3 One-Hit Wonders From 1989 That Straddle Two Worlds

The evolution from the 1980s to the 1990s was a dramatic one. Think: Pee-Wee Herman compared to Kurt Cobain. And perhaps nowhere was this more evident than in the music. Here, we wanted to drill down and take a look at the songs that were at the top of the charts right as the decades were switching over. The year: 1989.

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Indeed, we wanted to examine three one-hit wonders from that calendar year to determine if they were more emblematic of the past or the future. Did the songs more strongly illuminate the 80s or the 90s? Let’s find out. These are three one-hit wonders from 1989 that straddle two worlds.

“Me Myself And I” by De La Soul from ‘3 Feet High And Rising’ (1989)

This is a tough one. Is it more 80s or 90s? In truth, it is the perfect 1989 song. The track, which hit No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100, takes elements from the 80s, but it also seems ahead of its time, portending the new decade. Musically, it’s colorful, vibrant, and positive. But the lyrical flow has deep roots in the salad days of the hip-hop genre. De La Soul is one of the most beloved rap groups of all time, and perhaps the major reason for that is that the group was both themselves and of the moment.

“Toy Soldiers” by Martika from ‘Martika’ (1989)

This song, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, is just about as 80s as it can get. From the guitar tones to the dreamy percussion to the background synths. Put it on your stereo and get transported to the heart of the John Hughes era of teen movies and emotional breakdowns in school libraries. More recently, rapper Eminem sampled the song for his 2005 tune, “Like Toy Soldiers”, one of the few good songs from his LP, Encore. So, in that way, the track is timeless.

“Bust A Move” by Young MC from ‘Stone Cold Rhymin” (1989)

Unlike the De La Soul tune above, this song from Young MC, which hit No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, is very much of the 1980s. The lyrical delivery sounds more like the 1979 song, “Rapper’s Delight”, by The Sugarhill Gang than it does anything resembling the 1990s. But that’s okay. It’s good to have songs of an era. They remind you what life was like then, what art was like then, and what really stood out in the best of ways.

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