Our favourite one-hit wonders
A-won't you take me to Funkytown?
From Anita Ward to Sam Bailey, these are some of our favourite (but also some of the weirdest) one-hit wonders...
Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum (1969)
Originally recorded and released in 1969, this Norman Greenbaum track was his only major hit. However, it found success later on with Gareth Gates and Doctor and the Medics!
'Ring My Bell' – Anita Ward (1979)
The song was originally written for 11-year-old Stacy Lattisaw as a teen song about kids talking on the phone! Anita Ward put a slightly different spin on it when it was eventually assigned to her...
'Pop Muzik' – M (1979)
M was a project by Robin Scott, and his one-hit wonder reached No.1 in more than seven countries! It was one of the most popular singles of 1979.
'Move Closer' – Phyllis Nelson (1985)
The lyrics of this one-hit wonder were based on a long-term love affair Phyllis had with a much younger man, a struggling entrepreneur in Philadelphia!
'The First Time' – Robin Beck (1988)
Robin Beck's first significant chart hit was originally recorded for a Coca-Cola advert in 1987! The single spent a total of 14 weeks in the UK charts.
'Somebody That I Used To Know' – Gotye (2012)
This was Beligan-Australian singer Gotye's most successful hit, topping the charts in the US, UK and Australia! He wrote it about his own relationship experience.
'Skyscraper' – Sam Bailey (2014)
This was originally performed by American singer Demi Lovato in 2011, but was covered by Sam Bailey as her winner's single on The X Factor. It was the 2013 UK Christmas No.1, but Sam's single also produced the second-lowest first-week sales of any winner's single from The X Factor – eek!
'Knock On Wood' – Amii Stewart (1979)
This song also charted with versions by David Bowie, Eric Clapton and Floyd, but Amii Stewart's disco version was by far the most successful, reaching US No.1 and reaching the Top 10 twice in the UK.
'Funkytown' – Lipps, Inc. (1980)
Lipps, Inc.'s one-hit wonder reached No.1 in 28 countries, a record that was only beaten by Madonna's 'Hung Up' in 2005!
'Bad Day' – Daniel Powter (2006)
This was first used as a French Coca-Cola TV ad in 2004 before Daniel Powter released it officially! He eventually got a contract with Warner Bros. in 2005 and it became his biggest hit to date.
They may have been one-hit wonders, but these tunes still win points in our books for their catchiness and sing-along-ability (yes, that is definitely a word)!
What are your favourite one-hit wonders?