@@matttrafton2725 I know every generation says that ... Those who grew up in the 50s didn't care for the rock of the 60s and 70s; likewise the hippy generation thinks 80s/90s music is shite ... But for real, while there are few good artists and songs out there, the majority of today's music really is garbage. It's overproduced, recycled, sanitized shite.
In Britain, Madness wasn't a one-hit band, having a string of several great songs that just didn't make much noise this side of the pond. And among them was my favorite Madness song, "It Must Be Love," and it's SORELY underrated. ❤️
One note about A-Ha. I live in Brazil. Here, they definitely were NOT a one hit wonder. They were a HUGE success! Several tracks on radio. Songs on TV shows. 200.000 people went to see them on 1991 Rock in Rio. They were more famous here than in their native Norway!
Why does "One Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head from Chess never get the respect it deserves? That song is massively awesome! I would have had that in the top 5 personally.
@@zejoaoparis if you actually watched the video, Rick (and many commenters) acknowledged some of the artists had hits in other countries, Ricks lists focus on hits in the US, so my selection is still valid.
In America, Murray Head actually had 2 hits on the Hot 100: "Superstar", from Jesus Christ Superstar, and "One Night In Bangkok", from Chess. "Superstar" charted twice, in 2 different years, so if you want to say he had 3 hits, that's reasonable. But you're right, "One Night In Bangkok" is a fantastic song, and generally doesn't get the respect (or airplay) it deserves today!
There are a number of songs on this list that were possibly one hit wonders in the US, but in other counties there were follow up hits. A-ha had several hits in many countries. A great list with memories for all the songs. One you missed was "99 Red Balloons", both German and English versions
A good example, to support your observation, is A-ha. By no means a one hit wonder in Europe, the band had a hit with 'Cry Wolf', possibly their biggest in Europe.
The fact that me and my friends who were born in the 2000s know most of these songs and love them, shows you how amazing and timeless music from the 80s are. I feel like a lot of today’s songs will be forgotten in 5-10 years.
Naw, I doubt it. These songs will be around for a long time. It’s been over 20 years for some and they are still lingering. As long as Generation X is still alive, the songs will be too.
Rick was right to put the songs where he did. . . mostly. "Missing You" was a huge hit, but I truly thought "Bette Davis Eyes" should have been higher~it was a staple on MTV.
12:15 Honorable Mention: *_Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday_* That was one of the amazing tracks on the Ford music sampler cassette that came with my grandpa's 1988 Ford Fiesta!
Level 42’s “Something About You”, never got tired of that. Just listened to it for the first time in 15 years and still sound great; tight vocals, tasty guitar, great romantic hook.
Me neither. I always crank it up when SXM's First Wave plays it. Candidly I'm surprised at how high it got on the Billboard Hot 100 (#7). I don't remember hearing it anywhere other than KROQ (alt-80s for those not in the LA California area).
That song was YEARS in the making. It went through multiple iterations before they finally got it right and it caught fire. The video definitely helped.
Hard to believe that freshman year at university began over 40 years ago - I remember dancing to almost everyone of these songs - they make my heart glad and my feet move! Thank you!
Rick Beato........you bring such happiness into my life when I watch your videos and your joy for the songs we all love as well. Massive. Massive. Respect.
I have to agree. But otherwise, TalkTalk was mostly Rock. All you wanna do is talk talk. The dum dum girl. It's My Life was an anomaly for them. But Awesome in the original meaning of the word.
I miss the 80’s! I miss Sunday’s listening to Casey Kasem’s Top 40 of the week and jamming out to some of the best music ever!! Glad I was a part of it
@@thenightporter : Can I find that radio station on the internet??? I was listening the American Top 40 in the 80's almost every single Saturday, it was my favourite radio program (on Austrian Ö3). And I'm not even from the US :)
I am a bassist/keyboard player and was in a 70s,80s, 90s cover band. 90% of the songs you picked we covered. But i wanted to give shout out to you for including the massively incomparable Jane Child on your list. Bravo! it still sounds so thick and fresh to this day!!
I was surprised In a Big Country by Big Country wasn’t on the list. To this day I crank it up full blast when I’m lucky enough to hear it on the radio. Such a great song.
Listen to The Edge of Forever by them, off the same album. Really good. It popped up in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off too, near the end. Of course, their instrumental cover of The Smith’s “Please, Please, Please Let me get what I want”, from the museum scene in that movie…also really good.
Kim Wilde - Kid's in America; The Vapors - Turning Japanese; Falco - Rock Me Amadeus; Peter Schilling - Major Tom; When In Rome - The Promise; Big Country - In A Big Country; Animotion - Obsession
I was in Germany few years ago sitting in the evening in this crowded pub in business trip and this song played in German (it's originally Germen song) and no one reacted until it goes to the 4,3,2,1 earth below us drifting ... in German ... and the whole pub singing along shouting like someone signaled them . I was mesmerized. wow. Little frightening when German crowed shouts sentences synchronized in Jewish ears .
I'm British and was thinking the same the BUGLES 🤔 TREVOR HORN A PRODUCER AND SINGER IN THE PROG BAND YES AND THE SAME BAND LATER HAD GEOFF DOWNS FROM THE BUGLES IN ANOTHER VERSION OF YES I could go on .😁 Nice one Rick
Madness were playing outside my living room window just a few weeks ago on a boiling hot summers day. I didn’t think I liked them but they were incredible.
Agreed… Madness are legends… STILL! The first band I ever got in to in 1979, and still remain my favourite band of all time. Dexys are another - Come On Eileen was No 1 in September ‘82 when I started secondary school (High School). I get it though, Rick’s perspective is US not UK. I thought No 1 was going to be Simple Minds - Don’t You Forget About Me. Again, not one hit wonders in the UK. Good list though.
Love your list!!! A couple missing: Rock Me Amadeus by Falco and One Night in Bangkok by Murray Head. So glad you mentioned Voices Carry and had Safety Dance, I Ran, Come on Eileen and Our House on your list - growing up in the 80’s (age 10-19) I can attest to the popularity of some of these classic one-hit wonders!
Great list! Privileged to have lived that era being in High School. I thought Der Komissar from ATF was going to be there. Great production. Also missed: Pop Muzik-M Cars - Gary Numan Relax-Frankie Goes to Hollywood Information Society-Pure Energy She Blinded me with Science - Thomas Dolby Died in Your Arms Tonight- Cutting Crew Major Tom-Peter Schilling
Now that I think about it, for me, "Life in a Northern Town" by Dream Academy 1985 belongs somewhere on the list, too. At least as an honorable mention.
Definitely! My teenage boys hated that I played that song all the time. Then I showed them the video... They were blown away! Rick, you should do a video on videos that were just as good if not better than the accompaning songs.
She Blinded Me With Science, 1982, Thomas Dolby is the early hit from this career musician, university lecturer and musical innovator. This early days MTV video is legend !
I kinda think "Walking on Sunshine" needs to be ranked much higher - the broad appeal that song has is incredible. .it still sounds fresh, cheerful, and brings me joy to this day
Owner of a Lonely Heart by Yes She Blinded me with Science by Thomas Dolby Break my Stride by Matthew Wilder Rockit by Herbie Hancock I can Dream About You by Dan Hartman The Glamorous Life by Sheila E. I can’t Wait by Nu Shooz St Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion) by John Parr Breakout by Swing Out Sister (love this song, fun video too) The Whole of the Moon by The Waterboys Lunatic Fringe by Red Rider (from Vision Quest) And so many more are out there. Great decade for music. 😀
A few more: "Der Kommissar" by After the Fire, "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors, "Oh Yeah" by Yello (featured in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"), "Relax (Don't Do It)" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and "The Captain of Her Heart" from the album "Blue" by Double, which was issued (in the US, at least) on translucent blue vinyl.
