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    Home » 1980

    One-Hit Wonders 80s

    Published: Jun 24, 2023 by admin · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    The 80s were a blast! So many amazing songs that made us dance, sing and feel alive. Some artists who created these songs became legends, while others faded away after their one big hit.

    Woman wearing high knee-high socks and sunglasses with a portable radio on her shoulder. With the text "80s One-Hit Wonders."
    Jump to:
    • What is a One-Hit Wonder
    • About our playlist of 80s one-hit wonders
    • List of 80s One-Hit Wonders
    • Spotify Playlist 80s One-Hit Wonders
    • 80s One-Hit Wonder Music Videos
    • Final Thoughts – One-Hit Wonder 80s

    These are the One-Hit Wonders of the 80s, and they deserve our respect and admiration for bringing us joy and nostalgia with their music.

    What is a One-Hit Wonder

    A one-hit wonder is a term used to describe a musical artist or a song that achieves excellent popularity and success for a short period of time but fails to replicate or sustain it.

    One-hit wonders are often associated with novelty songs, catchy hooks, or viral phenomena that capture the public’s attention but do not reflect the artist’s true talent or potential.

    About our playlist of 80s one-hit wonders

    If you love the music of the 80s, you will enjoy our playlist of 80s one-hit wonders.

    These are songs that were only popular for a short time but left a lasting impression on listeners. Some of these songs are catchy, some are quirky and some are just plain fun.

    Let us highlight some of them for you.

    “Come On Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners

    Let’s start with Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners.

    This song is about a young man who is in love with a girl named Eileen and wants to take their relationship to the next level.

    He tries to persuade her to forget about the past and the social norms that hold them back and to embrace their passion.

    He also reminisces about their childhood and how they used to dance together.

    The song is a catchy and upbeat tune that mixes pop, soul, and folk influences and features a prominent violin solo.

    “Come On Eileen” was a huge hit, reaching number one in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and several other countries.

    Music Charts performance “Come On Eileen”

    The British band released the song in 1982. It became a huge hit, reaching number one in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and several other countries.

    The song is considered one of the most iconic songs of the 1980s and has been covered by many artists.

    “Respect Yourself” by Bruce Willis

    You won’t believe who’s next on our playlist! It’s the one and only Bruce Willis!

    That’s right, the action star also had a musical career in the 80s, and his catchy song “Respect Yourself” was a big hit back then.

    You’ll love this funky tune that shows off Bruce’s vocal skills and charisma. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear Bruce Willis sing his heart out!

    “Respect Yourself” reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 7 on the UK Singles Chart.

    Music Charts performance “Respect Yourself”

    So Bruce Willis is not only an acclaimed actor but also a singer.

    He released his debut album, The Return of Bruno, in 1987. One of the album’s singles was Respect Yourself, a cover of a soul song by The Staple Singers.

    The song reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number seven on the UK Singles Chart.

    In addition to the successes on the music charts, there was also the nomination for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

    Respect Yourself was one of Bruce Willis’ most successful songs as a singer.

    “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin

    Don’t worry. Be happy. We’ll highlight one more for you.

    It’s none other than Bobby Mc Ferrin with the song…. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. A real earworm. We guarantee you’ll be humming or whistling the song a few more times during the day!

    This song is about finding joy in any situation, no matter how bad it seems. It reminds us that worrying solves nothing and that happiness is a choice we can make. Bobby Mc Ferrin wrote and sang this song in 1988 and it became a hit worldwide.

    It is also one of the few songs without instruments, just Bobby’s voice and the sounds he makes with his body. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this catchy and uplifting song. Don’t worry, be happy!

    “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” was the first a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a position it held for two weeks.

    Music Charts performance “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”

    “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin is a catchy and upbeat tune that became a hit in 1988. It was the first a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a position it held for two weeks.

    McFerrins’ song reached number two in the UK Singles Chart and number one in Canada. It was inspired by the expression “Don’t worry, be happy” that was used by Indian mystic Meher Baba.

    The song features only McFerrin’s voice and other sounds made by him, such as whistling and humming. The song won three Grammy Awards in 1989, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

    Although there are many more songs worth highlighting, we’ll leave it at this so you can start enjoying the playlist! So what are you waiting for?

