3 One-Hit Wonders From the 2000s That You Heard at College Parties

When the 2000s hit, the world changed. Of course, the world is always changing, but we could really feel it in the 2000s. Not only were we in a new decade, century, and millennium, but the internet was starting to take hold. So was the War on Terror. It was a wild time to be alive, and the music certainly reflected that in pop culture. We wanted to explore three songs that exemplify that. More specifically, we wanted to celebrate a trio of one-hit wonder tracks from the era by artists who enjoyed great success with their work, but who never quite matched it on later releases. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonders that perfectly personify the decade of the 2000s… and were great for college parties.

Videos by American Songwriter

“Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus from ‘Wheatus’ (2000)

Nothing says the 2000s quite like acoustic-driven music. Especially when that acoustic-driven music seems to dabble with hip-hop beats. Bonus points if the track is self-deprecating and seemingly perfect for a high school party.

This entry on our list of 2000s one-hit wonders checked all those boxes, which is why this tune hit no. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and hit the Top 3 spot on charts all around the world. It also boasts over 300 million streams on YouTube today, showing that the track has staying power.

“Because I Got High” by Afroman from ‘Because I Got High’ (2000)

This track, which hit no. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart upon its release in 2000, was actually recently featured in a commercial for jogging shoes. Playing on the refrain “because I got high,” the new Puma commercial highlights the joy of a runner’s high. But originally, the track was about smoking cannabis, something many young people at the time could really get behind. Even before it was legal in a number of states.

Thank goodness for one-hit wonders of the 2000s like this one, as they helped to normalize what is now a billion-dollar business in places like Washington and Colorado.

“Smooth Criminal” by Alien Ant Farm from ‘Anthology’ (2001)

This is one of the most memorable one-hit wonders of the 2000s rock scene. Perhaps one of the most unlikely hits of all time, this backyard brawl cover of a Michael Jackson hit became something of a phenomenon. The music video for the track was all over MTV’s hit after-school show, Total Request Live. It made the rock group Alien Ant Farm famous.

“Smooth Criminal” hit no. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was featured in many movies around the time of its release. A party track to be sure, the rowdy tune was like a shooting star in the 2000s skies.

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