I agree wholeheartedly! A list of twenty just starts to scratch the surface. How about "Cars" by Gary Numan, ""Always Something There To Remind Me" by Naked Eyes, "Suddenly Last Summer" by The Motels, "Square Pegs" by The Waitresses or "Voices" by Russ Ballard. Those are just a few songs that came to mind while listening to Rick's list.
Was born in 85 but I knew every 1 of these songs. Tainted Love is 1 of my fav songs but also loved Sex Dwarf, What, and Where did our love go by Soft Cell. Too shy, Come on Eileen, Take on Me, Whip It, Melt With You, Voices Carry, Our House, all great songs I have on my playlist list. ❤
Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves. Summer of 1987 or 86 we had an end of year baseball pool party at my coaches house and that song was playing over the speakers at his house. Every time I hear it I'm reminded of just how lucky I was to grow up in such an awesome time and how great my Mom was in raising me. Very happy child for sure!
A "What Makes This Song Great" on Voices Carry would be stellar!! As would an interview with Aimee Mann and a look into any of her solo stuff. She is brilliant!!
if I had undedrstood what she was singing I would have loved that song.. loved the sound of it but never really heard the words of the chorus back then getting just pieces of it on radio. Never knew the title. I thought it went "hush hush" and then something was "scary". Just looked up the lyrics.. brilliant!
I remember every song on this list like it was yesterday. I just turned 60 today, but I close my eyes and listen to these songs and felt like I was in high school, driving my truck with my girlfriend next to me. Amazing how music can take you to another place. Sidenote, I went to the American rock festival outside timber Ridge ski area in Kalamazoo Michigan Memorial weekend of 1984 and got the worst sunburn of my life. I understand how Rick felt!!
Indeed, and House of Fun was a bigger hit than Our House, too!! Madness share the record with UB40 of the most number of weeks spent in the UK Charts during the 80s. Must be Rick's chart of US 1 Hit Wonders (I'm sure a couple from this list weren't even hits in the UK).
yeah, it's US centric. Bow wow wow and Kajagoogoo had more hits in the UK too (obviously nowhere near Madness). Amazingly, they don't know who The Jam are here, or Paul Weller as a solo artist.
What incredible era for music. Was in grade/high school at the time, so these all got played at school dances, house parties, teen clubs and of course on the radio. What a time to be alive.
The song writing! It was different. Formulaic in all the right ways, but even when it deviated from formulas it was engaging and unique. There's nothing new under the sun now. Shame.
Well done Rick. Had me hanging on every beat like when I heard each one of these tunes for the very first time. These will never get old or overplayed. Thank you!!
I wish A-ha had more of their songs played on US airwaves. Such gorgeous lyrics and beautiful, soulful, passionate melodies. Morten's voice touches the soul so deeply..makes you remember what it is to feel alive and human💜 So many of their songs make me cry because they are so exquisite. This band is truly a gift to the world 💜
Yes, a-ha may be considered a 1-hit band in the US, but they've sold over 100 million records and have so many great songs, I believe they transcend this category.
"I just died in your arms tonight" by Cutting Crew. The cello intro, driving drums and the guitar licks are so iconic. The quirky POV style black and white music video didn't hurt either. At one point, the camera was on a motorbike going around in a closed set with people scrambling away for dear life. Yup, it was definitely a product of the 80s
It's such a fantastic tune and I'm 21 too. So intricate with driving synths, great electric guitar effects, funky drum beats and the production is fucking crisp too.
This is another case of "one-hit wonder" being defined as one hit in the U.S., and disregarding the rest of the world. Red Rider (later Tom Cochrane and Red Rider) were huge up here in their home country of Canada, and still are to this day. Regardless, 1981's "Lunatic Fringe" wasn't even their highest charting single in the U.S. (at #11). In 1988, "Big League" peaked at #9.
"Under the Milky Way" by The Church would be top five on my list. Loved this stroll down memory lane (thx!), being a teen in the eighties was awesome! No smart phones, no internet; just face-to-face human interaction....and wacky clothes & hair 😄
@@thedys70 I saw The Church at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2002 (one of many times)…anyway, I was singing along to every song, and this guy asks me, “Hey, you seem to know all of the songs, do they have any hits? My friend is bored, and unless they start playing hits, we’re leaving”. All I could reply was, “You could wait for ‘Under the Milky Way’”…and he just gave me a blank stare. His loss!
The original was played in the Northern Soul clubs in UK during the 70s, along with a lot of other lesser known songs which were later covered by artists influenced by the British club scene.
I graduated high school in 1983 and so many of these songs bring back so many great memories. One song that wasn't on your list is one of my favorite songs of the 80s is In A Big Country by Big Country. This was such a great video!
0:32 - #20 Video Killed the Radio Star 0:52 - #19 I Want Candy 1:20 - #18 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love 2:08 - #17 Let’s Hear It for the Boy 2:40 - #16 Funky Town 3:18 - #15 Too Shy 3:49 - #14 Somebody’s Watching Me 4:17 - #13 Bette Davis Eyes 4:43 - #12 Safety Dance 5:22 - #11 Walking on Sunshine 6:01 - #10 You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) 6:43 - #9 Tainted Love 7:21 - #8 867-5309/Jenny 7:55 - #7 Missing You 8:35 - #6 Whip It 9:18 - #5 I Melt with You 10:07 - #4 I Ran (So Far Away) 10:43 - #3 Our House 11:14 - #2 Come On Eileen 11:55 - Honorable Mention: Voices Carry 12:52 - #1 Take On Me
Pretty good list! 19 and 15 are such nothing songs. But I guess it's all about what you were doing at the time when you heard them. And 11 has reached it's quota for eternity, please do not consider for your movie soundtrack nor your prescription strength antacid commercial. Which reminds me, why did Nexium choose "we're not gonna take it" by the Who (yes, the Who) instead of Purple Haze? What a whiff!
@@shyman99 I think we are getting caught up in semantics. If you want Rick can re edit his list and cut most of his picks out. Actually the only one that I strongly object to on the 'not a one hit only' band is Flock of Seagulls. But I'm sure you could make that argument for a lot of the bands on this list.
Very well assembled list Rick ! I love the Lipps Inc 'Funky Town' track. Deceptively simple, very clever production - especially the solid bass and the binaural white noise hits.
Ahhhh...the 80's! Musically like a warm blanket for me -- I went into high school in the fall of 1979 and came out of college in 1988. My musically formative years WERE the 80's. These lists are great -- they help me fill in holes on my spotify lists. Keep them coming Rick!
I started high school fall of 78 and spent the 80s Back packing Europe and Asia and Australia and North America and being a ski bum in the Rockies. The soundtrack of my youth never gets old!
"In a Big Country", by Big Country. Quintessentially '80s, but it doesn't sound the least bit dated and is a really great song. Honorable mention: "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House, a practically perfect pop song that sounds 80s and timeless, at the same time (but not really a one-hit wonder).
