I find it funny that Simple Minds is a "one hit wonder". They had 5 songs make the Billboard top 40, "Don't You Forget" #1, "Alive & Kicking" #3, "Sanctify Yourself" #14, "All The Things She Said" #28 and "See The Light" #40.
I always love a good discussion about one hit wonders and what constitutes an actual one hit wonder, it's just something I've always found interesting. The tier list idea is a lot fun and leads to informal discussions about things like this that you wouldn't necessarily get to discuss with your other show formats. Some of these I would probably rank a bit differently but I think overall this ranking makes sense.
What people consider one hit wonders is just ridiculous. I understand that some band like Soft Cell can be borderline but Simple Minds? They sold 60 million albums and their supposed lone hit isn't even in any of them. To be a one hit wonder, you need: 1- To have a big international hit that's instantly recognisable. 2- To have no other hit. Minor hits at home or in a few minor markets don't count. 3- To not have major albums outside of the one that contains the hit. 4- To receive little or no widespread critical acclaim for the rest of the discography. 5- To not be a major cult band. So "Funkytown" by Lipps Inc., "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas, "Video Killed The Radio Star" or "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred are definitely one hit wonders. T-Rex is not because the band received critical acclaim outside of the hit (and additionally, the frontman is iconic). The Verve is not because they've had multiple other hits in a bunch of countries outside of the US. Contrary to what Americans think, something not happening in America or to America doesn't mean it's not happening. Madness is not because because they are a cult band not just in the UK but in continental Europe (and they have half a dozen minor hits in major European markets). Gnarls Barkley is borderline because one of its members has hits as a solo artist. "Easy Lover" by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins is just silly, one member has a bunch of hits with his band (Earth, Wind & Fire) and thr other has tons of hits also both with his band (Genesis) and as solo artist. Soft Cell is borderline because both the band and the frontman (Marc Almond) is somewhat famous in the UK and Europe. Survivor is borderline because they have some critical acclaim outside of the song "Eye of the Tiger" and some minor hits in several countries. But they could qualify given the scale of the hit in question. There is clearly a mismatch between the popularity of the hit and that of the band. In addition, there are strange situations that can occur such as having a hit in the future. This is the case with "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves. 15 years later, she entered and won the Eurovision song contest, potentially invalidating her one hot wonder status (depending on whether you think that second hit is significant enough). You also have the curious cases of one hit wonder bands whose members have another band and also have a hit with them or/and are guest vocalists on someone else's hit. That's the basic situation with "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls, clearly a one hit wonder but one member, Martha Wash has a hit with her other band, "Everybody, Everybody" by Black Box. In addition, she guest vocals in C+C Music Factory's number 1 hit, "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)". Finally, famous bands who record under a different name and have a hit can't be considered one hit wonders. So "Miss Sarajevo" by Passengers isn't a one hit wonder because Passengers is really U2 under a different name. The song guest vocals Luciano Pavarotti so it's doubly not. In any case, this video has the worst one hit wonder list ever. They really should redo the video with proper entries.
My # 1 Driver's Seat 💺 by Sniff N The Tears was inexplicably omitted by Paste. It was # 15 on Billboard in 1978 & deserves bonus points for appearing in Boogie Nights as did Fooled Around & Fell In Love ( Another classic ! ) by Elvin Bishop. Overall , a fun list 😁
Driver's Seat is great. I think it failed to make the top 40 in their native UK because of a strike at the pressing plant. I have never heard another song by them.
SPOILERS: 0:54 What’s Up? TLM: B. Me: C 2:21 96 Tears. TLM: S. Me: B 3:01 No Rain. TLM: A. Me: S 3:57 Got to Be Real. TLM: A. Me: B 5:0835:32 Stumblin’ In. TLM: B Me: C 5:40 Tubthumpping. TLM: F. Me: D 5:53 How Long? TLM: Initially S, but later moved to A. Me: A 6:31 Whip It. TLM: B. Me: A 7:03. Fooled Around and Fell in Love. TLM: A Me: C 7:30 Relax. TLM: B Me: C 8:22 Barbie Girl. TLM: D. Me: F 9:09. Sugar, Sugar. TLM: B. Me: C 9:52. Crazy. TLM: B. Me: C 10:23 The Middle. TLM: A. Me: B 11:29. In a Big Country. TLM: A Me: A 12:12. My Sharona. TLM: B. Me: B 12:53. Come On Eileen. TLM: B. Me: S 14:16 Just One Look. TLM: C. Me: C 14:35. Cars. TLM: C. Me: C 15:08. Brandy. TLM: A Me: C 15:25 Dancing in the Moonlight. TLM: B. Me: C 15:56. 99 Luftballons. TLM: B Me: B 16:37. Mamba #5 TLM: D Me: F 16:53. Pop Muzic. TLM: C Me: C 17:33. Bullet Proof. TLM: A Me: C 18:09. Sex and Candy. TLM: B. Me: A 19:08. Safety Dance. TLM: C. Me: A 19:31 Lovin’ You. TLM: B Me: C 20:00. Criminal. TLM: A. Me: A 20:37. Book of Love. TLM: C. Me: B 21:02. In the Summertime. TLM: B Me: D 21:44. Easy Lover. TLM: B Me: D 22:40 Someone That I Used to Know. TLM: A. Me: A 23:35 Magic. TLM: B Me: C 24:18 Breakfast at Tiffany’s. TLM: C. Me: C 24:28 Shake It. TLM: D. Me: F 25:38 Mr Big Stuff. TLM: C. Me: A 26:12. Spirit in the Sky. TLM: B. Me: A 26:46. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles). TLM: A Me: S 27:40 Dont You Forget About Me. TLM: B Me: S 28:08 Nothing Compares 2 U. TLM: S. Me: S 28:40 Kiss Me. TLM: B Me: B 29:30 Tainted Love. TLM: B. Me: B 30:22 O-o-Child. TLM: A Me: B 31:18 Wipe Out. TLM: C Me: B 31:40 Seasons in the Sun TLM: B Me: C 32:48 Micky TLM: C. Me: C 33:35 Get it On. TLM: initially S, but later to A. Me: B 34:41. Ice Ice Baby. TLM: D. Me: B 35:11 The Promise. TLM: A. Me: S My choices for S tier: No Rain Come on Eileen I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) Don’t You Forget About Me Nothing Compares 2 U The Promise My choices for F: Barbie Girl Mamba #5 Shake It Biggest discrepancies of songs I like, TLM not so much: Come On Eileen (S vs B) Mr Big Stuff (A vs C) Don’t You Forget About Me (S vs B) Ice Ice Baby (B vs D) Biggest discrepancies of songs they like that I don’t really care for: 96 Tears (S vs B) Fooled Around and Fell in Love (A vs C) Brandy (A vs C) Bullet Proof (A vs C) In the Summertime (B vs D) Easy Lover (B vs D)
I think my personal favorite from that list is definitely Dancing In The Moonlight. There’s always such a great vibe/aura with the song that really makes me love the track so much.
Thanks for recognizing that Big Country were more than a one-hit wonder, especially in the UK, where they had over a dozen hits and several top 10 albums.
@Tastes Like Music Simple Minds is not a one hit wonder. They had other US hits like "Alive and Kicking" (US#3), "Sanctify Yourself" (US#14) and "All The Things She Said" (US#28) all from their album Once Upon A Time
I agree with you but technically most people only know of "Don't You" sadly which is why they are a "one-hit wonder." I happen to be a big Simple Minds fan so I try to inform people as best as I can what a great band they are.
@@alexchristianmusic But it doesn't make them a one hit wonder. "Alive and Kicking" was a top 3 song. just means that people need to look deeper into their catalog. Im a big simple minds fan myself. Alive and Kicking and Once Upon A Time got me into their music,.. don't you was a nice addition and then eventually went into sparkle in the rain and new gold dream and etc.
