In need of a solid playlist to enjoy the hottest days of summer this year? Why not add a few summer-themed one-hit wonders to your list? These four solitary hits are all about the summer heat and all the fun that comes with summertime. At the very least, all of these songs have a vibe that is perfect for the season. Let’s take a look at just a few great one-hit wonders you have probably already heard before that are all about the summertime!
“In The Summertime” by Mungo Jerry
This classic skiffle pop tune from Mungo Jerry first hit the airwaves back in 1970. “In The Summertime” allegedly only took Ray Dorset about 10 minutes to write. That’s surprising, considering the song is so good that it made it to No. 1 on dozens of global charts. It even peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Sadly, Mungo Jerry never enjoyed as big of a global hit again.
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“Summer Girls” by LFO
This one’s a classic from 1999. Any kid with frosted tips likely had this song on repeat that very summer, as “Summer Girls” by LFO was an anthem of its time. The references are never-ending; LFO explores everything from cherry-flavored Cola to 90s films to Abercrombie and Fitch in “Summer Girls”. It doesn’t get more 90s or summer-y than that. Unfortunately for this group, “Summer Girls” was their only major hit.
“Sunshine” by Jonathan Edwards
Let’s take a walk back to the early 1970s, shall we? Jonathan Edwards is best known for the 1971 country folk hit “Sunshine”. It took the world by storm, hitting the Top 10 in the US and Canada, among other countries. Edwards never enjoyed a Top 50 hit again, but he did lean into the fame he earned from “Sunshine”.
“Steal My Sunshine” by Len
Remember Len? This indie-pop outfit became one-hit wonders in the late 1990s with their smash hit that is marginally related to summertime, “Steal My Sunshine”. While this song isn’t about summer specifically, its theme of metaphorical “sunshine” and its overall vibe is very apt for summer. Plus, it was released in June of 1999. This single hit the Top 10 across the board, but the band never had another Top 20 hit again.
Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns
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These 1970s parody songs beat all the "real" music on the charts. They blurred the lines between fake song and true hit.