I totally agree with Big Country and just about anything from Split Enz or Crowded House. Brings back some great memories fighting for the family turntable with my sisters!
Split enz and crowded house were definitely not 1 hit wonders....just American labels didn't pick up alot of Aussie bands The angels Rose tattoo Mental as anything Men at work Ice house Divynals Cold chisel Mondo rock These bands would have been huge in the states with some promotion and record label support
That band was supposed to be the next big thing, and it really didn't happen, but boy did that song get massive rotation, which made me bored of the song at the time. In retrospect, though, I agree that it's a great song that mined a style no one else really built on, but maybe it can't be done. Their hit song was the same as their band name, not a good idea actually in my opinion. It diluted the power of the song in favor of a marketing gimmick.
Come On Eileen is a masterclass in how to write a catchy song. Its literally all hooks from the fiddle riff, the banjo, the 'Cmon Eileen' backing vocals, the chorus and the breakdown and release. Its an incredible song.
Love your Top 20 list! When I heard Modern English back in the day, I immediately went out and bought their record. My cousin and I listened to that album nonstop over a 4-day summer trip to the lake. It is still one of my favorites. I’m going to make a playlist of the songs you featured here. Every song brought me back to the good old days and simpler times.
Big Country had quite a career, but I'd say "In A Big Country" probably marks them as a one-hit wonder in the US. And they were a breath of fresh air in the synth-driven 80s with their dual-guitar lineup.
Flock of Seagulls had some other hits other than "I Ran". "Wishing", "The More You Live, the More You Love, and "Space Age L:ove Song" come to mind. Also, A-Ha's :The Sun Always Shines on TV" charted in many countries and reached #1 in Ireland and the UK.
Very much a US list. You see the same thing with Blur in the 90's and Travis in the 00's. One-hit wonders in the US but saw significantly more success in Europe and their home market in particular.
Jackie Wilson said (I'm in heaven when you smile) was also huge after come on Eileen, not to mention others beforehand such as Geno as you mention. And soft cell. Really? And how many years were madness going for? They were one of the original ska bands. And kajagoogoo and aha were huge heartthrobs with loads of hits
"Waiting for a Star to Fall" by Boy Meets Girl is another good 80s one-hit wonder. John Waite and A Flock of Seagulls both had more than one hit as I recall.
great tune. They wrote a bunch of hits for Whitney including How Will I Know. They only recorded Waiting for a Star to Fall because Whitney didn't want to record it.
It's incredible that Madness made the list. They were one of the biggest band in UK in the 80s. About 20 hits, most top 10 and 1 or 2 number ones I'm sure.
I remember seeing "No doubt", Gwen Stefani's first band and the drummer was wearing a Madness t-shirt. When asked, she said they were an influence on her band. My ex had American family who said that there was a sub culture back then, that listened to British music and there was radio stations that catered for them. Tbh I hate that over produced, pop both countries now produce. And while I understand a generation needs music that is for them made by them, I hate rap. I hate the lack of music in it, the constant talk of violence, dealing, promiscuity and the promotion of not wearing a belt. I feel cheated out of all the good bands who get passed over to promote this crap.
…and ‘til tuesday is an incredible band. Aimee is an incredibly talented singer and songwriter. I have wished for a long time that they would tour again. The interplay of their instruments is special. Your list is great by the way. 🎉🎉
Thank you for the great list, Rick. I'm 57, turning 58 in a little over a month, and this brought me back to a different and, though not better, a more magical time.
A-ha may be a one hit wonder in the US, but they where huge in Europe, Asia and South America. They hold a Guinness World Record from 1991 for drawing the largest paying audience at a pop concert, with 198,000 people at the Estádio do Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They have also sold more than 100 million units, albums and singles combined.
I really love Rick's list of 80's one hit wonders. I would have chosen the same songs. These songs were even more unforgettable because MTV (new at the time) had the corresponding videos in constant rotation. And then VH1 followed their lead shortly thereafter.
“The Friends of Mr Cairo” made it to number one in Canada. Vangelis had other hit songs in the US though, like Chariots of Fire. So not a one hit wonder.
That was one of my favorites from the 80's but I never could find out the name of the band or the song. It was frustrating. A couple of decades ago I put a incorrect lyric or two on a synth mailing list and asked if anybody knew the song. Somebody did and told me what it was. That also led me to "Coming Up Close" also by the band, which is nice too.
Definately one of my favorites from those days. Still love the song ... I just know what the words are now. Back then I thought she was singing something like: "Fuss fuss, take it down town, Misses Kerry"
A rather comprehensive list! Can't argue with any of these songs - as the list was rolling out, I was wondering if Mexican Radio by Wall of Voodoo, or Turning Japanese by the Vapors would show up. Other one hit wonders to consider would be Electric Avenue, Mickey, She Blinded Me with Science, The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades, In a Big Country, or Der Kommissar. You could probably do a top 50 list of One Hit Wonders of the 80s.
One of my favorite bands of all time--Big Country, cracked the top 40 in 1983 with "In a Big Country." They had several hits in the UK, but that was it for them in the U.S. I always preferred them to U2, but it was U2 that shot to world wide fame.
I was looking to see if anyone else would mention In a Big Country. I had to go listen to it after the video to hear how it compared to these. It's in my Top 20, but I can see how it might be passed over for some of the song's on Rick's list.
I really enjoyed this, thank you for your insight, from a Kent based showman, Englishman born in 1979 this pretty much spot on, yes we could all argue about our favourites. But I would love to share a rum with this man & easily discuss Roxette, & the film influence from Goonies, pretty women, mannequin, Labyrinth, the list if fantastic music goes on. The man knew his stuff x
For us living in Europe, Video Killed The Radio Star qualifies as a 1970s one hit wonder. It was all over the radio during the late summer/fall in 1979!
The song is so appropriate for 1979-1980. It ushered in the music video age in the 80s even though The Beatles made promotional song videos long before video killed the radio star...my two cents.
@@PianoGesang Bruce Woolley co-wrote it with Horn and Downes. Zimmer happened to be around, and mimed on their music videos, but was not involved in the actual recording.
Shout out to the Jane Child song! I was a child of the eighties, and when this song came out I was much more likely to be listening to Journey or Yngwie or maybe Mike Stern. But this song definitely caught my ear. Later was impressed to learn how much of a real musician Jane Child is - writer, vocalist, and she crushed the keyboard solo on this one as well.
I was also a child of the 80s (Europe) but I didn't get to know her music until around 30 and I'm sorry that she didn't have a longer career in pop music because her '89 album is almost perfect.
She played almost everything on her 1st album. She pushed the capability of the Fairlight Synth so far that she actually had to call the engineers to figure how to physically modify it to make the sounds she wanted.
Fantastic list, sometimes its hard to remember all of the great music including the one hit wonders of the 80's. It was a great time to grow up and go through High School to cap off the decade and graduate in the class of '90.
I'm 68 and the '80's had some of the BEST tunes. Plus, the older we get the more WE appreciate what WE had in music 🇨🇦
We appreciate the 80s more because most music in the 21st bek is drekk.
100%
🇨🇦
@@matttrafton2725 I know every generation says that ... Those who grew up in the 50s didn't care for the rock of the 60s and 70s; likewise the hippy generation thinks 80s/90s music is shite ...
But for real, while there are few good artists and songs out there, the majority of today's music really is garbage. It's overproduced, recycled, sanitized shite.
