3 One-Hit Wonders Who Play Great Live Sets

Sometimes when we think of one-hit wonders, we think of them in a box. Like the hit song exists but there weren’t real people who wrote it, put it out, and performed it live. Right? “The Safety Dance” came from a dimension of strange music. It doesn’t exist in the real world, right? Well, of course, it exists in the real world! One-hit wonders are real people!

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Indeed, not only do one-hit wonders exist in the real world, but some of them are still on tour today. Not only that, but some of them are even excellent to see live! Some have enjoyed such success with their famous tracks that many come out to see them perform on stage. Here below, we wanted to highlight three such examples. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonders that are great to see play live.

Jimmy Eat World

Known for their 2001 smash single, “The Middle”, which hit No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, the Arizona-born rock band Jimmy Eat World has enjoyed great success over the years. While boosting an extensive must-hear catalog, Jimmy Eat World has never had another song eclipse No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100—”Sweetness” and “Pain” topped out at No. 75 and No. 93, respectively.

The band is a mainstay at festivals and “The Middle” has been included on a number of television and movie soundtracks. But when you see them live, you will not be disappointed. They bring the energy to the buzzing rock sounds and never leave their fans without playing the big track. Jimmy Eat World is well worth the price of admission and remains a great live group even some 25 years after they dropped “The Middle”.

Sir Mix a Lot

The Seattle rapper garnered both a Billboard No. 1 hit song and a Grammy Award for his track, “Baby Got Back”. The song, which is still featured in television commercials today, is a popular go-to for many karaoke singers. But it’s also one Mix plays often live at his excellent shows. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, there are often occasions to see him at local venues in Seattle. But if you check him out at one of his shows outside his home region, it’s well worth it. Mix also often performs fan-favorite songs like “Posse On Broadway” and “My Hooptie”.

Tones and I

Tones and I is a recent one-hit wonder who garnered her success in the 2020s thanks to the multi-billion-streamed track, “Dance Monkey”. Today, she’s worth checking out live as she sings her popular song. But she’s also recently been on tour with other artists, including rapper Macklemore. The two collaborated on Mack’s song “Chant“, which was a standout for both in recent years. So, check out Tones solo or on stage with other big names whenever you can.

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)