3 One-Hit Wonders From the 2010s That Became Cultural Standards

Can you believe it? The year 2010 is over 15 years in our rearview mirror. Where does the time go? It seems to slip between our fingers, and with each day, we get further and further away from where we started. But one thing that helps to make it all palatable is music. Thank goodness for music and its soothing touch! Here below, we wanted to explore three songs from the 2010s that remain part of the cultural zeitgeist today. A trio of tracks—more specifically a trio of one-hit wonders—from the decade that we still constantly hear today, from the radio to the movies to television commercials. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonders from the 2010s that have since become cultural standards.

Videos by American Songwriter

[RELATED: 3 One-Hit Wonders From the 1970s That Became Cultural Standards]

“Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye from ‘Making Mirrors’ (2011)

A quintessential breakup song, this 2011 track from the Belgium-born and Australia-based artist Gotye rocketed up the charts during the decade thanks to its swelling vocals and relatable subject matter. The tune, which features the sweet-sounding artist Kimbra, highlights the difficulties when love doesn’t work out. How do you split up the records, the possessions, the friends? Do you stay in contact, do you stay friends? Or do you let things fall apart and move on? What happens when the love of your life becomes somebody that you merely used to know? This classic, which hit no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, tries to answer those questions.

“Shut Up And Dance” by Walk The Moon from ‘Talking Is Hard’ (2014)

An epic, soaring dance song that tells you to do the same. The track, which hit no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, comes from the 2014 LP, Talking Is Hard. And upon its release, it was a smash. The band performed it on late-night shows, and fans can still enjoy hearing it today in various pop culture outlets. But that’s what can happen when a tune is inspired by real-life events. Indeed, lead singer Nicholas Petricca was in a Los Angeles nightclub when his girlfriend got him to hit the dance floor. In the end, the track is about letting go, forgetting insecurity, and letting your feet fly. That’s applicable at any time.

“Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People from ‘Foster The People’ (2010)

Sneaker culture is all the rage. People spend hundreds, if not thousands, on footwear via places like eBay. But there is a downside to all this consumerism. Obsession and violence can stem from such practices. This 2010 track, which was born from writer’s block and hit no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, became a huge hit for Mark Foster and his band. Written from the perspective of a troubled youth, the track sounds smooth and sweet, but it’s really dark and twisted. That’s a magnetic pairing.

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