As a Canadian in the 80’s Safety Dance was everywhere. It is still one of my favourite song, I had listened to it just before clicking on this video!
In Britain, Madness wasn't a one-hit band, having a string of several great songs that just didn't make much noise this side of the pond. And among them was my favorite Madness song, "It Must Be Love," and it's SORELY underrated. ❤️
In Australia 'It Must Be Love' and 'House of Fun' were bigger hits than 'Our house'
Big Tune !
Maybe so but he's talking about US radio.
In the netherlands they had like 6 hits. One step beyond, our house, house of fun, my girl are all well known
Baggy trousers! Such a fun song 😁
One note about A-Ha. I live in Brazil. Here, they definitely were NOT a one hit wonder. They were a HUGE success! Several tracks on radio. Songs on TV shows. 200.000 people went to see them on 1991 Rock in Rio. They were more famous here than in their native Norway!
But a 1 hit wonder in America.
@@delyates2509That speaks volumes about Americans and their lack of taste in music.
Fun fact ;
My great aunt was a great fan of A-HA.
She was in her mid 90's !
👵👍📺
Love from Norway 🇧🇻
I grew up on classical music. When I discovered A-Ha (beyond "Take on Me, which at least sounded familiar), I was totally captivated.
@@delyates2509They had two songs that reached the top 40
I can't get over how Walking On Sunshine sounds as fresh today as it did back then. It's one of the most perfect pop songs ever.
About a week ago, I heard Eddy Grant’s “Electric Avenue,” and as I cranked it up in the car, I couldn’t help but marvel at how great it still sounds.
That's a great one!
That song, technically and sonically, is so good. A form of perfection
That should have been on there
It really is a great song, the full package
Definitely, that shoulda been on here.
Don’t forget “ I just died in your arms tonight “ by the Cutting Crew. #1 in Spring of 1987.
They weren't a one hit wonder "I've been in love before "
@@michaelrawson6261 Neither is JOHN WAITE!
@@michaelrawson6261 Neither were The Buggles (who also released "On TV") or Madness (also released "One Step Beyond")
@@michaelrawson6261 One For The Mocking Bird as well
Just as much one hit wonders as A-ha
Why does "One Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head from Chess never get the respect it deserves? That song is massively awesome! I would have had that in the top 5 personally.
probably because Murray Head had another hit, at least here in Europe, with Say it ain't so... so it's not a one-hit wonder ! ;)
@@zejoaoparis if you actually watched the video, Rick (and many commenters) acknowledged some of the artists had hits in other countries, Ricks lists focus on hits in the US, so my selection is still valid.
Because the music was written by Benny Andersson of ABBA (Hits are us.)
@@zejoaoparis He had a song from Jesus Christ Superstar
In America, Murray Head actually had 2 hits on the Hot 100: "Superstar", from Jesus Christ Superstar, and "One Night In Bangkok", from Chess. "Superstar" charted twice, in 2 different years, so if you want to say he had 3 hits, that's reasonable. But you're right, "One Night In Bangkok" is a fantastic song, and generally doesn't get the respect (or airplay) it deserves today!
I’m 18 and know every single one of these songs. 70s and 80s is my favorite and really the only music I listen to!
Der Kommisar is such a heavily underrated song of the 80s. I wish it was represented more
That's a two-hit wonder ... because two artists had hits with the same song! 😀
Falco also had rock me amadeus
Yeah, I guess if you went with the After The Fire version, which was also pretty big in the US...
Sucks.
@@ric8248 not in the US lol
There are a number of songs on this list that were possibly one hit wonders in the US, but in other counties there were follow up hits. A-ha had several hits in many countries. A great list with memories for all the songs. One you missed was "99 Red Balloons", both German and English versions
A good example, to support your observation, is A-ha. By no means a one hit wonder in Europe, the band had a hit with 'Cry Wolf', possibly their biggest in Europe.
99 Red Balloons by Nena was not a one hit wonder in europe
Indeed... Madness have enough hits here in the UK for a several Greatest Hits albums. Nonetheless, some great music.
@@AndyMarsh For sure. Practically all their output on TwoTone Records charted successfully.
AGREE!
The fact that me and my friends who were born in the 2000s know most of these songs and love them, shows you how amazing and timeless music from the 80s are. I feel like a lot of today’s songs will be forgotten in 5-10 years.
It shows that your parents had cool taste in music 😊
We thought the same about these songs in the 80's. Let's talk again in 30 years. ;-)
@@angelohulshout8696 see you then
Naw, I doubt it. These songs will be around for a long time. It’s been over 20 years for some and they are still lingering. As long as Generation X is still alive, the songs will be too.
Rick was right to put the songs where he did. . . mostly. "Missing You" was a huge hit, but I truly thought "Bette Davis Eyes" should have been higher~it was a staple on MTV.
12:15 Honorable Mention: *_Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday_*
That was one of the amazing tracks on the Ford music sampler cassette that came with my grandpa's 1988 Ford Fiesta!
Level 42’s “Something About You”, never got tired of that. Just listened to it for the first time in 15 years and still sound great; tight vocals, tasty guitar, great romantic hook.
So was their other big hit, "Lessons In Love".
Me neither. I always crank it up when SXM's First Wave plays it.
Candidly I'm surprised at how high it got on the Billboard Hot 100 (#7). I don't remember hearing it anywhere other than KROQ (alt-80s for those not in the LA California area).
been listening to this song a lot lately. agree!
Mark King is an amazing bassist , but they aren’t on the list because they had several big hits, I love level 42!
Not a one hit wonder though. Level 42 had several!
A-Ha Take On Me got a huge boost in popularity because the accompanying video was so indescribably cool!
That song was YEARS in the making. It went through multiple iterations before they finally got it right and it caught fire. The video definitely helped.
I first saw that video before a showing of Back to the Future. Totally blew me away. Still does. One of the greatest of the 80’s.
It gets played as a sing along at about every NHLgame these days
It’s a great song but I loved The Sun Aways Shines on TV even more.
Yeah, that video is amazing. Brilliant concept, unique look....one of the best music videos of all time. 👍
Hard to believe that freshman year at university began over 40 years ago - I remember dancing to almost everyone of these songs - they make my heart glad and my feet move! Thank you!
Rick Beato........you bring such happiness into my life when I watch your videos and your joy for the songs we all love as well.
Massive. Massive. Respect.
Always loved those synth drums in "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora.
If only we could remove its association with that toothpaste commercial...
It was mouthwash actually, listerine.
My favorite from the 80’s was “It’s my life” from Talk Talk. Gorgeous melody and great bass line!
Genius band, quality track...but surely not a one-hit wonder? 'Life's what you Make It' was a bigger hit across the world?
No Doubt did a great cover, I don't know which version I prefer these days
I always preferred the single from their name: Talk Talk, I loved the voice echoes
I have to agree. But otherwise, TalkTalk was mostly Rock. All you wanna do is talk talk. The dum dum girl. It's My Life was an anomaly for them. But Awesome in the original meaning of the word.
It's my life...(and hopefully) it never ends! Also, their song Today is my fav
I miss the 80’s! I miss Sunday’s listening to Casey Kasem’s Top 40 of the week and jamming out to some of the best music ever!! Glad I was a part of it
They replay Casey Kasem and AT40 on weekends on my local I ❤ Radio station. Basically, it is the same week, just some 40 years earlier.
