Exploring the greatest one-hit wonders of all time

Flashback Radio with Chuck Reynolds

Recently, I was asked about “one-hit wonders” and what exactly qualifies for this title or achievement. Is it a singer or group who has had only one song released that made the Billboard Hot 100 charts?

Sort of, but only if it has made the top 40. Getting a song that makes the Billboard Hot 100 but stalls at 95 or 62, hardly makes it a one-hit wonder. And not two or more songs in the top 40. Just one. And that is how they would be classified as a bona fide “one-hit wonder”.

Keeping that in mind, as we acknowledge the number one-hit wonder of all time – here‘s a perfect definition of a one-hit wonder as it’s the only song by this group that ever got on the charts. Originally released in 1993, the song, “Macarena”, absolutely went nowhere.

It was a simple Spanish folk dance song by Los Del Rio, which consisted of Antonio Romero Monge and Rafael Ruiz Perdigones who were, in comparison to most of their contemporary artists, well past their prime having been around in the business since 1962.

And, when first released, the song just lacked having any ‘oomph’ and didn’t go absolutely anywhere for three years. However, in 1996, the song was punched up and given a new electronic beat called the “Bayside Boys Mix”. And it made its way up to #1 where it spent an amazing total of 14 weeks. It also stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for 60 weeks making it the biggest one-hit wonder of all time – and, by far, on the chart for the most weeks for its only release.

Going from this very catchy up-tempo Latin dance tune, to a sombre sounding love ballad was Debbie Boone, and her inspirational “You Light Up My Life” in 1977. Unlike the song’s slow tempo, it raced up the charts reaching number one in just 7 weeks – making it the second biggest one-hit wonder of all time, spending the next 10 weeks at the top of the chart and a total of 25 weeks on the Hot 100.

It also got her a Grammy Award for Best New artist in 1978.

Debbie only had two more pop songs, neither which broke into the top 50. However, she did make it to the top of the country charts in 1980 and won two more Grammys for her Contemporary Christian albums.

No doubt the genes of her father, Pat Boone, helped out a bit as he had quite a career himself, releasing 65 singles from 1955 to 1969. And 59 of those reached the Hot 100 and 6 hit the number one spot. A regular “Speedy Gonzales” indeed!

The third greatest one-hit wonder of all time will certainly be a surprise for many of you.

Written and sung by Canadian Daniel Powter, “Bad Day” spent 5 weeks at the top of charts in 2006 and a total of 32 weeks in the Hot 100. Oddly, just like the single for Los Del Rio, it too was originally recorded and released three years earlier, but never made any headway.

The song was finally used in a French Coca-Cola TV commercial in 2004 and then released in Europe as Daniel’s debut single in 2005. It reached top five in several countries worldwide but, its greatest success came in the U.S. in 2006 when Bad Day reached the top of the Hot 100, the Pop 100 and the Adult Contemporary charts.

The “(Had A) Bad Day” music video was also one of the most watched music videos on the Internet, reaching almost 10 million viewers after one year.

Being the all-time fourth greatest one-hit wonder fall on the shoulders of Anthony L. Ray from Seattle. That’s his birth name. You would probably know him better as Sir Mix-A-Lot. He’s only had three singles reach the Hot 100, but this one was a verifiable one-hit wonder called “Baby Got Back”, which was released in 1992 and sold 2 million copies. It spent 5 weeks at the top of the charts and was on the Hot 100 for a total of 28 weeks.

As for other one-hit wonders, there are at least another 21 artists, that have reached #1, including Wild Cherry, Starland Vocal Band, Billy Paul, Van McCoy, Toni Basil, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, ? & The Mysterians, Sinead O’Connor, M, Terry Jacks, EMF, Nick Gilder, Bobby Mc- Ferrin, Minnie Riperton, Lipps Inc., Vicki Lawrence, Carl Douglas, David Soul, Right Said Fred, The Heights and Thelma Houston.

And no, the duet of Billy Ray Cyrus and Lil Nas X don’t qualify for their massive hit, “Old Town Road” as Cyrus had a couple of top 40 hits including “Achy Breaky Heart” which reached #4 in 1992.