Plenty of one-hit wonders out there are actually cover songs. Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” is one stellar example. However, some one-hit wonders find themselves on the opposite side of the spectrum, where the song in question is an original gem that gets covered regularly by other bands. These three one-hit wonder covers, unfortunately, are far from the best takes on a few one-off hits from back in the day. Let’s take a look!
1. “I’m Good (Blue)” by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha
Listen, I love David Guetta. Bebe Rexha has a stunning voice, too. But this cover is just not it. However, some would not describe “I’m Good (Blue)” by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha as a cover of the 1998 one-hit wonder “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65. Some would describe this 2022 song as a “reworking” of the original Italian Eurodance group’s solitary hit. Either way, it’s basically a cover of a song that really didn’t need to be covered.
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2. “Funkytown” by Pseudo Echo
Disco funk outfit Lipps Inc. are one of the most memorable disco one-hit wonders of all time, and their hit 1980 song “Funkytown” has been the subject of quite a few covers through the years. That being said, you just can’t beat the source material here.
Australian new wave outfit Pseudo Echo put out their version of the disco classic back in 1986, and it did quite well on the international charts. However, just like Lipps Inc, Pseudo Echo never enjoyed as big of a hit again after their cover of “Funkytown”.
3. “Get It On” by Power Station
“Get It On” (or “Bang A Gong”, depending on where you’re from) is a glam rock classic from English outfit T. Rex. Released in 1971, this is one of those one-hit wonders that doesn’t often inspire many covers. However, hard rock outfit Power Station gave it a shot back in 1985.
Their version was quite a hit in the United States and United Kingdom. In fact, the cover became one of Power Station’s signature songs for a hot minute. However, I can’t help but find Robert Palmer’s vocals on this a little grating, so it’s going on this list. You can’t win ‘em all.
Photo by Khalid Alhaj/MB Media/Getty Images
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