- 7 months ago
From catchy disco beats to (un)forgettable pop anthems, let's revisit those magical musical moments that took over the charts! Join us as we explore the most memorable singles that defined their respective years, even if their creators never reached those heights again.
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00:00A, B, C, D, E, F, U, and your mom, and your sister, and your child.
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:08And today, we're counting down our picks for the top 25 one-hit wonders of each year.
00:14Yes, I knew, I wish I knew you wanted me.
00:19For this list, we'll be looking at the greatest tracks by flash-in-the-pan artists
00:24of each year of the 21st century so far, from 2000 to 2024.
00:302000, Absolutely, Story of a Girl, Nine Days.
00:36This is the story of how one song by an unknown band took radio stations by storm
00:41just at the turn of the century.
00:50After failing to gain the attention of record labels for ages,
00:54New York Rocker's Nine Days finally got a hit with Absolutely, Story of a Girl.
00:59Inspired by lead singer John Hampson's partner, the song merges edgy emo lyrics
01:05with an infectious rush of guitars, drums, and keyboards to create a perfect power-pop blend.
01:12It may not have been Grammy-winning like Baja men's Who Let the Dogs Out,
01:21and it wasn't an international chart-topper like Weedas' Teenage Dirtbag,
01:25but it still makes us smile all these years later.
01:28This is the story of a girl who cried a river and drowned the whole world.
01:332001, Hit Em Up Style, Oops, Blue Cantrell.
01:37It's the ultimate revenge song, but not in a way most people would expect.
01:48Back in 2001, R&B singer Blue Cantrell had some advice for ladies with unfaithful partners.
01:55Just get your hands on his cash and spend it to the last dime.
02:06With her debut single, Cantrell soared to the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100,
02:11and was nominated for the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Grammy.
02:15Surprisingly, she apparently wasn't the biggest fan of the song initially,
02:19and only went with it because she connected with it emotionally at the time.
02:23It, however, became the biggest hit of her career,
02:27as the singer sadly never managed to crack Billboard's Top 40 with another single again.
02:402002, A Thousand Miles, Vanessa Carlton.
02:44Delivering arguably one of the most recognizable piano riffs in music history,
02:49Vanessa Carlton tugged at the heartstrings of millions.
02:53For her debut single, A Thousand Miles,
03:01she drew on her experience liking a boy when she was younger.
03:05The incredibly catchy song speaks volumes with so little,
03:08creating an intimate mood with just the piano and string orchestra,
03:13which amplify Carlton's evocative lyrics.
03:15Like a true classic, the tune has transcended different forms of media,
03:26with its inclusion in the 2004 film White Chicks,
03:30and its re-emergence on the social media platform TikTok.
03:33Even if she never matches its success again,
03:36Carlton can rest assured that she has created a timeless song.
03:402003, Stacy's Mom, Fountains of Wayne.
03:52This effortlessly catchy song was written from the perspective of a young boy
03:56who discovers he has a crush on his female friend's mom,
03:59and not the friend herself.
04:01A superb blend of new wave and power pop,
04:12Stacy's Mom became the first and only major hit from the New York band Fountains of Wayne.
04:17The track peaked at number 21 on the Hot 100,
04:20and earned the band a nomination at the 2004 Grammys.
04:23Stacy, do you remember when I mowed your lawn?
04:29Mowed your lawn.
04:31Its iconic music video pays homage to new wave band The Cars,
04:35who inspired the song Sound,
04:37and received constant airplay on MTV and VH1.
04:41If you weren't rocking to international hits like I Believe in a Thing Called Love,
04:45then we bet you were also crooning about Stacy's mom.
04:48I know there's nothing wrong, but I'm in love with Stacy's mom.
04:532004, Collide, Howie Day.
04:56The saying opposites attract is only always right if you're dealing with magnets.
05:01The dawn is breaking, a light shining through.
05:09When it comes to human relationships, things get a little more complicated.
05:13On his hit folk rock tune, Collide,
05:15singer-songwriter Howie Day mulls over a tricky relationship
05:19with a partner whose personality is worlds apart from his.
05:23Even the best fall down sometimes
05:26Even the stars refuse to shine
05:31He concludes that even though conflicts may arise,
05:34he's ready to fight for their love,
05:36as he believes they're clearly meant for each other.