An interesting exercise. Of course, many of the artists like T. Rex, Big Country, Simple Minds and Gary Numan were more than one-hit wonders in the UK but I don't have any issues with your rankings. Sugar Sugar by The Archies was 1969 and probably my favourite of all the choices here.
Your list includes several bands that were huge in the UK and certainly would not be classed as one hit wonders. Dexys had three classic albums in the 80s with a string of hits. They've revived with three pretty strong albums in the last ten years too. You should do a deep dive on them. Big Country, and Simple Minds likewise were huge UK rock bands. The fact America only cottoned on to one song from these bands says a lot. There are many others too... Squeeze, XTC etc.
Was was Paste magazines list tbf. But yeah Frankie had least 3 stonking hits and Sinead had lion and the cobra before that song, my top solo female artists album of all time!
I wouldn't call Gary Numan just a one hit wonder artist. He had his own signature sound , I love the Tubeway Army albums (especially "Replicas"(1979) ) and his first two solo albums "The Pleasure Principle" (1979) , which features "Cars", and "Telekon"(1980). 4 classic albums IMO. Perfect transiton from punk to new wawe.
I love him too but he is definitely a one hit wonder here in the U.S. You are right about his first few albums all being stellar. I saw him live last year and he still brings it live!
“What’s Up”, honest unique vocal, “Got to be Real” epitome of Disco, “How Long” quit good, “Fooled Around” strong vocal, “Sugar Sugar” pop perfection, from some expected more hits
Love this! I was a little disappointed that neither of you liked The Safety Dance. I really enjoy that song. It’s actually a protest song. I was pleasantly surprised that Jason loves Sugar Sugar, very sweet song. I agree with Joe on Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Relax, so fun and so dirty. I am in total agreement with the both of you with the top S tier, nothing compares to Sinead O’Connor.
@@curly_wyn Yes. They weren’t allowed to pogo dance (I have no idea what that is). The song’s about freedom of expression. The lyrics make more sense now, meaningful and so much cooler.
Some of these I wouldn't call one hit wonders, but I'm British. its interesting to see that big British artists aren't so big in America, such as Soft Cell, Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
Every time someone from the US on youtube posts a 1 hit wonder video there's people in the comments from Europe and the UK saying "so and so wasnt a 1 hit wonder over here!" It never fails.
Also was surprised you weren’t familiar with ‘Stumblin’ In’ a great 70s single. I believe it’s on the Rhino 25-disc ‘Have A Nice Day’ 70s singles compilation. If you haven’t heard it before I would highly recommend it.
Nice feature. I was surprised at how many of these I didn't recognize; some I did when I listened to them, some I didn't. Side note: When I was a kid my 3 older cousins, my sister and I would each rank 40 songs, my oldest cousin would tally up the totals, and play the Top 40. Fun memories.
S for me; 99 Tears, Whip it, Fooled around and fell in love, Dont you forget about me ,Tainted Love, Pop Music , Bang a Gong S tier omissions; Ride Captain Ride; Blues Image, Signs; Five Man Electric Band, Come and Get Your Love; Redbone, Hot Child in the City; Nick Gilder, Dazz; Brick, Car Wash; Rose Royce, Couldnt Get it Right; Climax Blues Band
Great idea for a video!! I don't like tier lists as much as I do album rankings. Hope to see a return to the album rankings of groups/artists that the channel hasn't gotten to yet. Thanks for all the hard work. One of the best channels on UA-cam!
Paste was wrong to including Simple Minds. That band had five top 40 hits in the U.S. and still has a robust following. Alive and Kicking was a Top 10 hit. I could see OMD being considered a one-hit wonder, but not Simple Minds.
My picks: S Get It On - T. Rex The Promise - When in Rome 96 Tears - ? and the Mysterians A In a Big Country - Big Country O-o-h Child - The Five Stairsteps How Long - Ace Sugar Sugar - The Archies Cars - Gary Numan Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor B Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds Criminal - Fiona Apple Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest Stumblin' In - Chris Norma/Suzi Quatro My Sharona - The Knack Brandi - Looking Glass Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum What's Up? - 4 Non Blondes Whip It - Devo The Middle - Jimmy Eat World Easy Lover - Philip Bailey and Phil Collins Tainted Love - Soft Cell Just One Look - Doris Troy No Rain - Blind Melon Crazy - Gnarls Barkley I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers 99 Luftballons - Nena In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry Wipe Out - The Surfaris Magic - Pilot C Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners Pop Musik - M Fooled Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks Bulletproof - La Roux The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats Sex and Candy - Marcy Playground Got to Be Real - Cheryl Lynn Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight Book of Love - The Monotones Mickey - Toni Basil Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye D Barbie Girl - Aqua Tubthumping - Chumbawamba Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice F Shake It - Metro Station
I'd have "Come On, Eileen" trade places with "Sugar Sugar" and "The Promise" trade places with "99 Luftballons." Otherwise, I pretty much agree with everything else.
1. Sniff the Tears' - Driver's Seat. 2 TYRONE DAVIS - CAN I CHANGE MY MIND 3 The New Radicals - "You Get what You give" 4 Nik Kershaw - "Wouldn't it Be Good" 5 The Easybeats - Friday on My Mind 6 Seal - Crazy (sorry, Seal had other hits) 7. West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys. This is another one hit wonder that had more than one hit but would they if they didn't have the original hit? Well not for me. Sometimes when a band has several songs, but they are not to MY Liking, I just dismiss the other songs and think of the band as a one-hit wonder. Pet Shops Boys "West End Girls" was a great song and their best song, imo, and I know they had other likable songs to others but not for me and can't understand the other hits. I don't know if anyone is following this, as I can hardly following myself. 8. Brandy was a fine song what a good song it was. It could be a S. I think it is special. 9. ? and the Mysterians One of the first great punk songs? 10. Bang a Gong - T Rex had other hits , I though. This one is great. Jeepster is great. The whole first ? album is great. 11. Easy Lover 12. Come on Eileen Why is Fiona Apple Criminal on this list and at no 2? A much better song by her is Shadowboxing which has a Randy Newmanesque sound and piano. Jason is talking a bit lower than usual at moments and I can't hear him well at times. There has to be better lists than Paste Mag. Not sure what Paste based this on? sales? catchiness? silliness? Yeah silly catchy songs. My Sharon is not good. I don't hate it but there are elements that annoy. I don't like the posting of single covers. Rather See the Name of the song im small print or elsewhere.
@@TastesLikeMusic Yeah my mistake. Anyway, good song but I prefer Seal's Crazy or maybe I Go Crazy by Paul Davis or Princes' electric version of Patsy Cline's Crazy.
@@davidellis5141 The song later morphs into "Jenny don't lose that number". Jenny was sweet. She always smiled for the people she'd meet. On trouble and strife and bathroom stalls. She had another way of looking at life.
Stumbling in is a great song. Suzy Quarto had several hits in UK so one hit wonder doesn't really apply. Listen to the song though. It was inescapable when it was in the charts before your time.
The biggest miss on your list was ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ by far the best 80s song on the list, up there as one of the greatest hits of the 80s. It should certainly have been in ‘S’ Tier.
@@TastesLikeMusic If you closely listen to Don’t You Forget About Me with a good audio set up (not Spotify or MP3), I think you will be surprised at the subtle production choices that make the song stand out in a good way compared to other mid-80s tracks.
That was great fun. By now you’ll be aware that in the UK, some of those acts were massive. Frankie Goes To Hollywood were totally huge in 1984. Every week or so, a different 12” of Two Tribes would come out and we’d all go out and buy it. It was probably a case of the right records in the right place at the right time, with all the Reagan and Thatcher vs. Soviet rhetoric at the time. Simple Minds had hits as did Soft Cell and Gary Numan. Of course some of the US hits didn’t make it big over here. For me the S tier is Frankie, Soft Cell, Sinead, Ace and Minnie.