    List of 80s One-Hit Wonders

    YearTitle - Artist
    1980 Tired of Toein' the Line - Rocky Burnette 
    1980 Funkytown - Lipps Inc. 
    1980 Set Me Free - Utopia 
    1980 Take Your Time - S.O.S. Band 
    1980 Steal Away - Robbie Dupree 
    1980 Into the Night - Benny Mardones 
    1980 Ashes by Now - Rodney Crowell 
    1980 Whip It - Devo 
    1980 Turning Japanese - The Vapors 
    1980 Somebody's Knockin' - Terri Gibbs 
    1981 Just the Two of Us - Grover Washington, Jr. 
    1981 867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone 
    1981 Tainted Love - Soft Cell 
    1981 Key Largo - Bertie Higgins 
    1981 Harden My Heart - Quarterflash 
    1981 Pac-Man Fever - Buckner and Garcia 
    1981 Lunatic Fringe - Red Rider 
    1981 Is It You - Lee Ritenour 
    1981 Genius of Love - Tom Tom Club 
    1981 Just So Lonely - Get Wet 
    1981General Hospi-Tale - The Afternoon Delights
    1981 Theme from The Greatest American Hero - Joey Scarbury 
    1981 You Could Take My Heart Away - Silver Condor 
    1981 Mickey - Toni Basil 
    1981 Double Dutch Bus - Frankie Smith 
    1981 Der Kommissar - After the Fire 
    1981 Genius Rap - Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde 
    1981 Sausalito Summernight - Diesel 
    1982 Don't Let Him Know - Prism 
    1982 Someday, Someway - Marshall Crenshaw 
    1982 Take Off - Bob and Doug McKenzie 
    1982 She Blinded Me with Science - Thomas Dolby 
    1982 Forget Me Nots - Patrice Rushen 
    1982 Let It Whip - Dazz Band 
    1982 I Melt with You - Modern English 
    1982 Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners 
    1982 I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow 
    1982 Personally - Karla Bonoff 
    1982 Love Plus One - Haircut One Hundred 
    1982 The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats 
    1982 Pass The Dutchie - Musical Youth 
    1982 What Do All The People Know - The Monroes 
    1982 I Ran - A Flock of Seagulls 
    1982 Nobody Said It Was Easy - LeRoux 
    1982 I Know What Boys Like - The Waitresses 
    1982 Hooked on Swing - Larry Elgart and His Manhattan Swing Orchestra 
    1982 Johnny Are You Queer? - Josie Cotton 
    1982 Holdin' On - Tane Cain 
    1982 It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls 
    1982 Fantasy - Aldo Nova 
    1982 Electric Avenue - Eddy Grant 
    1983 Mexican Radio - Wall of Voodoo 
    1983 Rappin' Rodney - Rodney Dangerfield 
    1983 Far From Over - Frank Stallone 
    1983 True - Spandau Ballet 
    1983AEIOU Sometimes Y - Ebn Ozn
    1983 Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood 
    1983 Maniac - Michael Sembello 
    1983 I Eat Cannibals - Toto Coelo 
    1983 (Feels Like) Heaven - Fiction Factory 
    1983 I Know There's Something Going On - Frida 
    1983 The Politics of Dancing - Re-Flex 
    1983 The Salt in My Tears - Martin Briley 
    1983 Major Tom - Peter Schilling 
    1983 Puttin' On the Ritz - Taco 
    1983 Let the Music Play - Shannon 
    1983 In a Big Country - Big Country 
    1983 Too Shy - Kajagoogoo 
    1983 Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder 
    1983 99 Luftballons - Nena 
    1984 One Night in Bangkok - Murray Head 
    1984 The Curly Shuffle - Jump 'n the Saddle Band 
    1984 Missing You - John Waite 
    1984 Birds Fly - The Icicle Works 
    1984 The Warrior - Scandal 
    1984 A Girl in Trouble - Romeo Void 
    1984 Wouldn't It Be Good - Nik Kershaw 
    1984 Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell 
    1984 Take on Me - A-ha 
    1984 White Horse - Laid Back 
    1984 Almost Paradise - Mike Reno 
    1984 Obsession - Animotion 
    1984 Tenderness - General Public 
    1984 All I Need - Jack Wagner 
    1984 You Spin Me Round - Dead or Alive 
    1984 Easy Lover - Philip Bailey 
    1984 It's My Life - Talk Talk 
    1984 In My House - Mary Jane Girls 
    1984 10-9-8 - Face to Face 
    1984 Turn Up the Radio - Autograph 
    1985 Tarzan Boy - Baltimora 
    1985 Heartline - Robin George 
    1985 Body Rock - Maria Vidal 
    1985 You Look Marvelous - Billy Crystal 
    1985 Oh Yeah - Yello 
    1985 Voices Carry - Til Tuesday 
    1985 Party All the Time - Eddie Murphy 
    1985 Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer 
    1985 Tender Love - Force MDs 
    1985 Perfect Way - Scritti Politti 
    1985 Don't You - Simple Minds 
    1985 Cry - Godley & Creme 
    198519 - Paul Hardcastle 
