Most people remember standout one-hit wonders in music history like “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor and “Whip It” by Devo. But what about the one-hit wonders who fell under the radar after their 15 minutes of fame were up? Plenty of one-hit wonders continued to be famous for their one big hit for years, while others ended up becoming a bit obscure. These four artists are just a few examples of one-hit wonders who deserve their flowers today.
Videos by American Songwriter
1. “Two Of Hearts” by Stacey Q
“Two Of Hearts” is one of those songs that just sounds like the 80s. Released in 1986, this song was a huge hit for Stacey Q and hit no. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US. It ranked even higher in a few other places, namely Canada.
Stacey Q had a few other dance hits make it to the Hot 100, but she never had another Top 30 hit again. It’s a shame, because “Two Of Hearts” really set the sonic mood for the latter half of the decade.
2. “Don’t Give Up On Us” by David Soul
Soft rock songs are a dime a dozen, but this entry on our list of one-hit wonders who changed music history is on another level. Released in 1977 in the US, “Don’t Give Up On Us” by David Soul just hit different.
Surprisingly enough, Soul had a career as a television star before releasing this song. It definitely doesn’t sound like typical promotional fodder for a movie star, either. It’s a gorgeous track, and it’s not surprising that it reached no. 1 on the Hot 100 chart. Soul had a few more hits in the UK, but he never hit the Top 50 in the US again.
3. “Heart And Soul” by T’Pau
T’Pau made it big from the get-go with their debut new wave single “Heart And Soul”. This song topped the charts and made it to no. 4 on both the Hot 100 and the UK Singles chart in 1987.
This song is one of the best examples of creatively using vocal overdubs in a song, and it influenced countless other singers to do the same in the 1980s and 1990s. It’s a shame that T’Pau never hit the US charts again, though they did enjoy a decent career in the UK.
4. “Don’t Wanna Fall In Love” by Jane Child
This example of one-hit wonders who deserve more credit in music history is a singer/songwriter classic. “Don’t Wanna Fall In Love” by Jane Child hit no. 2 on the Hot 100 in 1990, but Child struggled to chart with subsequent singles. It’s a shame, because Child’s songwriting talents definitely inspired the slew of singer/songwriters that followed her throughout the rest of the 90s.
Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.