Hi all1 I am a radio announcer at Bay-FM, a station in Brisban, Australia. Recently I presented a One Hit Wonders Special as part of my regular Drive slot (the 2nd special on this theme happens next week) & found it extremely difficult to find accurate chart info for "true" one hit wonders in Australia. Compilation CD's based on this theme are NO help as often they are incredibly inaccurate with their song choices (I'd name examples but I don't want a lawsuit, but you probably know what I mean).
So the call goes out to you, the members of this wonderful forum. Any accurate info you can post on songs that were one hit wonders in Australia would be greatly appreciated. I realise there may not be much I can get before next week's show, but your info may contribute to another special in 2009, & your contribution will be gratefully acknowledged.
Thanks for your time & effort guys. Keep up the good work!
I too have a radio show HITSTORY - broadcasting in Sydney and the Sth Coast areas.
One Hit Wonders are my specialty... And I too hate those so-called "One Hit Wonders" collections. MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice had more than one hit!!
Try these One Hit Wonders - A Top 20 hit then never another Top 100 hit :-(
* FRANCESCA - Way of the World (#3 - 2002) * TOMISLAV IVCIC - Stop The War In Croatia (#7 - 1991) * PAULINE PANTSDOWN - I Don't Like It! (#10 - 1998) * DEAN GEYER - If You Don't Mean It (#10 - 2007) * DANNIELLE - Tell Me If You Like It (#20 - 2002) * MIRANDA MURPHY - That Girl (#19 - 2004) * KAYNE TAYLOR - Heartbreaker (#8 - 2004) * JOHN SAFRAN - Not the Sunscreen Song (#20 - 1998) * WHITE TOWN - Your Woman (#2 - 1997) * BLUE BOY - Remember Me (#17 - 1997) * F.C.B. - Excalibur (#2 - 1995) * HOCUS POCUS - Here's Johnny! (#1 - 1995) * DIMPLES D. - Sucker D.J. (#1 - 1991) * TINMAN - Eighteen Strings (#18 - 1994) * SHERYL LEE RALPH - In the Evening '97 (#17 - 1997) * NATALIE GAUCI - Here I Am (#2 - 2007) [... I'm sure she'll come back, but you just never know!!!] * THE TIMELORDS - Doctorin' The Tardis (#2 - 1988) [... they then became The KLF in 1990] * PSYCHO TEDDY - Psycho Teddy (#5 - 2008) * KYLIE MOLE - So Excellent (#8 - 1988) * GEORGE SMILOVICI - I'm Tuff (#10 - 1984)
All of these acts had only ONE charting single in Australia. There are tonnes of act who've only had one big hit, but have had many smaller (below Top 50) singles too, but they have not been included here.
Shake You Down - Gregory Abbott (No.12, 1987) The Space Jungle - Adamski (No.57, 1990) Der Kommisar (English Version) - After the Fire (No.17, 1983) Feelings - Morris Albert (No.5, 1975) Stuck on Earth - Alf (No.26, 1988) More Than Words Can Say - Alias (No.21, 1991) Baby, I Lied - Deborah Allen (No.31, 1984) How Much I Feel - Ambrosia (No.30, 1978) Faith in Love - Among Thieves (No.50, 1991) No Roses for Michael - Greg Anderson (No.36, 1970) Japanese Boy - Aneka (Big SA hit) (No.57, 1981) Obsession - Animotion (No.12, 1985) Fever - Annabella (No.67, 1986) (former lead singer with Bow Wow Wow in 81/82) Joy - Apollo 100 (No.3, 1972) Hold Your Head Up - Argent (No.32, 1972) Crucified - Army of Lovers (No.58, 1991) I'll Be Back - Arnee & The Terminators (No.19, 1991) Sun City - Artists United Against Apartheid (No.4, 1986) Solid - Ashford & Simpson (No.21, 1985) The Resurrection Shuffle - Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (No.16, 1971) Heat of the Moment - Asia (No.26, 1982) Don't Turn Around - Aswad (No.53, 1988) How Can I Live Without Her - Christopher Atkins (the actor) (No.31, 1982)
Enemy the Sun - Bad Boy Johnny & The Prophets of Doom (No.39, 1989) Bohemian Rhapsody - Bad News (Young Ones spin-off) (No.57, 1987) The Message is Love - Arthur Baker & The Backbeat Disciples (No.46, 1990) Hearts - Martin Balin (No.42, 1981) Voices - Russ Ballard (big in WA) (No.46, 1984) Tarzan Boy - Baltimora (No.16, 1986) Destiny Song - Band of Light (No.26, 1973) Scotch on the Rocks - Band of the Black Watch (No.29, 1975) No Charge - J.J. Barrie (No.31, 1976) (Boogie Woogie) Dancing Shoes - Claudja Barry (No.32, 1979) Mickey - Toni Basil (No.1, 1982) Airport Love Theme - Vincent Bell (No.4, 1970) Stay Awhile - The Bells (No.9, 1971) Ca Plane Pour Moi - Plastic Bertrand (No.2, 1979) Fooled Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop (No.16, 1976) She Taught me How to Love Again - Bjerre (No.31, 1977) Agadoo - Black Lace (No.16, 1984) Standing in the Road - Blackfoot Sue (No.26, 1972) Innocence - Deborah Blando (No.27, 1992) Montego Bay - Bobby Bloom (No.9, 1970) (Don't Fear) The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult (No.64, 1976) Wind and Rain - Bluestone (No.19, 1973) Farewell Aunty Jack - Grahame Bond (No.1, 1974) I Don't Mind at All - Bourgeois Tagg (No.43, 1988) Love and Devotion - Michael Bow (No.9, 1987) Waiting for a Star to Fall - Boy Meets Girl (No.33, 1989) I Wanna Be a Cowboy - Boys Don't Cry (No.4, 1986) Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Boys Town Gang (No.21, 1983) Right on Track - Breakfast Club (No.4, 1987) I Love the Nightlife - Alicia Bridges (No.9, 1979) (a one-hit wonder twice, as this song charted again in 1994, No.11) Hang on in There Baby - Johnny Bristol (No.37, 1974) To Be or Not to Be - Mel Brooks (No.3, 1984) Up in a Puff of Smoke - Polly Brown (No.22, 1975) Smokin' in the Boys' Room - Brownsville Station (No.9, 1974) Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles (No.1, 1979) Spill the Wine - Eric Burdon & War (No.2, 1970) Only for Sheep - The Bureau (No.6, 1981)
I Wanna Be Rich - Calloway (No.38, 1990) Word Up - Cameo (No.6, 1987) Strawberry Fields Forever - Candy Flip (No.29, 1990) Baby, I Need Your Lovin' - Carl Carlton (No.12, 1983) Sally - Carmel (No.39, 1987) Boogie - Carson (No.29, 1972) Troglodyte - Jimmy Castor Bunch (No.13, 1972) How 'Bout Us - Champaign (No.24, 1981) McRawhide - The Chaps (No.14, 1983) Ain't No Pleasing You - Chas & Dave (No.11, 1983) So Much in Love - Cheek (No.31, 1978) Son of My Father - Chicory Tip (No.19, 1972) 5.7.0.5 - City Boy (No.11, 1978) Human Nature - Gary Clail (No.41, 1991) Guilty - Classic Nouveaux (No.25, 1981) You're a Friend of Mine - Clarence Clemons (ft Jackson Browne) (No.9, 1986) Girl on the Wall - Jane Clifton (No.13, 1984) Precious and Few - Climax (No.26, 1972) Love Changes (Everything) - Climie Fisher (No.24, 1988) Substitute - Clout (No.12, 1978) Lean on Me - Club Nouveau (No.5, 1987) Double Barrel - Dave & Ansil Collins (No.8, 1971) Greased Lightning - Jeff Conway (yes from "Grease"(No.40, 1978) D.I.V.O.R.C.E. - Billy Connolly (No.11, 1976) Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) - Bill Conti (No.13, 1977) World Shut Your Mouth - Julian Cope (No.51, 1987) Desiderata - Les Crane (No.4, 1972) Tell Laura I Love Her - Creation (No.20, 1974)
