100. "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas (1974)  
99. "No Rain" by Blind Melon (1993)  
98. "Two Of Hearts" by Stacey Q (1986)  
97. "Whoomp! There It Is" by Tag Team (1993)  
96. "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow (1982)  
95. "Harper Valley P.T.A." by Jeannie C. Riley (1968)  
94. "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes (1993)  
93. "Don't Give Up On Us Baby" by David Soul (1977)  
92. "Heart & Soul" by T'Pau (1987)  
91. "Electric Avenue" by Eddie Grant (1983)  
93. "Don't Want To Fall In Love" by Jane Child (1990)  
89. "Achy, Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus (1992)  
87. "Barbie Girl" by Aqua (1997)  
93. "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston (1977)  
86. "Bust A Move" by Young MC (1989)  
85. "Spirit In The Sky" by Norman Greenbaum (1970)  
84. "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree (1994)  
83. "The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats (1983)  
82. "I Know What Boys Like" by The Waitresses (1982)  
81. "Just A Friend" by Biz Markie (1990)  
80. "Cum On Feel The Noize" by Quiet Riot (1983)  
79. "Puttin' On The Ritz" by Taco (1983)  
78. "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" by Crash Test Dummies (1994)  
77. "What I Am" by Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians (1989)  
76. "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off" by Jermaine Stewart (1986)  
75. "I've Never Been To Me" by Charlene (1982)  
74. "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" by Digable Planets (1993)  
73. "Convoy" by C.W. McCall (1975)  
72. "Maniac" by Michael Sembello (1983)  
71. "How Bizarre" by OMC (1997)  
70. "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence (1973)  
69. "Funkytown" by Lipps, Inc. (1980)  
68. "A Girl Like You" by Edwyn Collins (1995)  
67. "Epic" by Faith No More (1990)  
66. "Mambo No. 5" by Lou Bega (1999)  
65. "In My House" by The Mary Jane Girls (1985)  
64. "You Get What You Give" by New Radicals (1999)  
63. "Jump Around" by House Of Pain (1992)  
62. "Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" by Timbuk 3 (1986)  
61. "Round And Round" by Ratt (1984)  
60. "More, More, More" by Andrea True Connection (1976)  
59. "867-5309/Jenny" by Tommy Tutone (1982)  
58. "What Is Love?" by Haddaway (1993)  
57. "Smokin' In The Boys Room" by Brownsville Station (1973)  
56. "Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton (1975)  
55. "It's Raining Men" by Weather Girls (1982)  
54. "Makin' It" by David Naughton (1977)  
53. "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell (1984)  
52. "Genius Of Love" by Tom Tom Club (1982)  
51. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers (1993)  
50. "I Touch Myself" by The Divinyls (1991)  
49. "Turn The Beat Around" by Vicki Sue Robinson (1976)  
48. "True" by Spandau Ballet (1983)  
47. "Rock & Roll, Pt. 2" by Gary Glitter (1972)  
46. "Don't Worry Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin (1988)  
45. "Lovefool" by The Cardigans (1997)  
44. "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco (1986)  
43. "How Do You Talk To An Angel" by The Heights (1992)  
42. "Hot Child In The City" by Nick Gilder (1978)  
41. "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1985)  
40. "In A Big Country" by Big Country (1983)  
39. "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve (1997)  
38. "Me & Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul (1972)  
37. "I Melt With You" by Modern English (1982)  
36. "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors (1980)  
35. "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks (1997)  
34. "Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal Band (1976)  
33. Got To Be Real" by Cheryl Lynn (1979)  
32. "Hot Hot Hot" by Buster Poindexter (1987)  
31. "Unbelievable" by EMF (1991)  
30. "Seasons In The Sun" by Terry Jacks (1974)  
29. "Pass The Dutchie" by Musical Youth (1983)  
28. "It Takes Two" by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock (1988)  
27. "Pop Musik" by M (1979)  
26. "Stumblin' In" by Suzi Quatro (1979)  
25. "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo (1983)  
24. "Whip It" by Devo (1980)  
23. "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba (1997)  
22. "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry (1976)  
21. "Cars" by Gary Numan (1980)  
20. "She Blinded Me With Science" by Thomas Dolby (1983) 
19. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida " by Iron Butterfly (1968) 
18. "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sin

