There are quite a few one-hit wonders through the years that delivered memorable hits before fading away. However, some of those killer songs were labeled as one-hit wonders, when they actually never reached no. 1. Let’s look at a few examples!
It’s worth noting that none of these songs reached no. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, specifically. Some of them peaked at no. 1 on other, smaller charts, but never on the coveted Hot 100 list.
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1. “No Rain” by Blind Melon
This alternative rock hit from 1993 was all over the radio for a very long time upon its release. “No Rain” was definitely Blind Melon’s claim to fame and helped propel the band to multi-platinum status. However, it never actually hit no. 1 on the Hot 100 chart. It hit no. 1 in Canada and on a few smaller charts, but it only peaked at no. 20 on the US chart.
2. “Pop Goes The World” by Men Without Hats
Some would consider new wave rock outfit Men Without Hats to be one-hit wonders, while others would consider them two-hit wonders with the iconic songs “The Safety Dance” and “Pop Goes The World”. We’re inclined to agree with the latter, though “Pop Goes The World” surprisingly never gained the no. 1 spot on the US Hot 100. It was a no. 1 hit in Austria, but it only made it to no. 20 on the Hot 100. “The Safety Dance” only peaked at no. 3 on the US Hot 100, too.
3. “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes
Nothing screams “early 1990s” like “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes. This track was the alternative pop-rock outfit’s only claim to fame. And shockingly, it was never actually a no. 1 hit. “What’s Up?” peaked at no. 1 in quite a few countries, but it only made it to no. 14 on the US Hot 100 chart. In fact, it did not hit no. 1 on any of the US charts.
4. “I Know What Boys Like” by The Waitresses
Out of all the one-hit wonders that weren’t true US no. 1 hits on this list, this one is a real shocker. “I Know What Boys Like” by The Waitresses is one of the most well-known new wave post-punk songs out there, but it didn’t even crack the Top 20 on any major chart. It peaked at no. 62 in the US, but did get a bit further in Australia at no. 14.
5. “Smokin’ In The Boys Room”
This one-hit wonder from Brownsville Station never made it to no. 1 on any chart back in 1973. It made it to no. 2 on the US Cash Box Top 100 and no. 3 on the Hot 100, but didn’t get any further than that. Mötley Crüe’s 1985 version was pretty successful, but that cover also didn’t land in the no. 1 spot.
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