The 50 Most Streamed One Hit Wonders

[TTL News 308]

In 2011, mainstream music listeners were introduced to Belgian-Australian singer-songwriter Gotye through his cross-genre chart-topper “Somebody That I Used to Know,” featuring Kimbra. Though he’s released plenty of other music since then, he has fallen short of recreating the magic of that one unforgettable indie breakup ballad. This has inspired many people to make the exact same joke about Gotye’s now being somebody that we used to know.

As a one-hit wonder, however, he’s among the best. UK-based broadband comparison service broadbandchoices.co.uk compiled a list of the 50 most popular one-hit wonder songs based on the 20 most followed one-hit wonder playlists on Spotify. After ranking the hits by number of Spotify streams, “Somebody That I Used to Know” won the unofficial blue ribbon with more than 810 million plays.

You could probably divide the list into three categories: Songs Whose Titles and Artists You Recognize; Songs Whose Titles You Recognize But Whose Artists You Swear You've Never Heard Of; and Song You Don't Recognize By Title or Artist (But Would Definitely Know Them If You Heard Them). For anyone around during the 1990s, “MMMBop” by Hanson—number 31 on the list—likely falls in the first category, and diehard Hanson fans might even claim the band isn’t a one-hit wonder at all.

 

See the rest, including the complete list, here.

What's your favorite off that list?

[Chris 2,169]

My favorites bolded ( and you see what I did there? ) 

 1. “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye

2. "This Girl” by Cookin’ on 3 Burners

3. “Stuck in the Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel

4. “Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners

5. “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes

6. “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Toploader

7. “Mambo No. 5” by Lou Bega

8. “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina & the Waves

9. “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede

10. “Blue (Da Ba Dee) ” by Eiffel 65

11. “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia

12. “IAmChino” by Ay Mi Dios

13. “What Is Love” by Haddaway

14. “Bad Day” by Daniel Powter

15. “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell

16. “Save Tonight” by Eagle-Eye Cherry ( We've actually performed this a couple times, interesting story. )

17. “Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)” by Silentó

18. “Escape (Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes

19. “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum

20. “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus

21. “Send Me on My Way” by Rusted Root

22. “(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight” by Cutting Crew

23. “(I've Had) The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley

24. “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains of Wayne

25. “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice

26. “You Only Get What You Give” by New Radicals

27. “99 Luftballons” by Nena

28. “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles

29. “Black Betty” by Ram Jam

30. “My Sharona” by The Knack

31. “MMMBop” by Hanson

32. “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin

33. “It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls

34. “Breakfast at Tiffany's” by Deep Blue Something

35. “Better Off Alone” by Alice DeeJay

36. “Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass

37. “Turn Me On” by Kevin Lyttle

38. “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies

39. “She's So High” by Tal Bachman

40. “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry

41. “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles

42. “Walking in Memphis” by Marc Cohn

43. “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba

44. “Dragostea Din Tei” by O-Zone

45. “I’ll Be There For You” by The Rembrandts

46. “Macarena” by Los Del Río

47. “Jordan Belfort” by Wes Walker & Dyl

48. “There She Goes” by The La’s

49. “Bitch” by Meredith Brooks

50. “Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest

[Chris 2,169]

7 minutes ago, Chris said:

18. “Escape (Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes

This song bugs the hell out of me. 

When you actually pay attention to the lyrics, it's about two people, sick of each other's shit. One of them places a personal ad in the paper ( You see kids, once upon a time... ) and the other responds. They both go out on this mystery date to freakin cheat on each other and realize that NOW they're compatible hahaha. 

I feel like it needs a sequel or at least a third verse:

"As we drove back to our place,

I was struck by the thought

I was a cheating scumbag

And my lady a slut."