To celebrate Label’s fifteenth anniversary, Deputy Editor Broderick Sutherland has compiled a list of one hit wonders dating back from 1998 all the way until 2012.
Some were brilliant, some were awful, and some made you wonder why the song was ever written. Nevertheless, they were all hits in their day and if anything else, this list will surely provide you with an excuse to procrastinate on YouTube, searching for these ‘classics’.
1998: Cornershop – Brimful of Asha
Whilst this was technically released in 1997, Brimful of Asha reached at number one in February 1998. Cornershop are still going today but the Wolverhampton-based group have yet to produce anything of the heights that Brimful of Asha has reached.
1999: Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5
Lou Bega is the definition of one hit wonder, after his song Mambo No. 5 reached number one in 21 charts across the world, racking up the sales in the millions. Unfortunately for the German-born singer, his song was also ranked sixth in the most annoying songs of all time.
2000: Baha Men – Who Let The Dogs Out
Reaching number two here in the UK, and number one in Australia and in New Zealand, Baha Men found international success. The song is also used in movie soundtracks including The Hangover and Rugrats in Paris, but unfortunately, the group split up in 2011.
2001: So Solid Crew – 21 Seconds
So Solid Crew, like many others in this list, managed to reach number one in the UK in August 2001. Whilst they had two top-ten hits later on in 2001 and therefore it could be argued that this (awful) song is not really a one-hit wonder, 21 Seconds has defined their career.
2002: Las Ketchup – The Ketchup Song
Words fail me.
2003- t.A.T.u.— All The Things She Said
This song will always be remembered for one of the most controversial music videos in mainstream pop history. With that said, it did not stop the Russian duo getting number ones in eighteen charts across the world. The duo split in 2011, but still reunites on the odd occasion.
2004: 3 Of A Kind – Babycakes
This is arguably one of the worst number ones in UK chart history. But it is not as bad as 2005’s biggest one hit wonder.
2005: Crazy Frog – Axel F
It beat Coldplay to number one. There is no hope for humanity.
2006: Gnarls Barkley – Crazy
It is a bit harsh to label them one hit wonders, since they have had some success since Crazy, but nothing could beat the phenomenon of that single. The group’s singer Cee-Lo Green found success whilst the group was taking a hiatus with his single Forget You becoming number one here in the UK.
2007: Leon Jackson – When You Believe
This could not be a one-hit wonder list without an addition from The X Factor. Unfortunately, Leon Jackson is picked on because his career never really got going after this painful cover of the Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston classic.
2008: Estelle featuring Kanye West – American Boy
Despite this song getting huge critical praise, including a win at the Grammys in 2009, Estelle’s career never took off after reaching number one here in the UK, shifting over 100,000 copies in the process.
2009: Asher Roth – I Love College
The US rapper’s career has never got off the ground since 2005, but his single I Love College did go platinum in the USA.
2010: Willow Smith – Whip My Hair
The daughter of Will Smith reached number two in the UK but this has been her only real chart success after all of her other singles have failed to chart significantly.
2011: Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks
Pumped Up Kicks was a huge international success for the Los Angeles-based band reaching number three in the US and number one in Australia, as well as getting in to the top twenty here in the UK. Sadly, for the group, they have yet to replicate their chart success.
2012: Gotye featuring Kimbra – Somebody That I Used To Know
The Belgian-Australian singer-songwriter has been around for a decade now, but he has only tasted commercial success once. With that said, it only topped 26 charts across the world and sold a measly thirteen-million copies. Not too bad then!
Make sure you catch up on the rest of Label's Fifteenth Anniversary Countdown content by clicking right here. And keep up with the final installment before Friday's special issue is released, by following the Label Online Facebook page or via @labelonline and #Label15 on Twitter.
