Elder millennials include those who were born in the early-to-mid 1980s. And that particular brand of millennial got to enjoy some absolutely incredible one-hit wonders across countless genres, from new age to house to new wave and beyond. Let’s dive into just a few one-hit wonders from the 1980s that elder millennials still know word-for-word!
“Pump Up The Jam” by Technotronic feat. Ya Kid K from ‘Pump Up The Jam: The Album’ (1989)
Nothing gets a millennial (or Gen Xer, for that matter) on their feet and dancing quite like Technotronic’s new beat hit, “Pump Up The Jam”. This house classic dropped in 1989 and was a fast hit on the charts. It peaked in the Top 10 across the globe, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles chart. Technotronic enjoyed a few Top 10 hits on the Hot 100, but Ya Kid K would never reach that coveted chart again.
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“(I Just) Died In Your Arms” by Cutting Crew from ‘Broadcast’ (1986)
Who doesn’t know every word to the chorus of this synth-rock hit? “(I Just) Died In Your Arms” by Cutting Crew is one of the most memorable power ballads from the 80s, after all. This tune was a huge hit on the charts. It peaked at No. 1 on the Hot 100 for a whopping two weeks. Sadly, Cutting Crew never reached the Top 40 on the Hot 100 again.
“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin from ‘Simple Pleasures’ (1988)
Whenever an elder millennial feels down, there’s something about this reggae pop hit from Bobby McFerrin that just lifts their spirits. Honestly, you don’t even have to be an elder millennial to get something out of the ultra-positive jam “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. Listeners at the time definitely vibed with it. This song made it all the way to No. 1 on the Hot 100. It would be McFerrin’s only entry on that particular chart.
“Orinoco Flow” by Enya from ‘Watermark’ (1988)
I know what you’re thinking. Enya? The queen of Celtic pop? A one-hit wonder? Blasphemy! However, if we’re going off success on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US, this Irish singer-songwriter icon is technically a one-hit wonder. “Orinoco Flow” was her only song to reach the Top 40 on that particular chart. And that very song is one of the most insanely memorable one-hit wonders that elder millennials know by heart. “Orinoco Flow” peaked at No. 24 on the Hot 100.
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