00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for tracks by one-hit wonders
00:09that may not have received the same amount of attention as their claim to fame, but are still
00:14good. 10. Mike Oldfield's single,
00:22Tubular Bells Mike Oldfield
00:24Mike Oldfield's Moonlight Shadow was one of his most digestible tunes, hitting No. 1 across
00:31several European countries. Although his debut single, Mike Oldfield's single, Tubular Bells,
00:44was a hit in the United States and is known for its use in the film The Exorcist, it didn't have
00:49the level of international success as Moonlight Shadow.
01:02The full-length experimental piece features several different sections with various instruments
01:07from pianos to electric guitars. It transcends both genre and mood, creating a genuinely unique
01:14experience that takes the listener on an audio journey.
01:28The album containing this piece was a big hit in the UK, but the full song unfortunately
01:33still remains largely unknown to the public. 9. Drop Dead Gorgeous
01:46Republica Striking the perfect intersection between rock and roll and club music, Republica
01:52quickly carved out a niche for themselves. Their first single, Ready To Go, became internationally
02:04known after being remixed in 1996, becoming an anthem for young women everywhere. It put the band on the
02:10map, but the rest of their releases didn't make the same impact.
02:22Drop Dead Gorgeous had all the makings of another hit, with brighter production and an undeniably catchy
02:27hook that's nearly impossible not to sing along to.
02:31Although it performed very well in the UK, elsewhere, it struggled commercially compared
02:42to their initial release. While it may not be widely recognized, it still perfectly encapsulates
02:48the era, making it well worth a listen now.
02:51You're still a friend of mine, yeah, yeah, and the drop dead gorgeous
02:588. Most people I know think that I'm crazy. Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. He may be a one-hit wonder
03:05to the United States, but in Australia, he's a rock legend. In the 1970s, Billy Thorpe found success
03:12with Children of the Sun. The epic number was well received in the United States, making it to number
03:2441 in the Billboard Hot 100, and that's pretty much all Americans know about him. But his band,
03:30Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, dominated down under, with most people I know
03:35think that I'm crazy. It wasn't able to find an international audience, causing his eventual
03:50solo work to take center stage. While it may not have broken records, it's still a timeless release,
04:04and between the heartfelt lyrics and classic sound, it's clear to see why.
04:087. Ziploc
04:18Lit
04:19For an instant, they captured the voice of a generation. Lit's My Own Worst Enemy became
04:24a near-instant classic following its release in 1999.
04:28It's punk elements and relatable message caused it to resonate with millions. The song's reach was
04:38so immense that it completely overshadowed every other release of theirs, including their follow-up
04:44single, Ziploc. Like their debut, it had a guitar-driven instrumental and deep lyrics.
05:05Despite following a similar formula, it only saw a fraction of the success. Still,
05:10its infectious refrain has made it an anthem in its own right, even if it's only to a few people.
05:16While it may have faded to the background, it's still a quintessential piece within their discography
05:21and pop-punk as a whole.
05:296. Someday We'll Know
05:31New Radicals
05:32Many one-hit wonders of the 1990s helped to define the sound of the decade. New Radicals is the ultimate
05:39example with You Get What You Give, becoming a generational pop that's still recognized as one
05:45of the best of its era. While they were on track to having a booming career, the group broke
05:56up just before the release of their second single, giving it essentially no chance of seeing similar
06:01success. 90 miles outside Chicago can't stop driving. Someday We'll Know was the opposite of
06:11their initial release both lyrically and sonically. It shows how versatile they were as a group,
06:22with the ability to pull off both anthems and ballads. While it unfortunately came and went without much
06:28fanfare, it's still a reminder of what could have been.
06:315. Breakaway
06:40Toni Basil
06:41Most people today know her for her infectiously cheery cover of the Racy's Mickey, which became
06:47a vital part of pop culture that's still referenced to this day.
06:51However, that wasn't Toni Basil's only contribution to the arts.