@@thenightporter : Can I find that radio station on the internet??? I was listening the American Top 40 in the 80's almost every single Saturday, it was my favourite radio program (on Austrian Ö3). And I'm not even from the US :)
How about waiting for a song to come on so you could hit the play button to record it. The 80's were great!
@@s.s.8029 Sure, but remember to press the "Play" and "Rec" buttons together! ;-)
Listened to the same every Sunday as a teen in South Africa. Damm, made all sad yearning for good times gone by🥹
I am a bassist/keyboard player and was in a 70s,80s, 90s cover band. 90% of the songs you picked we covered. But i wanted to give shout out to you for including the massively incomparable Jane Child on your list. Bravo! it still sounds so thick and fresh to this day!!
The best song on the list and one of the best of all times...
I
dug
the production, but I hated the 'lyrics?' - especially the chorus!!
🤌🚫💩🚫🤌
I was surprised In a Big Country by Big Country wasn’t on the list. To this day I crank it up full blast when I’m lucky enough to hear it on the radio. Such a great song.
Check out MOE's version of In A Big Country, excellent.
Same here.
They had more than one hit (not in the US).
Me too!!!
hell ya
Lots of great choices there. I always loved "Life in a Northern Town" by The Dream Academy
Listen to The Edge of Forever by them, off the same album. Really good. It popped up in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off too, near the end. Of course, their instrumental cover of The Smith’s “Please, Please, Please Let me get what I want”, from the museum scene in that movie…also really good.
Kim Wilde - Kid's in America; The Vapors - Turning Japanese; Falco - Rock Me Amadeus; Peter Schilling - Major Tom; When In Rome - The Promise; Big Country - In A Big Country; Animotion - Obsession
What if god was one of us!
Falco had many more hits in the German language area, similarly though not quite as massive Peter Schilling.
100%
Kim Wild, not just kids in America, but also - Chequered Love , View from a bridge , Water on Glass , Cambodia , & You Keep me Hanging On.
And don't forget Kate Bush, Babooshka & Running up that hill. Simple Minds, Prince, U2, Genesis, Dire Straits, pink Floyd etc etc etc etc etc .
Great list. I think about Michael Penn's "No Myth", The Dream Academy's "Life in a Northern Town", "The Outfield -"Your Love" to name a few.
'Say It Isn't So'
'Voices Of Babylon'
The Outfield!
🤌🏒🚨🏒🤌
Life in a Northern Town is brilliant. It woke my metalhead ass up, it was like Pachelbel's Canon done Switched-on-Bach.
I would definitely put Major Tom (Coming Home) by Peter Schilling on here. That’s a GREAT song with a GREAT chorus.
That's a great song
I wanted to post that one as well.
Totally agree
I was in Germany few years ago sitting in the evening in this crowded pub in business trip and this song played in German (it's originally Germen song) and no one reacted until it goes to the 4,3,2,1 earth below us drifting ... in German ... and the whole pub singing along shouting like someone signaled them . I was mesmerized. wow. Little frightening when German crowed shouts sentences synchronized in Jewish ears .
Definitely a great tune that belongs on an 80s greatest hit, whether it was a one hitter or not.👍👍👍
Maybe it's songs and bands that were one hit wonders over there Rick, but in the UK, Madness, Dexy's, Aha and others had shedloads of other top hits.
Agree, Aha was not one hit wonders in the 80`s
I'm British and was thinking the same the BUGLES 🤔 TREVOR HORN A PRODUCER AND SINGER IN THE PROG BAND YES AND THE SAME BAND LATER HAD GEOFF DOWNS FROM THE BUGLES IN ANOTHER VERSION OF YES I could go on .😁 Nice one Rick
Madness were playing outside my living room window just a few weeks ago on a boiling hot summers day. I didn’t think I liked them but they were incredible.
100% agree
Agreed… Madness are legends… STILL! The first band I ever got in to in 1979, and still remain my favourite band of all time. Dexys are another - Come On Eileen was No 1 in September ‘82 when I started secondary school (High School). I get it though, Rick’s perspective is US not UK. I thought No 1 was going to be Simple Minds - Don’t You Forget About Me. Again, not one hit wonders in the UK. Good list though.
Love your list!!! A couple missing: Rock Me Amadeus by Falco and One Night in Bangkok by Murray Head. So glad you mentioned Voices Carry and had Safety Dance, I Ran, Come on Eileen and Our House on your list - growing up in the 80’s (age 10-19) I can attest to the popularity of some of these classic one-hit wonders!
Alles klar, Herr Kommisar?
I remember the parody version: Eat Me I'm a Danish.
Rock Me Amadeus. I had that cassette. Loved that song!
Falco had multiple hits in Europe including "Vienna Calling" and "Jeanny." But "One Night in Bangkok" should definitely be on the list.
Not sure Murray Head was a one-hit: Say it Ain’t So got some pretty heavy rotation a few years earlier
Great list! Privileged to have lived that era being in High School.
I thought Der Komissar from ATF was going to be there. Great production.
Also missed:
Pop Muzik-M
Cars - Gary Numan
Relax-Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Information Society-Pure Energy
She Blinded me with Science - Thomas Dolby
Died in Your Arms Tonight- Cutting Crew
Major Tom-Peter Schilling
99 Luft Balloons was the first song I heard on CD at a Radio Shack demo station. To me it's the number one 80's one-hit wonder.
I was expecting it to be #1 and it wasn't even on this list...I'm amazed at that oversight.
It's a one hit wonder in the US but apparently Nena was and is pretty big in Germany.
It's the first thing I thought of when the "red" Chinese spy balloons were in the news a little while ago.
It's the first song I thought of when I saw the list, and I thought for sure it was #1. Serious oversight.
Nena had a HUGE career in europe and many many great Hits. Not even close..
Now that I think about it, for me, "Life in a Northern Town" by Dream Academy 1985 belongs somewhere on the list, too. At least as an honorable mention.
Good one dude
I just came to the comments section to mention that one. Fantastic song and the only hit I know from Dream Academy.
Yes. When its hot outside this song can give the cool breezes. Just listen to it.
@@r37464 For me it's more like a cold wind. I can feel the biting chill.
💯% and it was produced by David Gilmour if I recall correctly.
Nu Shooz' "I Can't Wait" and Robbie Nevil's "Cest La Vie" should be contenders. The production on Nu Shooz is benchmark status worthy.
Damn... Nu Shooz. Good call!
YES. Imo remove "Walking On Sunshine," replace with "I Can't Wait."
Yes, that synth sound from Nu Shooz was huge. Similar to T'Pau's "Heart and Soul".
@@seanswinton6242 not to mention that delicious muted guitar lick
If my band had keyboard we would totally be doing I Can’t Wait.
Take On Me still, after all these years, the best video ever produced.
Yes!!!
Yes, it still looks fresh and innovative
One of my favorite all time songs/videos
Definitely! My teenage boys hated that I played that song all the time. Then I showed them the video... They were blown away! Rick, you should do a video on videos that were just as good if not better than the accompaning songs.
I love the Family Guy take on it too 😆
She Blinded Me With Science, 1982, Thomas Dolby is the early hit from this career musician, university lecturer and musical innovator. This early days MTV video is legend !
Airwaves is his best imo.
I thought of that one immediately!
"One of Our Submarines" was haunting.
