3 UK One-Hit Wonders From Across the Pond

The Brits know how to rock. Even though rock and roll was invented in America, the sound traveled overseas to England and the countries nearby and found a home. So much so that the British even sold it back to the United States in the 1960s and 1970s with the British Invasion, thanks to bands like The Beatles, The Who, and others.

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But along with mainstay groups like those mentioned above, the region gave the world several one-hit wonder bands. Those groups who only enjoyed the feeling of topping the charts that one time. Here below, we wanted to explore three such offerings. A trio of tracks from the UK that were both written across the Atlantic and were one-hit wonders.

[RELATED: 3 One-Hit Wonders from the 1970s Fans Can’t Stop Singing to]

“Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express from Too-Rye-Ay (1982)

This track from the Birmingham, England-born Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express is about rebellion. The song, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, is about running away from your hometown and flouting the shackles and responsibilities of the (religious) society you grew up in. It’s a rousing song and one that, at its core, is about love. The lead singer is imploring the object of his affection Eileen to come with him on this new phase of life. Indeed, sings lead vocalist Kevin Rowland,

Come on Eileen, oh I swear (well he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
You in that dress, oh my thoughts I confess
Verge on dirty
Ah come on Eileen
Come on Eileen
These people round here
Wear beaten down eyes
Sunk in smoke dried faces
Resigned to what their fate is
But not us (no never), no not us (no never)

“I Melt With You” by Modern English from After the Snow (1982)

This British-born band wrote its own love song. The track, which hit No. 7 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, is about caring for that one person in your life even when everything is crashing around you. The world can feel like a terrible place some times and so maybe all you want to do is to stop it from its turning and look at your love in the eyes and feel as if your heart is melting together into some puddle of devotion. And that is what this new wave, synth-based song is all about. Indeed Modern English lead vocalist Robbie Grey sings,

Moving forwards, using all my breath
Making love to you was never second best
I saw the world thrashing all around your face
Never really knowing it was always mesh and lace

I’ll stop the world and melt with you
You’ve seen the difference and it’s getting better all the time
There’s nothing you and I won’t do
I’ll stop the world and melt with you

“I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred from Up (1991)

Sometimes, you just nail an idea with a few words. And that is what the British-born band Right Said Fred did when they came out with their song based on the four words, I’m too sexy for … The rest of the song just writes itself. And ever since the track came out in 1991 and hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, it has stayed part of the culture for its very opening phrase. Want to feel good? Put this track and strut around your living room! On it Richard Fairbrass sings,

I’m too sexy for my love
Too sexy for my love
Love’s going to leave me

I’m too sexy for my shirt
Too sexy for my shirt
So sexy it hurts

And I’m too sexy for Milan
Too sexy for Milan,
New York and Japan

And I’m too sexy for your party
Too sexy for your party
No way I’m disco dancing

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