Not saying this with any kind of pride or joy (even as a Dane), but Aqua was basically only a one-hit wonder in America. "Turn Back Time" was massive in the UK.
I agree. Continuing the Dutch theme how about Mouth and MacNeal for "How Do You Do" or Focus for "Hocus Pocus", Tee Set for "Ma Belle Amie" and especially Golden Earring for "Radar Love"?
Wow lots of representation of songs from Guardians of the Galaxy. But I am thrilled the Paste list had Stumblin In so high up on their list. It is a song I loved when I was a kid and love even more now. I can play it over and over. So fantastic.
My Sharona is an absolute banger. That riff?! And have another listen to the solo on it! It's ridiculous. S Tier. Mickey is superb. Completely iconic rhythm track with a perfect pop chorus. A Tier. Ice Ice Baby is great. Every kid knew the lyrics to that when it came out. Amazing sample too. B Tier Relax is S Tier. One of the best Pop singles of the 80s. Phenomenal groundbreaking production by Trevor Horn. Provocative lyrics that flew over the radar. Aqua is proper garbage. F Tier.
Oof! Some of these choices are rough. I really only like these ten enough to play them of my own volition, so all S tier. This is a fun idea - looking forward to future tier lists! 1. Tainted Love 2. 96 Tears 3. The Promise 4. Cars 5. Relax 6. In A Big Country 7. Somebody That I Used To Know 8. Don’t You (Forget About Me) 9. Crazy 10. Safety Dance
@@davidellis5141 Good evening David, I wouldn’t place too much stock in this list. I struggled to choose my top 10, although I genuinely like all of those songs, they don’t rate among my best of all-time or anything close to that. A couple of the artists like Gary Numan and Simple Minds have much better songs, in my opinion! A list you and I would’ve co-written would have been much, much better (at least to us.) 😊
@michelewiese48 Bitter Sweet Symphony would be high on my list ..my comment disappeared despite being liked the guys & having some replies. Odd things are happening on TLM ! Gremlins 😆 🤣
Come On Eileen is one of my 3 most hated songs, not quite as bad as Karma Chamelion by Culture Club or Red Red Wine (or whine!) by UB40. To be fair Dexy's were quite big in the early 80s here in the UK - "Geno" by them was great, but Eileen...... meh! Happy New Year anyway! 😆
Like many people I take issue with the categorizing of some acts as OHWs. Particularly egregious are Simple Minds and the Knack. Simple Minds' follow up to "Don't forget...", "Alive and Kicking" peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 followed by 2 more top 40 hits. The Knack's second single "Good Girls don't" peaked at 11. Apart from that I think you guys did a good job with the list. And yes Sinead so deserved to be on top of the lot. What a talent. So sad.
The knack song especially is an example of song charting based on the momentum of the previous single. It may have charted but no one remembers that song.
@@TastesLikeMusic I sure do remember the song and liked it very much, sometimes more than Sharona. Of course, I was 20 at the time, in college and the Knack was all the rage in the Summer of '79. I would wager there are plenty of old farts like me who remember the song very fondly.
Surprised by some of the omissions by Paste. I would have thought that "The Rapper" by the Jaggerz (Billboard #2 in 1970) and "Cruel To Be Kind" by one of my favorites, Nick Lowe (with Rockpile, #12, 1979) would have made their top 50. The latter would have been an "S" for me, but you play with the team you're given. I'm one of those readers who came of musical maturity in the 1970s so "Seasons in the Sun" would be F- in my book. On the other hand, I love Leigh Nash's voice so I would have placed "Kiss Me" much higher than you. Otherwise, your tier rankings are pretty solid. Great job and I look forward to more features like this.
I'm around the same age as Joe/Jason and when I was a kid I hated Barbie Girl and loved Tubthumping. Now I absolutely hate Tubthumping and I kinda like Barbie Girl. Lol
Perfect Angel by Minnie Riperton was a very good album that fans of Stevie Wonder might like. It doesn’t fit into a neat category and the single Loving You wasn’t typical of the album even though it’s great. Highly recommended album. The deluxe version also features slightly more rock oriented takes that really deserve to be heard.
Tenuous links time - the son of the lead singer of Mungo Jerry was a decent track and field athlete and I remember chatting to him at a meeting a few years ago. The father of one of my nephew's school friends was at school with the Proclaimers.
Fun video. Totally agree with Jason, the Proclaimers are hugely underrated. Sunshine On Leith (title track) and their cover of Steve Earle's "My Old Friend The Blues" are outstanding, I listen to these two tracks regularly.
On 1979 there were 4 Knack songs off of their first album in constant rotation on the radio including, My Sharona She's So Selfish Good Girls Don't Frustrated And to this day, 80s stations on SirriusXM play at least 3Devo songs regularly including Whip It Gates of Steel Freedom of Choice
“ Closing Time” by Semi-Sonic! They left it out. Good song - A tier. But what about the best one hit wonder of all they left out ..WILD THING! By the Troggs..absolute. S tier! 99 Luft ballons should be in S . Also I’m your Venus..the original by Shocking Blue great song left out. PASTE must suck….
I hate Easy Lover - never liked that song, never will - tirgid 80s soft rock. I love Somebody I Used To Know so i guess i do agree with Jason sometimes.its funny with Pilot as January was the big hit in the UK getting to no.1. Respect to Jason for The Proclaimers love.
Very nice video! When you got to Sinead O Connor i automatically thought easy S tier! Great song! This was a fun watch! Maybe you could do 2 hits wonders like KLF and Sophie B Hawkins if theres even enough of them though. I know theres some. I would have put Duncan Sheik Barely Breathing on the list.
Couldn't the Verve Bitter Sweet Symphony been on there as a one hit wonder. That's an A song for me. I know they had Lucky Man in the UK I like but I don't remember it any in the US.
Sinead O' Conner isnt S tier for me if you're old enough to remember the video on MTV all the time because the video was so awful it brings the song down a peg for me. Same thing with The Proclaimers video. The video ruined the song for me because they looked like absolute dorks and not cool at all.
I was afraid that Paste magazine would include Simple Minds. It bugs me that they're considered a one-hit wonder by so many when they had a US top 5 hit with "Alive And Kicking" and another US top 20 hit with "Sanctify Yourself," along with several UK top 10 hits.
If you go strictly by chart position, then yes they had several. But when it comes to being remembered…I think your average, non music obsessive probably only remembers don’t you forget about me. I’ll hear Alive and Kicking out in the wild once in a blue moon, but it’s pretty rare. I can’t even think of how Sanctify Yourself goes. -Jason
@@TastesLikeMusic Gotcha, I guess I sometimes forget that there are non-music obsessive people lol. I will say that Simple Minds is absolutely a band worth getting more into. Great music, especially their earlier stuff, pre "Don't You." 👍
I totally remember Stumbling’ In the ‘70s. Suzy Quatro’s biggest claim to fame after this hit was playing Leather Tuscadero (Pinky Tuscadero’s cousin or something). I’m not looking this up and totally relying on memory while I still can. Pretty decent song. “Layin’ my heart on the table. Stumblin’ In.” Sugar Sugar by the Archies was my first 45.
The Terry Jacks song is a football chant here in the uk very well known with some alternative lyrics 😀 Honourable mentions (UK) Howzat - Sherbet You’re Moving Out Today - Carole Bayer Sega Airport - The Motors Angie Baby - Helen Reddy I Wanna Stay With You - Gallagher and Lyle Couldn’t Get It Right - Climax Blues Band Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty Hi Ho Silver Lining - Jeff Beck
The Knack had a couple hits, Good Girls Don’t, for example. They are icons in the power pop genre kind of like the cranberries, power pop bands are often in the one hit category seems like.
First question mark. Frankie Goes To Hollywood making an appearance with 3 UK number ones and even T Rex appearing later. Second question mark Relax not being first. Cheryl Lynn also too low.