My favourite Dolby song is “The Key To Her Ferrari “
Roger that!
I kinda think "Walking on Sunshine" needs to be ranked much higher - the broad appeal that song has is incredible. .it still sounds fresh, cheerful, and brings me joy to this day
“Walking on Sunshine”. . . Always brinks back memories of the Jack Black character in High Fidelity!!!
@@rongarfinkle Exactly
Used profusely on David Letterman's Late Night and Late Show during taped bits.
plus Phillip J Fry sings it!
Owner of a Lonely Heart by Yes
She Blinded me with Science by Thomas Dolby
Break my Stride by Matthew Wilder
Rockit by Herbie Hancock
I can Dream About You by Dan Hartman
The Glamorous Life by Sheila E.
I can’t Wait by Nu Shooz
St Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion) by John Parr
Breakout by Swing Out Sister (love this song, fun video too)
The Whole of the Moon by The Waterboys
Lunatic Fringe by Red Rider (from Vision Quest)
And so many more are out there. Great decade for music. 😀
Yes? No.
Yes had a string of hits in the 70's, not a OHW.
Aimee Mann of Til Tuesday did the female vocal on Rush’s “Time Stand Still”, one of my favorite Rush songs.
and of course, she's also a hell of a bass player.
That is my favorite Rush song! I had no idea she was the singer on that!!
And she does vocals at the end of Tai Shan on the same album
@@DeniseVioletta She's in the video too! Check it out. Tons of 80s technology! lol
@@morbidmanmusic Agree. Amazing song writing, for example, on the Magnolias sound track.
This could have easily been a top 100s list! There are SO many wonderful songs from the 80s! My favorite decade of music... ever!
A few more: "Der Kommissar" by After the Fire, "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors, "Oh Yeah" by Yello (featured in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"), "Relax (Don't Do It)" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and "The Captain of Her Heart" from the album "Blue" by Double, which was issued (in the US, at least) on translucent blue vinyl.
Check out the original version of Der Kommissar by Falco. The video is low budget hilarity!
@@ehav Falco's version is great. I was stationed in Germany. He had alot of hits beside Rock Me Amadeus.
Yes Doublé!!
Yello and Frankie had more hits even Double had another one good u brought Yello and Double both Swiss fine acts
I agree wholeheartedly! A list of twenty just starts to scratch the surface. How about "Cars" by Gary Numan, ""Always Something There To Remind Me" by Naked Eyes, "Suddenly Last Summer" by The Motels, "Square Pegs" by The Waitresses or "Voices" by Russ Ballard. Those are just a few songs that came to mind while listening to Rick's list.
Was born in 85 but I knew every 1 of these songs. Tainted Love is 1 of my fav songs but also loved Sex Dwarf, What, and Where did our love go by Soft Cell. Too shy, Come on Eileen, Take on Me, Whip It, Melt With You, Voices Carry, Our House, all great songs I have on my playlist list. ❤
Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves. Summer of 1987 or 86 we had an end of year baseball pool party at my coaches house and that song was playing over the speakers at his house. Every time I hear it I'm reminded of just how lucky I was to grow up in such an awesome time and how great my Mom was in raising me. Very happy child for sure!
Katrina won the Eurovision with Love Shine a light
Check out the recent cover by Ice Nine Kills/Reel Big Fish
When in Rome “ the promise “ probably my favorite.
Me too
@@jrlomy2k I was going to say the same, also Nowhere Girl from B Movie
A "What Makes This Song Great" on Voices Carry would be stellar!! As would an interview with Aimee Mann and a look into any of her solo stuff. She is brilliant!!
IMHO What About Love was an even better Til Tuesday song
Austin's Emily Wolfe does a pretty great cover of it, if you're interested.
Until today, I always thought she was saying "this is scary". Now that I know what she's saying I like the song now.
if I had undedrstood what she was singing I would have loved that song.. loved the sound of it but never really heard the words of the chorus back then getting just pieces of it on radio. Never knew the title. I thought it went "hush hush" and then something was "scary". Just looked up the lyrics.. brilliant!
I have listened to her “Bachelor #2” album a billion times, it’s brilliant
I remember every song on this list like it was yesterday. I just turned 60 today, but I close my eyes and listen to these songs and felt like I was in high school, driving my truck with my girlfriend next to me. Amazing how music can take you to another place. Sidenote, I went to the American rock festival outside timber Ridge ski area in Kalamazoo Michigan Memorial weekend of 1984 and got the worst sunburn of my life. I understand how Rick felt!!
Definitely a great list, but I think Cutting Crew's Died in My Arms Tonight should be included. Such magnificent synthesizer parts and vocals.
They had other hit songs, so this is not a 1 hit wonder.
@@vulcanbespock "Been in Love Before" was another.
Sin lugar a dudas!!
Died in YOUR arms tonight
@@dietmarsteiner1070 I'VE Been in Love Before, lol...
I wouldn't describe Madness as One Hit Wonders Rick! Here in the UK they were massive in the 80s - one hit after another
It's hard to imagine people thinking Madness are a one hit wonder band especially people that love music like Rick.
They were also very populair in The Netherlands.
Indeed, and House of Fun was a bigger hit than Our House, too!! Madness share the record with UB40 of the most number of weeks spent in the UK Charts during the 80s. Must be Rick's chart of US 1 Hit Wonders (I'm sure a couple from this list weren't even hits in the UK).
yeah, it's US centric. Bow wow wow and Kajagoogoo had more hits in the UK too (obviously nowhere near Madness). Amazingly, they don't know who The Jam are here, or Paul Weller as a solo artist.
@@xXTheoLinuxXx in Argentina too
What incredible era for music. Was in grade/high school at the time, so these all got played at school dances, house parties, teen clubs and of course on the radio. What a time to be alive.
Well, this era wasn't particularly incredible, but it was shiny.
Share your feels, bro. Yeah...
The song writing! It was different. Formulaic in all the right ways, but even when it deviated from formulas it was engaging and unique. There's nothing new under the sun now. Shame.
Well done Rick. Had me hanging on every beat like when I heard each one of these tunes for the very first time. These will never get old or overplayed. Thank you!!
My favorite song of the 80s of all time is Level 42, Something About You.
The best!
Love this song!! ❤❤❤
Seriously...Mark King's basslines are insane too
It's an amazing song regardless of the decade. I listened to it last week.
but level 42 were definitely not a one hit wonder
I wish A-ha had more of their songs played on US airwaves. Such gorgeous lyrics and beautiful, soulful, passionate melodies. Morten's voice touches the soul so deeply..makes you remember what it is to feel alive and human💜
So many of their songs make me cry because they are so exquisite. This band is truly a gift to the world 💜
Yes, a-ha may be considered a 1-hit band in the US, but they've sold over 100 million records and have so many great songs, I believe they transcend this category.
Absolutely massive in the UK
And masive in the entire the world except US
they had a bunch of huge hits in the UK. I'm pretty sure Sun Always Shines On TV charted higher than Take On Me here
@@thebasedgodmax1163 Fantastic song!
"I just died in your arms tonight" by Cutting Crew. The cello intro, driving drums and the guitar licks are so iconic. The quirky POV style black and white music video didn't hurt either. At one point, the camera was on a motorbike going around in a closed set with people scrambling away for dear life. Yup, it was definitely a product of the 80s
did they not have any other hits?
btw. the album that contains that song is really worth a listen - very good songs from beginning to end
@@increase9896 yes a couple more that made the US Charts
I’ve been in love before was another big hit for them here.
