10 Unforgettable 80s One-Hit Wonder Songs: I Know You Remember These!

[@lovelyhawaiigal]

I just have to share this about Katrina and the Waves. She was an Air Force “brat” and was singing Pat Benatar covers in a group called, “Mama’s Cooking” at the NCO club in RAF Lakenheath in 1981. My husband was stationed there in the Air Force and was also a drummer. We met her and talked to her about her experiences. Then, in 1985, when I was very pregnant, John and I were thinking about names and kept hearing Walking on Sunshine and decided Katrina was the perfect name for our daughter! Still makes me smile every time I hear that song!

[@pdmullgirl]

Neat story. Thanks for sharing! ❤️💜💚

[@RinJERKS]

Nice list but a-Ha did have a second hit: "The Sun Always Shines on TV"

[@terrystud99]

Don't forget "Cry Wolf".

[@lasten75]

A-ha had many hits. Also the living daylights, stay on these roads, hunting high and low and others.

[@HungarianDerrickRose]

@@lasten75 Yeah, wanted to write something similar - your typical well educated "content creator". Did his research and everything.

[@TooSkinnyKenny]

that song's flying synths make it special to me.

[@supertuber120]

"Take On Me" and "The Sun Always Shines On TV" are the only songs of theirs that made the top 40 here in the US. Haven't heard of most of the other songs mentioned in the comments above. It's really interesting how a song can be a massive hit in one country and completely flop in another.

[@Shad0hawK]

Quiet Riot had several hits. Two of their biggest hits "cum on feel the noise" and they also covered "mama were all crazy now" note for note covers of the orginals by Slade, both released in 1973.

[@MichaelIvy-oi3nx]

Maybe I am just being a stickler, but as far as Quiet Riot goes what about Bang Your Head (Metal Health)

[@batsonelectronics]

Limahl didn't leave the band, they fired him before too shy came out. He had the hit song for the " Never ending Story" movie after he left. No One thought "turning Japanese" had anything to do with the Japanese culture.

[@PiratePrincessYuki]

Quiet Riot actually had two hits. Come On Feel the Noise and Bang Your Head (Metal Health).

[@andyaccount]

In the UK these two songs were a double A Side and were definitely one hit wonders. I know this list is actually referring to the US though

[@panosfloyd]

Fun fact: I don't know about a OHW in the US but a-ha is for 40 years a musical wonder

[@zelgemini24]

I love 80s music❤❤❤

[@mnmaddict37532]

Tony Basil is now 80 years old. Unbelievable!

[@lucken13]

She was very popular with my school class, which we graduated in 81!!!! 😍

[@accavanos]

One hit wonders means one hit. Quiet riot had 2 and ruled the metal scene for multiple years

[@tammylynnbeatricedoyle4500]

Enjoyed my trip down memory lane 😀

[@henriettechristensen2135]

Just because it's a One Hit Wonder in the USA doesn't mean it's a One Hit Wonder in Europe e.g.

[@supertuber120]

Absolutely. For example A-Ha was very big in Europe despite being a flash in the pan in the US. But I think with this particular video he was focusing on the US.

[@johnleak8396]

Quiet Riot had another popular hit, Metal Health. Although my personal favorite iare Slick Black Cadillac and Loves a Bitch.

[@KevinSills]

I was in my 20's in the 80's, many of these songs I owned on 45 records. What a trip down memory lane this video was. Thank you so much for putting this together, much appreciated!

[@user-tr5gp9po3p]

You might want to explain what a 45 is and the insert you place in the middle so you can play it on your record player . Just saying

[@johnbecker3292]

Live 80s music

[@MrGeirPaulsen]

A-ha is NOT a OHW!

[@mormand5003]

In the US they are considered a one-hit wonder. You know most American's don't realize the rest of the world exists lol

[@Prof_Jeff]

Americans DO realize there are other parts of the world. However, OHW status is based (in any official and objective manner) on performance on Billboard's Hot 100 and Top 40 charts in the U.S. (the caveat here is many people make these lists subjectively: "Nobody I know can remeber any other hit by this act, so they must be a OHW.") If performance on the charts around the world were taken into account, there would be no such thing as a OHW: an act that truly had just one hit in the U.S. most likely had multiple hits elsewhere (U.K., Germany, Sweden, Japan, and Australia are typical).

