4 Stellar 90s One-Hit Wonders That Ruled the Radio

Are you in the mood to take a walk down musical memory lane? These four stellar 90s one-hit wonders were all over the radio for a time, and for good reason. Let’s get nostalgic, shall we?

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1. “Rico Suave” by Gerardo

This 1991 Latin hip-hop track was everywhere when it was first released. It was standard club flair for a hot minute, and it also happened to be Ecuadorian rapper Gerardo’s only major international hit. 

“Rico Suave” peaked at no. 7 on the Billboard US Hot 100 chart and charted even higher on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. Sadly, Gerardo never had a Top 10 hit in the US again. Though, “We Want The Funk” came pretty close.

2. “96 Tears” by The Stranglers

These punk rock 90s one-hit wonders made it big with their cover of a ? And The Mysterians track from the 1960s. The Stranglers’ rendition of the tune didn’t get a massive amount of international attention in 1990, but they did climb to the Top 10 on the Irish charts and also did pretty well in the UK. 

Americans probably didn’t hear this song on the radio often, but it was pretty inescapable across the pond for a couple years.

3. “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor

This major international hit from Sinead O’Connor is actually a cover of a Prince song. However, O’Connor’s version is so good and so different from the original that it took on a life of its own. 

You’d be hard-pressed to go anywhere in 1990 without hearing this song in the distance somewhere. Many of the releases that followed “Nothing Compares 2 U” charted decently, but none of those singles made it to the Top 50 in the US.

4. “Unbelievable” by EMF

These 90s one-hit wonders made it big with their dance-rock track “Unbelievable” in 1990. Even if you weren’t around to hear it, you can probably recognize the titular use of “unbelievable” in the song’s chorus. This addictive song was a no. 1 hit on the Hot 100 chart when it first came out.

EMF had another hit with “Lies” in 1991. However, none of their sophomore singles charted to the Top 10 of the Hot 100 chart.

Photo by Joseph Okpako/Redferns via Getty Images

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