4 of the Weirdest One-Hit Wonders (And How They Even Happened)

When a song becomes a hit, especially in the world of pop, it’s usually pretty obvious why it became a hit. From a catchy beat to unusual instrumentation to addicting lyrics, hit songs usually make it big for obvious reasons. But some songs can be quite surprising. Let’s take a look at just four one-hit wonders that became some of the weirdest hits of their time; and how they got to be such substantial chart-toppers.

1. “Puttin’ On The Ritz” by Taco

It may be an oddball piece of work, but we totally get why this weird one-hit wonder charted so well in 1983. It’s an incredibly catchy song! The music video for “Puttin’ On The Ritz” is quite unnerving, but it’s also a campy delight. Fun fact: “Puttin’ On The Ritz” by Taco is actually a cover of an Irving Berlin song from the 1920s.

2. “Everybody’s Free To Wear Sunscreen” by Baz Luhrmann

Music and accompanying music videos had such a weird vibe at the turn of the millennium. We’re not saying that’s a bad thing, either. This 1997 song by Baz Luhrmann was a no. 1 hit across the pond, and it inspired quite a few different parodies throughout the years. The basis of the song was even weirder. Luhrmann was inspired to write “Everybody’s Free To Wear Sunscreen” after reading a hypothetical commencement speech from Mary Schmich, often mistakenly attributed to author Kurt Vonnegut. Ah, history!

3. “The Ketchup Song” by Las Ketchup

Spanish outfit Las Ketchup had an unlikely hit in the United Kingdom with “The Ketchup Song” in 2002. This is definitely one of the weirdest one-hit wonders out there. The song itself is about a man who sings and dances in a nightclub, but its nonsensical chorus (which also happens to not be about the tomato-based condiment) is what really makes it strange. The dance routine associated with the song became quite popular among fans, too.

4. “Into The Night” by Benny Mardones

Well, this is awkward. “Into The Night” by Benny Mardones became a huge soft rock hit in 1980, and it managed to reach no. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 track. We can’t wrap our heads around why. This controversial song features lyrics about a grown man who falls in love with a 16-year-old girl. Not only was it a hit in 1980, but it topped the charts again nine years later. The only reason this song made it to radio stations and the charts was due to some pandering by Mardones’ label.

Photo by Anthony Harvey – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

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