One-hit wonders are a topic that reminds me that Canadian and American charts, while similar, are not identical. Men Without Hats, the Proclaimers, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood were not one-hit wonders in Canada -- and only the first of those is Canadian. "Two Tribes" charted higher than "Relax", and "Pop Goes the World" (as well as the forgotten "Hey Men") charted higher than "The Safety Dance".
As a Canadian who was alive when “Seasons in the Sun” was omnipresent on the radio here I SHOULD hate it but I don’t. It takes me back to that time. Just love Come on Eileen. Thought I might see “Harden My Heart” by Quarterflash on the list a very catchy song. Sugar Sugar I also remember from 1969 dominating the radio but I don’t have fondness for.
I could quibble about this song or that song, and we're always going to quibble over which bands really aren't one hit wonders, but Terry Jacks ... unadulterated garbage. I was alive in the 70s and this song drove me and everyone I knew crazy. It is so corny, so hackneyed, so soulless, so passionless, and so very, very trite. For me, F with a bullet! Much, much worse than Barbie Girl (which, at least, is catchy and humourous). Great work, though, guys! As always, the fact that you have different opinions about music keeps everything enjoyable and real.
Most people think of "one hit wonder" as a sort of pejorative, but not me. I would love to have written/recorded a song that became a radio staple everywhere. It beats toiling in obscurity forever.
Barbie Girl, Minnie Ripp, Terry Jacks, 99 luft balloons, In the Summertime, easy lover would be F's for me. Not quite a handful would make the S tier. Overall, Paste has semi-bad taste.
I love Mr Big Stuff and seeing it in D made me sad, that's my biggest issue with your list but otherwise fine. Was thinking early Fool Around and Fell in Love could be S but kinda felt like I agreed with the A towards the end. Blind Melon do a great version of The Pusher and if that was here instead of No Rain it would be an easy S from me
Let me say guys this has been my favorite episode to date!! 😮 So I could type all night about this, but don’t want to bore you. Jason, kudos to you for the “jumpy” early 80s family on OHW! I actually laughed my ass off! Here are my top 5 personally Nothing Compares 2 U In A Big Country ( even though Fields Of Fire was a short lived hit) Safety Dance ( 8th grade Valentines Dance and the entire class was on the floor!) SOS Band-Take Your Time ( Do IT Right) Can’t believe it was left off, but there’s ton of disco OHW) Donnie Iris Ah! Leah! Why oh Why is it not on here! Love your vids!! More 80s stuff pleeeeeze!
my top 4 of this whole list is easily made up of How Long, Brandy, Fooled Around & Fell in Love, + Dancing in the Moonlight. guess I'm a yacht rock dad.
Don't want to appear negative but I am not a fan of tier lists especially when they start to get crowded. I have a small screen and on screen its a huge mess. There's only a couple of sleeves that are distinguishable. Whats more single sleeves vary far more than LP ones. Most of the 45s I saw just had the hole displaying the label so they were never familiar. As for the songs themselves I am old enough to remember almost all these songs, burnt into memory thanks to the radio playlists. You ask if any were disrespected and 14 year old me would be screaming YES. SUGAR SUGAR IS THE GREATEST SONG EVER- WHY IS IT ONLY HALF WAY? Now things have changed a bit with time -its no longer THE song in my books.....but have you ever flipped it?. The B side was awesome, even better than the A side and to this day I would rank it S tier.
I fully agree that the Bailey/Collins hit doesn't deserve the one-hit wonder tag. if it's because it's the only hit they had together then why don't we call "Fame" a one-hit wonder for Bowie/Lennon? for that matter, Bowie/Queen are a one-hit wonder for "Under Pressure." and even though I remember "Mandinka" getting lots of radio play, I'll accept the fact that it was a 'college radio hit,' but Sinead deserves recognition for not just covering a Prince song but owning it. none have owned a Prince song as much as the late Sinead O'Connor, and that's saying a lot when you consider Kate Bush covered Prince.
I would take Manic Monday (also written by Prince for Susanna Hoff) by The Bangles over Nothing Compares to You. Sinead O'Connor was so overrated for shaving her head. That song is so unpleasant to my ears. I would have it at D tier.
I find it funny that Simple Minds is a "one hit wonder". They had 5 songs make the Billboard top 40, "Don't You Forget" #1, "Alive & Kicking" #3, "Sanctify Yourself" #14, "All The Things She Said" #28 and "See The Light" #40.
Agree 100%
He was dating Chrissi Hynde Pretenders
yeah ,i think that's insane, or plain ignorant
This surprised me too
Yeah, I’d pull out the Simple Minds. They had several, as many as most 80s bands did.
I always love a good discussion about one hit wonders and what constitutes an actual one hit wonder, it's just something I've always found interesting. The tier list idea is a lot fun and leads to informal discussions about things like this that you wouldn't necessarily get to discuss with your other show formats. Some of these I would probably rank a bit differently but I think overall this ranking makes sense.
What people consider one hit wonders is just ridiculous. I understand that some band like Soft Cell can be borderline but Simple Minds? They sold 60 million albums and their supposed lone hit isn't even in any of them.
To be a one hit wonder, you need:
1- To have a big international hit that's instantly recognisable.
2- To have no other hit. Minor hits at home or in a few minor markets don't count.
3- To not have major albums outside of the one that contains the hit.
4- To receive little or no widespread critical acclaim for the rest of the discography.
5- To not be a major cult band.
So "Funkytown" by Lipps Inc., "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas, "Video Killed The Radio Star" or "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred are definitely one hit wonders.
T-Rex is not because the band received critical acclaim outside of the hit (and additionally, the frontman is iconic).
The Verve is not because they've had multiple other hits in a bunch of countries outside of the US. Contrary to what Americans think, something not happening in America or to America doesn't mean it's not happening.
Madness is not because because they are a cult band not just in the UK but in continental Europe (and they have half a dozen minor hits in major European markets).
Gnarls Barkley is borderline because one of its members has hits as a solo artist. "Easy Lover" by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins is just silly, one member has a bunch of hits with his band (Earth, Wind & Fire) and thr other has tons of hits also both with his band (Genesis) and as solo artist.
Soft Cell is borderline because both the band and the frontman (Marc Almond) is somewhat famous in the UK and Europe.
Survivor is borderline because they have some critical acclaim outside of the song "Eye of the Tiger" and some minor hits in several countries. But they could qualify given the scale of the hit in question. There is clearly a mismatch between the popularity of the hit and that of the band.
In addition, there are strange situations that can occur such as having a hit in the future. This is the case with "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves. 15 years later, she entered and won the Eurovision song contest, potentially invalidating her one hot wonder status (depending on whether you think that second hit is significant enough).
You also have the curious cases of one hit wonder bands whose members have another band and also have a hit with them or/and are guest vocalists on someone else's hit. That's the basic situation with "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls, clearly a one hit wonder but one member, Martha Wash has a hit with her other band, "Everybody, Everybody" by Black Box. In addition, she guest vocals in C+C Music Factory's number 1 hit, "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)".
Finally, famous bands who record under a different name and have a hit can't be considered one hit wonders. So "Miss Sarajevo" by Passengers isn't a one hit wonder because Passengers is really U2 under a different name. The song guest vocals Luciano Pavarotti so it's doubly not.
In any case, this video has the worst one hit wonder list ever. They really should redo the video with proper entries.
My # 1 Driver's Seat 💺 by Sniff N The Tears was inexplicably omitted by Paste. It was # 15 on Billboard in 1978 & deserves bonus points for appearing in Boogie Nights as did Fooled Around & Fell In Love ( Another classic ! ) by Elvin Bishop. Overall , a fun list 😁
That whole album is pretty good
Driver's Seat would be an easy S-tier pick.
Drivers Seat is great!