Chick-a-Boom - Daddy Dewdrop (No.10, 1971) High Enough - Damn Yankees (No.47, 1991) The Boy from New York City - The Darts (No.34, 1978) Words - F.R. David (No.12, 1983) Mamy Blue - Joel Dayde (No.3, 1971) Heartbeat-It's a Lovebeat - The De Franco Family (No.6, 1973) Sugar me - Lynsey De Paul (No.4, 1972) Disco Duck - Rick Dees (No.4, 1976) Mistadobalina - Del the Funkee Homosapien (No.10, 1992) Layla - Derek & the Dominoes (No.100, 1972) Sucker DJ - Dimples D (No.1, 1991) Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas (No.1, 1974) Lily Was Here - Candy Dulfer (No.12, 1990)
Come Out Fighting - Easterhouse (No.51, 1989) The Star of Mykonos - Katja Ebstein (No.6, 1973) Magnet & Steel - Walter Egan (No.32, 1978) Rak Off, Normie - Maureen Elkner (No.11, 1975) Gotta Give the Grog Away - Col Elliott (No.29, 1983) Fanfare of the Common Man - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (No.5, 1977) Rubber Duckie - Ernie (aka Jim Henson) (No.10, 1970)
It Should Have Been me - Yvonne Fair (No.10, 1976) Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer (No.6, 1985) Stairway to Heaven - Far Corporation (No.23, 1986) Zoom - Fat Larry's Band (No.10, 1983) (Feels Like) Heaven - Fiction Factory (No.51, 1984) Day Trip to Bangor - Fiddler's Dram (No.8, 1980) Beach Baby - First Class (No.11, 1974) If I Had Words - Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley (No.3, 1978) Float On - The Floaters (No.16, 1977) Weak in the Presence of Beauty - Floy Joy (No.29, 1986) Hocus Pocus - Focus (No.15, 1973) Romeo's Tune - Steve Forbert (No.13, 1980) Drac's Back - Andy Forray (No.23, 1979) Rock the Boat - Forrest (No.33, 1983) Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire - David Foster (No.22, 1986) I.O.U. - Freeez (No.3, 1983) I Know There's Something Going On - Frida (ex-Abba) (No.5, 1982) Colour My Love - Fun Fun Fun (No.49, 1985) When You Were Sweet 16 - The Fureys (No.9, 1982)
From New York to L.A. - Patsy Gallant (No.10, 1977) I Wanna Wake Up with You - Boris Gardiner (No.1, 1987) Could You Ever Love Me Again - Gary & Dave (No.7, 1974) Tenderness - General Public (No.50, 1985) Just So Lonely - Get Wet (No.15, 1981) Someone's Singing New York New York - Ghostwriters (No.29, 1991) Que Sera Mi Vida - Gibson Brothers (No.9, 1980) Room Full of Roses - Mickey Gilley (No.9, 1974) Love is All - Roger Glover (No.10, 1978) Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet - Gonzalez (No.30, 1979) Seven Tears - Goombay Dance Band (No.25, 1982) Happenin' All Over Again - Lonnie Gordon (No.31, 1990) Check Out the Chicken - Grandmaster Chicken & DJ Duck (No.19, 1990) Shannon - Henry Gross (No.20, 1976) Classic - Adrian Gurvitz (No.12, 1982)
On the Inside (Prisoner Theme) - Lynne Hamilton (No.4, 1979) Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer (No.13, 1986) Rockit - Herbie Hancock (No.16, 1984) Hold Me - Colin James Hay (No.40, 1987) Shiny Shiny - Haysi Fantayzee (No.3, 1983) Golden Miles - Healing Force (No.31, 1971) Born to Be Alive - Patrick Hernandez (No.1, 1979) Spin That Wheel - Hi Tek 3 (No.4, 1990) Key Largo - Bertie Higgins (No.2, 1982) Ernie - Benny Hill (No.1, 1972) Dark Age - The Hippos (No.41, 1988) Had a Dream - Roger Hodgson (No.21, 1985) What's the Colour of Money - Hollywood Beyond (No.23, 1986) Sea of Love - The Honeydrippers (No.5, 1985) Popcorn - Hot Butter (No.1, 1972) The Newcastle Song - Bob Hudson (No.1, 1975) Pretty Flamingo - The Huxton Creepers (No.33, 1987)
Closer to Fine - Indigo Girls (No.48, 1989) Ah! Leah! - Donnie Iris (No.34, 1981)
Under Fire - Jackie (No.28, 1980) I'm an Individual - Jacko (No.15, 1985) The Rapper - Jaggerz (No.32, 1970) Super Freak - Rick James (No.26, 1982) Been Caught Stealing - Janes Addiction (No.61, 1991) Just Got Lucky - JoBoxers (No.25, 1983) Live and Learn - Jo Public (No.34, 1992) (Blame it) On the Pony Express - Johnny Johnson (No.17, 1971) Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division (No.26, 1981) Sex & Fame - Jump Incorporated (No.32, 1986) The Curly Shuffle - Jump N' the Saddle (No.30, 1984)
Lambada - Kaoma (No.4, 1990) Care for Kids - The Kids (No.17, 1979) Wild Thing - Sam Kinison (No.23, 1989) My Sharona - The Knack (No.1, 1979) Going Home - Mark Knopfler (No.29, 1983) He's Gonna Step on You Again - John Kongos (No.6, 1971) Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime - Korgis (No.11, 1980)
James Brown is Dead - LA Style (No.8, 1992) Black is Black - LaBelle Epoque (No.1, 1978) Lady Marmalade - LaBelle (No.13, 1975) Lotta Love - Nicolette Larson (No.11, 1979) People are Still Having Sex - LaTour (No.18, 1991) Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room) - Paul Lekakis (No.1, 1987) French Kiss - Lil' Louis (No.42, 1989) Shelter - Lone Justice (No.38, 1987) I Am the Beat - The Look (No.13, 1981) So Alive - Love and Rockets (No.22, 1989) Every Little Thing - Jeff Lynne (No.27, 1990)
Pump up the Volume - M.A.R.R.S. (No.6, 1988) T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia) - M.F.S.B. (No.12, 1974) Do You Wanna Make Love - Peter McCann (No.11, 1977) The Hustle - Van McCoy (No.9, 1975) Show Me Heaven - Maria McKee (No.3, 1990) Lady Bump - Penny McLean (No.9, 1976) Male Stripper - Man 2 Man Meets Man Parrish (No.3, 1987) Into the Night - Benny Mardones (No.19, 1980) Lovegirl - Teena Marie (No.19, 1985) Lucky Stars - Denise Marsa & Dean Friedman (No.6, 1979) Dancing in the City - Marshall, Hain (No.3, 1978) Only Crying - Keith Marhsall (No.19, 1981) Pretty Maid - Tony Marshall (No.16, 1973) Echo Beach - Martha & The Muffins (No.6, 1980) Exotic & Erotic - Sandy Marton (No.19, 1986) Wanderin' Star - Lee Marvin (No.10, 1970) In My House - Mary Jane Girls (No.19, 1985) Guardian Angel - Masquerade (No.27, 1984) Too Much Love Will Kill You - Brian May (No.18, 1992) The Lords Prayer - Sister Janet Mead (No.3, 1974) Radio - The Members (No.5, 1982) Garden Party - Mezzoforte (No.32, 1983) Music - John Miles (No.38, 1976) Never Knew Love Like This Before - Stephanie Mills (No.13, 1980) So Excellent - Kylie Mole (No.10, 1988) Ever So Lonely - Monsoon (No.40, 1982) Song for Suzie - Dudley Moore Trio (No.9, 1971) Walk on the Wild Side - Jamie J. Morgan (No.23, 1990) The Goondiwindi Grey - Tex Morton (No.9, 1973) Airport - The Motors (No.31, 1978) All the Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople (No.60, 1972) Jump - The Movement (No.11, 1992) Mahna Mahna - The Muppets (No.26, 1977) Party All the Time - Eddie Murphy (No.21, 1986)
