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100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s

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"100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s" is an episode of VH1's The Greatest. It counts down the 100 greatest one-hit wonders of the 1980s. It is hosted by Judah Friedlander and originally aired from March 30 through April 3, 2009.

Commentators[]

  • Sherrod Small
  • Brad Sherwood
  • Jim Florentine
  • Clinton Kelly
  • Dave Holmes
  • Simmy Kaye
  • Alison Becker
  • Amanda Diva
  • Billy Vera
  • Michael Damian
  • Gerald Casale
  • Carter Roy
  • Judah Friedlander
  • Buckner & Garcia
  • Pretty Poison
  • Mark McGrath
  • Edwin McCain
  • Kim Wilson
  • Johnny Kemp
  • Jake Fogelnest
  • Peter Garrett
  • Ben Lee
  • Matt Pinfield
  • Baron Vaughn
  • Sean Patton
  • Michelle Williams
  • Jeremy Hassell
  • Valerie Watson
  • Carrie Keagan
  • Kelly Nickels
  • Frank Stallone
  • Keith Powell
  • Andrea Rosen
  • Chris Booker
  • Carl Anderson (archive footage)
  • Riki Rachtman
  • Animotion
  • Andy Pemberton
  • Nick Heyward
  • Rodney Dangerfield (archive footage)
  • Rob Sheffield
  • Steve Huey
  • Nik Kershaw
  • Alannah Myles
  • Jan Kuehnemund
  • Janet Gardner
  • Jorge Ramon
  • Dean Edwards
  • Godfrey
  • Paul Lekakis
  • Josie Cotton
  • The Donnas
  • Puddle of Mudd
  • Aldo Nova
  • Joe Levy
  • Ranking Roger
  • Prince Paul
  • J. J. Fad
  • Bertie Higgins
  • Kurt Harland
  • Chuck Nice
  • Paul Hardcastle (archive footage)
  • Jack Wagner
  • Rachael Quaintance
  • Chris Wylde
  • Carol Decker
  • Jeff Healey
  • Bob Geldof
  • Sir Mix-a-Lot
  • Oran "Juice" Jones
  • Chris Butler
  • Andy Partridge
  • XTC
  • Sugar Bear
  • Andrew W.K.

The list[]