05:39The contemplative ballad was released in June 2004
05:42and became a sleeper hit, hitting its peak at number 20
05:45on the Billboard Hot 100 a full year later.
05:572005, Bad Day, Daniel Powder
06:00This power ballad by Canadian artist Daniel Powder
06:03was ranked by Billboard as the most popular song of 2006 in the U.S.
06:14Clearly, a lot of Americans were going through it in the mid-aughts.
06:18Almost as insanely catchy as it is relatable,
06:20Bad Day was released as the lead single from Powder's sophomore album
06:24and went on to become a worldwide hit.
06:27The track was heavily featured in commercials and TV shows,
06:37even being used as the send-off song on American Idol's fifth season.
06:41It was number one on Billboard's Hot 100 for five weeks
06:44and spawned an Alvin and the Chipmunks cover,
06:47which also charted on the Hot 100.
06:502006, Crazy, Gnarls Barkley
07:00A dynamite collaboration between CeeLo Green and Danger Mouse,
07:04Gnarls Barkley was the quintessential flash in the pan.
07:09I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
07:13The duo had roughly two years of mainstream fame,
07:16recorded two albums, and put out one monumental hit single.
07:21Their debut, Crazy has a strange familiarity about it,
07:24with bouncy bass lines and dramatic strings,
07:27but still manages to sound unlike anything you've ever heard.
07:37The song became so popular that it was even taken off shelves
07:41in an effort to avoid fans getting tired of it.
07:44Regardless, it hits just as hard today as it did the first time around.
07:48And don't you think that's crazy?
07:582007, Wine Up, Kat DeLuna featuring Elephant Man
08:02American singer Kat DeLuna arrived on the scene in 2007
08:06with her addictive dance hall track, Wine Up.
08:09With its stomping and irresistible energy,
08:20DeLuna does everything in her power to get you right on the dance floor.
08:24She sings in English, raps in Spanish,
08:27and then employs popular Jamaican artist Elephant Man
08:30to round things off with a killer verse.
08:32The song's popularity grew steadily post-release,
08:42and it eventually burst onto the Hot 100,
08:44snagging the 29th spot.
08:47DeLuna may have fallen off since then,
08:49but will never get tired of getting down to Wine Up.
08:51Wine Up, Wine Up, Wine Up
08:542008, American Boy
09:00Estelle featuring Kanye West.
09:02The late 2000s ushered in a flood of singer-songwriters from the UK
09:06who dominated American airwaves
09:08in what was deemed the third British invasion.
09:11He said,
09:13Hey sister, it's really, really nice to meet ya.
09:16One of these artists was Estelle,
09:18who released the intercontinental banger American Boy
09:21as the second single from her sophomore album Shine.
09:25Estelle may not have been the biggest name
09:27on the track's star-studded list of songwriters,
09:29which include John Legend, Will.i.am, and Kanye West.
09:33And I know you ain't into all that
09:34I heard your lyrics, I feel your spirit
09:36But I still talk that cash
09:38Cause a lot of wags wanna hear it
09:41But her buttery smooth vocals
09:42over the delectable disco funk beats
09:44instantly make her the center of attention.
09:47Much like its protagonist,
09:49the song traveled far and wide,
09:50reaching the top 10 in several countries,
09:53including the UK,
09:54her home,
09:55where it topped the charts.
10:062009, Bulletproof, LaRue
10:08The 2020s have produced multiple records
10:11that were influenced by the synth-pop wave of the 80s.
10:14Been there, done that, messed around
10:16I'm having fun, don't put me down
10:18I'll never let you sweep me off my feet
10:21But before artists like Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus
10:24were hearkening back to the good old days,
10:26there was LaRue.
10:28The British act, which was a duo at the time,
10:30put a unique spin on the great things about that era
10:33and channeled them into their hit single, Bulletproof.
10:36I won't let you turn around and tell me now
10:39I'm much too proud to walk away from something when it's dead
10:42With the electrifying synthesizers
10:44and the vocoder-enhanced vocals,
10:47this song has no right to be as instantly catchy as it is.
10:51Top that off with lyrics that could ring true
10:53in any challenging situation,
10:55and you've got quite the masterpiece on your hands.