I just noticed the numbers a little mixed up at the top of the list

100.  "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas (1974)     
99.  "No Rain" by Blind Melon (1993)     
98.  "Two Of Hearts" by Stacey Q (1986)     
97.  "Whoomp! There It Is" by Tag Team (1993)     
96.  "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow (1982)     
95.  "Harper Valley P.T.A." by Jeannie C. Riley (1968)     
94.  "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes (1993)     
93.  "Don't Give Up On Us Baby" by David Soul (1977)     
92.  "Heart & Soul" by T'Pau (1987)     
91.  "Electric Avenue" by Eddie Grant (1983)     
90.  "Don't Want To Fall In Love" by Jane Child (1990)     
89.  "Achy, Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus (1992)     
88.  "Barbie Girl" by Aqua (1997)     
87.  "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston (1977)

Fixed the ones in bold, they were accidentally numbered incorrectly

I have always liked #3 - Come on Eileen.  I remember when I first heard it.  I taped it off the radio- with my finger on the pause button - an played it over and over.  Still enjoy listening to it today.  It just has a catchy little beat that I like.  :)

A lot of those aren't one hit wonders and some are well established artists (Eddie Grant, T'Pau, Aqua, Crash Test Dummies, Jermaine Stewart, Suzi Quatro, Kajagoogoo, Proclaimers, Gary Numan, Thomas Dolby - and who the heck thought Spandau Ballet, Soft Cell, A-ha, Gary Numan and Dexy's Midnight Runners were one hit wonders? LOL!!!).

VH1 should do their research.

A lot of those aren't one hit wonders and some are well established artists (Eddie Grant, T'Pau, Aqua, Crash Test Dummies, Jermaine Stewart, Suzi Quatro, Kajagoogoo, Proclaimers, Gary Numan, Thomas Dolby - and who the heck thought Spandau Ballet, Soft Cell, A-ha, Gary Numan and Dexy's Midnight Runners were one hit wonders? LOL!!!).

VH1 should do their research.



Actually, a lot of those bands were 1-hit Wonders in the US, which is where they based all their charting on to gather this list.  Yeah a lot of those bands had hits overseas, but here in the States, they didn't.  They based this on radio spins, charting history, and intangibles like longevity and innovation.

Actually, a lot of those bands were 1-hit Wonders in the US, which is where they based all their charting on to gather this list.  Yeah a lot of those bands had hits overseas, but here in the States, they didn't.  They based this on radio spins, charting history, and intangibles like longevity and innovation.


Then the title should read "VH1's 100 Greatest US One Hit Wonders".

Then the title should read "VH1's 100 Greatest US One Hit Wonders".

Even in the US, some had more hits


Men Without Hats had another hit with "Pop Goes The World"

Quiet Riot had "Bang Your Head" and "Mama Weer All Crazy Now"

a-ha also had "The Sun Always Shine On TV"

to name a few  :)

Even in the US, some had more hits


Men Without Hats had another hit with "Pop Goes The World"

Quiet Riot had "Bang Your Head" and "Mama Weer All Crazy Now"

a-ha also had "The Sun Always Shine On TV"

to name a few  :)


Ha ha! So even on their own terms VH1 cocked up.

Thanks Popster. I would applaud you if you were a member (is that any incentive to join?).  :)

Then the title should read "VH1's 100 Greatest US One Hit Wonders".



It's implied.  That program wasn't airing world-wide.....it was only airing in the United States.

Even in the US, some had more hits


Men Without Hats had another hit with "Pop Goes The World"

Quiet Riot had "Bang Your Head" and "Mama Weer All Crazy Now"

a-ha also had "The Sun Always Shine On TV"

to name a few  :)




The song is not called "Bang Your Head".  It's called "Metal Health".  And were they significant hits?  I mean, would they be songs played on the radio regularly here?  If not, then that's why the band was on the list.

Vh-1 usually bases their lists on Top 40 hits.  They must have been smoking weed when they compiled this, cause these following artists had other Top 40 hits ...

* Vanilla Ice - "Play That Funky Music" (US #4)
* Young MC - "Principals Office" (US #33)
* A-ha - "The Sun Always Shines on TV" (US #20)
* Falco - "Vienna Calling" (US #18)
* Spandau Ballet - "Gold" (US #29) | "Only When You Leave" (US #34)
* Rockwell - "Obscene Phone Caller" (US #35)
* Michael Sembello - "Automatic Man" (US #34)
* Jermaine Stewart - "Say it Again" (US #27)
* Stacey Q - "We Connect" (US #35)
* Men Without Hats - "Pop Goes the World" (US #20)
* Eddy Grant - "Romancing the Stone" (US #26)
* Tommy Tutone - "Angel Say No" (US #38)


And since Vh-1 only ever do the Top 40 hits, it confuses me to see "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow and "I Melt With You" by Modern English in the list.  Neither of those reached the U.S. Top 40, which means other artists in the list who had other minor hits (Big Country, Musical Youth, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Divinyls, Kajagoogoo ...) are instantly disqualified. 


