3 One-Hit Wonders You Didn’t Know Were Merely One-Hit Wonders

Sometimes it can be surprising to find out a certain artist is a “one-hit wonder.” Meaning, it can be somewhat shocking to find out the artist only had one song that rocketed up the charts and they didn’t quite have the commercial success afterwards to match. Of course, that doesn’t mean they didn’t have many great songs. It just means they only had one that hit high on the Billboard Hot 100.

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Here below, we wanted to explore the careers of three such songwriters and performers. A trio of artists who seem like household names despite the fact they only had one big successful track. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonders you didn’t know were merely one-hit wonders.

[RELATED: 3 One-Hit Wonders That Dominated the Airwaves in the 1990s]

“Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinéad O’Connor from I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got (1990)

The Dublin-born singer Sinéad O’Connor was certainly one of the most talked about artists of the 1990s. Between her No. 1 hit song “Nothing Compares 2 U” from her 1990 LP I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, to her relationship with Prince, to shaving her head, to tearing up a photo of the Pope on Saturday Night Live, it seemed like people wouldn’t leave O’Connor alone. So, it might shock some that her 1990 Prince cover was her only song that hit high on the Billboard Hot 100. She did have another track, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” peak at No. 60 on the Hot 100 in 1990.

“We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister from Stay Hungry (1984)

Most music fans know the name Dee Snyder. Most music fans know the name Twisted Sister. Most music fans know the rebellious track “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” But most music fans may not know this was the only Top-25 hit for the band on the Billboard Hot 100. While Twisted Sister had tracks that hit No. 53 and No. 68 on the Hot 100, this was the only one that approached the top of the heap. Surprising to be sure for a band so significant and so emblematic of the 1980s.

“Loser” by Beck from Mellow Gold (1993)

With over 200 million streams on YouTube alone, this song is still resonant. And while Beck is a hero to many rockers today, the artist has only seen one of his songs hit the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. While he’s had four more that have made the top 60 or 70, it was his breakout single “Loser” that rose up the charts and stayed there. I guess that’s the best case scenario—your initial introduction to the music world is your best foot forward. Sounds more like winning to us!

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