10:572010, Teach Me How to Dougie
11:07Cali Swag District
11:09The Dougie is a Texas dance craze
11:11that was elevated to the national stage
11:13when this 2010 track hit the airwaves.
11:21Teach Me How to Dougie served as the debut single
11:24for the California hip-hop group Cali Swag District
11:27becoming their only song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
11:31The straightforward hook and infectious beat
11:33make it an instant earworm
11:35that's sure to get you bopping your head at the very least.
11:43The following year, the group put out The Kickback,
11:49which remains their lone studio album.
11:51Two of their members sadly passed away,
11:54and the group ultimately disbanded in 2015.
11:57Taste Me How to Doug, Taste Me, Taste Me How to Doug, Doug.
12:00Everybody love me, everybody love me.
12:022011, Somebody That I Used to Know,
12:06Gautier featuring Kimbra.
12:07In 2011, the whole world got addicted to a song
12:11that was certainly different from the usual earworm.
12:14Now, now, now, think of when we were together.
12:17Unlike most other catchy tunes,
12:21Somebody That I Used to Know swaps the heavy production
12:24for a more sublime approach in its telling of a heartbreak story.
12:28It became a mega-hit in every sense of the word.
12:31She did enough to cut me off
12:34because I could never happen to marry one of it.
12:39It was praised by critics for its quirky melodies
12:41and softly whispered vocals
12:43and snagged two Grammys, including Record of the Year.
12:47It also became a success on the commercial side,
12:50peaking at number one in the U.S. for about two months
12:52and charting in a slew of other countries as well.
12:55Now you're just somebody that I used to know.
12:59Somebody that I used to know.
13:022012, I Love It,
13:04Iconopop Featuring Charli XCX
13:07While Gautier took a sublime approach to narrating heartbreak,
13:10Iconopop and Charli XCX decided to go
13:13in the complete opposite direction.
13:15I got this feeling on the summer day when you were gone
13:19I crashed my car into the bridge
13:21I watched I let it burn
13:23First penned by the latter artist,
13:25I Love It is a song that just never stops giving.
13:28Its lyrics seem to reflect moving on
13:30from a relationship with an older lover,
13:32a detail that instantly drew Iconopop's members to the demo.
13:36You're on a different road
13:38I'm in the Milky Way
13:40You want me down on Earth
13:42But I am up in space
13:44The production on this track goes into overkill,
13:46but in the best way possible,
13:48featuring a swelling synth that transitions
13:50into a smashing, never-ending beat drop.
13:53Parallels were drawn between it and Since You've Been Gone,
13:57and that in itself is high praise enough.
13:59I don't care
14:01I love it
14:03I don't care
14:05I love it
14:062013, Say Something
14:09A Great Big World
14:10The early 2010s were notorious for Tumblr-esque sad songs.
14:16What tween didn't want to sulk out the window
14:18and pretend they were the main character in a devastating breakup?
14:22You're the one that I love
14:25And I'm saying goodbye
14:28The slow-tempo piano ballad scratched that itch,
14:32serving as a multi-platinum single from a Great Big World's debut album.
14:37Say something, I'm giving up on you
14:41But apparently listeners actually did give up on the band after the song finished making its rounds.
14:48Even a duet and music video with the iconic Christina Aguilera couldn't save the act.
14:53While the music video is designed to pull on your heartstrings,
14:56it didn't leave enough of an impact to push a great big world into the mainstream.
15:02And so, the tragic vibes of this song have cemented it firmly in an era where romanticizing toxic relationships was trendy.
15:112014, Shut Up and Dance, Walk the Moon
15:14A night out with his partner gave Walk the Moon member, Nicholas Petrica, the idea for this pop-rock banger.
15:21Oh, don't you dare look back
15:22Just keep your eyes on me
15:24I said you're holding back
15:26She said shut up and dance with me
15:29Fueled by heavy drums, guitars, and 80s-inspired synths, Shut Up and Dance is as on the nose as it gets.
15:37It basically instructs everyone listening to forget their worries and take it all out on the dance floor.
15:42And judging by the number 4 spot it secured on the Billboard Hot 100, a lot of people were clearly taking notes.
15:56The song was understandably a mainstay in clubs everywhere.
