Usually one hit wonder songs seem like the greatest musical discovery in our lives for a few months and then they fade away, only to later embarrass us when someone discovers them in our music collection and mocks us. Here are 10 of my favorite one hit wonder songs. What are some of yours? I’d love to hear them in the comments.
10. Your Love by The Outfield. This was an 80’s classic and we all know the lyrics by heart. Oddly, one of my sons recently discovered The Outfield and loves the entire album.
9. Good Vibrations, Marky Mark and The Fun Bunch, 1991 No video here because I’m sure you all know this one. I wonder if The Fun Bunch is having as much fun now that Marky Mark has moved on to bigger and better things.
8. Somebody That I Used to Know, Gotye, 2011
7. Who Let The Dogs Out? Baha Men, 2000 This song is a particular favorite of mine because of something that happened in a courtroom, one of the greatest moments in legal history, when I was on a jury in 2015. Here is what happened:
This is an actual exchange I witnessed in the courtroom between a cross examining defense attorney and a sworn under oath witness:
Attorney: So, you let the dogs out?
Witness: Yes.
When I heard that, I couldn’t help but smirk and I looked around at my fellow jurors and no one else seemed to have gotten the joke. I’ve never been more disappointed in a group of human beings in my life.
6. Stacy’s Mom, Fountains of Wayne, 2003 I find it impossible not to sing along. If you want to hear the song, don’t be afraid. The video is appropriate.
5. 1985, Bowling For Soup, 2004 Truth be told, I think I may have all this bands songs in my collection and they’re all hilarious. This one is the catchy and funny story of a suburban soccer mom who despises her minivan and wishes she were back in 1985 so that she might have a chance to “shake her ass on the hood of Whitesnake’s car.” Look it up and add it to your collection. You’ll thank me.
4. Jump Around, House of Pain, 1992 I first heard this song in a Pringles commercial in the 90’s. Here it is:
3. Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Deep Blue Something, 1996. I owned the cassette tape of this one long after I should have been buying cassettes.
2. Common People, William Shatner and Pulp, 2004. Pulp originally released this song on their own in 1995. When they re-released with Captain Kirk chipping in, it took them to new heights. If you don’t know it, give it a listen:
Gangam Style, Psy 2012. One of the weirdest most popular songs ever. The crazy video still cracks me up.
There is the Top Ten of one hit wonder songs that are actually in my music collection. So tell me in the comments, what are your embarrassing, dirty little secret one hit wonders that you sing aloud when you’re alone in your car?
Have a great Tuesday! ~Phil
“Come on Eileen” I sing it EVERY time. If I have been drinking, I might even dance when the song is playing. Embarrassing
for sure.
That song crossed my mind when I was making this list.
some classics in here – Breakfast at Tiffany’s is the first cd single I ever bought.
I still really like that song
I still love Goyte. 😊
Yes, there’s no doubt that it was a very good song
You seem to be here a lot for somebody who is on hiatus. I hope you come back to writing your blog soon
LOL! Thanks Phil. I’m giving my muse a rest but I can still read my favorite blogs.
Good. It’s nice nice to still see you around the blogosphere
Believe it or not, I still have a video of Gangnam style in my iPhone til now. Lol.
Til now? Did you delete it because of my post?
I’m totally showing my age here… Soft Cell’s Tainted Love and Dream Weaver by someone I would have to Google!
Soft cell is definitely in my head and in my iTunes library. I do remember Dreamweaver also.
What about afternoon delight?
Lol! Funny story: My mom thought that song was about getting high and not about sex. So either way I shouldn’t listen to it! 😂
Excellent choices, Phil. Stacie’s mom is still enjoyable.
I have a “One Hit Wonders” playlist on amazon, but yours are mostly newer than mine (I’ve got stuff like 99 Red Balloons, I’m Too Sexy, and Final Countdown). I’ll be adding most of your list to my list, thanks!
LOL, I also have those songs in my iTunes library!