[@dickmercado1297]

youre right the sun always shines on tv and crying in the rain are also a hit

[@AnnuGupta-xi8tg]

Feitschyessfft​@@mormand5003

[@AnnuGupta-xi8tg]

​

[@banshee6k]

How the narrator casually glances over and/or omits Neverending Story which could also be called a one hit wonder and HUGE hit from the 80's...

[@alicecoulter8103]

Timbuk 3 ~ "Future's So Bright" (I gotta wear shades)

[@rescuecaptainbob8564]

Quiet Riot was NOT a one hit wonder! They also Had Bang You Head (Mental Health will drive you mad) Then they also had Momma We're all crazy now and others!

[@isabeld.paredes4923]

Walking on sunshine was a huge smash, but in 1985, not '83

[@lovelyhawaiigal]

I believe it was originally released in 1983 (maybe in Europe), then re-released in April 1985. It also got a HUGE boost in 89 again in the Look Who’s Talking movie soundtrack of course, and has been in loads of other films and commercials! It’s the song my daughter was named after (Katrina is a great name and it’s a great song!)

[@user-xx3nx3nx8v]

The sun always shines o T V. ,Geno!

[@scotthughes2914]

Having a hit not as big as the other doesn't equal a one hit wonder, if it did we would have untold thousands.

[@lookfeelbehealthy6320]

Exactly. And the fact that they said that Quiet Riot was a one-hit wonder means they know nothing about music. They had an entire album that was successful.

[@Me-qp8vz]

@@lookfeelbehealthy6320 Damn I can only think of one of their songs.

[@dhenderson1810]

​@@lookfeelbehealthy6320It doesn't mean that they only ever recorded one song. It is one HIT, meaning they are known for one song. Fans know more songs but most only know that song.

[@lookfeelbehealthy6320]

@@dhenderson1810 You just proved my point. If fans know more songs, then, by definition, they're not just a one hit wonder. Lol

[@dhenderson1810]

@@lookfeelbehealthy6320 One HIT, not just one song. Fans might know their obscure hits, but only one charted high internationally. A hit is if it makes top 20.

[@janaecatt2407]

It is crazy how in a lot of these videos that are looking back in time people get disrespectful of the artist that they’re looking back at calling them one hit wonders when they had more than one hit. I’m guessing people decided the one hit or only heard the one hit, but it doesn’t mean that that’s the only song that was a hit or even that it was their only song - so disrespectful.

[@erikbrantly4015]

Kevin DuBrow died in 2007 not 2001. 52 years old.

[@supertuber120]

I was about to point that out before I read your comment. A couple mistakes here and there but I still enjoyed the video.

[@stevegallo8483]

Fun fact on Toni Basil of "Mickey" fame. She was in the 1969 movie Easy Rider.

[@Bluerose888]

Also in the Movie Head by the Monkees. She was dancing with Davy Jones while he was singing Daddy's Song.

[@craigparse1439]

"When I'm with you" by Sheriff. 1982. Deep cut for some.

[@jasongibson3496]

I am sorry have to disagree with you sir, but you forgot to include two songs that were one hit wonders as well. Artist: Swinging Sister Song: Break Out and Artist: Baltimora Song: Tarzan Boy. These two songs were more popular than I am turning Japanese in the 1980s and also the two songs I mentioned get played more on 80s on 8 on Sirus XM than some of the songs you have listed. Oh, well to each his own, I guess.

[@mikecampingforfun5226]

I still remember these songs and dancing to them in the night clubs

[@TooSkinnyKenny]

"Digging Your Scene" The Blow Monkeys and "Perfect Way" Scritti Politti are my favorite one hit wonders if both were released in the 80s.

