National One-Hit Wonder Day: September 25

Some songs disappear almost as quickly as they arrive. Others become part of the soundtrack of our lives. You may not remember the album. You may not remember what year the song came out. You might not even remember the artist’s name. But play the first few notes, and suddenly you know every single word. That’s the magic of the one-hit wonders that live on rent-free in our music memory brain bank.

September 25 is National One-Hit Wonder Day, making it the perfect excuse to revisit the songs that somehow became bigger than the artists who recorded them. The term “one-hit wonder” isn’t an official Billboard category, and definitions vary. Some artists had other chart appearances, international hits or successful careers that don’t fit the strictest definition. For this list, we’re looking at the songs most commonly associated with one major U.S. pop hit.

What you’ll find in this post about National One-Hit Wonder Day: My top | 50 One-Hit Wonders |

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Some of My Favorite One-Hit Wonders with Stories Behind the Songs

Here are some of my favorite one-hit wonders. Yes, my Gen X musical taste runs strong through this list.

“Come On Eileen” — Dexys Midnight Runners, 1982

If you grew up in the ’80s, there is a good chance “Come On Eileen” has you hitting the dance floor the second you hear those distinctive beats. Does anyone else wonder why the music video is of a girl in overalls, but the song is about a girl in a dress? The song became a massive international hit for British band Dexys Midnight Runners. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1983 and remained one of the most recognizable songs of the decade. It also spent 23 weeks on the U.S. chart.

The song’s unusual combination of pop, Celtic folk influences and energetic fiddles helped make it stand out. Even the famous ending feels like it is gathering speed as the song races toward its finish. There is an interesting one-hit-wonder technicality here. Dexys Midnight Runners had already scored a U.K. No. 1 with “Geno,” along with several other British hits. “Come On Eileen,” however, was their only U.S. Top 40 hit.

Listen to the album: Too-Rye-Ay – Come on Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners

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“Spirit in the Sky” — Norman Greenbaum, 1969

“Spirit in the Sky” with its driving beat and beautiful lyrics is just one of those songs you belt out in the car when it comes on. Norman Greenbaum actually wrote it after watching a television gospel performance. Greenbaum, who was Jewish, became fascinated by the sound of gospel music and decided to write a song of his own. The result combined a distorted guitar riff, handclaps, gospel-style lyrics and one of the most recognizable openings in rock.

The song became a huge international hit and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Greenbaum never duplicated that success. In fact, he later worked in restaurants and reportedly became a chef. That’s quite a career change for the man responsible for one of the most recognizable guitar riffs of the late 1960s.

Listen to the album: Spirit in the Sky

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“Play That Funky Music” — Wild Cherry, 1976

Wild Cherry was actually a rock band. While performing in clubs during the disco era, the group noticed audiences asking them to play funk and dance music instead of rock. Frontman Rob Parissi turned the experience into a song. “Play That Funky Music” became a No. 1 hit on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Soul Singles chart. It was certified platinum and eventually sold approximately 2.5 million copies in the United States. It was also Wild Cherry’s only U.S. Top 40 hit.

The song’s success was especially ironic because the band had originally been trying to make a living playing rock music. Sometimes the audience really does know best.

Listen to the Album: Wild Cherry

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“My Sharona” — The Knack, 1979

“My Sharona” wasn’t simply a hit. It was a phenomenon. The Knack’s debut single spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the defining songs of the late 1970s. The song was inspired by Sharona Alperin, who was dating someone else when songwriter Doug Fieger met her. Fieger was 25 and Alperin was 17 when they met. She eventually became his girlfriend and inspired both the song and its title. Alperin later appeared on the cover of the single.

The Knack couldn’t repeat the success. Despite releasing additional albums and singles, “My Sharona” remained the band’s signature American hit.

Listen to the Album: Get the Knack

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“Funkytown” — Lipps Inc., 1980

If there is a song that can make almost any room feel like a dance floor, it’s “Funkytown.” The song was written by Steven Greenberg, who was dreaming about moving from Minneapolis to New York City. He imagined the city as a place where he could find the creative excitement he wanted. That imaginary destination became “Funkytown.”

The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for four weeks. Its irresistible synthesizer riff and disco beat helped make it one of the defining dance songs of the early 1980s. It also has an interesting distinction: Lipps Inc. wasn’t really a traditional band. Greenberg assembled musicians around himself for recordings and performances, with singer Cynthia Johnson providing the distinctive vocals.

Listen to the Album: Mouth to Mouth

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“Take on Me” — a-ha, 1985

Technically, a-ha is one of the biggest “one-hit wonder” technicalities on this entire list. The Norwegian band had additional success internationally, but in the United States, “Take on Me” was their enormous breakthrough and signature hit. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 27 weeks on the chart.

Then there was the memorable video. The combination of live-action footage and pencil-sketch animation turned “Take on Me” into an MTV sensation. The video won six MTV Video Music Awards, helping make a-ha one of the most recognizable bands of the MTV era. The song itself also had a long road to success. Earlier versions failed to make much of an impact before the band reworked the recording and released the version that finally connected with audiences.