Ain't No Doubt - Jimmy Nail (No.5, 1992) Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes (No.7, 1983) Hole in My Shoe - Neil (Young Ones) (No.29, 1986) Move Closer - Phyllis Nelson (No.15, 1985) Redback on the Toilet Seat - Slim Newton (No.5, 1972) Theme from Picnic at Hanging Rock - Nolan-Buddle Quartet (No.15, 1976) I Like Dreamin' - Kenny Nolan (No.16, 1977) I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz (No.11, 1986)
Put Your Hand in the Hand - Ocean (No.6, 1971) Song for Anna - Herb Ohta (No.12, 1974) Breakin'... There's No Stoppin' Us - Ollie & Jerry (No.25, 1984) Theme from Time - Laurence Olivier (the actor) (No.27, 1986) Paper Roses - Marie Osmond (No.12, 1974) She (Didn't Remember My Name) - Osmosis (No.2, 1974) Hands Up - Ottowan (No.25, 1982)
Maybe - Thom Pace (No.23, 1979) Don't Shut Me Out - Kevin Paige (No.39, 1990) Eye Level - Simon Park Orchestra (No.13, 1974) St. Lemo's Fire (Man in Motion) - John Parr (No.4, 1985) Turtle Power - Partners in Kryme (No.14, 1990) Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul (No.9, 1973) My Favourite Waste of Time - Owen Paul (No.23, 1986) Substitute - Peaches (same as the 'Clout' song) (No.15, 1978) Pistol in My Pocket - Lana Pellay (No.17, 1986) I Won't Let You Down - Ph.D (No.5, 1981) Mississippi - John Phillips (No.17, 1970) (ex Mamas & Papas) Baby Come Back - Player (No.15, 1978) Space Invaders - Player (1) (No.3, 1980) Take it Back - Pookah Makes 3 (No.28, 1985) Dance With the Devil - Cozy Powell (No.22, 1974) Happy Days (Theme) - Pratt & McClain (No.20, 1976) Satin Sheets - Jeanne Pruett (No.20, 1973) I'm an Adult Now - The Pursuit of Happiness (No.35, 1990)
They Shoot Horses Don't They - Racing Cars (No.32, 1977) The Crunch - Rah Band (No.16, 1978) Silver Bird - Tina Rainford (No.30, 1977) Black Betty - Ram Jam (No,3, 1977) and (No.18, 1990) Rock 'N' Roll High School - The Ramones (No.41, 1980) I Don't Wanna Play House - Barbara Ray (No.3, 1973) Oh Sheila - Ready for the World (No.14, 1985) You to Me Are Everything - Real Thing (No.22, 1976) Lean on Me - Red Box (No.29, 1985) Witch Queen of New Orleans - Redbone (No.17, 1972) I Like Dancing - Redhouse (No.40, 1976) Dizzy - Vic Reeves (with Wonder Stuff) (No.2, 1992) The Politics of Dancing - Re-Flex (No.12, 1984) Theme from S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage (No.11, 1976) Shake - Andrew Ridgeley (No.16, 1990) White Men Can't Jump - Riff (No.9, 1992) Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton (No.5, 1975) Locomotion - Ritz (No.12, 1979) Too Much Fandango - Ritzi (No.28, 1976) Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell (No.12, 1984) Have a Cigar - Rosebud (No.18, 1980) Mad About You - Bruce Ruffin (No.6, 1972) Cherry Bomb - The Runaways (No.57, 1977) Forget Me Nots - Patrice Rushen (No.29, 1982) P.A.S.S.I.O.N. - Rythm Syndicate (No.28, 1991)
Believe it or Not (Theme from 'Greatest American Hero') - Joey Scarbury (No.2, 1982) Swear - Tim Scott (No.44, 1983) Bop - Dan Seals (No.41, 1986) The Right Combination - Seiko feat Donnie Wahlberg (No.12, 1990) Homosapien - Pete Shelley (No.4, 1982) Shame, Shame, Shame - Shirley & Company (No.16, 1975) Anchorage - Michelle Shocked (No.40, 1989) Lined Up - Shriekback (No.42, 1983) Love Missile F1-11 - Sigue Sigue Sputnik (No.32, 1986) Painted Moon - The Silencers (No.41, 1987) Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-a-Lot (No.5, 1992) You're a Lady - Peter Skellern (No.2, 1972) Toccata - Sky (No.22, 1980) Let's Go All the Way - Sly Fox (No.18, 1986) Sesame's Treet - Smart E's (No.4, 1992) I'm Tuff - George Smilovici (No.10, 1984) Driver's Seat - Sniff N The Tears (No.13, 1980) Hippychick - Soho (No.19, 1991) Time Warp - Rocky Horror Picture Show Cast (No.3, 1980) Teddy Bear - Red Sovine (No.12, 1976) I'll Be Gone - Spectrum (No.4, 1971) I Will Return - Springwater (No.16, 1972) Moonlight Feels Right - Starbuck (No.25, 1976) Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band (No.6, 1976) Numero Uno - Starlight (No.21, 1989) Young Hearts Run Free - Candi Staton (No.4, 1976) Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - Steam (No.22, 1970) We Don't Have to - Jermaine Stewart (No.37, 1986) We Do it - R & J Stone (No.3, 1976) Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep - Lally Stott (No.1, 1970) Part of the Union - The Strawbs (No.2, 1973) She's Like the Wind - Patrick Swayze (No.6, 1988) Sad Sweet Dreamer - Sweet Sensation (No.24, 1974)
Puttin' on the Ritz - Taco (No.5, 1983) Take it Easy - Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) (No.30, 1986) I Do What I Do - John Taylor (Duran Duran) (No.35, 1986) I Remember When I Was Young - Matt Taylor (No.26, 1973) Love Lies Lost - Helen Terry (Culture Club) (No.34, 1984) Ain't Gonna Bump No More - Joe Tex (No.2, 1977) Second Chance - 38 Special (No.14, 1989) Why Can't We Live Together - Timmy Thomas (No.25, 1973) Ooh What a Night - Linda G. Thompson (No.23, 1976) Twist in My Sobriety - Tanita Tikarim (No.19, 1989) The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades - Timbuk 3 (No.18, 1987) One More Try - Timmy T (No.25, 1991) 867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone (No.22, 1982) I Only Want to Be With You - Tourists (No.6, 1980) I Want to Be Free - Toyah (No.35, 1981) Disco Inferno - The Trammps (No.32, 1978) Living on Video - Trans X (No.40, 1985) Da Da Da - Trio (No.4, 1982) Are Friends Electric - Tubeway Army (No.12, 1979) 16 (Into the Night) - Junior Tucker (No.33, 1990) Barbados - Typically Tropical (No.20, 1975)
Something Good - Utah Saints (No.10, 1992)
Chariots of Fire - Vangelis (No.21, 1981) Turning Japanese - Vapors (No.1, 1980) At This Moment - Billy Vera & The Beaters (No.11, 1987) There Ain't No Age for Rock and Roll - The Veterans (No.6, 1980) Body Rock - Maria Vidal (No.26, 1985) Shoop Shoop Diddy Wop Cumma Cumma Wang Dang - Monte Video & The Cassettes (No.11, 1983) Get Used to it - Roger Voudouris (No.4, 1979)
Dead Skunk - Loudon Wainwright III (No.12, 1973) I Know What Boys Like - The Waitresses (No.14, 1982) Clancy of the Overflow - Wallis & Matilda (No.30, 1980) Ring My Bell - Anita Ward (No.3, 1979) Screaming Jets - Johnny Warman (No.9, 1981) Just the Two of Us - Grover Washington Jr. (No.31, 1981) I Could Be So Good for You - Dennis Waterman (No.9, 1983) It's Raining Men - Weather Girls (No.16, 1983) Dueling Banjos - Eric Weiss (No.3, 1973) (You're Such a) Fabulous Dancer - Wha-Koo (No.10, 1978) Bird of Paradise - Snowy White (No.32, 1984) Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder (No.6, 1984) 18 With a Bullet - Pete Wingfield (No.31, 1975) Operaa House - World Famous Supreme Team (No.20, 1991)
