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VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders!

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View Poll Results: Who's your favorite one-hit wonder?
Los Del Rio
0
0%
Soft Cell
1
6.67%
Dexy's Midnight Runners
1
6.67%
Right Said Fred
0
0%
Toni Basil
0
0%
Baha Men
0
0%
Vanilla Ice I thought he had 2
1
6.67%
A-Ha
4
26.67%
Gerardo
0
0%
None of the above / Other
8
53.33%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll

VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders!

Old 05-07-02, 10:19 PM
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VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders!




100. "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas (1974)
99. "No Rain" by Blind Melon (1993)
98. "Two Of Hearts" by Stacey Q (1986)
97. "Whoomp! There It Is" by Tag Team (1993)
96. "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow (1982)
95. "Harper Valley P.T.A." by Jeannie C. Riley (1968)
94. "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes (1993)
93. "Don't Give Up On Us Baby" by David Soul (1977)
92. "Heart & Soul" by T'Pau (1987)
91. "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant (1983)
90. "Don't Want To Fall In Love" by Jane Child (1990)
89. "Achy, Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus (1992)
88. "Barbie Girl" by Aqua (1987)
87. "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston (1977)
86. "Bust A Move" by Young MC (1989)
85. "Spirit In The Sky" by Norman Greenbaum (1970)
84. "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree (1994)
83. "The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats (1983)
82. "I Know What Boys Like" by The Waitresses (1982)
81. "Just A Friend" by Biz Markie (1990)
80. "Cum On Feel The Noize" by Quiet Riot (1983)
79. "Puttin' On The Ritz" by Taco (1983)
78. "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" by Crash Test Dummies (1994)
77. "What I Am" by Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians (1989)
76. "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off" by Jermaine Stewart (1986)
75. "I've Never Been To Me" by Charlene (1982)
74. "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" by Digable Planets (1993)
73. "Convoy" by C.W. McCall (1975)
72. "Maniac" by Michael Sembello (1983)
71. "How Bizarre" by OMC (1997)
70. "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence (1973)
69. "Funkytown" by Lipps, Inc. (1980)
68. "A Girl Like You" by Edwyn Collins (1995)
67. "Epic" by Faith No More (1990)
66. "Mambo No. 5" by Lou Bega (1999)
65. "In My House" by The Mary Jane Girls (1985)
64. "You Get What You Give" by New Radicals (1998)
63. "Jump Around" by House Of Pain (1992)
62. "Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" by Timbuk 3 (1986)
61. "Round And Round" by Ratt (1984)
60. "More, More, More" by Andrea True Connection (1976)
59. "867-5309/Jenny" by Tommy Tutone (1982)
58. "What Is Love?" by Haddaway (1993)
57. "Smokin' In The Boys Room" by Brownsville Station (1973)
56. "Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton (1975)
55. "It's Raining Men" by Weather Girls (1982)
54. "Makin' It" by David Naughton (1977)
53. "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell (1984)
52. "Genius Of Love" by Tom Tom Club (1982)
51. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers (1995)
50. "I Touch Myself" by The Divinyls (1991)
49. "Turn The Beat Around" by Vicki Sue Robinson (1976)
48. "True" by Spandau Ballet (1983)
47. "Rock & Roll, Pt. 2" by Gary Glitter (1972)
46. "Don't Worry Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin (1988)
45. "Lovefool" by The Cardigans (1996)
44. "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco (1986)
43. "How Do You Talk To An Angel" by The Heights (1992)
42. "Hot Child In The City" by Nick Gilder (1978)
41. "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1985)
40. "In A Big Country" by Big Country (1983)
39. "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve (1998)
38. "Me & Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul (1972)
37. "I Melt With You" by Modern English (1982)
36. "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors (1980)
35. "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks (1997)
34. "Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal Band (1976)
33. "Got To Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn (1979)
32. "Hot Hot Hot" by Buster Poindexter (1987)
31. "Unbelievable" by EMF (1983)
30. "Seasons In The Sun" by Terry Jacks (1974)
29. "Pass The Dutchie" by Musical Youth (1983)
28. "It Takes Two" by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock (1988)
27. "Pop Musik" by M (1979)
26. "Stumblin' In" by Suzi Quatro (1979)
25. "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo (1983)
24. "Whip It" by Devo (1980)
23. "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba (1997)
22. "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry (1976)
21. "Cars" by Gary Numan (1980)
20. "She Blinded Me With Science" by Thomas Dolby (1983)
The Cairo-born Thomas Robertson was nicknamed “Dolby” by his friends because of his obsession with musical technology, and he played synthesizer on albums by Foreigner and Def Leppard. His 1983 single hit appropriately featured a vocal performance by the eccentric British scientist Magnus Pyke.

19. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida " by Iron Butterfly (1968)
Psychedelia had it's brilliant moments, but it was a great cloak for nonsense, too. In 1969, when these dudes arrived out of nowhere with their side-long song driven by a 10-note bass riff, they brought rock something both catchy and cluckish. At heart, they were much more the latter than the former. Which is why they vanished.