Listen to the album: Hunting High and Low

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“What’s Up?” — 4 Non Blondes, 1993

The title is actually one of the funniest details about this song. The song is called “What’s Up?”, but Linda Perry never actually sings the words “What’s up?” in the song. The famous chorus asks, “What’s going on?” The confusion was intentional. Perry has explained that the song was given its unusual title because she didn’t want it confused with Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”

The song became a worldwide hit and reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite its success, 4 Non Blondes didn’t last long. The band broke up after releasing just one studio album. Linda Perry, however, went on to become a highly successful songwriter and producer, writing hits for artists including Christina Aguilera, Pink and Gwen Stefani. “What’s Up?” wasn’t the end of Perry’s musical story. It was the beginning of a very different chapter.

Listen to the album: Bigger, Better, Faster, More!

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“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” — Bobby McFerrin, 1988

Bobby McFerrin made history with “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” because it became the first a cappella song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. And here’s the really impressive part: McFerrin essentially created the entire recording himself using his voice. There are no conventional instruments driving the song. McFerrin used vocal techniques to create the melody, bass and rhythmic elements.

The song was also featured prominently in the 1988 film Cocktail, helping propel it into the mainstream. Its message is simple. Its sound is unmistakable. And its title has become part of everyday language.

Listen to the Album: Simple Pleasures

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“Mickey” — Toni Basil, 1982

Oh, Mickey. You’re so fine. Toni Basil’s cheerleader-inspired anthem is one of those songs that seems impossible to separate from its music video. But Basil didn’t actually write “Mickey.” The song originated as “Kitty” and was recorded by the British group Racey in 1979. Basil changed the name to Mickey and transformed it into the cheerleader chant that became an international hit.

The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Basil was also much more than a singer. She had worked as a dancer, choreographer, actress and filmmaker before becoming a pop star. That means the woman behind one of the most famous cheerleader videos ever was already a seasoned entertainment professional long before “Mickey” arrived.

Listen to the Album: Word of Mouth

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“Pumped Up Kicks” — Foster the People, 2010

This might be the most surprising song on the list. “Pumped Up Kicks” sounds sunny, catchy, and almost carefree. Listen closely to the lyrics, however, and the story becomes much darker. Mark Foster wrote the song from the perspective of a troubled young person with violent thoughts. Foster has explained that he deliberately created a contrast between the upbeat music and disturbing subject matter.

The song became Foster the People’s breakthrough hit, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending 40 weeks on the chart. It also earned the group a Grammy nomination. The song’s popularity brought controversy because of its violent imagery. Radio and television outlets censored portions of the lyrics, and the song became particularly complicated to perform after real-world school shootings.

Foster has said the song was intended to explore an ugly social reality, not glorify violence. The song appeared on the band’s 2011 debut album, Torches, which reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200.

Listen to the Album: Torches

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Steam — “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” (1969)

Few songs have become as closely associated with saying goodbye as Steam’s “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.” Released in 1969, the song climbed all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for two weeks. It was also a Top 10 hit in the U.K. and Canada.

The song’s origin is almost as entertaining as the chant itself. Songwriters Paul Leka, Gary DeCarlo and Dale Frashuer had originally written “Kiss Him Goodbye” years earlier while performing together. When DeCarlo needed a throwaway B-side for a single, the trio pulled the old song out and added the now-famous “na na na” and “hey hey” chant. They never expected it to become a hit. In fact, they recorded it under the name Steam because they did not want to release it under their own names. Once radio stations began playing it, however, the record company rushed it out as a single.

Here is the strangest part: Steam wasn’t really a band when the record was made. The recording featured studio musicians, and a group of hired musicians was later assembled to tour as Steam. Even the people pictured on the album cover weren’t the musicians who played on the hit recording. The album Steam eventually reached No. 84 on the Billboard 200, but none of the group’s follow-up singles came close to matching the success of “Na Na Hey Hey.”

The song eventually found a second life as one of sports’ favorite chants. Fans began using “Na Na Hey Hey” whenever an opposing player was removed from a game, transforming a 1969 pop hit into a musical way of saying, essentially, “Get out of here!” Bananarama later recorded a version that reached No. 5 in the U.K., while The Nylons took their a cappella version to No. 12 in the U.S.

Listen to the Album: Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.

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The Proclaimers — “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” (1988)

If you have ever enthusiastically yelled, “And I would walk 500 miles!” with a crowd, you already know why this song refuses to disappear. Scottish twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid released “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” in 1988 on their album Sunshine on Leith. It reached No. 11 in the U.K., but its biggest moment came five years later when it appeared in the Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson movie Benny & Joon. The renewed exposure sent the song to No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1993, where it spent 20 weeks on the chart.

