In many ways, one-hit wonders defined the 1980s, with bands like Dexys Midnight Runners and a-ha emerging for a brief moment of fame before fading away. The trend continued through the following decade, though, even while grunge and other rock bands ruled mainstream media. Some songs sparked worldwide crazes and have become part of the fabric of the 1990s, but the artists who delivered these gems never managed to replicate their success again. These top one-hit wonders were a vital part of 1990s music.
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1. “Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix),” Los del Rio (1993)
It’s hard to explain how widespread the Macarena was in the mid-1990s. But it was a long road to the top. The original version was from a Spanish pop duo, Los del Rio. The song was reworked several times, first by groups in Spain and Canada, and then by the Miami group The Bayside Boys in 1995. The Bayside Boys’ remix climbed to No. 1 on the charts and maintained that place for 14 weeks. Its popularity was bolstered by the accompanying dance trend, which ruled clubs and dance floors until 1997. “Macarena” has earned a reputation not just as one of the biggest one-hit wonders of the 1990s, but of all time.
2. “Jump Around,” House of Pain (1992)
Decades later, you’d probably still recognize “Jump Around” just from the distinctive squeal at the beginning of the track. At a time when hip-hop was still not fully assimilated into mainstream music, this song was a huge success across the board, a blend of rap and rock that was revolutionary for the early ’90s. The song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is considered one of the top songs of 1992. House of Pain didn’t last long after the success of “Jump Around,” breaking up in 1996 to pursue solo careers. They remain one of the quintessential one-hit wonders of the ’90s.
3. “Tubthumping,” Chumbawumba (1997)
Chumbawumba wasn’t a new band when they released their 1997 album, Tubthumper. In fact, it was their eighth studio album, though it was the first one they released under a major label. Until then, they had been broadly unsuccessful and described themselves as a “mess.” Thus, “Tubthumping,” the album’s lead single, reflected their experiences as a band: I get knocked down, but I get up again / You are never gonna keep me down. The high-energy, defiant song was a massive hit, spending 31 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and coming to define the later 1990s pop hit. It remained the band’s signature song until they broke up in 2012.
[RELATED: 12 Irresistible Sports Anthems from “Thunderstruck” to “Tubthumping”]
4. “No Rain,” Blind Melon (1992)
Some bands become one-hit wonders because they break up in just a few years, while others simply never replicate their initial success. In the case of the rock band Blind Melon, their success was hindered by the early passing of frontman Shannon Hoon. Hoon died from a cocaine overdose in 1995, and the band broke up several years later. They remain best known for their 1992 hit “No Rain,” a psychedelic rock song about depression and hope. Much of its success was thanks to its distinctive music video, an MTV staple throughout the mid-1990s.
5. “What’s Up?,” 4 Non Blondes (1993)
“What’s Up?” has become an iconic song of the 1990s, but it almost never made it to record. In fact, frontwoman Linda Perry hated it so much that she fought to re-record it. Once the band could record the song as Perry had initially envisioned it, it was scheduled for release. “What’s Up?” became a hit overnight, particularly because its unique indie-folk style stood out on the 1990s mainstream rock scene. The song was even more popular outside the United States, climbing to the top of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, and a number of countries in Europe. Today, “What’s Up?” is frequently named on lists of the top one-hit wonders of all time, while Perry has gone on to become a hit songwriter and producer for other artists.
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