Driver's Seat is great. I think it failed to make the top 40 in their native UK because of a strike at the pressing plant. I have never heard another song by them.
One of my favorite 1 hitters ever, I can’t get into their other stuff generally, and I guess I’m not alone
SPOILERS:
0:54 What’s Up? TLM: B. Me: C
2:21 96 Tears. TLM: S. Me: B
3:01 No Rain. TLM: A. Me: S
3:57 Got to Be Real. TLM: A. Me: B
5:08 35:32 Stumblin’ In. TLM: B Me: C
5:40 Tubthumpping. TLM: F. Me: D
5:53 How Long? TLM: Initially S, but later moved to A. Me: A
6:31 Whip It. TLM: B. Me: A
7:03. Fooled Around and Fell in Love. TLM: A Me: C
7:30 Relax. TLM: B Me: C
8:22 Barbie Girl. TLM: D. Me: F
9:09. Sugar, Sugar. TLM: B. Me: C
9:52. Crazy. TLM: B. Me: C
10:23 The Middle. TLM: A. Me: B
11:29. In a Big Country. TLM: A Me: A
12:12. My Sharona. TLM: B. Me: B
12:53. Come On Eileen. TLM: B. Me: S
14:16 Just One Look. TLM: C. Me: C
14:35. Cars. TLM: C. Me: C
15:08. Brandy. TLM: A Me: C
15:25 Dancing in the Moonlight. TLM: B. Me: C
15:56. 99 Luftballons. TLM: B Me: B
16:37. Mamba #5 TLM: D Me: F
16:53. Pop Muzic. TLM: C Me: C
17:33. Bullet Proof. TLM: A Me: C
18:09. Sex and Candy. TLM: B. Me: A
19:08. Safety Dance. TLM: C. Me: A
19:31 Lovin’ You. TLM: B Me: C
20:00. Criminal. TLM: A. Me: A
20:37. Book of Love. TLM: C. Me: B
21:02. In the Summertime. TLM: B Me: D
21:44. Easy Lover. TLM: B Me: D
22:40 Someone That I Used to Know. TLM: A. Me: A
23:35 Magic. TLM: B Me: C
24:18 Breakfast at Tiffany’s. TLM: C. Me: C
24:28 Shake It. TLM: D. Me: F
25:38 Mr Big Stuff. TLM: C. Me: A
26:12. Spirit in the Sky. TLM: B. Me: A
26:46. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles). TLM: A Me: S
27:40 Dont You Forget About Me. TLM: B Me: S
28:08 Nothing Compares 2 U. TLM: S. Me: S
28:40 Kiss Me. TLM: B Me: B
29:30 Tainted Love. TLM: B. Me: B
30:22 O-o-Child. TLM: A Me: B
31:18 Wipe Out. TLM: C Me: B
31:40 Seasons in the Sun TLM: B Me: C
32:48 Micky TLM: C. Me: C
33:35 Get it On. TLM: initially S, but later to A. Me: B
34:41. Ice Ice Baby. TLM: D. Me: B
35:11 The Promise. TLM: A. Me: S
My choices for S tier:
No Rain
Come on Eileen
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Don’t You Forget About Me
Nothing Compares 2 U
The Promise
My choices for F:
Barbie Girl
Mamba #5
Shake It
Biggest discrepancies of songs I like, TLM not so much:
Come On Eileen (S vs B)
Mr Big Stuff (A vs C)
Don’t You Forget About Me (S vs B)
Ice Ice Baby (B vs D)
Biggest discrepancies of songs they like that I don’t really care for:
96 Tears (S vs B)
Fooled Around and Fell in Love (A vs C)
Brandy (A vs C)
Bullet Proof (A vs C)
In the Summertime (B vs D)
Easy Lover (B vs D)
Love it
Great help. Get work you did.
I think my personal favorite from that list is definitely Dancing In The Moonlight. There’s always such a great vibe/aura with the song that really makes me love the track so much.
Thanks for recognizing that Big Country were more than a one-hit wonder, especially in the UK, where they had over a dozen hits and several top 10 albums.
The song Big Country had a great sound.
Sugar Sugar Archie's. Love that tune. 😊
@Tastes Like Music
Simple Minds is not a one hit wonder. They had other US hits like "Alive and Kicking" (US#3), "Sanctify Yourself" (US#14) and "All The Things She Said" (US#28) all from their album Once Upon A Time
love the new list show
I agree with you but technically most people only know of "Don't You" sadly which is why they are a "one-hit wonder." I happen to be a big Simple Minds fan so I try to inform people as best as I can what a great band they are.
@@alexchristianmusic But it doesn't make them a one hit wonder. "Alive and Kicking" was a top 3 song. just means that people need to look deeper into their catalog. Im a big simple minds fan myself. Alive and Kicking and Once Upon A Time got me into their music,.. don't you was a nice addition and then eventually went into sparkle in the rain and new gold dream and etc.
Tier list vids are a great idea. Lot of fun & usually controversial.
I love Tubthumping 😂 so freaking catchy and fun. Whip It is S tier, it's so redonkulous and fun as hell. 😅
Breakfast at Tiffany's = F. Couldn't turn the radio off fast enough. Mr. Big Stuff in context is an A. I love all the herky-jerky one-hit wonders.
It is one of the worst songs of all time. Terrible, terrible lyric.
Good point. Bad lyrics are more bearable on an upbeat song. It got to number 1 in the UK which is pretty bad.
Hope you have some pillows cos you’re both sleeping so hard on the herky-jerky hits from the 80s
Fun Fact…”Fooled Around & Fell in Love” lead vocal was sung by none other than future Starship lead singer Mickey Thomas
An interesting exercise. Of course, many of the artists like T. Rex, Big Country, Simple Minds and Gary Numan were more than one-hit wonders in the UK but I don't have any issues with your rankings. Sugar Sugar by The Archies was 1969 and probably my favourite of all the choices here.
Your list includes several bands that were huge in the UK and certainly would not be classed as one hit wonders. Dexys had three classic albums in the 80s with a string of hits. They've revived with three pretty strong albums in the last ten years too. You should do a deep dive on them. Big Country, and Simple Minds likewise were huge UK rock bands. The fact America only cottoned on to one song from these bands says a lot. There are many others too... Squeeze, XTC etc.
Was was Paste magazines list tbf. But yeah Frankie had least 3 stonking hits and Sinead had lion and the cobra before that song, my top solo female artists album of all time!
I wouldn't call Gary Numan just a one hit wonder artist. He had his own signature sound , I love the Tubeway Army albums (especially "Replicas"(1979) ) and his first two solo albums "The Pleasure Principle" (1979) , which features "Cars", and "Telekon"(1980). 4 classic albums IMO.
Perfect transiton from punk to new wawe.
I love him too but he is definitely a one hit wonder here in the U.S. You are right about his first few albums all being stellar. I saw him live last year and he still brings it live!
“What’s Up”, honest unique vocal, “Got to be Real” epitome of Disco, “How Long” quit good, “Fooled Around” strong vocal, “Sugar Sugar” pop perfection, from some expected more hits
Points to Jason for loving The Proclaimers .. but then, points taken away for not digging “Ooh Child”
Didn't even realize that the Five Stairsteps version is the original. Great discovery for me.
Simple Minds "Don't You" defined GenX. Great tune!
Love this! I was a little disappointed that neither of you liked The Safety Dance. I really enjoy that song. It’s actually a protest song.
I was pleasantly surprised that Jason loves Sugar Sugar, very sweet song.
I agree with Joe on Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Relax, so fun and so dirty. I am in total agreement with the both of you with the top S tier, nothing compares to Sinead O’Connor.
A protest song? I don’t see it. None of that comes across at all. But if it is, and then awesome!
@@curly_wyn Yes. They weren’t allowed to pogo dance (I have no idea what that is). The song’s about freedom of expression. The lyrics make more sense now, meaningful and so much cooler.
