Eighties pop smashes “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles and The Weather Girls’ “It’s Raining Men” have been voted the nation’s favourite one-hit wonders.
The two tunes tied for the top spot, beating Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky” and “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers.
Bruce Woolley, who co-wrote “Video Killed the Radio Star” with fellow music producer Trevor Horn, said,
“It was a one-hit wonder but it has had a wonderful life and I’m very proud of it.
“It only took a few hours to write but we worked on the recording for months and I think it’s stood the test of time.
“My kids were slightly embarrassed by it when they were younger, but it paid for their education!”
Lou Bega’s “Mambo No.5” came fifth, ahead of Sinead O’Connor’s 1990 smash “Nothing Compares 2U”, Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby”, “Don’t Leave me This Way” by Thelma Houston, “Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex and “Macarena” by Los del Rio.
Kevin Smith, a spokesman for online market researchers OnePoll, which conducted the poll of 2,000 music fans, said: “It’s interesting to see that the most popular one-hit wonders were originally released before the 21st Century.
“In fact, the highest ranking post-Millennium track was released in the year 2000 and landed at number 12 in the poll.
“It might be that musicians have learned the trick behind their biggest hits and know how to keep their momentum up.
“But whatever the reasoning behind the results of the top 50 list, we can see that all of them are unforgettable tracks”.
The Top 50 featured several well-known party tracks such as “Saturday Night” by Whigfield and “The Ketchup Song” by Las Ketchup.
“Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992 reached the 17th spot in the rankings while Billy Paul’s “Me and Mrs Jones” reached 19.
And many will remember the ear-worm by Witch Doctor, “Ooh Ee Ooh Ah Aah Ting Tang Walla Walla Bing Bang” from 1998.
The 90s claimed the most one-hit wonders, followed by the seventies, which included one-off hits like “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas and “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks.
ALSO READ: 10 forgotten 90’s gems
One track which may surprise many as a one-hit wonder was “MMMBop” by Hanson which placed at number 30.
And “Barbados” by Typically Tropical which later was rewritten to be about Ibiza and sang by the Vengaboys in the nineties reached 44.
“Video Killed the Radio Star” writer Bruce Woolley, 62, who has also penned hit songs for dozens of other artists including ‘Slave to the Rhythm’ for Grace Jones, added, “The song’s been covered by hundreds of artists, used in video games, TV ads and has appeared in several Hollywood movies.”
“The song’s been covered by hundreds of artists, used in video games, TV ads and has appeared in several Hollywood movies.”
TOP 50 ONE-HIT WONDERS
1. Video Killed the Radio Star – Buggles (1980)
2. It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls (1982)
3. Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum (1969)
4. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers (1988)
5. Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of) – Lou Bega (1999)
6. Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor (1990)
7. Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice (1990)
8. Don’t Leave Me This Way – Thelma Houston (1976)
9. Cotton Eye Joe – Rednex (1995)
10. Macarena – Los del Rio (1993)
11. Sugar Sugar – The Archies (1969)
12. Who Let the Dogs Out – Baha Men (2000)
13. Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas (1974)
14. Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks (1973)
15. Saturday Night – Whigfield (1995)
16. There She Goes – The La’s (2006)
17. Achy Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus (1992)
18. Tell Laura I Love Her – Ricky Valance (1960)
19. Me and Mrs Jones – Billy Paul (1972)
20. Mickey – Toni Basil (1982)
21. Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin (1988)
22. Stay – Shakespeare’s Sister (1992)
23. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry (1976)
24. What Is Love – Haddaway (1993)
25. 99 Red Balloons – Nena (1983)
26. Jump Around – House of Pain (1992)
27. My Sharona – The Knack (1979)
28. We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off – Jermaine Stewart (1986)
29. Turning Japanese – The Vapors (1980)
30. MMMBop – Hanson (1997)
31. In the Year 2525 – Zager & Evans (1969)
32. Funkytown – Lipps Inc. (1979)
33. A Girl Like You – Edwyn Collins (1994)
34. Pass the Dutchie – Musical Youth (1982)
35. Rock Me Amadeus – Falco (1985)
36. The Hustle – Van McCoy (1975)
37. Ooh Eeh Ooh Ah Aah Ting Tang Walla Walla Bing Bang – Witch Doctor (1998)
38. Tubthumping – Chumbawamba (1997)
39. The Ketchup Song – Las Ketchup (2002)
40. Grandad – Clive Dunn (1971)
41. Spaceman – Babylon Zoo (1996)
42. Groove Is in the Heart – Dee-Lite (1990)
43. Don’t Give Up On Us – David Soul (1976)
44. Barbados – Typically Tropical (1975)
45. Unbelievable – EMF (1990)
46. Too Shy – Kajagoogoo (1983)
47. Pop Muzik – M (1979)
48. You Get What You Give – New Radicals (1999)
49. The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats (1983)
50. Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell (1984)