100 - "You're a Friend of Mine" by Clarence Clemons and Jackson Browne

  1. 99 - "Rock On" by Michael Damian
  2. 98 - "Pac-Man Fever" by Buckner & Garcia
  3. 97 - "Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley" by Will to Power
  4. 96 - "Tuff Enuff" by The Fabulous Thunderbirds
  5. 95 - "Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil
  6. 94 - "Lean on Me" by Club Nouveau
  7. 93 - "The Ballad of Jayne" by L.A. Guns
  8. 92 - "Far from Over" by Frank Stallone
  9. 91 - "Friends and Lovers" by Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson
  10. 90 - "Love Plus One" by Haircut 100
  11. 89 - "Rappin' Rodney" by Rodney Dangerfield
  12. 88 - "Wouldn't It Be Good" by Nik Kershaw
  13. 87 - "Edge of a Broken Heart" by Vixen
  14. 86 - "Forget Me Nots" by Patrice Rushen
  15. 85 - "Tomorrow People" by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers
  16. 84 - "Under the Milky Way" by The Church
  17. 83 - "Boom Boom (Let's Go Back to My Room)" by Paul Lekakis
  18. 82 - "Lunatic Fringe" by Red Rider
  19. 81 - "Johnny Are You Queer?" by Josie Cotton
  20. 80 - "Party All the Time" by Eddie Murphy
  21. 79 - "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles
  22. 78 - "Fantasy" by Aldo Nova
  23. 77 - "Tenderness" by General Public
  24. 76 - "Supersonic" by J. J. Fad
  25. 75 - "Key Largo" by Bertie Higgins
  26. 74 - "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" by Information Society
  27. 73 - "19" by Paul Hardcastle
  28. 72 - "Breakout" by Swing Out Sister
  29. 71 - "All I Need" by Jack Wagner
  30. 70 - "Axel F" by Harold Faltermeyer
  31. 69 - "Heart and Soul" by T'Pau
  32. 68 - "Major Tom (Coming Home)" by Peter Schilling
  33. 67 - "Toy Soldiers" by Martika
  34. 66 - "Angel Eyes" by Jeff Healey
  35. 65 - "I Don't Like Mondays" by The Boomtown Rats
  36. 64 - "Steal Away" by Robbie Dupree
  37. 63 - "The Rain" by Oran "Juice" Jones
  38. 62 - "Dear God" by XTC
  39. 61 - "Da Butt" by E.U.
  40. 60 - "I Can't Wait" by Nu Shooz
  41. 59 - "Your Love" by The Outfield
  42. 58 - "Heartbeat" by Don Johnson
  43. 57 - "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" by Jermaine Stewart
  44. 56 - "Voices Carry" by 'Til Tuesday
  45. 55 - "Just Got Paid" by Johnny Kemp
  46. 54 - "The Lady in Red" by Chris de Burgh
  47. 53 - "Puttin' on the Ritz" by Taco
  48. 52 - "In My House" by Mary Jane Girls
  49. 51 - "Der Kommissar" by After the Fire
  50. 50 - "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry
  51. 49 - "Easy Lover" by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins
  52. 48 - "Oh Yeah" by Yello
  53. 47 - "Catch Me (I'm Falling)" by Pretty Poison
  54. 46 - "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" by The Georgia Satellites
  55. 45 - "C'est La Vie" by Robbie Nevil
  56. 44 - "Mexican Radio" by Wall of Voodoo
  57. 43 - "Let the Music Play" by Shannon
  58. 42 - "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" by Timbuk3
  59. 41 - "At This Moment" by Billy Vera
  60. 40 - "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles
  61. 39 - "Break My Stride" by Matthew Wilder
  62. 38 - "Respect Yourself" by Bruce Willis
  63. 37 - "Funkytown" by Lipps Inc
  64. 36 - "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls
  65. 35 - "Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club
  66. 34 - "I Know What Boys Like" by The Waitresses
  67. 33 - "Missing You" by John Waite
  68. 32 - "Harden My Heart" by Quarterflash
  69. 31 - "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin
  70. 30 - "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors
  71. 29 - "Our House" by Madness
  72. 28 - "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" by John Parr
  73. 27 - "Two of Hearts" by Stacey Q
  74. 26 - "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" by Cutting Crew
  75. 25 - "Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth
  76. 24 - "What I Am" by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
  77. 23 - "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant
  78. 22 - "Maniac" by Michael Sembello
  79. 21 - "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister
  80. 20 - "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell
  81. 19 - "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" by Dead or Alive
  82. 18 - "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
  83. 17 - "The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats
  84. 16 - "99 Luftballons" by Nena
  85. 15 - "Whip It" by Devo
  86. 14 - "In a Big Country" by Big Country
  87. 13 - "She Blinded Me with Science" by Thomas Dolby
  88. 12 - "Obsession" by Animotion
  89. 11 - "Cars" by Gary Numan
  90. 10 - "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
  91. 9 - "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo
  92. 8 - "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow
  93. 7 - "I Melt with You" by Modern English
  94. 6 - "Mickey" by Toni Basil
  95. 5 - "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell
  96. 4 - "867-5309/Jenny" by Tommy Tutone
  97. 3 - "Take on Me" by a-ha
  98. 2 - "I Ran (So Far Away)" by A Flock of Seagulls
  99. 1 - "Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners

Inclusion of artists not one-hit wonders[]

The special notably included artists who do not meet the one-hit wonder criteria in the United States (scoring one top forty hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100; see one-hit wonder). A total of 44 artists do not meet the criteria. Examples of these artists included artists who had scored two or more top forty hits on the Billboard Hot 100. These artists included:

