One-Hit Wonders

I got curious a few days ago about who were the greatest one-hit wonders. To determine this, I used Billboards Hot 100 Year-End chart. This insured that the songs were truly big hits when they came out. However, it did lead to a few oddities. Such as, using this standard makes the Dave Matthews Band a one-hit wonder despite being one of the best-selling acts. It's just that they tend to concentrate on album sells and don't push singles, so they don't really have individual hit songs. Also, Billboard Hot 100 only applies to success in the US. So someone like James Blunt, who is very successful in Europe, is merely a one-hit wonder in the US.

Top One-Hit Wonder that has a chance of making another hit (maybe)
Daniel Powter - Bad Day - 2006
Number one song of 2006, which explains why I heard it so much despite hating the song. Mr. Powter is the first solo Canadian male singer to top the Hot 100 since 1995, which I'm sure is important to someone. He is still recording music, and has released five more singles since "Bad Day". No hits yet, but I'm sure he's hoping for one just so he can be removed from this list and be replaced by James Blunt.

Top One-Hit Wonder more famous for something else
Los Del Rio - Macarena - 1996
So what exactly is more famous about the Macarena other than the song itself? If you didn't say "the dance", you're obviously less than 13 years old. Without the dance, "Macarena" is just a really odd song with two old men singing incomprehensibly in Spanish (if you know Spanish and can comprehend them, feel free to correct me). Actually, Los Del Rio presents a bit a problem as they actually had two hits, "Macarena" and "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)".

Top One-Hit Wonder destroyed by their own success
The Knack - My Sharona - 1979
I was actually kind of surprised to learn that the Knack never produced another hit. They came out at a good time, everyone was tired of disco, but the music that would define the '80's hadn't come into its own yet. So the Knack's retro-sound propelled them to number one. Unfortunately for them, because they were the only interesting thing on radio, they got way overplayed. Eventually, everyone came to hate them and all subsequent singles and albums did horribly.

Top One-Hit Wonder whose mere existence mocks an entire generation
The Archies - Sugar Sugar - 1969
When you think of 1969, what do you think of? Probably not kid-friendly bubblegum pop, but that was exactly what the number one song of 1969 was. The band was made up of freaking cartoon characters! All the anti-war, hippie music made famous in 1969 at one point bowed before the might of "Sugar Sugar".

Top One-Hit Wonder produced by a movie
Lulu - To Sir with Love - 1967
This song was the theme of the film "To Sir with Love". I've never heard of either. Lulu actually enjoyed some success in the UK, even appearing on Eurovision, but it was only her connection to the movie that got her music played in the US. It's actually kind of an strange song, with an odd rhythm and an almost non-existent chorus, which might explain why no one plays it today.

Top One-Hit Wonder with impeccable timing
SSgt Barry Sadler - The Ballad Of The Green Berets - 1966
The Vietnam War is now mostly associated with songs like "War", "Fortunate Son", and "Blowing in the Wind". Luckily for SSgt Sadler, he was able to get this song out and on the airwaves before public mood turned heavily against the Vietnam War.

Top One-Hit Wonder who didn't want to be famous
Terry Jacks - Seasons in the Sun - 1974
After eking out a living as a musician, Terry Jacks band, the Poppy Family, scored a number one hit in Canada. Jacks soon found that he didn't really enjoy being famous or performing concerts, so the band broke up. He then recorded a solo album. It included "Seasons in the Sun" which became one of the biggest hits by a Canadian musician ever. Cursed with the awesome power of every song he sang becoming a hit, he left the music industry.

Top One-Hit Wonder that is the epitome of everything a one-hit wonder should be
Tag Team - Whoomp! There it is - 1993
Go to Youtube, there is no official video. Go to Wikipedia, all it says about Tag Team is that they existed. I have found more information on obscure one-hit wonders from the '60's. Tag Team basically released this one song that did monstrously well, and then were completely forgotten by history.

Top One-Hit Wonder ever
Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back - 1992
Sir Mix-A-Lot might disagree with being called a one-hit wonder, he did have two albums go platinum, but "Baby Got Back" was his only song to make it to the Hot 100 Year-End Chart, and is the song he will forever be remembered for. While many rappers have tried similar songs, they either took themselves too seriously or tried too hard to be funny. Sir Mix-A-Lot was able to strike a perfect balance and created a song so memorable that it could never be topped. The fact that he faded so quickly into obscurity is probably best for everyone.