Not really, considering his follow-up single was top 5 in at least 9 countries.
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Is Tubthumping by Chumbawamba the best 1 hit wonder song of the 90s?
- Thread starter Smokeymicpot
- Start date
I gotta say it anyway. No universe where Dinosaur Jr. belongs on this list, friend. J Mascis is a living guitar god, even in the US. Decidedly indie/underground, but not a OHW.
I'm going to go with No Rain by Blind Melon
Chumbawamba is awesome though!
Blind Melon - No Rain
Blind Melon "No Rain" official music video from the album Blind Melon. Heather DeLoach plays the tapdancing "Bee Girl." Directed by Samuel Bayer. Subscribe t...youtu.be
That came out in 2000.
I absolutely LOVE Tubthumping, but they're not a 1 hit wonder. Their followup song Amnesia from the same album charted in the top 10 or top 20.
www.youtube.com
Also, I'm thinking Video Unavailable has to be a one hit wonder because people here keep referencing it but I don't see any other songs by the same artist.
Chumbawamba - Amnesia
Here's a better quality version of this awesome song than is on here already.This should have been twice as popular as "Tubthumping" :-(
www.youtube.com
Also, I'm thinking Video Unavailable has to be a one hit wonder because people here keep referencing it but I don't see any other songs by the same artist.
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Spin Doctors (singers of Two Princes) were huge for awhile--definitely not one-hit wonders. Little Miss Can't Be Wrong was gigantic. Their lead singer Chris Barron is a good follow on social media, too.
Out of My Head and Fire Escape were both hits.
Hanson also had Where's the Love? and I Will Run to You hit pretty big.
It really is very unique yet still captures the late 90s perfectly.
It can be two things.
But regardless, it wasn't even his first hit, much less his only one.
Damn - so close. I knew it came out while I was in school but I didn't line it up.
Could be why it wasn't mentioned lol.
I GET KNOCKED DOWN
BUT I GET UP AGAIN
BUT I GET KNOCKED DOWN
AGAIN
BUT I GET UP AGAIN
YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET KNOCKED UP AGAIN
YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET KNOCKED DOWN
BUT I GET UP AGAIN
BUT I GET KNOCKED DOWN
AGAIN
BUT I GET UP AGAIN
YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET KNOCKED UP AGAIN
YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET KNOCKED DOWN
lmao firstly that is a huge step down in comparison.
Secondly, Life (Everybody Needs Somebody to Love) was only that big because it coasted off the insane success of What Is Love.
Haddaway quite instantly fell off the map after that.
So, yeah, really. It's one of the leading examples of a one-hit wonder. Because everyone expected a What Is Love pt. 2 is irrelevant. If anything, it makes the case stronger.
Video unavailable. Watch on YouTube.
Video unavailable. Watch on YouTube.
Video unavailable. Watch on YouTube.
Video unavailable. Watch on YouTube.
Video unavailable. Watch on YouTube.
Video unavailable. Watch on YouTube.
Ad infinitum.
People, please, you only need to paste the link a second time in your post to remedy this. That's all you need to do. Just a raw link, no formatting needed. One second of your time and we can makethe world these kind of threads a better place.
Props to the people who already do this.
Video unavailable. Watch on YouTube.
Video unavailable. Watch on YouTube.
Video unavailable. Watch on YouTube.
Video unavailable. Watch on YouTube.
Video unavailable. Watch on YouTube.
Ad infinitum.
People, please, you only need to paste the link a second time in your post to remedy this. That's all you need to do. Just a raw link, no formatting needed. One second of your time and we can make
Props to the people who already do this.
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss by PM Dawn.
Can't remember if it ever got to no 1, but I distinctly remember listening to the UK Top 40 on Radio 1 and the top three were PM Dawn, I'm Too Sexy and Everything I Do, I Do For You.
All pop classics, and two bonafide one hit wonders!
Ride of Time by Black Box, if that's not been mentioned.
Can't remember if it ever got to no 1, but I distinctly remember listening to the UK Top 40 on Radio 1 and the top three were PM Dawn, I'm Too Sexy and Everything I Do, I Do For You.
All pop classics, and two bonafide one hit wonders!
Ride of Time by Black Box, if that's not been mentioned.
Dear god now understand the song OP mentions, dear god it all makes so much sense
I get knocked down, but I get up again...
I get knocked down, but I get up again...
1989. Original vocals were samples of Loletta Holloway, the rerecorded vocals were provided by Heather Small, later of M-People (Movin' on up).
It's a pretty good list but I've got a couple issues. Even by your standard Del Amitri doesn't count as a OHW. Always the Last to Know was their breakout hit in the US and reached #30 which means a ton of airplay on top 40 stations. It's literally the first song that comes to mind when I hear them mentioned.
