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  • Writer's pictureJace Shoemaker-Galloway

National One Hit Wonder Day: (Almost) famous one hit musical wonders of all time


Today not only celebrates superheroes and vile villains, but also celebrates musical artists who had a hit it out of the park home-run musical hit on their hands at just the right time. Sept. 25 is National One Hit Wonder Day.

You know the one – the song that rose like a rocket to enormous fame and made it to the number one spot on all the charts. No matter what radio station you turned on, there it was. Everyone was humming it. But like lots of folks who squandered their 15 minutes of fame, that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the hit was here today and gone tomorrow. That famous tune tanked as quickly as it rose and faded into musical oblivion.

In honor of National One Hit Wonder Day, why not take a step back in time and listen to some of those infamous one hit wonders of days-gone-by?

(In)Famous One Hit Wonders

  • If you lived in the 70s, this beautiful song was EVERYWHERE! You Light Up My Life was the #1 song in the United States for weeks. Debby Boone won a Grammy for Best New Artist for the song that won Grammy for Song of the Year.

  • OK girls. Do you remember this one? I’m Too Sexy from Right Said Fred. Right!

  • This is one of those songs you can’t get out of your head no matter how hard you try!Whip It by Devo. Whip it good!

  • If you were around when this song was big, you probably still remember the number.867-5309 by Tommy Tutone. Call me!

  • If you live where the Weather Girls live, It’s Raining Men! Hallelujah! (David Letterman’s right-hand man co-wrote this hit.)

  • Hey, Mickey. You’re so fine you blow my mind!

  • Don’t Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin.

  • Indiana Wants Me by R. Dean Taylor.

  • It won’t be too long before we are In the Year 2525, by Zager & Evans.

  • Take This Job and Shove It - can you relate?

  • Smokin’ in the Boy’s Room by Brownsville Station.

  • Breaker 1-9. It’s time for a Convoy by C.W. McCall, good buddy!

  • Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas. Were you?

  • All Right Now, by Free, is still an awesome song!

  • Nick Gilder sings Hot Child in the City,

  • Spirit in the Sky, by Norman Greenbaum, is another oldie but goodie.

  • Into the Night by Benny Mardones.

  • Seems lots of folks were Turning Japanese like the Vapors.

  • The Iceman cometh. Ice Ice Baby, by Vanilla Ice.

  • I Touch Myself by Divinyls.

  • It’s Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners. Come on!

  • Get ready to snap your fingers and tap your toes. It’s Tainted Love by Soft Cell.

  • And Whoomp! There It Is by the Tag Team.

Enjoy! Today is also National Comic Book Day!

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