Some chart-topping songs are easy to hate. It doesn’t make much sense, either. If so many people hate the sound of a particular track, why does it manage to make it to the top of the charts? It’s quite an odd phenomenon. And when it comes to some one-hit wonders, many listeners really had a lot of hate for those iconic tunes. I think the hate that the following four one-hit wonders received through the years is really not deserved. Let’s take a look!
Videos by American Songwriter
“Friday” by Rebecca Black
Rebecca Black’s only Billboard US Hot 100 hit as a lead artist is the memorable 2011 YouTube wonder “Friday”. When the music video for this song debuted on YouTube, it became one of the most-viewed videos on the platform, and the song shot up the charts internationally. The song is certified Gold today. And yet, Black received an insane amount of hate for the song, which has been dubbed on many occasions as the “worst song of all time.”
It’s a teen pop song from a then-teenager. It’s wild to me that “Friday” made so many people straight-up angry. There are worse songs out there that were released by actual adults. Black didn’t deserve the bullying. And thankfully, she moved past it and continues to make music today.
“Never Leave You” by Lumidee
You might remember this 2004 song by its “uh oh” vocal track. “Never Leave You” by Lumidee was the R&B singer’s only Top 40 hit in the United States. The tune also topped the charts around the globe, including the UK, Belgium, and other countries. The song was quite popular, particularly in Europe. However, like many solid pop one-hit wonders, this tune got a bit overplayed on the radio. That led to some undeserved hate, with many listeners bemoaning her slightly off-key vocal track. I don’t think the hate is fair; this song is a bop.
“Who Let The Dogs Out” by Baha Men
This song comes from an era at the turn of the century when music was just fun. “Who Let The Dogs Out” by Baha Men was a bit overplayed in 2000 and 2001, which led to some unfair hate. In my opinion, Baha Men deserved even more international hits outside of this particular Grammy-winning delight. “Who Let The Dogs Out” was the song of the new millennium.
“Barbie Girl” by Aqua
This is one example of one-hit wonders that got a bit of hate back in the day that really didn’t deserve it. Few one-hit wonders in pop are as influential as Aqua. And it’s kind of wild that they are considered one-hit wonders, too. “Barbie Girl” is the Danish-Norwegian pop outfit’s only Top 20 hit in the US, though they enjoyed quite a successful career in Denmark well into the 2000s.
This song is meant to be a little goofy. If you hate it, consider that maybe you just hate fun.
Photo by Tim Roney/Getty Images
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