    1985 Life in a Northern Town - The Dream Academy 
    1986The Super Bowl Shuffle - Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew
    1986 You're a Friend of Mine - Clarence Clemons 
    1986 We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off - Jermaine Stewart 
    1986 I Wanna Be a Cowboy - Boys Don't Cry 
    1986 Live is Life - Opus 
    1986 Breakout - Swing Out Sister 
    1986 For Tonight - Nancy Martinez 
    1986 Digging Your Scene - The Blow Monkeys 
    1986 Friends and Lovers - Gloria Loring 
    1986 Keep Your Hands to Yourself - The Georgia Satellites 
    1986 Heartbeat - Don Johnson 
    1986 The Lady in Red - Chris de Burgh 
    1986 Tuff Enuff - The Fabulous Thunderbirds 
    1986 Hanging On a Heart Attack - Device 
    1986 C'est La Vie - Robbie Nevil 
    1986 Rumors - Timex Social Club 
    1986 The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades - Timbuk 3 
    1986 Two of Hearts - Stacey Q 
    1986 (I Just) Died in Your Arms - Cutting Crew 
    1986 Funkytown - Pseudo Echo 
    1986 The Rain - Oran "Juice" Jones 
    1986 I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz 
    1986 Ship of Fools - World Party 
    1986 Captain of Her Heart - Double 
    1986 Feel It Again - Honeymoon Suite 
    1986 Dear God - XTC 
    1986 Don't Leave Me This Way - The Communards 
    1987 Beds Are Burning - Midnight Oil 
    1987 Respect Yourself - Bruce Willis 
    1987 Heart and Soul - T'Pau 
    1987 Catch Me - Pretty Poison 
    1987 Living in a Box - Living in a Box 
    1987 At This Moment - Billy Vera 
    1987 Boom Boom - Paul Lekakis 
    1987 She's Like the Wind - Patrick Swayze 
    1987 Fascinated - Company B 
    1987 Lean on Me - Club Nouveau 
    1987 I Don't Mind At All - Bourgeois Tagg 
    1988 The Promise - When in Rome 
    1988 Shattered Dreams - Johnny Hates Jazz 
    1988 It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock 
    1988 What I Am - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians 
    1988 Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley - Will to Power 
    1988 Don't Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin 
    1988 There She Goes - The La's 
    1988 Just Got Paid - Johnny Kemp 
    1988 Ritual - Dan Reed Network 
    1988 Pump Up The Volume - MARRS 
    1988 What's On Your Mind - Information Society 
    1988 Da' Butt - E.U. 
    1988 Rush Hour - Jane Wiedlin 
    1988 Under the Milky Way - The Church 
    1988 Edge of a Broken Heart - Vixen 
    1988 Supersonic - J.J. Fad 
    1988 Tomorrow People - Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers 
    1988 I Beg Your Pardon - Kon Kan 
    1989 I Remember Holding You - Boys Club 
    1989 Talk It Over - Grayson Hugh 
    1989 Buffalo Stance - Neneh Cherry 
    1989 Cuddly Toy - Roachford 
    1989 Angel Eyes - Jeff Healey 
    1989 The Ballad of Jayne - L.A. Guns 
    1989 House of Pain - Faster Pussycat 
    1989 So Alive - Love and Rockets 
    1989 Toy Soldiers - Martika 
    1989 Just a Friend - Biz Markie 
    1989 Rock On - Michael Damian 
    1989 Where Are You Now? - Jimmy Harnen with Synch 
    1989 When I'm with You - Sheriff 
    1989 Black Velvet - Alannah Myles 

    Spotify Playlist 80s One-Hit Wonders

    80s One-Hit Wonder Music Videos

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    Rocky Burnette Tired of Toein the line HD
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    Lipps Inc. - Funkytown (Audio)
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    Utopia - Set me Free
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    S.O.S. Band - Take Your Time (Do It Right)
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    Robbie Dupree - Steal Away (Official Audio)
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    Benny Mardones - Into the Night ( Full Original Video 1980)
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    Final Thoughts – One-Hit Wonder 80s

    This concludes our selection of one-hit wonders of the 80s.

    These songs captured the spirit and trends of a decade that was full of changes and challenges.

    We hope you enjoyed listening to them and reliving some memories. If you haven’t had enough of one-hit wonders yet, we highly recommend the list of One-Hit Wonder of the 1990s!

    In conclusion, thank you for tuning in, and stay tuned for more music from the past and present.

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