[@ArcaTubism]

Blow Monkeys has several other decent sized hits, I think I even had a tape or cd of a compilation of singles that had a number of recognisable songs. Scritti Politti, kind of similar. I'll admit those two you mention are probably their biggest hits though. Both bands had quite a lot of good stuff from my memory.

[@Shopmyst]

The music from the 1960s was the best, nothing comes close to it.

[@Weaver67bl]

Lead singer of KajaGoGo also did title song for Never-ending Story

[@Prof_Jeff]

True, but does not remove the act from OHW status. If so, many acts classified as OHW for decades no longer are: Stealers Wheel ("Stuck in the Middle") b/c Gerry Rafferty had several solo hits Free ("All Right Now") b/c Paul Rodgers went in to form Bad Company The First Class ("Beach Baby"), Edison Lighthouse ("Love Grows"), and Brotherhood of Man ("United We Stand") b/c Tony Burrows sang lead on all of these AND had solo hits

[@supertuber120]

Actually that wasn't Kajagoogoo. That was Limahl, the lead singer of Kajagoogoo but without the band. That was just him solo.

[@downundarob]

Dexys Midnight Runners had a second hit with 'Geno'

[@davidchalk8883]

How very American - if it's wasn't a hit in the USA it wasn't a hit at all.

[@michaeltoler4625]

it's called waybackUSA not waybackEurope...in America theyare one hit wonders..how very European of you to assume everything revolves around you

[@periair8874]

@@michaeltoler4625same goes to the US. They think they are the pinnacle. But in realty they have no knowledge.

[@Studamato]

@@michaeltoler4625 Hell 2 the yeah Michael!

[@Prof_Jeff]

​@@michaeltoler4625 These international viewers post this on all of these OHW videos. I often come along and explain that OHW status is determined (in any objective fashion) by chart performance on the Billboard Hot 100 and Top 40 in the U.S. If worldwide charts were used, there would be no such thing as a OHW (many acts who are OHW by U.S. charts most likely had multiple hits in the U.K., Sweden, Germany, Australia, or Japan).

[@davidchalk8883]

@@Prof_Jeff So to be clear to Americans "One" can be any number because the total number of hits a band or group has doesn't count towards deciding if they are a ONE hit wonder (the clue is in the word FFS). Not exactly an intellegent arguement.m Even for a country that, through a lack of democracy, made Donald Trump president

[@juliemcarthur3004]

Love the eightes

[@davidhabert]

It's interesting that you said that Katrina and the Waves disbanded during the late 90s, because there is another fun fact you may not know. They appeared and won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997 with their song *"Love Shine A light."* That was the last time that the United Kingdom won that contest.

[@Studamato]

1997 would be the late 90's lmao, still have 3 years left in the decade!

[@Mistysmudge1]

She was on her own not as the band

[@mediamike693]

+++🎵🎸+++THE 80;S 4 MUSIC WAS GREAT+++I 🐸🦘+++LOVED IT+++MY WEAR ❓❓❓ WAS 1987+++🎶🥁🎤+++

[@scottmiller-y3b]

god i was so glad to be a 80s kid

[@mtlnascarfan]

Wow. You guys don't know jack about 80's songs or groups. You also don't understand the meaning of "one hit wonder".

[@lasten75]

Agree, it is amateur hour around here.

[@dhenderson1810]

They are mainly known for one song. It doesn't mean that they only ever recorded one song. Okay name me what you consider a true "one hit wonder".

[@mtlnascarfan]

@@dhenderson1810 "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners or "Puttin' On The Ritz" by Taco. a-Ha is known for MANY songs throughout the 80's and 90's.

[@lasten75]

@@dhenderson1810 a one hit wonder is when an artist or group only had one hit on the hitlists. A-ha has had many songs chart all over the world. According to your logic nearly all acts are one hit wonders because most people that are not fans of an act rarely knows more than the hit played on the radio or some playlist. And if an act has a number 1 hit and then 20 songs peak at number 2,5 or 11 they are not a one hit wonder.

[@Geoff_G]

​@dhenderson1810 The definition of OHW is a band that has only one Top 40 hit on the charts.

