Top 10 Biggest One Hit Wonders of All Time

How many times have you heard that classic song and thought 'I LOVE THIS TUNE' then fail to recall anything else made by the same artist? It seems odd that these stars would release such a smash hit and then...disappear. We want more, but alas, they put the mic down and exited stage left, never to sing again. Well, maybe not that dramatic but you get the jist.

We will always remember them by their smash hit, and that's what truly counts. Take a peek at our list of the biggest one hit wonders below with a cheeky fact per track, whilst singing all of the songs with our playlist by clicking here. 

1. Chesney Hawkes - The One And Only

This tune will always be our one and only favourite one hit wonder. Released back in 1991, it hit number 1 in the UK charts, as well as hitting number 1 in our hearts too. We love you, Chesney. 

2. Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy 

Sure, he may have released just one song back in 1988, but he scooped up 10 Grammy Awards! Proof that if you do something right, you only need to do it once. Another interesting fact: this one hit wonder was used as George Bush's 1988 presidential campaign song, without McFerrin's permission! 

3. Deep Blue Something - Breakfast At Tiffanys

This catchy number hit number 1 in the UK, number 3 in Australia and Ireland and number 4 in Canada. The band split shortly after the album release, due to the fact that none of the follow-up singles matched this song's success.

4. Reef - Place Your Hands

Released back in 1996, UK band Reef wrote this track about vocalist Gary Stringer's grief over the passing of his grandfather. Who knew such an upbeat and fun song was actually based on something so emotional and sad. 

5. Michael Andrews - Mad World

When originally released in 1982 by Tears for Fears, it reached number 3 in the UK charts. But, on re-release by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules as the soundtrack to Donnie Darko movie in 2001...it became a UK number 1 hit. Second time lucky it seems!

6. Sandi Thom - I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker

Sandi Thom stormed the charts with her fun-loving boho tune, whose catchiness is only rivaled by Carley Rae Jepsen's smash hit Call Me Maybe. The music video was shot in none other than London's Bethnal Green. Sandi Thom had a very public meltdown at the end of 2015, proving how hard it is to get a second smash hit. Watch here. 

7. Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee) 

This Italian group hit number 1 with Blue (Da Ba Dee) across the globe, as well as scooping a Grammy Award nomination for Best Dance Recording. However, after dropping one of the greatest one hit wonders the world has ever heard, they disappeared from the international scene.

8. 4 Non Blondes - What's Up

This tune was so universally loved that it hit number 1 in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden AND Switzerland. With all those hits under their belt, what's up? Nothing actually. 

9. Gotye (feat. Kimbra) - Somebody That I Used to Know

This is one of the most famous one hit wonders of the post 2000s. For a few weeks, it was all that anyone sang and listened to, and we all expected great things from our new favourite artist, Gotye. Unfortunately, he hasn’t dropped a chart-topping track since. Interestingly, this one hit wonder was written and recorded in his parent's house in Australia.

10. New Radicals - You Get What You Give

This bad boy topped charts in Canada, New Zealand and was a top 5 hit in the UK. The lyrics, which insulted celebrities, was quite the scandal back in 1998.