16:00Now, we hope it's been part of the soundtrack to a real-life experience that'll inspire another catchy-as-hell tune in the coming years.
16:12Shut Up and Dance with me
16:142015, Panda, Designer
16:17With a menacing beat sourced from YouTube, New York rapper Designer co-wrote this trap hit spotlighting luxury vehicles.
16:31On Panda, Designer professes his love for BMW's X6 automobiles,
16:36Drawing parallels between their black and white models and the titular animal.
16:40The song was first released on SoundCloud, where it began gaining traction.
16:48And being sampled by Kanye West, well, that took its success to another level.
16:53Panda steadily climbed the charts, eventually peaking atop the Hot 100.
16:57Designer received moderate attention for his follow-up releases, but none quite at the level of Panda.
17:02In 2022, he decided to hang up his mic, in light of artist Takeoff's unfortunate passing.
17:152016, Roses, St. John
17:18Some artists are lucky to have their songs become instant hits worldwide.
17:22But for others, success can take years.
17:24Rapper and singer St. John certainly falls in the latter category.
17:35The Guyanese-American musician released Roses in 2016,
17:39but it wasn't until producer Iman Bek put his spin on it three years later that the song really bloomed.
17:45It won the Grammy for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical,
17:57and was a mainstay on the charts, earning the number one spot in multiple countries
18:01and peaking within the top five on Billboard's Hot 100.
18:04The success of this version opened the door for both artists
18:08and spawned further remixes with both J Balvin and Future.
18:122017, Feel It Still, Portugal The Man
18:23Although indie rock band Portugal The Man had been on the alternative music scene for years,
18:29it was this earworm that shot them into the limelight.
18:31Keep my hands on myself
18:33Pick up those tomorrow, put them back up on the shelf
18:39A single from their eighth album, Feel It Still harkens back to the distorted psychedelic sounds of the 60s,
18:46even drawing on Please Mr. Postman for its unforgettable melody.
18:50With a trippy bass line and falsetto notes high enough to reach the sky,
18:54the song soared to the top 10 in several countries,
18:57and got the band a long-overdue Grammy.
19:00The infectious groove of this tune deeply resonated with listeners back in 2017,
19:11and all these years later, we're still feeling it.
19:202018, Boot Up, Ella Mai
19:23At a time when the scene was populated with trap and emo rap,
19:27Ella Mai delivered a fresh yet familiar sound with Boot Up.
19:37Following in the footsteps of 90s R&B artists,
19:41Mai's impassioned vocals take center stage on the song,
19:44never overshadowed by the simple, shimmery production.
19:47It became a massive success in the States,
19:50grabbing the Hot 100's number 5 spot,
19:52and earning a Grammy for best R&B song.
20:01Following up such a huge hit is never easy.
20:05Though none of her subsequent singles have quite matched the success of Boot Up,
20:09the future still seems bright for this star.
20:11It just won't stop, you go by to Boot Up.
20:152019, Dance Monkey, Tones and I
20:21Aussie musician Tones and I became a superstar in 2019,
20:26with the release of her viral single, Dance Monkey.
20:28They say, oh my god, I see the way you shine
20:32Inspired by her own experiences,
20:35the track describes the struggles of being an emerging performer in Australia.
20:39It's quite mind-boggling how incredibly popular this song became.
20:43Not only was it the number one song in over two dozen countries,
20:47but it also shattered multiple chart records.
20:57No other song had ever topped Australia's single chart for as long as this one,
21:02and it was named the most Shazammed song of all time in November 2020.
21:07We'll be waiting with bated breath to see if Tones and I
21:10ever tops this supremely impressive accomplishment.
21:13Dance for me, dance for me, dance for me, oh-oh.
21:17I've never seen anybody do the things you do before.
21:212020, Heat Waves, Glass Animals.
21:24Although their debut studio album came out in 2014,
21:27it would take years for British indie rock band Glass Animals
21:31to score their first mainstream hit.
21:33Every bit as hopeful as it is melancholic,
21:42Heat Waves features frontman Dave Bailey diving deep into an ache and yearning.
21:47At a time when most people were staying indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic
21:51and going through those same feelings,
21:53the song resonated with many.
