At one time, at least in theory, the music industry offered the chance for anyone to be a star. That was the premise for the movie “That Thing You Do,” about a fictional American band in the 1960s that records what turns out to be its only hit. The group’s name, fittingly, is The Wonders. Then there are the real one-hit wonders.
To determine the biggest one-hit wonders of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on historical song performance on the Billboard Hot 100. Songs released from 1975 to 2017 that reached No. 1 were ranked based on the total number of weeks spent in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard Hot 100 data is current through Nov. 19, 2022. Data on certified album sales came from the Recording Industry Association of America.
Additionally, artists must have charted on the Top 40 no more than twice, either as individual artists or by featuring on another artist’s song, and must have sold fewer than five million albums in the United States throughout their careers, not including singles. Several of the artists on this list – among them Gloria Gaynor and Captain & Tennille – may have charted other hits, but did not meet these criteria. (Here are some famous musicians who never topped the Billboard Hot 100.)
Of the 50 one-hit wonders on the list,16 were released in the 1970s. Many of the hits were propelled by the meteoric rise of disco and its danceable music. Some of those songs are still played on oldies stations such as Gaynor’s defiant anthem “I Will Survive,” Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music,” and “Boogie Oogie Oogie” by A Taste of Honey.
Other songs from the era were gimmicky, such as the techno Euro-pop song “Pop Muzik” by M., while others were forgettable – for instance the satirical “Disco Duck (Part I)” by radio personality Rick Dees & His Cast Of Idiots and the salacious “Afternoon Delight” by Starland Vocal Band. (You might be surprised at some of the biggest one-hit wonders who are still making music.)
Click here to learn about the biggest one-hit wonders of all time
The 1980s and 2000s each place 12 songs on the list. The advent of MTV raised the exposure for singles and extended their presence on playlists. Songs such as “Maniac” by Michael Sembello and “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes were boosted by appearing in motion pictures – 1983’s “Flashdance” and 1987’s “Dirty Dancing,” respectively.
In recent years, Billboard has changed its tracking methodology to account for new ways people listen to music by incorporating streaming data. Nine of the 10 songs with the longest staying power are from the 21st century.
50. “Harlem Shake” by Baauer
> Time in Top 40: 13 weeks
> Entered charts: March 2, 2013
> Left charts: July 13, 2013
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49. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin
> Time in Top 40: 13 weeks
> Entered charts: July 30, 1988
> Left charts: Jan. 21, 1989
48. “When I’m With You” by Sheriff
> Time in Top 40: 13 weeks
> Entered charts: May 14, 1983
> Left charts: April 15, 1989
47. “Afternoon Delight” by Starland Vocal Band
> Time in Top 40: 14 weeks
> Entered charts: May 8, 1976
> Left charts: Sept. 18, 1976
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46. “La Bamba” by Los Lobos
> Time in Top 40: 14 weeks
> Entered charts: June 27, 1987
> Left charts: Nov. 14, 1987
45. “Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners
> Time in Top 40: 14 weeks
> Entered charts: Jan. 22, 1983
> Left charts: June 25, 1983
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44. “At This Moment” by Billy Vera & The Beaters
> Time in Top 40: 15 weeks
> Entered charts: Nov. 8, 1986
> Left charts: March 28, 1987
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43. “Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward
> Time in Top 40: 15 weeks
> Entered charts: May 12, 1979
> Left charts: Sept. 29, 1979
42. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
> Time in Top 40: 15 weeks
> Entered charts: Sept. 26, 1987
> Left charts: Feb. 13, 1988
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41. “Funkytown” by Lipps, Inc.
> Time in Top 40: 15 weeks
> Entered charts: March 29, 1980
> Left charts: Aug. 30, 1980
40. “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles
> Time in Top 40: 15 weeks
> Entered charts: Jan. 6, 1990
> Left charts: June 16, 1990
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39. “Take on Me” by a-ha
> Time in Top 40: 15 weeks
> Entered charts: July 13, 1985
> Left charts: Jan. 11, 1986
38. “Shake You Down” by Gregory Abbott
> Time in Top 40: 16 weeks
> Entered charts: Oct. 18, 1986
> Left charts: March 14, 1987
37. “How Do You Talk to an Angel” by The Heights
> Time in Top 40: 16 weeks
> Entered charts: Oct. 3, 1992
> Left charts: Feb. 13, 1993
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36. “Maniac” by Michael Sembello
> Time in Top 40: 16 weeks
> Entered charts: June 4, 1983
> Left charts: Oct. 29, 1983
35. “Torn Between Two Lovers” by Mary Macgregor
> Time in Top 40: 16 weeks
> Entered charts: Nov. 20, 1976
> Left charts: April 16, 1977
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34. “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain & Tennille
> Time in Top 40: 16 weeks
> Entered charts: April 19, 1975
> Left charts: Sept. 20, 1975
33. “Unbelievable” by EMF
> Time in Top 40: 16 weeks
> Entered charts: April 13, 1991
> Left charts: Sept. 14, 1991
32. “One More Try” by Timmy T.