Well Hello - Yellowstone and Voice (No.11, 1973) It's Four in the Morning - Faron Young (No.9, 1972) Something Special - Clive Young (No.39, 1989) Living Doll - The Young Ones (No.1, 1986)
Wow! I honestly wasn't expecting such a great response so quickly! Thank you so much...I've been typing up a list to go through for the radio show but there are quite a few here that I hadn't even thought of. I'll be sure to give a shout out to the site on Tuesday when the special goes to air.
Keep them coming though as by the looks of things you guys will be the compilers of the 3rd special coming iin 2009
Once again thank you all for your fantastic help
Craig V Bay-FM 100.3 (Brisbane)
P.S Hey Gavin, I used to use that Yellow Book years ago when I first started in radio & have been tryiing to track down a copy. If you know where I can get one please let me know...CV Last edited:
Yeah bulion, I was actually in that process this morning (I sent a memo to Craig when I saw his post.)
I was at the airport yesterday when I saw Countdown's One Hit Wonders 2 CD and one of the first things I noticed on it was Martika "Toy Soldiers". Apart from the fact that the next single was a #2 hits, She reached #1 with a third hit in 1991!
So I thought as part of my fun countdowns next week, I would set the record straight. So, it's a treat for you all that you know what'll be coming up next week.
Also, I thought I would mention that I believe one-hit wonders should be those serious about putting out music. There's a lot of comedy/novelty records in the above lists that I wouldn't include. There's actually a good article about it on Wikipedia, and one of the things in its criteria is that fact.
But, I know in the past we've had lots of contention about the definition, so look forward to seeing everyone's views.
yeah chri8topher, there's a few major errors on that CD set. I just bought it the other day & was laughing at all the obvious inaccuracies. Another shining example is Reo Speedwagon's "Keep On Loving You"...hello? Do these people not remember 1985 when "Can't Fight This Feeling" was one of the 2 big power ballads that radio killed that year?
But the first Countdown One Hit Wonders set isn't much better. Included on that volume was Laura Branigan's "Gloria", but what's even more appalling is that they admit in the liner notes that she had at least 5 Top 40 Hits in Australia!
Maybe we should organise to compile one ourselves. At least then we can show the record labels & fans that there are some people out there doing the homework on thes matters. Just a thought...
I know I'm new, but I don't see how a song that peaks at #49 or lower is a hit? A hit is something that ranks inside the top 20, or a song that doesn't need to be top 20 but stay around for ages, an example of this in the Australian chart is "Mercy" by Duffy, spent 20+ weeks on without reaching top 20. So can be called a hit. Maybe things are different in Australia, but I do agree that Gabriella Cilmi & Soulja Boy are still one hit wonders in Australia. Because Yahh!!! and Don't Wanna Go To Bed Now weren't around for long. Plus I'd say Jessica Mauboy isn't considered as a one-hit wonder atall. For the most part she was apart of like one of the biggest hits of 2006, and she's also had a top 3 hit this year as a soloist. Now she's got Burn in the top 20 already. She's definitely not a one-hit wonder.
KingofBrits - I would classify a song reaching the top 40 as a 'hit' (even if it's only a minor one peaking at #40). However, there are 2 obvious exceptions I can think of that don't meet this criteria, so there aren't really any 'hard and fast' rules:
1. Marilyn Manson - The Beautiful People This only peaked at #42, but spent a whopping 56 weeks (from memory, I may be slightly off) in the top 100, becoming the 89th highest selling single for 1997. It outsold the #10 Smashing Pumpkins single 'The End is the Beginning is the End' (#90 on the year-end chart for 1997), and Spice Girls' #13 'Mama/Who Do You Think You Are' (#95 on the year-end chart), and U2's #3 'Discotheque' (#97 on the year-end chart) for example. Who would have thought a single peaking at #42 could outsell a #3 hit from U2?
2. Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh This peaked at only #41 in 1978, but is widely known and most people would be surprised to learn that it actually wasn't a commercial 'hit' at the time.
A *true* one-hit wonder IMO is an artist who only has one hit and nothing else charting at all, even in the lower regions of the chart.
I think it's too difficult to classify exactly what a one-hit-wonder is... Songs that peak within the top 50 but spend a very short space of time there seem to be forgotten... Songs that people remember like khe sanh doesn't make that song a hit... it just means it's popular. Nirvana is another case massive band but limited amount of tunes that lasted for awhile on the charts or sold in large numbers... your opinion is valid, yet you say an artist who only has one hit and nothing else charting at all is a one-hit wonder... for example Galvatrons - When We Were Kids peaked at #39 had nothing else. only select people would know it, limited sales and limited chart trajecory.. so how could we possibly say it's a one-hit-wonder?
I think that the Top 50 is the tip of the iceberg for songs released...especially in this day of digital. There could be 1000 songs available to buy but only 50 make it in the Top 50. I think it is fair to say these songs "hit", thus are a hit, even if just minor.
I believe a hit is something that has cpent at least 10 weeks inside the top 50. Egample Michelle Branch's "All You Wanted" spent 20 weeks inside the top 50 peaking at 25, I'd call that a hit. I believed a hit was something with a certification, but then realised a cd could be certified Gold and chart at #80, which isn't a hit. Im my opinion, 10 weeks in top 50, is qualified as a hit.
NateBoi, yes Khe Sanh wasn't a real 'hit', but it seems like it was because of its popularity. Back to my Marilyn Manson example, Beautiful People peaked at #42 and spent 9 weeks in the top 50, which doesn't seem like much of a hit at all. But it sold in steady quantities outside of the top 50 for a long period of time, and ended up selling much more than many singles that seemed bigger on the surface.
billbeast, some #1 singles have spent fewer than 10 weeks in the top 50. Usually this is due to them being deleted by the record companies, but still, it doesn't fit with your '10 week' rule.