21:55This possibly contributed to Heat Waves rising through the charts for months
22:05before hitting number one in 2022.
22:08While it remains to be seen if Glass Animals will produce further hits,
22:11we'll keep playing this tune late at night in the middle of June.
22:14Heat Waves been freaking me out
22:17Can't make you happier now
22:202021, ABCDEFU
22:23Gale, we wouldn't recommend breaking a songwriter's heart
22:26unless you have no problem being the subject of a global hit song.
22:30Are you texting all my friends, asking questions
22:33They never even liked you in the first place
22:36Emerging artist Gale made everyone pay attention
22:39with ABCDEFU, a defiant breakup anthem
22:43in which the singer comes to terms with her actual feelings towards her ex,
22:47literally spelling them out.
22:49The track quickly went viral online,
22:51traveling far and wide to achieve international success.
22:55ABCDEFU
22:57Gale, we're in your mom and your sister and your job
23:01Healing from a messy breakup?
23:03Need some help expressing your true feelings?
23:05Need a refresher on your ABCs?
23:07This song has got you covered.
23:09Even though her follow-up singles haven't been as big,
23:12we're sure Gale can find another hit
23:14in the remaining alphabet letters.
23:232022, Bad Habit, Steve Lacey
23:26After rising to prominence as the guitarist for the internet,
23:30Steve Lacey established a solo career.
23:32Too late to pursue
23:34I bite my tongue, it's a bad habit
23:40With Bad Habit, Lacey broke out from the alternative underground
23:43and into the mainstream.
23:45Here, a bad habit of biting his tongue
23:47prevents the singer from making a move on someone
23:49who felt the same way about him,
23:51a decision he now regrets.
23:53Now you're not too good for me, my dear
23:56Funny you, come back to me, my dear
23:59The song blew up on TikTok and landed on the Hot 100,
24:02giving the talented musician his first-ever Billboard chart-topper.
24:06Even though it's too soon to say what direction Lacey's career will go in,
24:10we're certain this song will dominate playlists for years to come.
24:202023, Lil Boothang, Paul Russell
24:23Cracking the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100,
24:27Paul Russell brought back the power of disco.
24:37The track feels both like a throwback and a modern tune.
24:41Sampling Best of My Love by The Emotions,
24:43the song has an upbeat vibe anybody can love.
24:47Russell also throws in some fun-loving lyrics to enhance the music.
24:51Getting huge on TikTok,
24:57the single soared on the charts
24:58and even appeared in blockbusters like a Minecraft movie.
25:02The singer also got to open for Meghan Trainor on her 2024 tour.
25:07If he can find that kind of nostalgic magic again,
25:10he might be able to break the one-hit wonder curse.
25:12You my little boo thing
25:14So I don't give a hoot what you do, say, girl, I know
25:17You a little too tame
25:18I'll be shooting that shot like 2K, girl, I know
25:212024, Million Dollar Baby, Tommy Richman
25:25Another victim of the expeditious TikTok machine,
25:29which turns over hits just as quickly as it produces them.
25:32Tommy Richman's Million Dollar Baby initially roared onto the scene,
25:36but the irony of this line is not lost on us.
25:40Cause I wanna make it
25:42Something that's true
25:43Million Dollar Baby
25:45Don't ask me
25:46Released in April 2024,
25:49Richman's first big hit actually holds an impressive title
25:52for longest-running number one song
25:54on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart.
25:57It maintained that position for 10 consecutive weeks
26:00until it fell off,
26:01sort of like Richman's blossoming career.
26:03I'm losing all my heart
26:05His debut studio album, Coyote, dropped later that year,
26:09but this hot single was notably missing.
26:12With measly sales and a fraction of the streaming time,
26:16the album didn't make much of a splash.
26:18In fact, it was met with rather negative critical reception.
26:21They call me Tommy cause I'm trying to get rich, man.
26:25I'm not going to hell cause that life's a man.
26:29Pass.
26:30It's a bit early to predict where Richman's career will go from here,
26:34but it's hard not to shake the feeling
26:35that Million Dollar Baby is a one-hit wonder in the making.
26:45Which of these one-hit wonders
26:46are you still a dedicated fan of today?
26:50Let us know in the comments.
26:55Do you agree with our picks?
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