It pains me to see Terry Jacks, Nick Gilder and Men Without Hats in the list.  They were Canadian artists, and had a whole bunch of other hits that America never got  :\'(

It's implied.  That program wasn't airing world-wide.....it was only airing in the United States.


We get VH1 over here.

We get VH1 over here.



I understand that, but much like MTV, they don't have global programming.  What's airing right now on VH1 is not airing on VH1 wherever you are.  Keeping that mind, since it was aired in the United States, the list was compiled based on US charts.  They say that at the beginning of the show.

And since Vh-1 only ever do the Top 40 hits, it confuses me to see "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow and "I Melt With You" by Modern English in the list.  Neither of those reached the U.S. Top 40, which means other artists in the list who had other minor hits (Big Country, Musical Youth, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Divinyls, Kajagoogoo ...) are instantly disqualified. 


Good call.

It pains me to see Terry Jacks, Nick Gilder and Men Without Hats in the list.  They were Canadian artists, and had a whole bunch of other hits that America never got  :\'(

You know the kind of pain I feel seeing Spandau Ballet, A-ha and Kajagoogoo on the list, lol.

Vh-1 usually bases their lists on Top 40 hits.  They must have been smoking weed when they compiled this, cause these following artists had other Top 40 hits ...

* Vanilla Ice - "Play That Funky Music" (US #4)
* Young MC - "Principals Office" (US #33)
* A-ha - "The Sun Always Shines on TV" (US #20)
* Falco - "Vienna Calling" (US #18)
* Spandau Ballet - "Gold" (US #29) | "Only When You Leave" (US #34)
* Rockwell - "Obscene Phone Caller" (US #35)
* Michael Sembello - "Automatic Man" (US #34)
* Jermaine Stewart - "Say it Again" (US #27)
* Stacey Q - "We Connect" (US #35)
* Men Without Hats - "Pop Goes the World" (US #20)
* Eddy Grant - "Romancing the Stone" (US #26)
* Tommy Tutone - "Angel Say No" (US #38)


And since Vh-1 only ever do the Top 40 hits, it confuses me to see "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow and "I Melt With You" by Modern English in the list.  Neither of those reached the U.S. Top 40, which means other artists in the list who had other minor hits (Big Country, Musical Youth, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Divinyls, Kajagoogoo ...) are instantly disqualified. 


It pains me to see Terry Jacks, Nick Gilder and Men Without Hats in the list.  They were Canadian artists, and had a whole bunch of other hits that America never got  :\'(







When you list those artists, the songs people come up with for them are not the ones you listed.  There's a reason for that.  Those aren't legitimate "hits" the way their more recognizable songs are.  In fact, I've never heard of any of those songs.  However, I have heard of the songs those artists made the list for.  I would never consider a song that charts at #34 a hit.  No way.  And Vanilla Ice going Top 5?  That song actually came out BEFORE Ice, Ice, Baby so that one is wrong.  The others?  Nope.

When you list those artists, the songs people come up with for them are not the ones you listed.  There's a reason for that.  Those aren't legitimate "hits" the way their more recognizable songs are.  In fact, I've never heard of any of those songs.  However, I have heard of the songs those artists made the list for.  I would never consider a song that charts at #34 a hit.  No way.  And Vanilla Ice going Top 5?  That song actually came out BEFORE Ice, Ice, Baby so that one is wrong.  The others?  Nope.


I don't understand your reasoning. So a song that hits No 4, 18 or 20 is not a 'legitimate hit' just because you haven't heard it?

Whether a song comes out before another or not is irrelevant. It is still a hit which doesn't make Vanilla Ice a one hit wonder.

I don't understand your reasoning. So a song that hits No 4, 18 or 20 is not a 'legitimate hit' just because you haven't heard it?

Whether a song comes out before another or not is irrelevant. It is still a hit which doesn't make Vanilla Ice a one hit wonder.


Well when you think of a person like Vanilla Ice the song that automatically come to mind is Ice Ice Baby not Play that Funky Music and Vh1 also did mention some of the other artists hits even play that funky music they just said Ice Ice baby was a larger hit.

I don't understand your reasoning. So a song that hits No 4, 18 or 20 is not a 'legitimate hit' just because you haven't heard it?

