One-hit wonders make it big for their songs either through an addictive melody, a bizarre or eye-catching aesthetic, or their lyrics. These four one-hit wonders are best known for their catchy lyrics, and I bet you know at least a few of them by heart. Let’s take a look!
Videos by American Songwriter
1. “Macarena” by Los Del Rio
No matter your age, ethnicity, origin, or music taste, you probably know “Give a little lovin’ to your body, Macarena” by heart. It’s certainly understandable, considering this late-1990s dance-pop song was absolutely everywhere for years.
The Bayside Boys’ remix of “Macarena” peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard US Hot 100 chart when it was first released, among charts in other countries. Sadly, Los Del Rio never charted again, outside of a few remixes of “Macarena” through the years.
2. “Who Let The Dogs Out?” by Baha Men
90s kids know the chorus to this song by heart. It’s not exactly easy to forget, anyway. Give a child the chance to bark to a beat, and they will run with it forever.
“Who Let The Dogs Out” was released in 2000 and peaked at no. 40 on the Hot 100 that year, and also charted even higher internationally. The junkaroo outfit never had another Top 40 hit in the US again, but they did chart internationally with a few songs through 2002.
3. “All My Life” by K-Ci and JoJo
Whether you were a child in the year 1997 or a full-blown adult dealing with immense heartbreak, you’ve probably sung the chorus to “All My Life” by K-Ci and JoJo at least once or twice in your life. “And all my life / I prayed for someone like you” just feels good to belt out, doesn’t it?
R&B duo K-Ci and JoJo made it to no. 1 on the Hot 100 with this song, but they never had another no. 1 hit again.
4. “Relax”
“Relax” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood was huge in 1983. However, it got a new breath of life in the 2001 comedy film Zoolander, where it was prominently featured. “Relax, don’t do it / When you want to go to it / Relax, don’t do it / When you want to come” is pretty easy to remember either way.
“Relax” peaked at no. 10 on the Hot 100, and Frankie Goes To Hollywood never scored another Top 40 hit in the US again.
Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
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