality displayed through this song. Take a stab at this one. What one hit wonder tells listeners to: “Get ready, all you lonely girls, and leave those umbrellas at home?”
Which eighties tune starts with: “We’re talking away, I don’t know what?”
This song was a huge one hit wonder of the eighties by a Norwegian pop band. It was best known for its music video, which has been remade in various parodies, combining sketches and people combined. The instrumentals in this song were futuristic and fun, with large vocal accompaniment. This song has been redone by several artists and was even sampled in a rap song recently. Which eighties tune starts with: “We’re talking away, I don’t know what?”
Which song says: “’Cause I’m a model, you know what I mean, and I do my little turn on the catwalk?”
This song just came back into the spotlight due to a major pop starlet sampling the one hit wonder in her new single. The original song was a huge dance hit that originated in the United Kingdom in the early nineties. From there, it became a hit in several other countries, gaining platinum status in the United States. So, which song says: “’Cause I’m a model, you know what I mean, and I do my little turn on the catwalk?”
This song starts with a metallic, robotic voice saying: “Gotta make a move to a town that’s right for me.” What song is it?
This one hit wonder featured futuristic sounding effects and instrumentals through each version of the song. The late seventies brought this song to be, possibly the reason for the disco and pop/hip-hip infusion. This fun song broke records across the world and was one of the number one songs in almost thirty countries. This song starts with a metallic, robotic voice saying: “Gotta make a move to a town that’s right for me.” What song is it?
What one hit wonder starts: “Rising up, back on the street?”
People would be surprised that this song is a one hit wonder. It is a legendary song that is used to pump people up. Released in the eighties, this song was an important part of a soundtrack. This song was not the initial song planned for this movie, but after the director was denied access to the song he wanted, he went with this song, making it a hit. What one hit wonder starts: “Rising up, back on the street?”
Which one hit wonder boasts: “Those kicks were fast as lightning?”
This one hit wonder remains popular in pop culture today, despite being released in the early seventies. This song featured grunts and sounds of chopping as an important part of its background music. It only took ten minutes to record this song and the artist and producers paid little attention to it, as it was not the main single that was being released. It was then picked up by charts across the globe. What one hit wonder boasts: “Those kicks were fast as lightning?”
What one hit wonder starts off: “I know a guy who’s tough but sweet?”
This song was a huge hit when it was released and continued rising to fame after it was covered by another artist almost two decades later. This one hit wonder was great for this artist, remaining sugary sweet to the listeners while hiding a bit of a scandalous message. This song is used in commercials and movies that are based around a fall holiday, just for a specific line in the chorus. What one hit wonder starts off: “I know a guy who’s tough but sweet?”
Which song starts: “Just a steel town girl on a Saturday night, lookin’ for the fight of her life?”
This one hit wonder was a featured song in a major motion picture during the eighties. The song title is frequently how the scene in the movie is referenced. This one hit wonder was a pure accident, as the artist’s spouse sent in the song on a tape accidentally. When people play the lead character from this movie for a costume party, they will often dress in the attire from this song’s scene, sometimes playing the song all night with them. Which song starts: “Just a steel town girl on a Saturday night, lookin’ for the fight of her life?”
Which song says: “I tried to call you before, but I lost my nerve, I tried my imagination, but I was disturbed?”
Local businesses can get away with parodies of this song to promote their business in a way people will remember. This eighties song came before a major change happened in worldwide communications. Although this song has an alternate title—boasting a woman’s name—most people call it by the memorable part of the song. So, take a wild guess. Which song says: “I tried to call you before, but I lost my nerve, I tried my imagination, but I was disturbed?”
What artist sang the song that started: “Here’s a little song I wrote, You Might want to sing it note for note?”
Like most one hit wonders, this song’s artist gets confused with another major artist frequently. The song is often credited to the major artist, even though that artist never covered the song. This was one of the ultimate feel good songs. It was released in the late eighties and was completely a cappella, one of the first to gain huge success on the airwaves. What artist sang the song that started: “Here’s a little song I wrote, You Might want to sing it note for note?”
What one hit wonder starts: “He rocks in the tree tops all day long?”
The original version of this catchy song was a one hit wonder for this artist. The song dates back to the like fifties. It gained great popularity on the charts in the United States and in Australia. When the cover of the song was done, it helped boost another artist to fame and it was not a one hit wonder for them. Most people have a soft spot for the original song. What one hit wonder starts: “He rocks in the tree tops all day long?”