Whether a song comes out before another or not is irrelevant. It is still a hit which doesn't make Vanilla Ice a one hit wonder.



It has nothing to do with whether or not I've heard the song.  All I said was that I had never heard of those songs, and I haven't.  But a song that charts at #20 is not considered a hit, at least not by anyone I know and a song that charts at #34 is not a hit either.  I know if I had a song that charted that low, I wouldn't call it a "hit".  And if you read what I said, I said that I acknowledged they were wrong with Vanilla Ice.  But as the poster above me pointed out, in their profiles of the songs, they mention other charted singles they had, so it's not like they forgot about any other songs the artists had. 

Well when you think of a person like Vanilla Ice the song that automatically come to mind is Ice Ice Baby not Play that Funky Music and Vh1 also did mention some of the other artists hits even play that funky music they just said Ice Ice baby was a larger hit.


So VH1 are idiots. They even acknowledge the fact themselves.

It has nothing to do with whether or not I've heard the song.  All I said was that I had never heard of those songs, and I haven't.  But a song that charts at #20 is not considered a hit, at least not by anyone I know and a song that charts at #34 is not a hit either.  I know if I had a song that charted that low, I wouldn't call it a "hit".  And if you read what I said, I said that I acknowledged they were wrong with Vanilla Ice.  But as the poster above me pointed out, in their profiles of the songs, they mention other charted singles they had, so it's not like they forgot about any other songs the artists had. 


If a song hit the top 40 it is classed as a minor hit, if it hit the top 20 or beyond it is classed as a hit.

I don't understand your reasoning. So a song that hits No 4, 18 or 20 is not a 'legitimate hit' just because you haven't heard it?

Whether a song comes out before another or not is irrelevant. It is still a hit which doesn't make Vanilla Ice a one hit wonder.


Dude, Shut Up already.

They don't mean "Hit" as in Literally, they mean which ever songs had a huge impact on pop-culture.  Some of those songs on the list weren't even hits, but are extremely popular within pop-culture today.

You're annoying me to the core with your crap.

No one remembered "Play that funky music" by Vanilla Ice, sure it reached #4, but that was only because his previous Hit was "Ice Ice Baby", which was a huge breakthrough hit at the time and people thought he was Cool, so they clammered for his next song and got it high on the charts, but it didn't have anywhere near the impact that "Ice Ice Baby" had.

Can you get ANY of this through your thick skull?

They don't mean "Hit" as in Literally, they mean which ever songs had a huge impact on pop-culture.  Some of those songs on the list weren't even hits, but are extremely popular within pop-culture today.


Then why doesn't Vh-1 just say "100 Greatest songs that are extremely popular with pop-culture today"  ::)

The term "one hit wonder" is stupid, cause one of these music shows ever get it right

In my home town we have the King of the One Hit Wonders, Donnie Iris (real name Donnie Ierace)

Donnie was in the following one-hit bands:

1.  Played with Aliquippa's The Jaggerz when they hit the charts with "The Rapper"

2.  Played with Steubenville's Wild Cherry when they scored big time with "Play that Funky Music"

3.  He finally made it big himself with "Ah, Leah", recorded by himself and his band of cohorts from Ellwood City.

Donnie still tours locally, and during the day he runs a mortgage service.  8)

Dude, Shut Up already.

They don't mean "Hit" as in Literally, they mean which ever songs had a huge impact on pop-culture.  Some of those songs on the list weren't even hits, but are extremely popular within pop-culture today.

You're annoying me to the core with your crap.

No one remembered "Play that funky music" by Vanilla Ice, sure it reached #4, but that was only because his previous Hit was "Ice Ice Baby", which was a huge breakthrough hit at the time and people thought he was Cool, so they clammered for his next song and got it high on the charts, but it didn't have anywhere near the impact that "Ice Ice Baby" had.

Can you get ANY of this through your thick skull?


Randy,

To start with, when I debate with someone, I prefer they actually talk to me in a manner I talk back - in a respectful one. You are not being respectful. However, I will answer your post regardless . . .

VH1 is about music, not a popularity contest. As Jason mentioned, in that case it should have said "VH1's 100 popular one-hit-wonders by artists who have had maybe two hits".  ;D

A hit is a hit, my friend, whichever way you want to look at it. In fact, The Guinness Book of Hit Singles defines a one-hit-wonder as an artist/band that has one song that reaches number 1 - and nothing else. In the strictest sense of the word, a lot of the songs in that chart don't qualify.