The song’s story is actually pretty simple. Craig Reid has said he came up with the tune and lyrics in about 45 minutes while waiting for a ride to a gig. Despite plenty of theories about hidden meanings behind the 500 miles, Reid says it is simply a love song. One particularly Scottish word, “havering,” even caused confusion among American listeners who weren’t familiar with the term. The song has also proved extremely lucrative for the brothers. Reid told The Guardian that “I’m Gonna Be” makes about five times more money than their other songs combined, helping them continue recording and touring.

Listen to the Album: Sunshine on Leith

50 One-Hit Wonders Worth Adding to Your Playlist

From disco and New Wave to novelty songs, ’80s pop, and alternative rock, these 50 songs prove that sometimes you only need one unforgettable song to make music history.

#	Song	Artist	Year	Album
1	The Lion Sleeps Tonight	The Tokens	1961	The Lion Sleeps Tonight
2	Earth Angel	The Penguins	1954	The Cool, Cool Penguins
3	Love Is Strange	Mickey & Sylvia	1957	Love Is Strange
4	Rockin’ Robin	Bobby Day	1958	The Great Bobby Day
5	The Purple People Eater	Sheb Wooley	1958	The Purple People Eater
6	Alley-Oop	The Hollywood Argyles	1960	Alley-Oop
7	They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!	Napoleon XIV	1966	They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!
8	Green Tambourine	The Lemon Pipers	1967	Green Tambourine
9	In the Year 2525	Zager & Evans	1969	2525 (Exordium & Terminus)
10	Spirit in the Sky	Norman Greenbaum	1969	Spirit in the Sky
11	Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye	Steam	1969	Steam
12	Mr. Big Stuff	Jean Knight	1971	Jean Knight
13	Dancing in the Moonlight	King Harvest	1972	Dancing in the Moonlight
14	Rock the Boat	Hues Corporation	1974	Rockin’ Soul
15	Kung Fu Fighting	Carl Douglas	1974	Kung Fu Fighting and Other Great Love Songs
16	Afternoon Delight	Starland Vocal Band	1976	Starland Vocal Band
17	Play That Funky Music	Wild Cherry	1976	Wild Cherry
18	Pop Muzik	M	1979	New York • London • Paris • Munich
19	Video Killed the Radio Star	The Buggles	1979	The Age of Plastic
20	My Sharona	The Knack	1979	Get the Knack
21	Born to Be Alive	Patrick Hernandez	1979	Born to Be Alive
22	Funkytown	Lipps Inc.	1980	Mouth to Mouth
23	Cars	Gary Numan	1979	The Pleasure Principle
24	Turning Japanese	The Vapors	1980	New Clear Days
25	Tainted Love	Soft Cell	1981	Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
26	Come On Eileen	Dexys Midnight Runners	1982	Too-Rye-Ay
27	Mickey	Toni Basil	1982	Word of Mouth
28	Pac-Man Fever	Buckner & Garcia	1982	Pac-Man Fever
29	The Safety Dance	Men Without Hats	1982	Rhythm of Youth
30	99 Luftballons	Nena	1983	Nena
31	Pass the Dutchie	Musical Youth	1982	The Youth of Today
32	Take on Me	a-ha	1985	Hunting High and Low
33	Rock Me Amadeus	Falco	1985	Falco 3
34	I Wanna Be a Cowboy	Boys Don’t Cry	1986	Boys Don’t Cry
35	Don’t Worry, Be Happy	Bobby McFerrin	1988	Simple Pleasures
36	Wild, Wild West	Escape Club	1988	Wild Wild West
37	Ice Ice Baby	Vanilla Ice	1990	To the Extreme
38	Rico Suave	Gerardo	1990	Mo’ Ritmo
39	Groove Is in the Heart	Deee-Lite	1990	World Clique
40	I’m Too Sexy	Right Said Fred	1991	Up
41	Whoomp! (There It Is)	Tag Team	1993	Whoomp! (There It Is)
42	What’s Up?	4 Non Blondes	1993	Bigger, Better, Faster, More!
43	Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)	Los del Río	1996	A mí me gusta
44	Tubthumping	Chumbawamba	1997	Tubthumper
45	Closing Time	Semisonic	1998	Feeling Strangely Fine
46	Stacy’s Mom	Fountains of Wayne	2003	Welcome Interstate Managers
47	Who Let the Dogs Out	Baha Men	2000	Who Let the Dogs Out
48	Butterfly	Crazy Town	2001	The Gift of Game
49	Bad Day	Daniel Powter	2005	Daniel Powter
50	Harlem Shake	Baauer	2012	Harlem Shake

Album names refer to the principal album associated with the song. Some older recordings have appeared on numerous later greatest-hits and one-hit-wonder compilations.

Which One Is Your Favorite?

That’s what makes one-hit wonders so much fun. They aren’t necessarily songs from artists who disappeared. Some musicians continued successful careers, while others became famous for one song that simply captured lightning in a bottle. And decades later, we are still singing along. Whether your favorite is a disco classic, an ’80s dance-floor anthem, a novelty song or a song you haven’t heard since high school, National One-Hit Wonder Day is the perfect excuse to turn up the volume.

Now the important question, because I know you’ve got an earworm stuck in your head, which one-hit wonder would you add to this list?