It's such a fantastic tune and I'm 21 too. So intricate with driving synths, great electric guitar effects, funky drum beats and the production is fucking crisp too.
Fabulous list! I know every one of them. Great memories. I was living in London when a lot of these were on the radio. 🥰🇨🇦
Lunatic Fringe by Red Rider is one of my favorites from the 80s. It's on the Vision Quest soundtrack.
This is another case of "one-hit wonder" being defined as one hit in the U.S., and disregarding the rest of the world. Red Rider (later Tom Cochrane and Red Rider) were huge up here in their home country of Canada, and still are to this day. Regardless, 1981's "Lunatic Fringe" wasn't even their highest charting single in the U.S. (at #11). In 1988, "Big League" peaked at #9.
Lunatic Fringe was written the night John Lennon was killed.
the Style Council was on that soundtrack. They charted in the US in the high-30s with "My Ever Changing Moods", but it wasn't really a hit.
@@johnpiercy3562 Men Without Hats also fits in that mode...although not nearly as popular as Red Rider they certainly had other hits in Canada.
As Far as Siam is a great album.
"Under the Milky Way" by The Church would be top five on my list. Loved this stroll down memory lane (thx!), being a teen in the eighties was awesome! No smart phones, no internet; just face-to-face human interaction....and wacky clothes & hair 😄
Yes, I was 15 in ‘83 when it started getting so good. The movies, the music… great time to be alive
Chip - The Church certainly not a one-hit-wonder here in Australia bro...
Great tune!
This should have been #1. Blows my mind that it wasn't on the list.
@@thedys70 I saw The Church at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2002 (one of many times)…anyway, I was singing along to every song, and this guy asks me, “Hey, you seem to know all of the songs, do they have any hits? My friend is bored, and unless they start playing hits, we’re leaving”. All I could reply was, “You could wait for ‘Under the Milky Way’”…and he just gave me a blank stare. His loss!
A lot of people don’t realize Tainted Love was covered by Soft Cell, it was recorded by Gloria Jones in the 60’s.
The original was played in the Northern Soul clubs in UK during the 70s, along with a lot of other lesser known songs which were later covered by artists influenced by the British club scene.
"I want candy" also a cover. so is "hard to handle".....black crows.
@Barry Bremner marc bolan of T-rex ? I did not know that. ,, thought he died of a drug o d..,,
@@johnmurray1519 Nope - his "greatest hit" was an oak tree on Barnes Common in south west London!
@@christopherhunter3415 That is darkly funny.quick wit
Great list! Lots of great memories. I think I would add She’s a Beauty by The Tubes.
I graduated high school in 1983 and so many of these songs bring back so many great memories.
One song that wasn't on your list is one of my favorite songs of the 80s is In A Big Country by Big Country.
This was such a great video!
I believe it was Australian.
@@ThePhantomdv8 Big Country was Scottish, not Australian
Good call
@@2ellas2 thank you.
Awesome song. Still hear it on the radio.
This video sort of proves why the 80s is so good. One Hit Wonders that 40 years later are still so recognized along with the 🐐s of the decade.
Nearly every song / released single from the 80s is a top hit. There’s no way you can downsize a list to just 20 songs.
For those of us in the MTV generation, these songs bring back great memories. I may or may not have several of these in my playlist on my phone.
Those of us who were there witnessed the birth of an era ushered in by MTV, the real MTV, in the early 80s
I wish more songs of the 80's would come back like Kate Bush's song Running up the Hill
80’s music was the decade of the synth sounds. I love it
Electric Avenue by Eddie Grant!!!!
Still one of the coolest funk/reggae songs 30 years later.
Good choice!
The Hooters - All the Zombies
100% agree. 👍
Yes! And "Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth! I love every second of both songs!
Eddie had a second song make the charts ( and other success ). Good callback.
☺
0:32 - #20 Video Killed the Radio Star
0:52 - #19 I Want Candy
1:20 - #18 Don’t Wanna Fall in Love
2:08 - #17 Let’s Hear It for the Boy
2:40 - #16 Funky Town
3:18 - #15 Too Shy
3:49 - #14 Somebody’s Watching Me
4:17 - #13 Bette Davis Eyes
4:43 - #12 Safety Dance
5:22 - #11 Walking on Sunshine
6:01 - #10 You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
6:43 - #9 Tainted Love
7:21 - #8 867-5309/Jenny
7:55 - #7 Missing You
8:35 - #6 Whip It
9:18 - #5 I Melt with You
10:07 - #4 I Ran (So Far Away)
10:43 - #3 Our House
11:14 - #2 Come On Eileen
11:55 - Honorable Mention: Voices Carry
12:52 - #1 Take On Me
🌟 🤓
FloFloFLo - It's people like you that make the world a better place. Thank you for your effort!
You just saved me from about a dozen ear worms!! I'm forever grateful!! 💖🥳🔥🙏
🙂👏
Pretty good list! 19 and 15 are such nothing songs. But I guess it's all about what you were doing at the time when you heard them. And 11 has reached it's quota for eternity, please do not consider for your movie soundtrack nor your prescription strength antacid commercial.
Which reminds me, why did Nexium choose "we're not gonna take it" by the Who (yes, the Who) instead of Purple Haze? What a whiff!
The Outfield: generally simply songs, but such a lovely sound and an underrated band
I expected them to be #1. Lol.
Also a band not a one-hit wonder. They had 5 top 40 singles.
@@shyman99 I think we are getting caught up in semantics. If you want Rick can re edit his list and cut most of his picks out.
Actually the only one that I strongly object to on the 'not a one hit only' band is Flock of Seagulls. But I'm sure you could make that argument for a lot of the bands on this list.
@@F0rtysxity - You don't think Kim Carnes' ten top 40 singles, including three top 10 singles is not a better argument? Semantics? LOL
@@shyman99 I'm not familiar with her music so I won't speak on it.
Very well assembled list Rick ! I love the Lipps Inc 'Funky Town' track. Deceptively simple, very clever production - especially the solid bass and the binaural white noise hits.
Ahhhh...the 80's! Musically like a warm blanket for me -- I went into high school in the fall of 1979 and came out of college in 1988. My musically formative years WERE the 80's. These lists are great -- they help me fill in holes on my spotify lists. Keep them coming Rick!
I envy you!
I was 7 when you went to high school but I also grew up in the 80s, a great, creative time.
@@aaronbarlow4376 The 80s cannot be beaten for sheer creativity. We have now regressed to the 50s with modern technology.
I started high school fall of 78 and spent the 80s Back packing Europe and Asia and Australia and North America and being a ski bum in the Rockies. The soundtrack of my youth never gets old!
"In a Big Country", by Big Country. Quintessentially '80s, but it doesn't sound the least bit dated and is a really great song. Honorable mention: "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House, a practically perfect pop song that sounds 80s and timeless, at the same time (but not really a one-hit wonder).
I totally agree with Big Country and just about anything from Split Enz or Crowded House. Brings back some great memories fighting for the family turntable with my sisters!
