3 Bilingual One-Hit Wonders

While there are bilingual classic rock songs out there that were composed by some of the biggest musical names on the planet, from The Beatles to Talking Heads, there are those multicultural hit tunes that were born from artists who may not be household names. Such is the life of a one-hit wonder—or, an act that enjoyed peak success but only once in their careers.

Videos by American Songwriter

Here below, we wanted to explore three such examples of that. A trio of tracks from one-hit wonders that not only ran up the charts but showcase multiple cultures and multiple languages. Indeed, these are three bilingual one-hit wonders.

[RELATED: 3 Two-Hit Wonder, Foreign-Born Bands that Ruled the 1970s]

“Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco from Falco 3 (1985)

This song, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, was the only Top-10 hit by the German artist Falco. It also features both English and German lyrics—the former are used in the chorus and the latter in the verses. And on the synth-driven track that not only personifies the 1980s but bridges the cultural gap by referencing one of the greatest classical music composers over (Amadeus Mozart), the singer offers,

Rock me, rock me, rock me, rock me
Rock me, Amadeus
Do it, do it

Rock me all the time to the top

Er war ein Punker
Und er lebte in der großen Stadt
Es war in Wien, war Vienna
Wo er alles tat
Er hatte Schulden, denn er trank
Doch ihn liebten alle Frauen
Und jede rief
„Come and rock me Amadeus“

“Macarena (Remix)” by Bayside Boys (Single, 1995)

With predominately Spanish-language lyrics, this song also incorporates English to help intro the tune and give it an American flare on the bridge. And it worked. In the mid-1990s there was one dance that everyone had to know and it was called the Macarena. Originally written by Los del Río, the Bayside Boys produced a remix version that took the world by storm. The bilingual hit peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the only time that happened for those involved. But if you had told people in the moment that it was a No. 1 song for 100 straight weeks, everyone would have believed you. It was just that popular. On the track, the vocalists sing,

When I dance they call me Macarena
And the boys they say que estoy buena
They all want me, they can’t have me
So they all come and dance beside me
Move with me, chant with me
And if you’re good, I’ll take you home with me
Move with me, chant with me
And if you’re good, I’ll take you home with me

Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa’ darle alegría y cosa buena
Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena
Hey, Macarena! (Ay!)
Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena
Que tu cuerpo es pa’ darle alegría y cosa buena
Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena
Hey, Macarena! (Ay!)

“Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express from Too-Rye-Ay (1983)

This is an interesting one—the 1983 hit song from Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, is largely an English-language track on which the singer tries to persuade his love interest to leave conventional culture (and religion) behind for the sake of their connection. But while the British-born band sings in their native tongue, the track also includes a lyric from a traditional Irish folk song “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral.” Originally, the words Toora loora toora loo rye aye were meant to sound perhaps like an instrument. But because of the popularity of the Irish lullaby, they seem almost like ancient lyrics. So, Dexys adopted them for their song. Is the result a bilingual track or just one that appropriates nonsense words? That’s up to you! Either way, lead singer Kevin Rowland offers,

Come on Eileen
Come on Eileen
Poor old Johnny Ray
Sounded sad upon the radio
He moved a million hearts in mono
Our mothers used
To sing along, who’d blame them
You’re grown (a grown up),
so grown (so grown up), now I must say more than ever
(Come on Eileen)
Toora loora toora loo rye aye
And we can sing just like our fathers

Photo by Brian Cooke/Redferns