[@ILJ68]

I Got You - Split Enz Modern Day Delilah - Van Stephenson

[@erickort1987]

hold on to 18 -black n blue

[@JamesHelton-d2l]

I think Robert John sad eyes was a one hit wonder

[@luisrodriguez-mb7cc]

It was in the US, Aha never the charts in America after Take on me.

[@sarahhiltontheleadsuite]

I was waiting for "Saraaaaa, Saraaa"

[@MichaelIvy-oi3nx]

Sorry that was Jefferson Starship/Starship/Jefferson Airplane who had many hits.

[@sarahhiltontheleadsuite]

@@MichaelIvy-oi3nx ahhh true ! Guess it wasn't a one hit wonder haha...Im an 80s baby and I feel like everyone sang me that song at one point or another

[@lasten75]

A-ha is not a one hit wonder group, far from it.

[@vincentpritchett1231]

😂

[@brandonhoad9033]

If I remember right that was the # of the Buffalo police chief's daughter. Or a town near Buffalo maybe

[@neilfraser2349]

Ouch! Tough crowd. I enjoyed the vid, and welcomed the background info.

[@parallel23s]

At least here in Brazil A-ha has lots of famous songs. But I know their only hit in US was Take on Me.

[@richard-leeriley8583]

What about this song Video Killed the Radio Star? This song was done by The Buggles. Can you give a background on this song sometime?

[@iamsoverybored878]

Todd in the Shadows covered that song in his One Hit Wonderland KZbin series.

[@janaecatt2407]

Melt with you was featured in valley girls but valley girls was in the 80s valley girls was not in the 90s

[@Bibguide]

Awesome 👍

[@sweetmonster6631]

Outstanding editing and well explained we want 90s one hit wonders

[@99bristol]

Take on me, unplugged version used in Dead pool 2

[@FanboyMarkJabroni]

Sounds like AI to me… unfortunate, or I might’ve subscribed. Seemed like everything but #1 had a “Fun Fact”, did I miss it?

[@je23508]

Love the fun facts

[@user-ku6eo7fe1p]

How about When I'm With You by Sheriff? Became smash #1 hit several years after the band broke up.

[@kmfdm303]

Giving Quiet Riot the credit for "Come on Feel the Noise" is pretty funny as it's a cover.

[@Maidenfan83]

Yeah and Kevin Dubrow wanted nothing to do with that song as he hated it

[@supertuber120]

He mentioned that it was a cover in the video. This is a one hit wonders video and that's the big hit song that they're best known for even though it wasn't one of their original songs.

[@djcedric]

KIM CARNES

[@Mistysmudge1]

Betty Davis eyes, great song

[@blebhan8213]

She had THREE hits prior to Bette Davis Eyes. More Love (#10) Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer (#4) What About Me (#15)

[@OMVilla2927]

Benny sardines into thr night. Benjrrman Orr stay the night

[@danielroach5415]

no Dr and the medics - spirit in the sky or dead or alive - you spin me round?

[@andyaccount]

Dr and the Medics had minor hits, still hits though with Burn and Waterloo, the Abba song, with Roy Wood. Dead or Alive had at least 5 other top 20 hits in the UK.

[@blebhan8213]

@@andyaccount Brand New Lover was a big hit for Dead Or Alive

[@arsenjaho8069]

A-Ha had a lot of other hits. By the way , in this video , their lead singer with sunglasses performing live looks like Patrick Swayze.

[@blebhan8213]

Now Patrick Swayze, that's a one-hit wonder

[@arsenjaho8069]

@@blebhan8213 yes, of course. She's like the wind. Beautiful song.

[@99bristol]

Ah ha did a 007 theme

[@andrewnicholls9481]

Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buugles???

[@caryrodda]

I want to like your channel, but unless you improve your quality control with the mismatched photos and titles I'll probably unsubscribe.

[@mham1330]

No body cares of your grievance so go ahead and watch something else.

[@mink99a]

I do care

[@TheAntCollective]

Once I read your comment, I could not stop seeing all of the mistakes. They are very egregious and should have been easily caught and corrected. It makes me wonder if this was AI generated and never reviewed for quality.