Prior to downloads being included towards the chart, there were several songs that seemed like big 'hits', but didn't chart because of no physical single being released. Dido's 'Thank You' springs to mind; it propelled her 'No Angel' album to #1 for many weeks, but didn't chart at all on the singles chart. Is it regarded as not being a hit? (and yes I'm aware it was heavily sampled for Eminem's 'Stan' which was a #1...)
There are a few artists whose albums sell well, but the singles don't, because people buy the album instead of the single. This is another grey area.
These are the artists that had one song only include:
Colbie Caillat - Bubbly Newton Faulkner - Dream Catch Me. Jason Mraz - I'm Yours. Colby O'Donis [Featured with Lady GaGa] - Just Dance. Soulja Boy Tell 'Em - Crank That. Kid Rock - All Summer Long. Sam Sparro - Black & Gold (radio edit) Sara Bareilles - Love Song. MGMT - Electric Feel. Estelle - American Boy. Faker - This Heart Attack. Finger Eleven - Paralyzer. September - Cry For You. Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream.
Black & Gold (radio edit) - Sam Sparro Love Song - Sara Bareilles Dream Catch Me - Newton Faulkner I'm Yours - Jason Mraz Bubbly - Colbie Caillat Tainted Love - Soft Cell Mambo No.5 - Lou Bega Venus - Shocking Blue Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus Mickey - Toni Basil I'll Be Gone - Spectrum Tubthumping - Chumbawamba Counting the Beat - The Swingers Slice of Heaven - Dave Dobbyn & The Herbs Rockin' Robin - Bobby Day Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth Don't Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin 99 Luftballoons - Nena Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum Come on Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners Funkytown - Lipps Inc Turning Japanese - The Vapors Video Killed the Radio Star - [[The Buggles]] Born to Be Alive - [[Patrick Hernandez]] My Sharona - The Knack
I think we're trying to a bit too prescritpive with this. A classic one-hit wonder has to have the right feel about it. The "perfect" one-hit-wonder would have; a number one hit - prefereably multi-platinum have no other top 50 hits have no, or limited, success with album sales the song will be recognisable by most of the community years after (even if the artists name isn't) not continue to release music over a long period of time under this or any other name
What songs fit all those criteria?? Hocus Pocus - Here's Johnny - but we're they really a band?? (hard to know with those techno bands - could've had hits under other names) How Bizarre - OMC I'm sure there's many more but I don't have the chart knowledge of most of the rest of you.
There will be a large spectrum of degrees below that. The album sales are at least partly relevant - consider Billy Ray-Cyrus. On singles he definitely qualifies - triple platinum No 1, No 1 for the year, instantly recognisable, second single didn't crack top 40 but the main reason for that was because the album was also a No 1 and shifted a lot of copies (at least triple platinum from memory) so would have affected sales of the second single. Could've Been Me actually wan't that bad.
Also a lot of artists have long and successful careers but with only limited commercial chart success. Off the top of my head, a few that have had one 'hit' but still been, i think, very successful include Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (Where The Wild Roses Grow), Bjork (It's Oh So Quiet), Beck (Loser), Ween (Push Th Little Daisies), Rage Against The Machine (Killing In The Name). I appreciate a few of these have other minor hits to their name but I think generally it holds true.
I agree with the comments about commercially available One Hit Wonders CD's. On what planet is Martika a One Hit Wonder??? Another sometimes mistaken (at least in Australia, as I don't think they did very well elsewhere) is Sonia Dada. Massive first single (You Don't Treat Me No Good), second single went to number 3, album was big seller - though they did disappear off the face of the earth - look out for reforming at an RSL near you!!
^ I haven't read the bulk of the posts in this thread for a while, but in case it hasn't been mentioned already, Hocus Pocus were the same people behind Doop, who also had a #5 hit the year before with 'Doop'. So that *kind of* disqualifies their one-hit wonder status.
Also, did Hocus Pocus actually release a 2nd single? I don't recall one, and I was familiar with most new releases at the time. It's easy to be a one-hit wonder when you only have one release! Last edited:
Hi there I have been searching for the song by Among Thieves - "Faith in Love" for almost 15 years and I finally got a Google hit here (yay) I don't suppose anyone has a copy or knows where I could locate the song or album please?
My five cents worth on what I view as a one-hit wonder ... I view a 'hit' as one which would have appeared on the old Top 40 radio shows. Therefore this I see as the benchmark. I see a 'wonder' as a more memorable hit, which I generally define as about Top 10, or maybe Top 15 & gold status. So, this definition would open many more acts to being a 'one-hit wonder' which the average-Joe would accept but maybe not all of us chart junkies. The average-Joes represent more of the market, so that majority applies in my mind. So, a one-hit wonder is: - Top 10; or Top 15 & gold (Oz chart) - No other Top 40 successes (Oz chart) with one other condition ... - act had no other different major hits in the other well known world charts (US, UK, Europe), of which this success may be reasonably known by fans of the artist Can't actually think of an artist that may be disqualified as a 'one hit wonder' by this final point? Any thoughts?
I think we are moving in the right direction people.
Dave, I actually like your one hit wonder rules. They fit reasonably well. Yes the actual hit should be a hit, having a single which goes top 15 and gold is a pretty good bench mark. Perhaps it should be a top 15 OR gold, that enables songs like Duffy's 'Mercy' only peaking #26 but having a massive chart run and eventually hitting gold status to qualify as a hit as well.
But we still have two gray that we need to discern:
1) Radio hits like Snow Patrol's 'Chasing Cars' and Dido 'Thankyou' which did not make the ARIA TOP 50 but most would think they are a hit. Do these count as hits?
2) Album tracks that became massive in the Australia national psyche like Khe Sahn (hit #41). Are these hits?
Billbeast 10 weeks inside the top 50 is a bit limiting to define a ‘hit’ but thanks for offering another possible definition of a hit.
It would be great if this discussion ends with what qualities a 'hit' and a 'one hit wonder' but maybe we are just too many opinions and have been 'chart enthusiasts/freaks/junkies for too way long.
Yes it is a grey area for songs like that. However, I looked at one of Chri8topher's old 'fun countdowns' on biggest non-top 50 songs and ran through the biggest of the songs in that list. I found all of the artists in that list had at least one other (top 40) hit, so would not have been a one hit wonder anyway. An interesting example is T'Pau which I'm sure only had one Top 40 song in Australia called Heart And Soul (about lower reaches of the Top 20 peak) in 1987. Let's say it scraped in as a 'wonder'. Many oldies may know (particularly fans) they actually had another #1 smash in UK called China In Your Hand which peaked at #53 here (23 weeks in the Top 100 as per Chri8topher's list). For that reason, I would not consider this band a one-hit wonder, because of my last point above that they had another major hit in the UK chart. This point also applies to Chasing Cars and Thankyou which did have success in many European charts.
