Got the winter blues? Are you yearning for warmer weather and the dance-friendly tunes that come with it? These four one-hit wonders have dominated summer playlists for years and might just be able to bring you out of your funk. Let’s take a look!
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1. “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-A-Lot
This solitary hit from rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot was released back in 1992 and hit no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it stayed for weeks. It’s since become an iconic song in pop music culture and a celebration of hefty derrières. “Baby Got Back” is also a somewhat well-aged jam that still suits any summertime playlist.
Unfortunately, Sir Mix-A-Lot peaked with “Baby Got Back”. Songs like “Posse On Broadway” and “Jump On It” made it to the tail end of the Hot 100, but nothing he produced made it to the top of the charts again.
2. “Groove Is In The Heart” by Deee-Lite
These one-hit wonders dominated the late summer of 1990 with their hit track “Groove Is In The Heart”. It’s a fun little disco revival tune with elements of dance-pop and funk, and we’re not surprised that it hit no. 4 on the Hot 100 that year.
Sadly for Deee-Lite, nothing they produced after “Groove Is In The Heart” charted quite as well again. Their follow-up single “Power Of Love” only made it to no. 47 on the Hot 100, and none of their songs charted on that particular chart again. Though, they did find some success on the US dance charts for a few years.
3. “The Hustle” by Van McCoy
The year 1975 was a heck of a time for music, and this disco hit from Van McCoy was one of the best mainstream tunes to come out before summer hit that year. “The Hustle” hit no. 1 on the Hot 100 chart and was also successful on a number of other international charts.
Despite McCoy’s incredible talent, he didn’t score a Top 20 again before his untimely death in 1979.
4. “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry
Out of all the summer playlist one-hit wonders on this list, none get the blood pumping quite like Wild Cherry’s 1976 funk rock hit “Play That Funky Music”. This tune has really stood the test of time. And even those who weren’t around to hear it debut know that iconic chorus by heart.
“Play That Funky Music” was a no. 1 hit on the Hot 100 in 1976. Sadly, the band’s success was short-lived. Their subsequent singles failed to crack the Top 40, and Wild Cherry broke up just a few years later in 1979.
Photo by Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images
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