18. "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinéad O'Connor (1990)
She took a good Prince song and made it great by betting the farm on the fact that candor and intimacy were what people wanted to hear. She bet correctly, and in 1990 the nuance-driven face-only video turned all that private stuff into powerful stuff. Gorgeous.

17. "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister (1984)
Generic sludge rockers who cast themselves as metal renegades, in 1984 Twisted Sister's marketing device was its singer's use of make-up. But they did have one insidiously infectious tune, and as the group chanted its defiance of all things status-quo, testosteroned teens fell in line.

16. "Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang (1980)
Intoxicated on the power of spiel, and up for the challenge of riding the rhythmic groove, these bedrock MCs - Master Gee, Wonder Mike, and Big Bank Hank - brought the glory of rap out of the neighborhood and onto the airwaves in 1979. Chic's "Good Times" was their engine, and the world was their oyster.

15. "96 Tears" by ? And The Mysterians (1966)
Proof that attitude is all you need to make a mark on pop. An organ squeals, a tough guy snarls and, in 1966 and forever, a rock fan reaches to turn it up. It's cheesy, it's weird, and it's irresistible. Perhaps the best cultural nugget ever produced by Flint, Michigan.

14. "Groove Is In The Heart" by Deee-Lite (1990)
Some say the group was fashion's answer to the B-52's, but the kitschy glamour of this club smash had plenty of musical craft on its side, and its "we're all one" message made room for a broad queer/straight, black/white constituency. A pop gem from 1990.

13. "The Hustle" by Van McCoy (1975)
The disco era needed a soundtrack by which hedonists could get busy on the dance floor, and the lite jazz groove perfectly fit the bill in 1976. Honk once if you love flutes. Honk twice if you've ever gotten busy on the dance floor.

12. "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot (1994)
Discussing the front part of the human body is dangerous business. But celebrate the rear in song, and you get smiles all around. And if you create a two-cheeked video around a amusing set of rump rhymes driven by a righteous beat, you've hit yourself a home run. It was 1992, and Sisqo's "Thong Song" wasn't far behind.

11. "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone (1977)
Schmaltz will always be with us, and from "Earth Angel" to Celine's Titanic song, some of the best radio pop has been pure goo. This ode to Christianity's top dog is sticky as hell. Which is why somewhere this weekend, a couple are slow-dancing to it and weeping.

10. "99 Luftballoons" by Nena (1984)
German singer Gabriele “Nena” Kerner recorded “99 Luftballons” as a protest against nuclear war. The canny electronic arrangement and singsong melody obscured its serious message and it became a worldwide hit in 1984. She has continued to sing and even hosted a German variety show called Metro.

9. "Rico Suave" by Gerardo (1991)
Ecuador-born rapper Gerardo performed in Spanglish, a mixture of Spanish and English, but everyone understood the smooth delivery of “Rico Suave.” He scored no more hits after that 1991 No. 7, so Gerardo became a record executive.

8. "Take On Me" by A-Ha (1985)
In 1985, with synth pop at its peak, “Take On Me” became one of the genre’s most memorable successes. The song went to No. 1 on an insidious hook and a video that deftly merged animation and live action. America forgot about the Norwegian trio, but a-ha continue to enjoy international success.

7. "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice (1991)
Utilizing a clever sample of the bass line to Queen’s “Under Pressure,” “Ice Ice Baby” zipped to No. 1 in 1990. But Ice’s strutting ego and unwarranted boasting about an imaginary gangster past led to a fall that was as quick as his unexpected rise.

6. "Who Let The Dogs Out" by Baha Men (2000)
Like Los Del Rio, the Baha Men had already enjoyed a degree of success on the world music circuit with their take on “junkanoo,” a Caribbean fusion of pop and Latin rhythms. “Who Let the Dogs Out” became a monster smash in 2000 and proved particularly popular at sporting events.

5. "Mickey" by Toni Basil (1982)
Toni Basil had already had quite a career before topping the charts with “Mickey” in 1982. She danced in the ‘60s concert film The T.A.M.I. Show and acted opposite Jack Nicholson in the Five Easy Pieces. Although Basil never had another hit, she choreographed the Gap’s swing-music ad.

4. "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred (1992)
Brothers Fred and Richard Fairbrass ran a gym in London when they first teamed up with guitarist Rob Manzoli to form Right Said Fred. Their cheeky 1992 poke at the model culture shot the muscle-bound siblings up to No. 1.

3. "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners (1983)
Singer Kevin Rowland and his British musical collective dressed in dungarees and mingled genres like rock and Celtic soul, but nobody expected this single - whose sing-along chorus overwhelmed the dour lyrical perspective - to knock Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” off the No. 1 spot in 1983.

2. "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell (1982)
The British synth duo of Marc Almond and Dave Ball were inspired to cover Gloria Jones’ 1964 classic as a tribute to the discos of their youth. Almond’s camp delivery of the suggestive lyrics, however, gave the song a contemporary twist and it flew to No. 8 in 1982.

