The 10 Best One Hit Wonder Songs: From "Macarena" to "Gangnam Style"

One Hit Wonders are songs from bands that have great success only once, but then fall into oblivion. Although One Hit Wonders rarely top the charts, they are memorable, and can be heard all over the world. Most are often one-off hits, but there are some that truly deserve stand-alone recognition. In this article, we will look at the 10 best One Hit Wonder songs of all time.

The 10 best One Hit Wonder songs of all time

There are many great one hit wonder songs, but these ten are particularly noteworthy and stand out:

1. "Macarena" by Los del Rio (1996)
2. "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice (1990)
3. "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred (1991)
4. "Barbie Girl" by Aqua (1997)
5. "Who Let the Dogs Out" by Baha Men (2000)
6. "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners (1982)
7. "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba (1997)
8. "Mambo No. 5" by Lou Bega (1999)
9. "The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" by Las Ketchup (2002)
10. "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot (1992)

#1 "Macarena" by Los del Rio (1996))

"Macarena" is probably the most famous one hit wonder of all time. The Spanish party song became internationally famous and topped the charts in over 30 countries. The song also had a very successful video clip showing the Macarena dance moves. This dance quickly became a worldwide phenomenon and is still very popular today.

#2 "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice (1990)

"Ice Ice Baby" was the first rap song to reach the top ten on the charts. It was also the first rap song to go platinum. The song was also released as a single and in other forms of media, which meant that millions of people heard and liked the song. This song firmly established Vanilla Ice as an icon of rap music.

#3 "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred (1991)

"I'm Too Sexy" is one of the few one hit wonders still played on the radio. The song dealt with the theme of vanity and selfishness and reached the top ten on the charts in over 15 countries. The song also enjoyed international popularity and was released as the B-side of a single.

#4 "Barbie Girl" by Aqua (1997)

"Barbie Girl" was an international smash hit for Aqua. The pop song is about life as a Barbie doll and was sensationally successful. The song reached #1 in over 10 countries and was very popular in many other countries. The song sold over 8 million copies worldwide and was also featured in many movies and television shows.

#5 "Who Let the Dogs Out" by Baha Men (2000)

"Who Let the Dogs Out" was also an international success for Baha Men. The song was particularly successful in the US and Canada, selling over 2 million copies. The song was so popular that it was sung in many elementary schools and is still played as a party anthem at sporting events.

#6 "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners (1982)

"Come On Eileen" was one of the most successful songs of 1982 in the UK. The song reached #1 in the UK and Ireland and sold more than 6 million copies worldwide. The song still retains its popularity to this day. It is still a popular song at weddings and other events.

#7 "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba (1997)

"Tubthumping" was also an international smash hit for Chumbawamba. The song was especially popular in the UK, where it reached #2 on the charts. The song sold over 8 million copies worldwide and is still popular today. It is still a popular song at sporting events.

#8 "Mambo No. 5" by Lou Bega (1999)

"Mambo No. 5" was made internationally famous by Lou Bega. The song reached #1 in over 20 countries and achieved platinum status in more than 15 countries. The song proved to be a dance banger and is still one of the most played songs of all time.

#9 "The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" by Las Ketchup (2002)

"The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" was another international hit for Las Ketchup. The Spanish pop song reached #1 in more than 15 countries and sold over 4 million copies worldwide. The song also has a very successful video clip that was laughed at worldwide.

#10 "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot (1992)

"Baby Got Back" was Sir Mix-A-Lot's biggest hit and one of the biggest hits of 1992. The hip-hop song reached #2 on the US charts and sold over 7 million copies worldwide. The song still retains its popularity today and is especially popular at parties.

What are One Hit Wonder Songs?

A one hit wonder song is a track that leads to great success but cannot be repeated by the same artist, band or group. It is more than just a short-term trend or a song that is popular for a short time. A One Hit Wonder song has the ability to entertain and inspire people for generations. Although it is difficult to define a One Hit Wonder, it can be said that it is a rare event that does not return quickly.

What makes a one hit wonder song?

There are a number of factors that influence whether or not a song becomes a one hit. First, artists or bands must have a strong media presence, which means that their song is promoted in the right places and at the right time. The style of music also plays a big role. If a song is produced in a way that deviates from the industry standard, it has a better chance of success. In addition, the song must have a strong emotional element and attract the attention of the audience.

Everything else could often be called "luck" and always applies to the principle: "At the right time in the right place". You can assume that none of the artists mentioned expected to achieve such a breakthrough with just one song. This makes one-hit-wonder songs very special and remain a mystery of success to this day.

What is the best One Hit Wonder song of all time?

"Gangnam Style" by Psy (2012) is undoubtedly the greatest one hit wonder song of all time. The Korean pop song became known worldwide through the very successful video clip with the famous "Gangnam Style" dance. This became a number 1 hit in more than 30 countries and sold more than 10 million records worldwide.

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