And Tonic. Open Up Your Eyes was their first single on that album but it only reached 68. If You Could Only See got to #11
Kinda surprised no-one suggested M-People, not that they qualify but it's not like that's mattered so far :D
It's irrelevant really.
Haddaway falls off a cliff very quickly after What Is Love. Next someone's gonna say "he had a top 100 hit in 2009!" lmao
What Is Love is like the epitome of a one-hit wonder. It's one of /the/ classic examples. It's honestly not debatable. You can clearly see the follow-up singles coasted solely off his first and then into irrelevancy he went. And swiftly. Everything else is a blip on the radar.
Edit* I just noticed most of the blips later on are just other iterations of What Is Love lmaoo
It's irrelevant really.
Haddaway falls off a cliff very quickly after What Is Love. Next someone's gonna say "he had a top 100 hit in 2009!" lmao
What Is Love is like the epitome of a one-hit wonder. It's one of /the/ classic examples. It's honestly not debatable. You can clearly see the follow-up singles coasted solely off his first and then into irrelevancy he went. And swiftly. Everything else is a blip on the radar.
Edit* I just noticed most of the blips later on are just other iterations of What Is Love lmaoo
"That he had lots more hits proves he's a one hit wonder" is not the masterstroke of an argument you appear to think it is. 2,6,9,9 is 4 strong hits.
Oops, you are correct about Tonic. I actually have their other song, but it wasn't in my phone for some reason. I knew they had at least 2 singles that got radio play. Del Amitri is a total blind spot, I've never heard that other song you listed.
Yeah, I have blind spots left and right for music. I guess my main definition of One Hit Wonder is any band that got radio play in the US on the major 'current' radio stations in the 90's, but only that one song or had one music video on MTV and that was it.
It's pure facts. The comet trail-effect is the only reason people cared directly after What Is Love. That song is on like every single one-hit wonder list from the '90s for good reason.
But whatever, I'm dropping this.
For true one-hit wonders, look to Vangelis' Chariots of Fire and Bobby McFerrin's Don't Worry Be Happy.
Classics.
Vangelis - Chariots Of Fire
Music video by Vangelis performing Chariots Of Fire. (C) 1981 Universal Music International BV / Polydor (UK) Ltd.http://vevo.ly/icpo2E#Vangelis #ChariotsOfF...
m.youtube.com
Don't think we need a video for Don't Worry Be Happy lol
It continues to not be a OHW.
Of all the joke/incorrect answers in this thread this one makes me the most irrationally angry.
Actual legit answer:
You're Gorgeous by Babybird.
Maybe not "Best" but it was catchy.
You're Gorgeous by Babybird.
Maybe not "Best" but it was catchy.
It was, but calling The Cardigans a one hit wonder feels like AN ATTACK ON EVERYTHING THAT I HOLD DEAR.
This thread has helped me adjust what I previously thought were the criteria for a one hit wonder, and I'm gonna go with Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Fair enough. I know they've sold a bunch of records. It's just the only song that broke through the mainstream in the US was Lovefool.
Lovefool was definitely their biggest song because of the movie tie in, but in the UK at least Erase/Rewind, My Favourite Game and their cover of Talking Heads "Burning Down The House" were all very big. The latter two in particular were those kind of music videos that the music channels would play a ton lol
Doesn't surprise me too much that Lovefool was the only one to really break through in the US though! Sorry, just one that bothered me because I like the band a lot lol
Great songs. So many favorites. 90's is when I fell in love with music.
So I suppose it depends where you are. In the UK, only Possum Kingdom was ever a hit and on the radio.
I'll see Doop and raise you Rotterdam Termination Squad : Poing.
Rotterdam Termination Source - Poing
Rotterdam Termination Source Poing RTS. 1992 single charting at #27 in the UK, #2 in the Netherlands, and #3 in Belgium. Official music video R.T.S. HQ. o...
m.youtube.com
For the UK at least I believe it's only the 2nd OHW mentioned by the classical definition in this thread. (Namely was a #1 and the artist never had another top 40 under any name).
For what it's worth I think the only other ones for the 90s by that definition are
Partners in Kryme, Hale and Pace, White Town, Teletubbies, Mr Oizo and Baz Luhrmann. Apparently the Teletubbies is the best selling strict definition OHW of all time.
In what world is Radiohead a one hit wonder?
Someone also mentioned Toadies earlier in the thread. SMH.
Yep, I didn't think of that. The Toadies were pretty big here. In fact, I saw them perform Rubberneck in its entirety right after pandemic restrictions were lifted. I guess it's like an American using Blur's Song 2 as an example. While I love Blur, many Americans only associate them by that 1 song. They usually associate Damon Albarn by his other band.
I personally love the whole Toadies discography personally but yeah Possum Kingdom was their only hit here.
