One-hit wonders were abound in the early 2000s. From pop to R&B to alternative rock, tons of solitary hits in a wide range of genres became bona fide hits in the early aughts. And I bet quite a few of them are still stuck in your head. Let’s look at a few examples worth revisiting, shall we?
“Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus
This alt-rock classic has seen a resurgence in recent years, and it’s a lovely thing to see. Wheatus is an excellent band, and they deserved way more charting hits than just “Teenage Dirtbag”. Still, “Teenage Dirtbag” is an amazing song, and one that will instantly transport you to the turn of the millennium.
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“The Reason” by Hoobastank
This entry on our list of one-hit wonders from the 2000s is also on my list of early 2000s rock bands that I didn’t know were technically a Christian rock band. Though, that’s up to interpretation, and Hoobastank has never confirmed this. Either way, this alt-rock nu-metal outfit’s main claim to fame was the 2003 hit “The Reason”, which made it to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sadly, the band never made it to that chart again.
“Never Leave You” by Lumidee
You probably remember this song for its catchy chorus vocals from Lumidee that go “uh oh, uh oh.” It’s an R&B classic, and that bassy drum track is to die for. This 2003 song peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 chart. Lumidee would make it to that chart again with “She’s Like The Wind” in 2007, but she hasn’t made it to the Top 40 since “Never Leave You”.
“Lip Gloss” by Lil Mama
Before she was stealing the stage from Jay-Z and Alicia Keys at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Lil Mama was one of the most well-known one-hit wonders of the 2000s. Her claim to fame was “Lip Gloss” from 2007, which hit No. 10 on the Hot 100. However, many would consider Lil Mama to be a two-hit wonder, as her 2008 song “Shwaty Get Loose” also reached that spot on the Hot 100. Still, I’m including her here since “Lip Gloss” was her only Hot 100 hit without any featured artists.
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