07:09Her first release, Breakaway, is credited as being one of the precursors to the modern-day music video,
07:15despite it not making any waves upon release. It was featured in a short film with the same name,
07:20consisting of her performance alongside various groundbreaking editing techniques.
07:31The song itself is vastly different from her follow-up hit,
07:35showing off her impressive vocals over a classic 60s sound.
07:38And do what suits me fine!
07:46It shows that a track doesn't have to go number one to still have a cultural impact.
07:514. Living in the Plastic Age
07:55The Buggles
07:56The Buggles' video-killed the radio star, helped put MTV on the map.
08:005. It had the perfect combination of pristine production and timely lyrics,
08:11creating a piece that helped usher in a more visual era of music.
08:15That wasn't their only number to comment on the state of society at the time.
08:195. Every day my mental friend
08:21It shakes my bed at 6 a.m.
08:25Their following release, Living in the Plastic Age, was biting commentary on the culture of the 70s,
08:31calling out how business-oriented and artificial it was.
08:355. It's all the police to put you under cardiac arrest.
08:42Unfortunately, it didn't have the same reach as their debut, causing it to fade to the background.
08:47Despite the message still being eerily applicable to today's day and age, it remains criminally underrated.
09:003. Slide Away
09:03The Verve
09:04Bittersweet Symphony was more than just a hit. It was a cultural phenomenon.
09:085. It's a bittersweet symphony that's live
09:18The orchestra sampled instrumental and emotional lyrics, helped it stand out in the best way possible,
09:24creating a bop that's still appreciated today. It quickly became the Verve's signature piece,
09:29causing other releases to be overshadowed as a result.
09:325. So take your time
09:365. Slide Away
09:38While not reaching the same level of regard, Slide Away is the perfect representation of their
09:44original vibe.
09:456. You always tune in
09:487. I'm not for sure
09:52It has a more traditionally grunge instrumental, capturing the sonic landscape of the early 1990s
09:58and laying the foundation for their eventual success.
10:01The two songs demonstrate their evolution as a group both musically and commercially,
10:05serving as proof that an act can completely switch up their sound and
10:09still reach unprecedented levels of success.
10:126. Eyes Wide Open
10:212. Eyes Wide Open
10:24Godier
10:25His mainstream career came and went in the blink of an eye, but that doesn't make the rest of his
10:30discography any less impressive.
10:327. But you did enough to cut me off
10:36Because I can never happen to marry what I've been
10:40Somebody that I used to know helped define the early 2010s despite sounding unlike other
10:45bestsellers at the time. The sheer success of the piece eventually caused Godier to pull away
10:51from the music industry entirely, leaving the rest of his catalog severely underappreciated.
10:567. Eyes Wide Open
11:00Eyes Wide Open is merely a glimpse into his musical genius. It's essentially the opposite of his biggest
11:07hits, with much brighter production and higher, more ambitious vocals.
11:118. Eyes Wide Open
11:15It exemplifies his versatility as an artist and had the potential to be big, but unlike its more
11:25melancholy follow-up barely touched the charts.
11:278.
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11:419. Movies
11:46Alien and Fong
11:47Their biggest release may have been a cover of an already legendary song, but they still managed to make it their own.
11:5310. Movies
11:57Alien and Fong's hard rock rendition of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal went on to become
12:01their signature piece, eclipsing their own original works. Movies was the band's first single,
12:08detailing the struggle of moving on from a breakup.
12:1010. Movies
12:16It was a solid debut and it made some noise, but not as much as it deserved. They even tried releasing
12:23it again following their sudden rise with Smooth Criminal, but even then, its success was modest.
12:2810. Movies
12:32Had they not released the cover, then it might have stood on its own, but unfortunately,
12:38it remains as forgotten as the rest of their original discography.
12:47Which overlooked song by a one-hit wonder do you think deserved to be a hit? Let us know in the comments below.
12:5310. Movies
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13:1810. Conclusion
13:32Okay
13:3210.
13:3710.
13:3910.
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