A one-hit wonder in the music industry is typically defined as a single record – often a single – with exceptional success. Still, the artist or artists fail to maintain that level of success in the rest of their work. Even a one-hit-wonder can make a performer or band recognized and very rich, so we don’t think they’ll care too much when we point it out. And of course, a one-hit-wonder is undoubtedly better than a no-hit wonder!
Here are some of the best one-hit wonders in the world of rock and roll.
1. United States of Whatever – Liam Lynch (2003)
Liam Lynch, whose real name is William Niederst, has directed music videos for some of the most successful bands, including the Foo Fighters. He clearly has the talent, but he stuck to making parody songs for part of his career. It was no surprise that he was capable of popular music like United States of Whatever, even if it was mainly 90 seconds of whatever.
2. Danger! Danger! High Voltage – Electric Six (2003)
Electric Six’s Danger! Danger! High Voltage! track is one of the best examples of a one-hit-wonder. The band were known for their wacky songs and music videos, such as I Wanna Take You to a Gay Bar. This was arguably their only song that made its way through the craziness and was enjoyed by the squares as well as the wacky types. It’s still enjoyed today in other art forms, including the recent Danger High Voltage slot title by Big Time Gaming!
3. Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus (2000)
You won’t be the only person not to know that Wheatus have released four albums since their first album included Teenage Dirtbag and that killer Iron Maiden reference. Teenage Dirtbag was a sensation at the time and still remembered today, unlike any of their more recent work. Their subsequent albums came nowhere near the top of the music charts in any country.
4. Bodies – Drowning Pool (2001)
The fact that the opening monologue – or should we say whispers – of Bodies is so well-known and the song was easily their most successful in the USA and UK is a testament to the band’s original vocalist, Dave Williams. Williams died of heart failure the year after Bodies was released, and although they did have some mediocre success as the faces of the band changed, nothing lived up to this track.
5. Flavor of the Weak – American Hi-Fi (2001)
Flavor of the Weak is a song about an under-appreciated girlfriend to some guy in the USA. Some might contest this is a one-hit-wonder, but it certainly became more popular than their other work. The band’s frontman Stacy Jones has undoubtedly had further success as a drummer for bands Letters To Cleo and Veruca Salt. Jones was even the music director of Miley Cyrus for a short stint.