> Time in Top 40: 16 weeks
> Entered charts: Dec. 22, 1990
> Left charts: June 8, 1991
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31. “Disco Duck (Part I)” by Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots
> Time in Top 40: 16 weeks
> Entered charts: Aug. 14, 1976
> Left charts: Jan. 29, 1977
30. “Undercover Angel” by Alan O’Day
> Time in Top 40: 17 weeks
> Entered charts: April 2, 1977
> Left charts: Sept. 17, 1977
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29. “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred
> Time in Top 40: 17 weeks
> Entered charts: Dec. 21, 1991
> Left charts: May 9, 1992
28. “More Than Words” by Extreme
> Time in Top 40: 17 weeks
> Entered charts: March 23, 1991
> Left charts: Aug. 31, 1991
27. “Boogie Oogie Oogie” by A Taste of Honey
> Time in Top 40: 17 weeks
> Entered charts: June 24, 1978
> Left charts: Nov. 25, 1978
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26. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Thelma Houston
> Time in Top 40: 17 weeks
> Entered charts: Dec. 18, 1976
> Left charts: May 28, 1977
25. “Kiss You All Over” by Exile
> Time in Top 40: 17 weeks
> Entered charts: July 8, 1978
> Left charts: Dec. 9, 1978
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24. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
> Time in Top 40: 17 weeks
> Entered charts: Dec. 16, 1978
> Left charts: June 16, 1979
23. “This Is Why I’m Hot” by Mims
> Time in Top 40: 18 weeks
> Entered charts: Feb. 3, 2007
> Left charts: July 7, 2007
22. “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry
> Time in Top 40: 18 weeks
> Entered charts: June 19, 1976
> Left charts: Dec. 4, 1976
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21. “Butterfly” by Crazy Town
> Time in Top 40: 18 weeks
> Entered charts: Jan. 6, 2001
> Left charts: June 9, 2001
20. “Mickey” by Toni Basil
> Time in Top 40: 18 weeks
> Entered charts: Sept. 4, 1982
> Left charts: March 5, 1983
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19. “You Don’t Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)” by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.
> Time in Top 40: 18 weeks
> Entered charts: Sept. 11, 1976
> Left charts: March 5, 1977
18. “Hot Child in the City” by Nick Gilder
> Time in Top 40: 18 weeks
> Entered charts: June 10, 1978
> Left charts: Jan. 6, 1979
17. “Baby, Come to Me” by Patti Austin – A Duet With James Ingram
> Time in Top 40: 18 weeks
> Entered charts: April 24, 1982
> Left charts: April 23, 1983
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16. “Pop Muzik” by M
> Time in Top 40: 20 weeks
> Entered charts: Aug. 11, 1979
> Left charts: Jan. 19, 1980
15. “Laffy” by D4L
> Time in Top 40: 20 weeks
> Entered charts: Oct. 1, 2005
> Left charts: March 25, 2006
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14. “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone
> Time in Top 40: 21 weeks
> Entered charts: Sept. 3, 1977
> Left charts: Feb. 18, 1978
13. “A Fifth of Beethoven” by Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band
> Time in Top 40: 22 weeks
> Entered charts: May 29, 1976
> Left charts: Dec. 4, 1976
12. “Here Comes The Hotstepper (From “Ready To Wear”)” by Ini Kamoze
> Time in Top 40: 23 weeks
> Entered charts: Sept. 17, 1994
> Left charts: April 8, 1995
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11. “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-A-Lot
> Time in Top 40: 24 weeks
> Entered charts: April 11, 1992
> Left charts: Oct. 17, 1992
10. “Lately” by Divine
> Time in Top 40: 25 weeks
> Entered charts: Sept. 12, 1998
> Left charts: March 13, 1999
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9. “Fireflies” by Owl City
> Time in Top 40: 25 weeks
> Entered charts: Sept. 5, 2009
> Left charts: April 3, 2010
8. “Lean Back” by Terror Squad
> Time in Top 40: 27 weeks
> Entered charts: June 26, 2004
> Left charts: Jan. 22, 2005
7. “Bad Day” by Daniel Powter
> Time in Top 40: 27 weeks
> Entered charts: Feb. 25, 2006
> Left charts: Sept. 30, 2006
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6. “Cheerleader” by OMI
> Time in Top 40: 27 weeks
> Entered charts: May 9, 2015
> Left charts: Jan. 2, 2016
5. “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt
> Time in Top 40: 29 weeks
> Entered charts: Nov. 12, 2005
> Left charts: July 29, 2006
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4. “Rude” by MAGIC!
> Time in Top 40: 33 weeks
> Entered charts: May 10, 2014
> Left charts: Feb. 14, 2015
3. “Everything You Want” by Vertical Horizon
> Time in Top 40: 34 weeks
> Entered charts: Jan. 22, 2000
> Left charts: Oct. 28, 2000
2. “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” by Los Del Rio
> Time in Top 40: 37 weeks
> Entered charts: Sept. 2, 1995
> Left charts: Feb. 8, 1997
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1. “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye featuring Kimbra
> Time in Top 40: 44 weeks
> Entered charts: Jan. 21, 2012
> Left charts: March 2, 2013
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