Some of these I wouldn't call one hit wonders, but I'm British. its interesting to see that big British artists aren't so big in America, such as Soft Cell, Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
Every time someone from the US on youtube posts a 1 hit wonder video there's people in the comments from Europe and the UK saying "so and so wasnt a 1 hit wonder over here!" It never fails.
I love Relax, what a beat! reminds of Police academy as well which is fun.
"Stumblin' In" is a cool 70's track... And Suzy Quatro played Leather Tuscadero on "Happy Days"!.
I would've had Life In A Northern Town by Dream Academy on my list for sure.
Also was surprised you weren’t familiar with ‘Stumblin’ In’ a great 70s single.
I believe it’s on the Rhino 25-disc ‘Have A Nice Day’ 70s singles compilation. If you haven’t heard it before I would highly recommend it.
Nice feature. I was surprised at how many of these I didn't recognize; some I did when I listened to them, some I didn't. Side note: When I was a kid my 3 older cousins, my sister and I would each rank 40 songs, my oldest cousin would tally up the totals, and play the Top 40. Fun memories.
Based solely on radio play only, even for an already well established artist , *ShortPeople* RandyNewman. Novelty songs are usually one hit wonders.
S for me; 99 Tears, Whip it, Fooled around and fell in love, Dont you forget about me ,Tainted Love, Pop Music , Bang a Gong
S tier omissions; Ride Captain Ride; Blues Image, Signs; Five Man Electric Band, Come and Get Your Love; Redbone, Hot Child in the City; Nick Gilder, Dazz; Brick, Car Wash; Rose Royce, Couldnt Get it Right; Climax Blues Band
Great idea for a video!! I don't like tier lists as much as I do album rankings. Hope to see a return to the album rankings of groups/artists that the channel hasn't gotten to yet. Thanks for all the hard work. One of the best channels on UA-cam!
Not doing as many album rankings, but they aren’t going away completely. Nine Inch Nails next week.
Paste was wrong to including Simple Minds. That band had five top 40 hits in the U.S. and still has a robust following. Alive and Kicking was a Top 10 hit. I could see OMD being considered a one-hit wonder, but not Simple Minds.
Yeah that’s a weird one
My picks:
S
Get It On - T. Rex
The Promise - When in Rome
96 Tears - ? and the Mysterians
A
In a Big Country - Big Country
O-o-h Child - The Five Stairsteps
How Long - Ace
Sugar Sugar - The Archies
Cars - Gary Numan
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
B
Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
Criminal - Fiona Apple
Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest
Stumblin' In - Chris Norma/Suzi Quatro
My Sharona - The Knack
Brandi - Looking Glass
Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum
What's Up? - 4 Non Blondes
Whip It - Devo
The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
Easy Lover - Philip Bailey and Phil Collins
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Just One Look - Doris Troy
No Rain - Blind Melon
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
99 Luftballons - Nena
In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry
Wipe Out - The Surfaris
Magic - Pilot
C
Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer
Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
Pop Musik - M
Fooled Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop
Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something
Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
Bulletproof - La Roux
The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
Sex and Candy - Marcy Playground
Got to Be Real - Cheryl Lynn
Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton
Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight
Book of Love - The Monotones
Mickey - Toni Basil
Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye
D
Barbie Girl - Aqua
Tubthumping - Chumbawamba
Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega
Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice
F
Shake It - Metro Station
Wait!? When was T rex a one hit wonder?
@@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerekOnly in North America, and even then I think it's mostly just in the realm of pop hits.
I'd have "Come On, Eileen" trade places with "Sugar Sugar" and "The Promise" trade places with "99 Luftballons." Otherwise, I pretty much agree with everything else.
1. Sniff the Tears' - Driver's Seat.
2 TYRONE DAVIS - CAN I CHANGE MY MIND
3 The New Radicals - "You Get what You give"
4 Nik Kershaw - "Wouldn't it Be Good"
5 The Easybeats - Friday on My Mind
6 Seal - Crazy (sorry, Seal had other hits)
7. West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys. This is another one hit wonder that had more than one hit but would they if they didn't have the original hit? Well not for me. Sometimes when a band has several songs, but they are not to MY Liking, I just dismiss the other songs and think of the band as a one-hit wonder. Pet Shops Boys "West End Girls" was a great song and their best song, imo, and I know they had other likable songs to others but not for me and can't understand the other hits. I don't know if anyone is following this, as I can hardly following myself.
8. Brandy was a fine song what a good song it was. It could be a S. I think it is special.
9. ? and the Mysterians One of the first great punk songs?
10. Bang a Gong - T Rex had other hits , I though. This one is great. Jeepster is great. The whole first ? album is great.
11. Easy Lover
12. Come on Eileen
Why is Fiona Apple Criminal on this list and at no 2? A much better song by her is Shadowboxing which has a Randy Newmanesque sound and piano.
Jason is talking a bit lower than usual at moments and I can't hear him well at times. There has to be better lists than Paste Mag. Not sure what Paste based this on? sales? catchiness? silliness? Yeah silly catchy songs.
My Sharon is not good. I don't hate it but there are elements that annoy.
I don't like the posting of single covers. Rather See the Name of the song im small print or elsewhere.
Seal had Kiss from a Rose don’t forget
@@TastesLikeMusic Yeah my mistake. Anyway, good song but I prefer Seal's Crazy or maybe I Go Crazy by Paul Davis or Princes' electric version of Patsy Cline's Crazy.
Drivers Seat 💺 # 1 !
@@davidellis5141 The song later morphs into "Jenny don't lose that number". Jenny was sweet. She always smiled for the people she'd meet. On trouble and strife and bathroom stalls. She had another way of looking at life.
@oppothumbs1 The Drummer in the video is wicked 🥁
I like the new feature…..
Devo has an underrated catalog
This was fun! Keep doing them. I'd put Big Country in S.
I'd swap around tiers A & B, punt Nothing Compares down to D and move Wipeout and Seasons in the Sun up to S. Fun video!
Stumbling in is a great song. Suzy Quarto had several hits in UK so one hit wonder doesn't really apply. Listen to the song though. It was inescapable when it was in the charts before your time.
Why was she bigger in the UK? She played Leather Tuscadero on Happy Days so I thought she would be well known to Americans
@@ianrobinson4200 she moved to england in early 70s and mostly played they and europe,
The biggest miss on your list was ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’ by far the best 80s song on the list, up there as one of the greatest hits of the 80s. It should certainly have been in ‘S’ Tier.
80s automatically puts a ceiling on it.
@@TastesLikeMusic If you closely listen to Don’t You Forget About Me with a good audio set up (not Spotify or MP3), I think you will be surprised at the subtle production choices that make the song stand out in a good way compared to other mid-80s tracks.
I played in an 80s cover band and we did that song. I am intimately familiar with it. It’s a good song. I like it. That is all.
@@TastesLikeMusic fair enough!
That was great fun. By now you’ll be aware that in the UK, some of those acts were massive. Frankie Goes To Hollywood were totally huge in 1984. Every week or so, a different 12” of Two Tribes would come out and we’d all go out and buy it. It was probably a case of the right records in the right place at the right time, with all the Reagan and Thatcher vs. Soviet rhetoric at the time.
Simple Minds had hits as did Soft Cell and Gary Numan. Of course some of the US hits didn’t make it big over here.
For me the S tier is Frankie, Soft Cell, Sinead, Ace and Minnie.
Not saying this with any kind of pride or joy (even as a Dane), but Aqua was basically only a one-hit wonder in America. "Turn Back Time" was massive in the UK.
Dancing in the Moonlight is a stone cold classic... Brandy right up there as well.
This was fun. A little disappointed that my favorite one hit wonder, "Venus" by Shocking Blue wasn't included. Maybe next time?
I agree. Continuing the Dutch theme how about Mouth and MacNeal for "How Do You Do" or Focus for "Hocus Pocus", Tee Set for "Ma Belle Amie" and especially Golden Earring for "Radar Love"?