[@svioletsamuel3380]

Baltimora?

[@Studamato]

You can't say they enjoyed a few more hits and call them a OHW.

[@Stealthmodeactivated-h8w]

Why do Americans think that they’re the only country on the planet?

[@josephalberta1145]

Funky town was not sang by a white German model. The real singer was African American.

[@terrystud99]

867-5309 came out in '82 not '81.

[@Me-qp8vz]

Depends on which country.

[@je23508]

867-5309/Jenny" is a song written by Alex Call and Jim Keller and performed by Tommy Tutone that was released on the album Tommy Tutone 2 (1981) through Columbia Records. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Rock Top Tracks chart in April 1982

[@billnolte8644]

Like the video, but I have never heard of "Turning Japanese" and Quiet Riot had another hit on the same album, so not exactly a one hit wonder.

[@pauldesigncomics2625]

Turning Japanese was definitely a big hit. Many have pointed out that it was a metaphor for masturbation.

[@philip2010]

No way are some of these are a one hit wonder

[@99bristol]

The living daylights

[@batsonelectronics]

I forgot to add. This has to be fake AI shit as the pronunciations of some of the bands was way off.

[@danielroach5415]

Kajarrrrgoogoo got me! :D

[@Prof_Jeff]

You may be right about AI, but a lot of KZbinrs make mistakes like this to gin up comment traffic on their videos. Just like we're doing...🤦‍♂️

[@homeaccount5943]

WRONG. Ah-Ha was NOT a one hot wonder ! Do better research, or fix your memory !

[@floridaorbust5038]

You talk to much unsubscribe

[@jocamp4837]

one hit wonder video "the band had other hits" "the band enjoyed a few more hits"😕

[@Williamadlam1]

aha more one hits they not one hit wonder

[@philip2010]

Some of these do not qualify as a one hit wonder they more than one hit

[@Retromusicworld2.0]

The same videos again and again in all channels!And of course what you show in the video is not a 80s One Hit!

[@benhurlawis5315]

Very wrong bro....

[@Entenluc]

First Song, and you are wrong.

[@scottlawton4819]

Why do you keep saying “Fun Fact” - it’s just information… what is a fun fact anyway?

[@globalmodelsdotbiz8965]

This is so dumb ... is this about one hit wonders? Aha had several hits as 'The Sun Always Shines on TV', Dexys Midnight Runners had ar least one more hit. And so on ... Kajagoogoo had more hits ... they even have a The Best album. Probably will also include Shocking Blue ...

[@TheresaManetzke]

Who put this list together? So wrong on many levels.

[@dhenderson1810]

Gee, the comment section is full of whiners and moaners. Yes, most of these bands had other songs. No one cares about them though.

[@rogerlangnes2381]

Say that A-Ha is one hit wonder is just stupid, they had not of other songs!

[@dhenderson1810]

@@rogerlangnes2381 In a number of countries, "Take On Me" was the only song that charted,. making them one hit wonders in those countries.

[@rogerlangnes2381]

@@dhenderson1810 one hit wonder is groups like O-zone, las Ketchup, vanilla ice! Not Aha

[@dhenderson1810]

@@rogerlangnes2381 Vanilla Ice had more than one song.

[@BrianMacDonald-vh4df]

Play the songs but a bloody monologue to every one? Seriously, is your voice that important?

[@graeme8800]

Hit or not, most of these songs suck!

[@paulsbuildingandpropetyyma544]

Very poor quality

[@Studamato]

The name of the channel is WaybackUSA, not Waybackthewholeworld! These are OHW's in the US, not New Zealand or the UK. A-Ha did not have another hit here in the US. Like them a lot but nothing else ever charted here.

[@janaecatt2407]

It is crazy how in a lot of these videos that are looking back in time people get disrespectful of the artist that they’re looking back at calling them one hit wonders when they had more than one hit. I’m guessing people decided the one hit or only heard the one hit, but it doesn’t mean that that’s the only song that was a hit or even that it was their only song - so disrespectful.