00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best 1980s bands with
00:09one major standout hit.
00:11They might have other singles or success, but nothing surpasses one track in particular.
00:20From the hair to the music, Kajagoogoo was tailor-made for the 1980s.
00:38This pop group started under a different line-up in the late 1970s.
00:42After gaining Christopher Hamill as a singer, they changed their name and reached for pop
00:46glory.
00:56The musicians released Too Shy on their debut album, White Feathers.
00:59With its atmospheric intro, the single connected with audiences and achieved chart success
01:03around the world.
01:13The song's incredible bassline is one element that makes it stand out.
01:17While it had a heavy, groovy production, it didn't make the band a guarantee in the
01:21industry.
01:22The band quits in 1985, with Hamill trying a solo career under his stage name, Limahl.
01:47These new wave musicians provided an underrated piece of 1980s pop.
01:51Frankie Goes to Hollywood was arguably a groundbreaking act, willing to discuss sex in more explicit
01:56ways.
02:03In the United States, nothing the group put out reached the same levels of popularity
02:07as Relax.
02:08It is danceable, bombastic and lyrically bold.
02:11The band didn't hold back on their most iconic tune, garnering controversy during
02:15its initial release.
02:23Collaborating with the producer Trevor Horn, the pop act also worked with talented members
02:27of the business.
02:29With only two studio albums to their name, this collective arrived and left like a bolt
02:33of lightning.
02:43You don't need four, or even three people to be a powerful group.
02:46Singer Mark Almond teamed up with David Ball in the late 1970s, exploring the future of
02:51electronic music.
02:53This duo brought out their best attempt at synth pop, giving Tainted Love a new spin.
03:04The single came out in 1981, and became a phenomenon all its own.
03:09Their cover kicks off with a strong beat, networking a 1960s recording into an energetic
03:14production.
03:22Soft Cell never repeated the commercial success of their debut album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.
03:27However, if you turn on oldies radio, you'll probably hear the hit that made them famous.
03:35Hailing from Ohio, Daz Band came from the same state as legends like Bootsy Collins
03:47and the O'Jays.
03:48Following in that tradition, they brought their funk and R&B influence to 1980s audiences.
04:00Let It Whip is a crowd pleaser that transcends genre.
04:03It's one you almost have to dance to, with a big production full of great instrumentation.
04:08Winning a Grammy for the track, the group gave their all to their most successful song.
04:20Other minor hits followed as they released albums into the 2000s.
04:24Decades later, their most recognisable effort still packs a funky punch.
04:44As members of Talking Heads, drummer Chris France and bassist Tina Weymouth created another
04:48band for themselves.
04:49TomTom Club's most celebrated track is the catchy Genius of Love.
05:02It's got a perfect mix of funk, pop and rock all rolled into one.
05:06The sound also became influential to other artists like Mariah Carey.
05:19As a sampled work, the music lives on through multiple generations of audiences.
05:23France and Weymouth used this track to expand their legacy beyond their more famous band.
05:27Their combined efforts also shined in the classic concert film, Stop Making Sense.
05:45With a dramatic piano, The Promise comes to life as a moody ballad.
05:49It's the band's most successful track and it's easy to see why.
05:52The duelling vocals by Clive Farrington and Andrew Mann only make the song more emotional.
06:04It went to number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the group's calling card.
06:08The first trio lasted until the early 1990s, but their musical efforts have transcended
06:13their original run.
06:14Their track was also part of Napoleon Dynamite, with the movie introducing it to younger audiences.
06:26The members later formed two new groups, with instrumentalist Michael Floreal starting When
06:31in Rome 2.
06:42These art rockers defied the odds and created new sounds.
06:52They took aim at the music industry, science and traditional rhythms.
06:55Before their breakthrough, the band even covered I Can't Get No Satisfaction.
07:05Their most famous song, Whip It, helped them reach the MTV generation.
07:09It became a hit single, and video, on the music video network.
07:18The band's influence extends beyond success, creating an image all their own with signature
07:23hats.
07:24With a unique place in pop culture history, the group should be counted as an essential
07:28part of the 1980s.
07:36The Fabulous Thunderbirds Stevie Ray Vaughan might have been one of
07:47the best guitarists ever, but he also had a talented brother.
07:50Jimmy Vaughan and his group The Fabulous Thunderbirds created exciting rock music.
08:01This includes their hit, Tough Enough, from the album of the same name.
08:04It features the best of Vaughan's guitar, with some slick vocals and punchy bass lines.
08:16While they didn't have another huge single, their tunes like Wrap It Up will satisfy fans
08:20of their R&B-influenced sound.
08:22They're the kind of band that features talented players and a catalogue of solid material.
08:29Two years after their debut album, this English
08:40band released their follow-up record, To Rye A.
08:43It contained a legendary track that came to define the group's output.
08:46Within a few seconds, many listeners can recognise this electric tune.
08:58Some rock fans from the 1980s will be able to sing every single word.
09:01Dexys, Midnight Runners and their folk style made them stand out, having already released
09:05fun songs like Geno.
09:07They kept playing together and releasing music as recently as the 2020s.
09:11While they haven't surpassed their original glory, Kevin Rowland and his bandmates continue
09:15to perform.
09:21Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions.
09:25Men Without Hats This group created another reason to dance,
09:28with their catchy single.
09:38Romeo Void This group brought attitude to new wave hits
09:41like A Girl In Trouble.
09:49Water Flash The early 1980s band churned out the memorable
09:52hit Harden My Heart.
10:02Till Tuesday, Amy Mann reveals her talent for songwriting before her solo career.
10:14The Waitresses A new wave band with a cool lead singer that
10:18knows what boys like.
10:45Twisted Sister Twisted Sister mixed hard rock and glam into
10:54one exciting package.
10:56Led by singer Dean Snyder, these musicians created the anthem, We're Not Gonna Take
11:00It.
11:04It's a supercharged single that stands up against oppression of any kind.
11:10The band also churned out other awesome rockers, like I Wanna Rock.
11:21With bold style and an edgy vibe, these bandmates stood up for big sounds and the right to express
11:26themselves.
11:27Snyder famously testified at the PMRC hearings, defending his music against critics and political
11:32leaders.
11:33He and his group helped to define the 1980s heavy metal scene.
11:43So what is your favourite 1980s one-hit wonder?
11:46Let us know in the comments below.
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