  • Yello, who scored eight additional top 40 hits top 40 hit with "Bostich", "Tremendous Pain", "I Love You", "Pumping Velvet", "On Track", "Tied Up", "Vicious Games", and "How How"[1]
  • Will to Power, who scored another top 40 hit in 1990 with "I'm Not in Love".[1]
  • Club Nouveau, who scored another top 40 hit in "Why You Treat Me So Bad".[2]
  • Vixen, who scored another top 40 hit in 1988 with "Cryin'".[3]
  • Alannah Myles, who scored another top 40 hit in 1990 with "Love Is".[4]
  • General Public, who scored another top 40 hit in 1994 with "I'll Take You There".[5]
  • Information Society, who scored two additional top 40 hits in 1988 and 1990 with "Walking Away" and "Think".[6]
  • Swing Out Sister, who scored another top 40 hit in 1987 with "Twilight World".[7]
  • Martika, who scored three additional top 40 hits in 1988, 1989 and 1990 with "More Than You Know", "I Feel the Earth Move"[8], and "Love... Thy Will Be Done".[9]
  • Robbie Dupree, who scored another top 40 hit in 1980 with "Hot Rod Hearts".[10]
  • Nu Shooz, who scored another top 40 hit in 1986 with "Point of No Return".[11]
  • The Outfield, who scored four additional top 40 hits in 1986, 1987, 1989 and 1990 with "All the Love", "Since You've Been Gone", "Voices of Babylon" and "For You".[12]
  • Jermaine Stewart, who scored another top 40 hit in 1988 with "Say It Again".[13]
  • 'Til Tuesday, who scored another top 40 hit in 1986 with "What About Love"[14]
  • Johnny Kemp, who scored another top 40 hit in 1989 with "Birthday Suit".[15]
  • Neneh Cherry, who scored another top 40 hit in 1989 with "Kisses on the Wind".[16]
  • Pretty Poison, who scored another top 40 hit in 1988 with "Nightime".[17]
  • Robbie Nevil, who scored four additional top 40 hits 1987, 1988 and 1991 with "Dominoes", "Wot's It to Ya", "Back on Holiday" and "Just Like You"[18]
  • John Waite, who scored two additional top 40 hits in 1994 and 1985 with "Tears" and "Every Step of the Way".[19]
  • Quarterflash, who scored two adittional top 40 hits in 1982 and 1983 with "Find Another Fool" and "Take Me to Heart".[20]
  • Madness, who scored another top 40 hit in 1983 with "It Must Be Love".[21]
  • John Parr, who scored another top 40 hit in 1984 with "Naughty Naughty".[22]
  • Stacey Q, who scored another top 40 hit in 1986 with "We Connect".[23]
  • Cutting Crew, who scored two additional top 40 hit in 1987 with "I've Been in Love Before" and "One for the Mockingbird".[24]
  • Eddy Grant, who scored another top 40 hit in 1984 with "Romancing the Stone".[25]
  • Michael Sembello, who scored another top 40 hit in 1983 with "Automatic Man".[26]
  • Rockwell, who scored another top 40 hit in 1984 with "Obscene Phone Caller".[27]
  • Dead or Alive, who scored another top 40 hit in 1986 with "Brand New Lover".[28]
  • Men Without Hats, who scored another top 40 hit in 1987 with "Pop Goes the World".[29]
  • Animotion, who scored two additional top 40 hits in 1985 and 1989 with "Let Him Go" and "Room to Move".[30]
  • Tommy Tutone, who scored another top 40 hit in 1980 with "Angel Say No".[31]
  • a-ha, who scored another top 40 hit in 1985 with "The Sun Always Shines on T.V."[32]
  • A Flock of Seagulls, who scored two additional top 40 hits in 1982 and 1983 with "Space Age Love Song" and "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)".[33]