@@kiwiian8051 Golden Earring had Twilight Zone after Radar Love, so not a 1 hit wonder.
Chumbawamba being a F and the only F at that is insane boys!!!!
It belongs in a class of badness all to itself.
Wow lots of representation of songs from Guardians of the Galaxy. But I am thrilled the Paste list had Stumblin In so high up on their list. It is a song I loved when I was a kid and love even more now. I can play it over and over. So fantastic.
Huey Lewis was channeling "Fooled Around & Fell in Love" when he wrote "If This is It".
My Sharona is an absolute banger. That riff?! And have another listen to the solo on it! It's ridiculous. S Tier.
Mickey is superb. Completely iconic rhythm track with a perfect pop chorus. A Tier.
Ice Ice Baby is great. Every kid knew the lyrics to that when it came out. Amazing sample too. B Tier
Relax is S Tier. One of the best Pop singles of the 80s. Phenomenal groundbreaking production by Trevor Horn. Provocative lyrics that flew over the radar.
Aqua is proper garbage. F Tier.
I like the concept and the episode. Well done!
Stumblin’ In is fantastic! And was used perfectly in Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest, Licorice Pizza.
* See Boogie Nights 😆 🤣
@@davidellis5141 I’ve seen it many times. It’s my all time favorite movie! 😁
Oof! Some of these choices are rough.
I really only like these ten enough to play them of my own volition, so all S tier.
This is a fun idea - looking forward to future tier lists!
1. Tainted Love
2. 96 Tears
3. The Promise
4. Cars
5. Relax
6. In A Big Country
7. Somebody That I Used To Know
8. Don’t You (Forget About Me)
9. Crazy
10. Safety Dance
Can’t tell if you like the 80s or not
@@TastesLikeMusic 😂 😜
@@michelewiese48My # 1 Drivers Seat by Sniff N The Tears was omitted by Paste 😠 😡
@@davidellis5141 Good evening David, I wouldn’t place too much stock in this list. I struggled to choose my top 10, although I genuinely like all of those songs, they don’t rate among my best of all-time or anything close to that. A couple of the artists like Gary Numan and Simple Minds have much better songs, in my opinion! A list you and I would’ve co-written would have been much, much better (at least to us.) 😊
@michelewiese48 Bitter Sweet Symphony would be high on my list ..my comment disappeared despite being liked the guys & having some replies. Odd things are happening on TLM ! Gremlins 😆 🤣
Come On Eileen is one of my 3 most hated songs, not quite as bad as Karma Chamelion by Culture Club or Red Red Wine (or whine!) by UB40. To be fair Dexy's were quite big in the early 80s here in the UK - "Geno" by them was great, but Eileen...... meh!
Happy New Year anyway! 😆
Like many people I take issue with the categorizing of some acts as OHWs. Particularly egregious are Simple Minds and the Knack. Simple Minds' follow up to "Don't forget...", "Alive and Kicking" peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 followed by 2 more top 40 hits. The Knack's second single "Good Girls don't" peaked at 11. Apart from that I think you guys did a good job with the list. And yes Sinead so deserved to be on top of the lot. What a talent. So sad.
The knack song especially is an example of song charting based on the momentum of the previous single. It may have charted but no one remembers that song.
Me included.
@@TastesLikeMusic
@@TastesLikeMusic I sure do remember the song and liked it very much, sometimes more than Sharona. Of course, I was 20 at the time, in college and the Knack was all the rage in the Summer of '79. I would wager there are plenty of old farts like me who remember the song very fondly.
Surprised by some of the omissions by Paste. I would have thought that "The Rapper" by the Jaggerz (Billboard #2 in 1970) and "Cruel To Be Kind" by one of my favorites, Nick Lowe (with Rockpile, #12, 1979) would have made their top 50. The latter would have been an "S" for me, but you play with the team you're given. I'm one of those readers who came of musical maturity in the 1970s so "Seasons in the Sun" would be F- in my book. On the other hand, I love Leigh Nash's voice so I would have placed "Kiss Me" much higher than you. Otherwise, your tier rankings are pretty solid. Great job and I look forward to more features like this.
Stumblin' In is a cool little song, nothing earth shattering
I'm around the same age as Joe/Jason and when I was a kid I hated Barbie Girl and loved Tubthumping.
Now I absolutely hate Tubthumping and I kinda like Barbie Girl. Lol
Perfect Angel by Minnie Riperton was a very good album that fans of Stevie Wonder might like. It doesn’t fit into a neat category and the single Loving You wasn’t typical of the album even though it’s great. Highly recommended album. The deluxe version also features slightly more rock oriented takes that really deserve to be heard.
Just for the solo alone Sharona is an S.
Baby Talks Dirty has a great solo as well.
The album version over the edited single version!
This is a great concept for the channel, I would definitely like to see more of these videos 👍
I had to go listen to Cheryl Lynn. I think I may I've heard that song before...and I grew up on radio.
Tenuous links time - the son of the lead singer of Mungo Jerry was a decent track and field athlete and I remember chatting to him at a meeting a few years ago. The father of one of my nephew's school friends was at school with the Proclaimers.
Any one-hit list without New Radicals' "You Get What You Give" needs retooling.
Sorry.
A bit surprised Paste didn't have The Boys are Back in Town by Thin Lizzy in their top 50, it was a one hit wonder in the US
I'm surprised. Paste is still out. I used to subscribe to them back in the day. Liked that they came with a cd.
Jailbreak
@@simpleman5688 Jailbreak didn't chart in the US
Fun video. Totally agree with Jason, the Proclaimers are hugely underrated. Sunshine On Leith (title track) and their cover of Steve Earle's "My Old Friend The Blues" are outstanding, I listen to these two tracks regularly.
Only thing I really disagree with is that you got Safety Dance so low. The rest is similar to what I would have. Cool new format!
I know! I love The Safety Dance. I’ve always liked the song, but lately, I’ve been putting that song on repeat.
Love the new series! I agree with Jason that "Sweetness" is a better Jimmy Eat World song, weird hearing them referred to as a 1 hit wonder.
PopMuzik and Cars came out the same time September 1979 ,in England.
On 1979 there were 4 Knack songs off of their first album in constant rotation on the radio including,
My Sharona
She's So Selfish
Good Girls Don't
Frustrated
And to this day, 80s stations on SirriusXM play at least 3Devo songs regularly including
Whip It
Gates of Steel
Freedom of Choice
“ Closing Time” by Semi-Sonic! They left it out. Good song - A tier. But what about the best one hit wonder of all they left out ..WILD THING! By the Troggs..absolute. S tier! 99 Luft ballons should be in S . Also I’m your Venus..the original by Shocking Blue great song left out. PASTE must suck….
I hate Easy Lover - never liked that song, never will - tirgid 80s soft rock. I love Somebody I Used To Know so i guess i do agree with Jason sometimes.its funny with Pilot as January was the big hit in the UK getting to no.1. Respect to Jason for The Proclaimers love.
Yeah, I never liked Easy Lover, myself.
Very nice video! When you got to Sinead O Connor i automatically thought easy S tier! Great song! This was a fun watch! Maybe you could do 2 hits wonders like KLF and Sophie B Hawkins if theres even enough of them though. I know theres some. I would have put Duncan Sheik Barely Breathing on the list.
Couldn't the Verve Bitter Sweet Symphony been on there as a one hit wonder. That's an A song for me. I know they had Lucky Man in the UK I like but I don't remember it any in the US.
Sinead O' Conner isnt S tier for me if you're old enough to remember the video on MTV all the time because the video was so awful it brings the song down a peg for me. Same thing with The Proclaimers video. The video ruined the song for me because they looked like absolute dorks and not cool at all.