In my home town we have the King of the One Hit Wonders, Donnie Iris (real name Donnie Ierace)

Donnie was in the following one-hit bands:

1.  Played with Aliquippa's The Jaggerz when they hit the charts with "The Rapper"

2.  Played with Steubenville's Wild Cherry when they scored big time with "Play that Funky Music"

3.  He finally made it big himself with "Ah, Leah", recorded by himself and his band of cohorts from Ellwood City.

Donnie still tours locally, and during the day he runs a mortgage service.  8)


Donnie actually had some 9 hits in the Billboard Charts, the biggest was called "My Girl" :)

The song is not called "Bang Your Head".  It's called "Metal Health".  And were they significant hits?  I mean, would they be songs played on the radio regularly here?  If not, then that's why the band was on the list.


Mental Health was quite popular, if you listened to the local Heavy Metal station.  However, it never really went anywhere on the Top 40 charts that I remember.

* Falco - "Vienna Calling" (US #18)
* Eddy Grant - "Romancing the Stone" (US #26)


I know that each of these artists had several popular songs in the 1980's.  I can think of at least 3 that each one had.


And since Vh-1 only ever do the Top 40 hits, it confuses me to see "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow and "I Melt With You" by Modern English in the list.  Neither of those reached the U.S. Top 40, which means other artists in the list who had other minor hits (Big Country, Musical Youth, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Divinyls, Kajagoogoo ...) are instantly disqualified. 

It pains me to see Terry Jacks, Nick Gilder and Men Without Hats in the list.  They were Canadian artists, and had a whole bunch of other hits that America never got  :\'(


I think at least part of the reason for I Want Candy and I Melt With You is MTV.  While neither of those songs was very popular outside of the New Wave crowd, they had hugely popular music videos.  For a while there, you could not watch MTV for an hour without seeing Bow Wow Wow.

Men WIthout Hats is another one that had several popular hits, but are mostly forgotten today (other then Safety Dance).

Terry Jacks is another thing entirely however.  I remember when Seasons In The Sun was big.  It was 1974.  That is the year my father and I drove to Spokane to see Expo '74.  You could not turn on the radio without hearing "Seasons In The Sun", "Billy Don't Be A Hero" by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, or Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)".  It seemed like every pop song that year was supposed to drive you to suicide.

Of course, it is hard to have a followup hit when your only prior hit was a song about a guy who is dying and lamenting to his friends and family what it will be like when he is gone.  I know that every time I have to hear it today, I wish that Dr. Kevorkian was standing alongside him to give him the injection to hurry him up.

Mental Health was quite popular, if you listened to the local Heavy Metal station.  However, it never really went anywhere on the Top 40 charts that I remember.


It got to #31 on the U.S. Charts.  It got so overshadowed by Cum on Feel the Noize, that not many people remember it, other than devoted QR and Metal fans

It got to #31 on the U.S. Charts.  It got so overshadowed by Cum on Feel the Noize, that not many people remember it, other than devoted QR and Metal fans


It was immortalized in Weird Al's "Polkas on  45"  :D

I remember no rain from blind melon and memory serves me that the lead singer killed himself,deeeelite stank and 4 non blonds they not very good

Terry Jacks is another thing entirely however.  I remember when Seasons In The Sun was big.  It was 1974.  That is the year my father and I drove to Spokane to see Expo '74.  You could not turn on the radio without hearing "Seasons In The Sun", "Billy Don't Be A Hero" by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, or Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)".  It seemed like every pop song that year was supposed to drive you to suicide.




Whoa... back in '74 my Dad and I also took a cross-country trek to the Spokane expo.  :)

Terry Jacks is another thing entirely however.  I remember when Seasons In The Sun was big.  It was 1974.  That is the year my father and I drove to Spokane to see Expo '74.  You could not turn on the radio without hearing "Seasons In The Sun", "Billy Don't Be A Hero" by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, or Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)".  It seemed like every pop song that year was supposed to drive you to suicide.

Terry Jacks had several hits in the UK, but whatever happened to him?

A lot of those aren't one hit wonders and some are well established artists (Eddie Grant, T'Pau, Aqua, Crash Test Dummies, Jermaine Stewart, Suzi Quatro, Kajagoogoo, Proclaimers, Gary Numan, Thomas Dolby - and who the heck thought Spandau Ballet, Soft Cell, A-ha, Gary Numan and Dexy's Midnight Runners were one hit wonders? LOL!!!).

VH1 should do their research.


Numan WAS a one-hit wonder in the US, actually.. I don't know about the others, but he was a one-hit in the US, more the UK.. so I imagine many are like that.