Songs of some artists featured in the special failed to even crack the top 40 of the Hot 100, yet alone chart on the Hot 100, and cannot be considered one-hit wonders. These artists included:

  • Rodney Dangerfield, whose song "Rappin' Rodney" only reached #83 on the Billboard Hot 100.[34]
  • Nik Kershaw, whose song "Wouldn't It Be Good" only reached #46 on the Billboard Hot 100.[35]
  • Red Rider, whose song "Lunatic Fringe" failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • Josie Cotton, whose song "Johnny Are You Queer?" failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • The Boomtown Rats, whose song "I Don't Like Mondays" only reached #76 on the Billboard Hot 100.[36]
  • XTC, whose song "Dear God" failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The band, though, has still had one appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989 with "The Mayor of Simpleton".[37]
  • Yello, whose song "Oh Yeah" only reached #51 on the Billboard Hot 100.[38]
  • Wall of Voodoo, whose song "Mexican Radio" only reached #58 on the Billboard Hot 100.[39]
  • The Waitresses, whose song "I Know What Boys Like" only reached #62 on the Billboard Hot 100.[40]
  • The Weather Girls, whose song "It's Raining Men" only reached #46 on the Billboard Hot 100.[41]
  • Bow Wow Wow, whose song "I Want Candy" only reached #62 on the Billboard Hot 100.[42]
  • Modern English, whose song "I Melt with You" only reached #78 on the Billboard Hot 100.[43]

References[]

  1. ↑ allmusic ((( Will to Power > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  2. ↑ allmusic ((( Club Nouveau > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  3. ↑ allmusic ((( Vixen > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  4. ↑ allmusic ((( Alannah Myles > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  5. ↑ allmusic ((( General Public > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  6. ↑ allmusic ((( Information Society > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  7. ↑ allmusic ((( Swing Out Sister > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  8. ↑ allmusic ((( Information Society > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  9. ↑ Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Martika
  10. ↑ allmusic ((( Robbie Dupree > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  11. ↑ allmusic ((( Nu Shooz > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  12. ↑ allmusic ((( The Outfield > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  13. ↑ allmusic ((( Jermaine Stewart > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  14. ↑ allmusic ((( 'Til Tuesday > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  15. ↑ allmusic ((( Johnny Kemp > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  16. ↑ allmusic ((( Neneh Cherry > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  17. ↑ allmusic ((( Pretty Poison > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  18. ↑ allmusic ((( Robbie Nevil > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  19. ↑ allmusic ((( John Waite > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  20. ↑ allmusic ((( Quarterflash > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  21. ↑ allmusic ((( Madness > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  22. ↑ allmusic ((( John Parr > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  23. ↑ allmusic ((( Stacey Q > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  24. ↑ allmusic ((( Cutting Crew > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  25. ↑ allmusic ((( Eddy Grant > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  26. ↑ allmusic ((( Michael Sembello > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  27. ↑ allmusic ((( Rockwell > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  28. ↑ allmusic ((( Dead or Alive > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  29. ↑ allmusic ((( Men Without Hats > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  30. ↑ allmusic ((( Animotion > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  31. ↑ allmusic ((( Tommy Tutone > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  32. ↑ allmusic ((( a-ha > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  33. ↑ allmusic ((( A Flock of Seagulls > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  34. ↑ allmusic ((( Rodney Dangerfield > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  35. ↑ allmusic ((( Nik Kershaw > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  36. ↑ allmusic ((( The Boomtown Rats > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  37. ↑ allmusic ((( XTC > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  38. ↑ allmusic ((( Yello > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  39. ↑ allmusic ((( Wall of Voodoo > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  40. ↑ allmusic ((( The Waitresses > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  41. ↑ allmusic ((( The Weather Girls > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  42. ↑ allmusic ((( Bow Wow Wow > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  43. ↑ allmusic ((( Modern English > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))

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