I was afraid that Paste magazine would include Simple Minds. It bugs me that they're considered a one-hit wonder by so many when they had a US top 5 hit with "Alive And Kicking" and another US top 20 hit with "Sanctify Yourself," along with several UK top 10 hits.
If you go strictly by chart position, then yes they had several. But when it comes to being remembered…I think your average, non music obsessive probably only remembers don’t you forget about me. I’ll hear Alive and Kicking out in the wild once in a blue moon, but it’s pretty rare. I can’t even think of how Sanctify Yourself goes. -Jason
@@TastesLikeMusic Gotcha, I guess I sometimes forget that there are non-music obsessive people lol. I will say that Simple Minds is absolutely a band worth getting more into. Great music, especially their earlier stuff, pre "Don't You." 👍
Totally agree about the chorus on Eileen.. Always felt it was completely incongruous to the verse.. just comes out of nowhere.
I totally remember Stumbling’ In the ‘70s. Suzy Quatro’s biggest claim to fame after this hit was playing Leather Tuscadero (Pinky Tuscadero’s cousin or something). I’m not looking this up and totally relying on memory while I still can. Pretty decent song. “Layin’ my heart on the table. Stumblin’ In.” Sugar Sugar by the Archies was my first 45.
The Terry Jacks song is a football chant here in the uk very well known with some alternative lyrics 😀
Honourable mentions (UK)
Howzat - Sherbet
You’re Moving Out Today - Carole Bayer Sega
Airport - The Motors
Angie Baby - Helen Reddy
I Wanna Stay With You - Gallagher and Lyle
Couldn’t Get It Right - Climax Blues Band
Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
Hi Ho Silver Lining - Jeff Beck
I totally know Suzi Quatro’s ‘Stumblin In’ and Mickey Thomas of Jefferson Starship sings on Elvin Bishop’s ‘Fooled Around and Fell in Love’
S-Tier: Big Country, Come On Eileen, Dancing in the Moonlight, Spirit in the Sky
F-Tier: Barbie Girl, Ice Ice Baby, Easy Lover
There can’t be a world where sugar , sugar is better than come on Eileen .I’d put it in S tier
The Knack had a couple hits, Good Girls Don’t, for example. They are icons in the power pop genre kind of like the cranberries, power pop bands are often in the one hit category seems like.
First question mark. Frankie Goes To Hollywood making an appearance with 3 UK number ones and even T Rex appearing later. Second question mark Relax not being first. Cheryl Lynn also too low.
One-hit wonders are a topic that reminds me that Canadian and American charts, while similar, are not identical. Men Without Hats, the Proclaimers, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood were not one-hit wonders in Canada -- and only the first of those is Canadian. "Two Tribes" charted higher than "Relax", and "Pop Goes the World" (as well as the forgotten "Hey Men") charted higher than "The Safety Dance".
Please do more tierlists!
The glaring issues: "Book of Love" - too low. "Bulletproof" - too high (never heard it and it was awful).
Mr Joe, the true definition of a one hit wonder, is that the band only had one hit... #justsayin ❤
As a Canadian who was alive when “Seasons in the Sun” was omnipresent on the radio here I SHOULD hate it but I don’t. It takes me back to that time.
Just love Come on Eileen.
Thought I might see “Harden My Heart” by Quarterflash on the list a very catchy song.
Sugar Sugar I also remember from 1969 dominating the radio but I don’t have fondness for.
I could quibble about this song or that song, and we're always going to quibble over which bands really aren't one hit wonders, but Terry Jacks ... unadulterated garbage. I was alive in the 70s and this song drove me and everyone I knew crazy. It is so corny, so hackneyed, so soulless, so passionless, and so very, very trite. For me, F with a bullet! Much, much worse than Barbie Girl (which, at least, is catchy and humourous). Great work, though, guys! As always, the fact that you have different opinions about music keeps everything enjoyable and real.
Most people think of "one hit wonder" as a sort of pejorative, but not me. I would love to have written/recorded a song that became a radio staple everywhere. It beats toiling in obscurity forever.
Men Without Hats' later record "Pop Goes the World" is better than it has any right to be. A guilty pleasure, and SO much better than "Safety Dance."
Idk man they’re both pretty cringe imo
Barbie Girl, Minnie Ripp, Terry Jacks, 99 luft balloons, In the Summertime, easy lover would be F's for me. Not quite a handful would make the S tier. Overall, Paste has semi-bad taste.
The One/Two Hit Wonder to producer/song doctor trajectory is quite interesting. Gregg Alexander, Linda Perry, Jack Antonoff, Robbie Nevil, Dann Huff.
I love Mr Big Stuff and seeing it in D made me sad, that's my biggest issue with your list but otherwise fine. Was thinking early Fool Around and Fell in Love could be S but kinda felt like I agreed with the A towards the end. Blind Melon do a great version of The Pusher and if that was here instead of No Rain it would be an easy S from me
I would have Spirit in the Sky alone in the S class, Wipeout would be an A, and Seasons in the Sun a D. Otherwise no serious quibble.
Let me say guys this has been my favorite episode to date!! 😮
So I could type all night about this, but don’t want to bore you. Jason, kudos to you for the “jumpy” early 80s family on OHW! I actually laughed my ass off!
Here are my top 5 personally
Nothing Compares 2 U
In A Big Country
( even though Fields Of Fire was a short lived hit)
Safety Dance
( 8th grade Valentines Dance and the entire class was on the floor!)
SOS Band-Take Your Time
( Do IT Right)
Can’t believe it was left off, but there’s ton of disco OHW)
Donnie Iris
Ah! Leah! Why oh Why is it not on here!
Love your vids!! More 80s stuff pleeeeeze!
In Pittsburgh Donnie iris has a ton of hits
my top 4 of this whole list is easily made up of How Long, Brandy, Fooled Around & Fell in Love, + Dancing in the Moonlight. guess I'm a yacht rock dad.
Bulletproof is S and frankly I will not hear any less
Don't want to appear negative but I am not a fan of tier lists especially when they start to get crowded. I have a small screen and on screen its a huge mess. There's only a couple of sleeves that are distinguishable. Whats more single sleeves vary far more than LP ones. Most of the 45s I saw just had the hole displaying the label so they were never familiar.
As for the songs themselves I am old enough to remember almost all these songs, burnt into memory thanks to the radio playlists. You ask if any were disrespected and 14 year old me would be screaming YES. SUGAR SUGAR IS THE GREATEST SONG EVER- WHY IS IT ONLY HALF WAY? Now things have changed a bit with time -its no longer THE song in my books.....but have you ever flipped it?. The B side was awesome, even better than the A side and to this day I would rank it S tier.
I fully agree that the Bailey/Collins hit doesn't deserve the one-hit wonder tag. if it's because it's the only hit they had together then why don't we call "Fame" a one-hit wonder for Bowie/Lennon? for that matter, Bowie/Queen are a one-hit wonder for "Under Pressure." and even though I remember "Mandinka" getting lots of radio play, I'll accept the fact that it was a 'college radio hit,' but Sinead deserves recognition for not just covering a Prince song but owning it. none have owned a Prince song as much as the late Sinead O'Connor, and that's saying a lot when you consider Kate Bush covered Prince.
I would take Manic Monday (also written by Prince for Susanna Hoff) by The Bangles over Nothing Compares to You.
Sinead O'Connor was so overrated for shaving her head. That song is so unpleasant to my ears. I would have it at D tier.
Gotye has 5 or 6 songs (at least) better than "Somebody..." which is pretty damn great on its own
so sad that he's only viewed as a 1 hit wonder
Pilot and King Harvest rank higher than the Looking Glass for me any day of the week
I am surprised Afternoon Delight, a song I hate, wasn’t on this list. It was a big hit, a real one hit wonder. Spirit In The Sky deserves more love.
Interesting how different this would be to UK/Euro, even Canadian placement of these songs.
*_SuzieQuatro_* ,there's an interesting discography ranking.