Does anyone know if these songs are one hit wonders:
1. Cut N Move - GIVE IT UP 2. Crush - JELLYHEAD 3. Spacehog - IN THE MEANTIME 4. Fool's Garden - LEMON TREE 5. Flopsy And Mopsy - GIVE IT ONE MORE TRY 6. Dr. Boysenberry - FRUIT SALAD 7. Kriss Kross - JUMP 8. Jimmy Nail - AIN'T NO DOUBT 9. Joe Milner - DREAMS WE DREAM 10. The Time Bandits - I AM ONLY SHOOTING LOVE 11. Toni Pearen - WALKAWAY LOVER 12. MC Sar With The Real McCoy - ANOTHER NIGHT 13. The Breakers - IF YOU WANT ME (LIKE I WANT YOU) 14. Orbital - SPIRITUAL INSANITY 15. Master Well - WHEN I WAS A SPERM 16. 20 Fingers - SHORT DICK MAN 17. Tony Manuel - HEAVEN IS RIGHT HERE 18. Monte Video & The Cassettes - SHOOP DIDDLY HOP 19. Nessy - YOU'LL NEVER FIND A NESSY IN THE ZOO
I am trying to put together an album for a friend of mine who enjoys hearing "One Hit Wonders" - i found some of these songs on my cds - others I got off the radio - (are still looking for some she requested) - but aren't not sure if they are true one hit wonders? Please help me (i appreciate any help). If some of these are not one hit wonders, please also tell why they are not. THANKS.
I've never heard of some of these people, but I would not class MC Sar & The Real McCoy as a one hit wonder. If I recall correctly, MC Sar ended up joining the band The Real McCoy after 'Another Night' and they went on to have other hits, Runaway made the top ten, as did One More Time, and several others charted.
As for Toni Pearen, Walk Away Lover was her worst performer. She had In Your Room and I Want You both hit the top ten, so she is also excluded.
Cut N' Move had a #35 with 'Peace, Love and Harmony'. Not a very bit hit, but a 'hit' (of sorts) nonetheless.
Kris Kross had a #21 with 'Warm It Up'.
Jimmy Nail is a one hit wonder in Oz, but had several other hits in the UK.
As bluezombie said, Toni Pearen's 'Walkaway Lover' was barely a hit (#35). She had two #10 gold selling singles prior to this with 'In Your Room' and 'I Want You'; both substantially bigger than 'Walkaway Lover'.
MC Sar & The Real McCoy had 3 other top 10 hits in Oz (under the name of just Real McCoy) with 'Runaway', 'Love and Devotion' and 'One More Time'.
20 Fingers had 2 other singles that hit the top 100 but not the top 50 - 'Lick It' (#65) and 'Mr Personality' (#80). I guess you could say they were one-hit wonders here.
Following on from previous comments. I would consider the following to be one-hit wonders from the mid-late 90s:
Crush - JELLYHEAD Spacehog - IN THE MEANTIME Fool's Garden - LEMON TREE
Also that is the only track by Master Well I can think of, however it may have only been a popular track on triple J at the time, never really making noise on the ARIA chart, so arguably was not a chart hit at all, more of a radio hit.
No, I'm pretty sure that "Master Well - When I Was A Sperm" was indeed a top 50 (hit???), because I remember that it came out in 1995. I was never listening to Triple J back then and neither were my friends, but I think it may have only ever cracked the top 40 - it was never a major hit. I think I remember Barry Bissel who used to host "Take 40 Australia" interviewing him at one point in time? Also I have an old album from Video Hits - and this song is on it!!! Anyway thanks guys for helping to bring back some (lost?) memories. I love one-hit-wonders, especially those that don't even go under the category "hit" - but maybe "one-lost-wonders"...
Here are some Australian One Hit Wonders from 2008.
Axle Whitehead - I Don't Do Surprises (Peaked at #8) Mr. G - Naughty Girl (Peaked at #7) Faker - This Heart Attack (Peaked at #9)
As far as the Artist's names is concerened Psycho Teddy - Psycho Teddy (Peaked at #5 but only spent 4 weeks in the Top 50) DJ Teddy Z - You Should Be Dancing. (Peaked at #12 but also only spent 4 weeks in the Top 50)
"Psycho Teddy" and "DJ Teddy Z" are the same thing, they just changed the name. "Gabriella Cilmi" is also a 2008 one-hit-wonder.
"Samantha Mumba" is a one-hit wonder, with a #4 single "Gotta Tell You". her other positions were #15 with "Body 2 Body", #32 with "Baby Come On Over", #63 with "Always Come Back To Your Love", and #32 with "Im Right Here".
I classify a One-Hit-Wonder as an artist/band that only has one song stay inside top 50 for 10+ weeks. I think 10 weeks is the minimum for a song to sell decently, even if it only peaks at #28 (Don't Wanna Goto Bed Now - Gabriella Cilmi). Look at "Sugababes" #27 single "Overload". It spent 12 weeks inside top 50, and i classify that as a hit, based on it's longetivity. 10 weeks minimum.
Thanks Nateboi. I'm too lazy to read the whole thread so I just put them in anyway LOL. I knew Teddy was not a 1 Hit wonder, I was only going by the diferent names even though they were the same artist. Last edited:
Thanks so much everyone for helping me out with the list! i just found Toni Pearen - I want you on my cds - so now know that she ain't no one hit wonder. I can't really belive that "Crush - Jellyhead' is a one hit wonders though becaurse that was a huge hit in the 90s! I also found some others though: 1. Berri - The Sunshine after the Rain 2. Tasmin Archer - Sleeping satellite 3. Da muttz - Wats Up 4. Better Than Ezra - Despertaly wanting 5. Aneiki - Pleased to meet you 6. Headless Chickens - Cruise control 7. Technohead - I Wanna Be a hippie 8. Republica - Ready to go 9. Eternal - Stay 10. Third eye blind - semi charmed life 11. Honeyz - Finally Found 12. Concrete Blonde - Joey 13. The Scorpions - The Wind of change 14. Urban Cookie Collective - The key the secret 15. Company of strangers - Motor City (I get lost)
am pretty sure that these too are one hit wonders...?
Eternal had several hits, including 'I Wanna be The Only One' in 1998, which hit the top ten and spent more than 20 weeks in the chart.
Urban Cookie Collective also had two top ten hits, 'The Key The Secret' was the biggest, but another one came around the same time 'Feels Like Heaven.'
Honeyz had another song chart as well 'End Of The Line' which peaked at #24 and spent a couple of months in the chart, so that one depends on your definition of a hit.
Don't know of any other successes for the rest of them.
Company of Strangers were also no one-hit wonders because they also had "Sweet Love" which reached #21. It was slightly more succesful than "Motor City (I Get Lost)" which reached #26. They also had a third single "Daddy's Gonna Make You a Star" which reached #35. It's also doubtful they were true one-hit wonders anyway as the band was made up of such artists such as James Reyne & Daryl Braithwaite who as we all know had a lot of hits.
In addition to the others others have corrected you on:
> 6. Headless Chickens - Cruise control
Headless Chickens were one-hit wonders in Oz, but the singer (Fiona McDonald) was the vocalist on Strawpeople's 'Trick With a Knife' which peaked at #37 in 1995.
> 12. Concrete Blonde - Joey
They had minor hits with 'Caroline' (#39) and 'Ghost of a Texas Ladies' Man' (#31).
Republica were one-hit wonders in Oz, but had other hits in the UK - 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' (#7) was even bigger than 'Ready To Go' (#13) there.
Not really a 'hit' in Oz, but Berri also had 'Shine Like a Star' which peaked at #53.