1. "The Macarena" by Los Del Rio (1996)
Antonio Romeo Monge and Rafael Ruiz were just another Spanish flamenco-pop duo when they were inspired to record “Macarena” in 1993 after seeing a dancer in Venezuela. Three years later, after the Bayside Boys remixed the track, it became an American sensation, eventually selling 4 million copies.
Old 05-07-02, 11:46 PM
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99. "No Rain" by Blind Melon (1993)
For me, it marks the changing point of music. It signalled a true break from the synthetic frippery of the 80's,
and is a good song to boot


84. "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree (1994)
Seems so fluffy at first, but is sweet without being to sacharine

77. "What I Am" by Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians (1989)
Wonderful sound, too bad we didn't hear more

64. "You Get What You Give" by New Radicals (1998)
An incredibly well produced album, seemingly overproduced to some, but I think it becomes a part of the artistry at that point

63. "Jump Around" by House Of Pain (1992)
I still have several remixes of this on my computer.

45. "Lovefool" by The Cardigans (1996)
see 77

39. "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve (1998)
Another incredible sounding song, too bad they were raped by Mick Jagger and co over a perceived similarity

19. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida " by Iron Butterfly (1968)
Psychedelia had it's brilliant moments, but it was a great cloak for nonsense, too. In 1969, when these dudes arrived out of nowhere with their side-long song driven by a
10-note bass riff, they brought rock something both catchy and cluckish. At heart, they were much more the latter than the former. Which is why they vanished.
But what a hell of a one hit wonder

18. "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinéad O'Connor (1990)
She took a good Prince song and made it great by betting the farm on the fact that candor and intimacy were what people wanted to hear. She bet correctly, and in 1990
the nuance-driven face-only video turned all that private stuff into powerful stuff. Gorgeous.
Prince's The Hits 1/2/B-sides set would be perfect if not for me being jolted by his forced
performance of this song. O'Connor's pain and aching oozes out of your speakers


14. "Groove Is In The Heart" by Deee-Lite (1990)
Some say the group was fashion's answer to the B-52's, but the kitschy glamour of this club smash had plenty of musical craft on its side, and its "we're all one" message made room
for a broad queer/straight, black/white constituency. A pop gem from 1990.
Agreed on all points, I just heard this recently and it still catches your ear


12. "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot (1994)
Discussing the front part of the human body is dangerous business. But celebrate the rear in song, and you get smiles all around. And if you create a two-cheeked video around a amusing set of rump rhymes driven by a righteous beat, you've hit yourself a home run. It was 1992, and Sisqo's "Thong Song" wasn't far behind.
A celebration of the female form (take that Callista Flockhart), and people protest.
It's called hyperbole folks.




9. "Rico Suave" by Gerardo (1991)
Ecuador-born rapper Gerardo performed in Spanglish, a mixture of Spanish and English, but everyone understood the smooth delivery of “Rico Suave.” He scored no more hits after
that 1991 No. 7, so Gerardo became a record executive.
Best remembered in my book as the basis for Weird Al's Taco Grande

8. "Take On Me" by A-Ha (1985)
In 1985, with synth pop at its peak, “Take On Me” became one of the genre’s most memorable successes. The song went to No. 1 on an insidious hook and a video that deftly merged
animation and live action. America forgot about the Norwegian trio, but a-ha continue to enjoy international success.
Not much to add, but that video is something else


7. "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice (1991)
Utilizing a clever sample of the bass line to Queen’s “Under Pressure,” “Ice Ice Baby” zipped to No. 1 in 1990. But Ice’s strutting ego and unwarranted boasting about an
imaginary gangster past led to a fall that was as quick as his unexpected rise.
Better is the remix combining the two. Even without the lies, would he really have had what it takes?

6. "Who Let The Dogs Out" by Baha Men (2000)
Burn in hell

2. "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell (1982)
The British synth duo of Marc Almond and Dave Ball were inspired to cover Gloria Jones’ 1964 classic as a tribute to the discos of their youth. Almond’s camp delivery of the suggestive lyrics, however, gave the song a contemporary twist and it flew to No. 8 in 1982.

Another one that reeks of synth, but you just can't turn it off. I never thought about the
delivery that much, but that hits the nail on the head


1. "The Macarena" by Los Del Rio (1996)
Antonio Romeo Monge and Rafael Ruiz were just another Spanish flamenco-pop duo when they were inspired to record “Macarena” in 1993 after seeing a dancer in Venezuela. Three years
later, after the Bayside Boys remixed the track, it became an American sensation, eventually selling 4 million copies. [/B]
Still fun at parties though...
Old 05-08-02, 06:28 AM
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Modern English: I Melt With You
Old 05-08-02, 02:55 PM
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it could be

Cars - Gary Numan
or
In a Big Country - Big Country
or
867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone

but I'll say my fav is

Safety Dance - Men Without Hats

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