3 One-Hit Wonders That You’ve Probably Heard but Can’t Name

Ever hear a song on the radio that you’re more than familiar with, but you can’t quite place the title of the track? It happens to anybody. I couldn’t tell you the titles of a few of my favorite songs. That being said, there are plenty of one-hit wonders would there that you’ve probably heard and enjoyed in the past, but can’t quite identify the name of the song or even the band. Let’s look at a few examples that I bet you’ve heard but can’t name without looking!

Videos by American Songwriter

“Too Shy” by Kajagoogoo

Kajagoogoo is a hard enough band name to remember, considering how unusual it is (in the best way, of course). The name of this particular one-hit wonder tune also escaped me for quite a while. And that’s despite it being a core part of the song’s chorus. Maybe it’s just me!

“Too Shy” by Kajagoogoo was the band’s debut single. It peaked at No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The band enjoyed a few follow-up hits in their native UK. However, they never hit the Top 70 on the Hot 100 again. What a shame!

“Lovefool” by The Cardigans

This Swedish rock song from the golden era of disco-pop revival is immediately familiar the second you hit play. However, the song title and the name of the band have always escaped me. “Lovefool” by The Cardigans also doesn’t feature the title in the song, either.

This 1996 track was quite a lofty hit for the band. It hit No. 9 on the US Alternative Airplay chart, and it ranked even higher elsewhere upon its release. Sadly, though, The Cardigans would never hit the Top 10 on that chart again. They had lots of success on the UK charts, though.

“Rock And Roll (Part 2)” by Gary Glitter

Disgraced musician Gary Glitter’s name has been more or less forgotten over time. Few would disagree that it’s deserved, considering his crimes. And while Glitter’s name has virtually disappeared from the face of the earth, his sole hit remains a memorable one from the glam rock era of the early 1970s. And most people can’t clock who recorded the song or its title, unless they know about the horrors of Glitter already. 

Plus, it doesn’t help that this example of unnamable one-hit wonders not only doesn’t feature the title in its lyrics, but also doesn’t feature any intelligible lyrics at all. “Rock And Roll (Part 2)”, along with its A-side, “Rock And Roll (Part 1)”, was Glitter’s only Top 30 hit in the US.

Photo by Mike Prior/Getty Images

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