Crush's 'Jellyhead' wasn't that big either - it peaked at #32 in Oz, and #50 in the UK a year earlier in its un-remixed form. Last edited:
Really? Wow! - only #32 for Jellyhead? It just goes to show that it doesn't have to necesarily be a hit and all the radio stations will still play it to death. I use to hear this song on the radio constantly. I sometimes hear it again now and then, but not as musch as i use to. i think i may have herd Republica's "drop dead gorgeous" as well, now that you mention it. i had forgotten it. Someone else just told me that Berri used to be formerly know as "New Atlantic" - but i have never heard of them before. i use to also think that "Jam & Spoon" were also an one hit wonder with the song "Right in the night" - but they told me that they were also known as "Tokyo Ghetto Pussy", who i have heared of - with songs like "Everybody on the floor" and "i kissed your lips". i think it's funny that some people who have had hits in some cuntries are never heard of again in those countries, even though they do have more hits in other countries - like "Dave Dobbyn" - slice of heaven. this was his only hit in australia (i think), but he had some other hits in New Zearland (his home country). About Company of strangers - yes i knew that Daryl and James were in the group, but i ment the group as a whole. i had forgoten about "Sweet Sweet Love" though - which is funny, because i use to love that song, never heard of "Daddy's Gonna Make You A Star" though. sorry i made a mistake - i don't think the group "Third Eye Blind" is a one hit wonder either, because today i heard a song called "Never Let You Go" on the radio - i thought that song was by "Eagle Eye Cherry".
Garbage have 3 hits, lasting 10+ weeks in top 50. "Cherry Lips" (#7 peak, 11 weeks), "Why Do You Love Me" (#19 peak, 10 weeks), and "When I Grow Up" (#22 peak, 21 weeks). "When I Grow Up" should've definately have been certified. Also i was watching a special on Garbage, on MAX with all there videos, and people txted in which is their fav song, and it played the top 10 singles. "Only Happy When It Rains" is considered one of their biggest hits, yet it didn't even chart well. Most of these songs didn't even make top 40, and they were the top 10 favourites, based on 9,000 votes. "You Look So Fine" didn't even chart, and it's Aus Physical release is rare to find. Guess 9,000 votes isn't the whole fans who bough their releases obviously.
10. Breaking Up The Girl 9. Special 8. Vow 7. Special 6. Shut Your Mouth 5. You Look So Fine 4. Why Do You Love Me 3. Only Happy When It Rains 2. I Think Im Paranoid 1. When I Grow Up
Jam & Spoon had a #22 hit with the follow-up to 'Right In the Night' titled 'Find Me (Odyssey to Anyoona)', as well as the 2 Tokyo Ghetto Pussy hits.
Many of Garbage's singles charted poorly in Oz, but their albums did quite well. 'Only Happy When It Rains' peaked at just #80, for instance. 'You Look So Fine' didn't even enter the top 100!
"Only Happy When It Rains" is also my favourite Garbage track Just think billbeast, be thankful they didn't get HUGE here with the teenies Gotta remember also they did come onto the scene during the invasion of Hanson & the other pop megastars of the time. Garbage were huge on Triple J & RAGE during 95-99. I even still have there guest programers gig they did back in the day
That top 3 is accurate at best with masses though would've had Vow a lot higher & Why Do You Love Me a lot lower as i'm not a fan of the track at all.
Posting a message about "Garbage" on a page dedicated to one hit wonders is a little strange isn't it? Garbage are certainly no "one hit wonders". I LOVE Garbage, and have seen them in concert when they supported Alanis Morisette - which was about 9 years ago (I think???) now. But how about posting your messages about great groups on a coresponding page. And by the ways, why is "Special" on the list twice???
Oh, and to BeansterBarnes - i absolutly agreed with you! "why do you love me" is certainly not one of their best, i hated it when it first came out - and Garbage were one of my faves!! but yes "Vow" is the song i would like in the top 3, as this is probably my favorite song from them - was the first song i heard from them - and still my fave. and where is "Stupid Girl" on the list??
What's the name of the CD? I heard of "Wa Wa Nee" before (thru a friend who likes 80s music) - but never heard of Penny Flanagan? or Albare? So yeah, who the heck are they???
Itunes have a 90's "One Hit Wonder" Essentials in the store but could they get it wrong by far...... it so annoying that artists can get classed as an One Hit Wonder but have several hits..... why in the hell would they put some of these artists in dont they know anything about music or simply check it out before doing a cd on it. I find myself laughing at some of these track on here.
Hanson - MMM Bop (on the CD) Hanson - I Will Come To You Peaking at number #2 (#15 on the end of year chart) Hanson - Where's The Love Peaking at number #2 (number 13 on the end of year chart)
Frente - Accidently Kelly Street (on CD) Frente - Ordinary Angels (Top 10 hit) #20 on year end chart this would be more popular than Accidently Kelly by selling more on the year end. Frente - Lonely #7 (Top 10 hit)
Tina Arena - Chains (On CD) Tina Arena - I Need Your Body (17th higest selling song of 1990) bigger than Chains from the year end sales people forgetting her I Need Your Body plus several other hits Like Burn in her carreer shes had 5 Top 10 Hits.
Other Artists who are clearly not one Hit wonders
Merill Bainbridge - Mouth (4th higest selling of 1995) #1 Peak Under The Water (24th) Higest seller of 1995 (Merill a two hit wonder yes)
Natalie Imbruglia - Torn, Big Mistake and That Day = 3 Top 10 Hits
If a song "hits" the charts, then it's a "hit". Only the degree changes. For example, you have a #1 hit, a Top 3 hit, a Top 5 hit, a Top 10 hit, a Top 20 hit, a Top 30 hit, Top 40, Top 50, then generally Top 100 is the next level. I've seen all of those cut offs used to describe an artist's success ("features six Top 30 hits!" etc. etc.).
You can't take a particular song's popularity within the general community to be an indicator of its hit status. Short Stack's "Sway, Sway Baby" was a #2 hit, but you'd be hard pressed to find anyone over 30 who would even have heard it. "Paparazzi" by Lady Gaga, though, would be very well known by anyone who listens to the radio. The average person on the street might only be able to name 10 Madonna songs, yet she's actually had 62 Top 40 hits in Australia. Sales accreditations aren't an accurate indicator of hit status, either, because they depend on the record company actually bothering to apply for the certification.
Also, which charts should be considered the most authoritative? From mid-1988, both the ARIA charts and the Australian Music Report were given widespread publicity in Australia (Rage used ARIA and Video Hits used the AMR). The ARIA chart was the official chart from then on (they used to license the charts from AMR before that, as many of you would already know), but at least initially, the AMR was probably far more accurate, because the people who compiled it were far more experienced than anyone at ARIA at compiling charts. In about 1993, there was an article in one of the major newspapers where both organisations acknowledged that the existence of both charts helps to "keep us all honest". By that stage, though, I think ARIA had the upper hand, as their survey stores included country stores, whereas the AMR's didn't. Once ARIAnet was implemented, though, the AMR couldn't compete and ceased production. Still, for decades, it was a valid source of chart statistics (even if it wasn't considered official from mid-1988 onwards).
So, in essence, a "hit" is anything that "hits" the chart - it's just the degree of the hit that changes.
No offence, but this is not necessarily all one hit wonders, as so many of those songs are from artists who are most likely to have future hits- more than half of those seem to be from 2008-9.
Update: this, my following post & posts from some other members following refer to two posts by NateBoi deleted after he supposedly left the site... Last edited:
EDIT: If you are reading this now then that means Gaga must be Queen of the World and my Post responding to Nateboi's deleted comment has been Edited. Yes, I'm speaking to you from the Future. Last edited:
Leave 392 alone ffs! Seriously you said if an artist has another top 50 they'll be removed; Um quite a few of those already have a few top 50 hits so what are they doing on there in the first place?
Ummm...why are you b****ing over music charts NateBoi? Very trivial. Think of people dying in Africa who would only dream of an opportunity to live, let alone have access to the internet. Get over it
The Top 10 especially for you, NateBoi, using this site; try to figure out the rest using the search function, your computer keyboard and common sense. Sandi Thom - What If I'm Right (2006) Peak: 36 Wheatus - Leroy (2001) Peak: 47 Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama (2004) Peak: 40 Scissor Sisters - Filthy / Gorgeous (2005) Peak: 29 Scissor Sisters - She's My Man (2007) Peak: 39 Metro Station - Seventeen Forever (2009) Peak: 43 Newton Faulkner - If This Is It (2009) Peak: 29 Gabriella Cilmi - Don't Wanna Go To Bed Now (2008) Peak: 28 Youth Group - Catching and Killing (2004) Peak: 44 Plain White T's - Our Time Now (2008) Peak: 37
BTW, thank you for that M@TT, Mykl, Lifter500 & Irelander.
Nateboi, would you mind explaining your format for compiling your list in a little more depth? For example I'm just wondering how someone like Seany B is at #38 yet Wheatus are at #3. Both had a massive #1 hit, but Wheatus had a second top 50 single, whereas Seany hasn't. I recently saw a one hit wonders list which worked off how big the original hit was, and then deducted points from that for any future charting efforts. It was an American charts list however, so it's not relevant here, but I'm just wondering if that's a similar method to the one you used.
Tatu - All Things She Said Kevin Lyttle - Turn Me ON Daniel Powter - Bad Day Hinder - Lips of an Angel The Last Goodnight - Pictures of You Las Ketchup - The Ketchup Song
Some of the big one hit wonders for me would have to be.....
Unique 11 - Break My Stride OMC - How Bizzare Mr. President - Coco Jumbo The Tony Rich Project - Nobody Knows Deep Blue Something - Breakfast at Tiffanys Fool's Garden - Lemon Tree Crush - Jellyhead Shawn Colvin - Sunny Came Home
You don't have to go #1 to have a song considered a hit. If that were the case most artists would be 1 hit wonders, how many artists have multiple #1's in a career?
going way back up the list... 'spin that wheel' by hi tek 3 was a side project of technotronic - so not sure if strictly that would be a one hit wonder as 'pump up the jam' was a bigger hit for them as technotronic.
I just checked out that Mcduffrule site and that is a clever way to sort out the OHW's does anyone know if this rule is going to be adopted as a general sorting criteria? Tainted Love was my fav to!
The Last Goodnight - Pictures of You Faker - This Heart Attack Colbie Caillat - Bubbly Kat DeLuna - Whine Up Mr G - Naughty Girl Axle Whitehead - I Don't Do Suprises Newton Faulkner - Dream Catch Me Finger Eleven - Paralyzer Psycho Teddy - Psycho Teddy Sarah Bareilles - Love Song Estelle - American Boy Sam Sparro - Black and Gold Metro Station - Shake It Kid Rock - All Summer Long MGMT - Electric Feel September - Cry for You The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name Kevin Rudolf - Let It Rock The Ian Carey Project - Get Shaky Paramoar - Decode Last edited:
To be fair on most of these artists, most of their hits were less than two years ago, and not quite long enough as they could chart with releases this year or next year.
- Whine Up wasn't a hit IMO. - Sam Sparro charted with 21st Century Life. - Metro Stat charted with 17 Forever. - Kevin Rudolf will chart with I Made It !!
21st Century Life and 17 Forever weren't hits though, they peaked at #42 and #43 which aren't high enough positions to be considered a hit. An artist doesn't necessarily have to have only one charting song to be a one hit wonder. Last edited:
You've got a great singing voice and you're awesome. Keep on doing what is beswt for you and you will succeed in every way. http://www.walterrodriguez.com/
Can anyone remember who the guy as in the 80's or 90's who was a footballer/TV personality who had one one hit wonder. He was ocker, had short bleached blonde hair and was full of loud attitude.
Casey Donovan. Natalie Gauci. Alot of idols. Tamara Jaber (although her tracks were both left uncertified they both racked up 10 weeks inside the top 50 which is alright).
Wow... thanks very much Dave. That's seriously been nagging at me for years! Found it up on youtube just now. Sadly like many 80s faves, it's absolutely dreadful compared to how cool I thought it was at the time, haha. Much appreciated.
hey, i hope some one on here is old enough to remember what i believe was a one hit wonder in Australia, it was called gigolo, i checked youtube and the versions i found were not the same, by super/frecuencia mod. it doesn't even sound like a real name, the version i remember the woman singing had a stronger more pleasant voice, a few of the words were, gigolo, the dance was over long ago, but i'm still in ur arms captured by your charms it's like a movie show oh how i know, i would appreciate any info, p.s i'm so excited about some of the songs i've found on here, i looooooove my music so much, and the challenge of finding a song thats hard to find, this sight is brilliant xo. p.s don't forget the one hit wonder by laurie anderson - o superman .
Meggie, it sounds like you're looking for Gigolo by Colleen Hewett, which I couldn't find a link on YouTube for, but those are the words of the song (1982 #28 hit for her), and her eighth single, so not a one-hit wonder at all here in Oz.
Hi there, there is a song that i cant seem to find anywhere, and havent heard it since the early 70's. I heard it on canberras 2CA way back when, i am hoping that someone might know it. Its about a man who was 17, and is seduced by a woman in her 30's (32 i think) the only lyrics i can remember is something about the beach, i know that this is a longshot, but i would be greatfull, for any assistance. regards
ross: if you think it was a top 100 hit in Australia then you may want to go through bulion's 70's listings and YouTube a heap of songs on those lists until you find it (assuming someone else can't help you identify it of course).
Sounds like the 1971 movie "Summer Of '42" about a teenage boy who falls for an older woman whose husband has gone to war.
"The Summer Knows" is the theme song from the movie, however, a song about a very similar topic might be the one you're looking for. "Summer (The First Time)" was released in 1973, sung by Bobby Goldsboro.
Apparently Bryan Adams' "Summer Of '69" is loosely based on the film too.
A one-hit wonder discussed at the top was John Safran - Not The Sunscreen Song. In technical terms, he is a comedian and hasn't released anything since then so does it count to call him a one-hit wonder? My definition of a one-hit wonder is that the artist has released more than one song, but only one song has been a hit.
irelander, John Safran was in a rap group when he was younger and they released a single (he mentions in his Music series), so he kinda sorta is a one-hit wonder, of an extreme nature though.
I would like people to vote for their favourite and I will the use the resulting top 40 coices to petition record companies to release a compilation. Please pass the link to others.
You know how when youre young and you sing words to songs that later you find out arent the words? Well Ive been searching for years for a song that I know as 'Banji'. It was a female singer and it went something like: Banji's got rhythm Banjis' got love Banji's got rhythm He'll come home Banji's got rhythm Banjis' got love and you really dont' know, really don't know Banji...Ahhhhh Banji....Ahhhhh.
I cant be 100% sure of the timeframe, but I think between 1979 and 1983 maybe. I have googled you tubed and tried alternate words that may replace others but cannot for the life of me find it. For that reason I am sure it must be a one hit wonder. Does anyone recall anything like this? Id love to find it for my brother as we used to sing it ALOT. Thanks team. Fpstarfish.
Eiffel 65 is not a one hit wonder. They followed up "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" with the Top 5 smash "Move Your Body" which made ARIA's 2000 year-end list at #33 and is my favourite song of theirs.