Split enz and crowded house were definitely not 1 hit wonders....just American labels didn't pick up alot of Aussie bands
The angels
Rose tattoo
Mental as anything
Men at work
Ice house
Divynals
Cold chisel
Mondo rock
These bands would have been huge in the states with some promotion and record label support
That band was supposed to be the next big thing, and it really didn't happen, but boy did that song get massive rotation, which made me bored of the song at the time. In retrospect, though, I agree that it's a great song that mined a style no one else really built on, but maybe it can't be done. Their hit song was the same as their band name, not a good idea actually in my opinion. It diluted the power of the song in favor of a marketing gimmick.
@@danielbeotich1664 Split Enz had minor US hits with "I Got You" and "Message To My Girl".
Except Don't Dream it's Over precludes Crowded House, as great as they are.
Come On Eileen is a masterclass in how to write a catchy song. Its literally all hooks from the fiddle riff, the banjo, the 'Cmon Eileen' backing vocals, the chorus and the breakdown and release. Its an incredible song.
Not a one hit wonder though, Dexy's had a number of smaller hits.
Plus its tempo. Dude.
If you don't know the story, the history of the bands evolution and line-up changes is unreal...
@@cambogueno Some were big hits. Geno was a UK Number 1 and Jackie Wilson Said was top 5.
The video ruined the song for me
Love your Top 20 list! When I heard Modern English back in the day, I immediately went out and bought their record. My cousin and I listened to that album nonstop over a 4-day summer trip to the lake. It is still one of my favorites. I’m going to make a playlist of the songs you featured here. Every song brought me back to the good old days and simpler times.
I'm 60, I play these all for my 7 grandkids over the years and they can name every band or singer, great stuff, THANK YOU!
Big Country had quite a career, but I'd say "In A Big Country" probably marks them as a one-hit wonder in the US. And they were a breath of fresh air in the synth-driven 80s with their dual-guitar lineup.
YES!
Stuart Adamson was one of a kind. Big Country should have been much bigger than they were.
@@lotusmaglite 100%
A great band
Really good song. I had it back in the day, but after several interstate moves, have no idea where it went.
"Tainted Love" and "I Melt With You" were my favorites of the 80's one-hit-wonders.
Have you ever heard the original by Gloria Jones? She was driving the car that killed Marc Bolan (T Rex)
Boom great choices!!
Tainted love in the 1980’s was by Soft Cell who had lots of hits in the U.K. and the lead singer had solo hits too.
Midnight Oil definitely one of biggest most successful Australian bands of 80s … no ‘one hit’ 😊
Flock of Seagulls had some other hits other than "I Ran". "Wishing", "The More You Live, the More You Love, and "Space Age L:ove Song" come to mind. Also, A-Ha's :The Sun Always Shines on TV" charted in many countries and reached #1 in Ireland and the UK.
Love space age love song…classic!
This is based on US only otherwise Madness wouldn't be in this list at all.
Still love their music
And they weren’t one hit wonders
Very much a US list. You see the same thing with Blur in the 90's and Travis in the 00's. One-hit wonders in the US but saw significantly more success in Europe and their home market in particular.
Space Age Love song???? Come on Jennifer Connelly remix has what, like 1 BILLION views, what does this guy know.
I like this man " Rick Beato" he is so positive and knowledgeable. God bless you my friend.
Hello Rick!!!!!!! Omg. Midnight Oil. Beds are Burning is the absolute beast of the 80’s!!!! Summer of 1988 this was the main jam.
Yes. Definitely not one hit wonders in Australia. Blue Sky Mining is my favourite. .about asbestos mining
@@jeffbrooks8024 I think they were only one hit wonders in the us
I don’t consider them one hit wonders. I thought Blue Sky Mine was just as big
Jeez, I hated that song!
Came here to add this one… absolutely amazing song!!!!
Madness had heaps of hits in England and Australia. Dexys hit Geno was huge.
And so in Germany, BeNeLux and France. I bet in rest of europe too. Also soft cell and a-ha.
Jackie Wilson said (I'm in heaven when you smile) was also huge after come on Eileen, not to mention others beforehand such as Geno as you mention. And soft cell. Really? And how many years were madness going for? They were one of the original ska bands. And kajagoogoo and aha were huge heartthrobs with loads of hits
"Waiting for a Star to Fall" by Boy Meets Girl is another good 80s one-hit wonder. John Waite and A Flock of Seagulls both had more than one hit as I recall.
great tune. They wrote a bunch of hits for Whitney including How Will I Know. They only recorded Waiting for a Star to Fall because Whitney didn't want to record it.
Yeah, John Waite had a song called Change. It’s really good! And Flock had Spaceage Love Song. Also Madness had a couple more.
Boy Meets Girl also had more than one hit. Did you forget the song, "Oh Girl", which was a top 40 also?
John Waite had seven U.S. Top 40 hits. AFOS had three. So yeah, by that definition neither of them are one-hit wonders.
Yes, but to their writing credits they had a lot of hits..
Hands Down one of the best Top- something a generation X kind of man could wish for 🙌🏻 Was cheering 📣 for some Starship, with nothing’s gonna stop us.
It's incredible that Madness made the list. They were one of the biggest band in UK in the 80s. About 20 hits, most top 10 and 1 or 2 number ones I'm sure.
And not only in the 80's, they're legend ! even playing on the top of Buckingham in 2012 for the Queen's jubilee
Yes they had a huge string of hits in the UK that’s true but in the US just one and since this is a US video they qualify has a one hit wonder
I remember seeing "No doubt", Gwen Stefani's first band and the drummer was wearing a Madness t-shirt. When asked, she said they were an influence on her band.
My ex had American family who said that there was a sub culture back then, that listened to British music and there was radio stations that catered for them. Tbh I hate that over produced, pop both countries now produce. And while I understand a generation needs music that is for them made by them, I hate rap. I hate the lack of music in it, the constant talk of violence, dealing, promiscuity and the promotion of not wearing a belt. I feel cheated out of all the good bands who get passed over to promote this crap.
@@patmurphy817 yes the music of the 21 st century is awful 70,s and 80,s 👍👍👍
@@patmurphy817 rap is not music Pat
An Australian band “Pseudo Echo” did a killer cover of “Funkytown”. It had an edge and a life to it that lifted it above the Lipps Inc original.
Yes, by far a better rendition!
Agreed, and I used to work with the keyboard/bass player.
I'd say a better version 🦘
Better than the original
I remember that!
Voices carry is a timeless track . Love it
…and ‘til tuesday is an incredible band. Aimee is an incredibly talented singer and songwriter. I have wished for a long time that they would tour again. The interplay of their instruments is special. Your list is great by the way. 🎉🎉
That whole album was a banger
The band Futurebirds did a great cover of it a few years ago
Thank you for the great list, Rick. I'm 57, turning 58 in a little over a month, and this brought me back to a different and, though not better, a more magical time.
A-ha may be a one hit wonder in the US, but they where huge in Europe, Asia and South America.
They hold a Guinness World Record from 1991 for drawing the largest paying audience at a pop concert, with 198,000 people at the Estádio do Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
They have also sold more than 100 million units, albums and singles combined.
I agree. AHA even had the theme song of a James Bond movie, the living daylights. Hardly a one hit wonder in the US either.
A-ha was not a one-hit wonder in the US. Rick is not always accurate in what he says in his videos.
This. Half of those bands were not one hit wonders.
Um and a-ha literally released a new album this month (October 2022)! Check out "True North", just beautiful.
This Rick is clueless. Soft Cell were not a one hit wonder group and as for Madness, I went to a concert a couple of years ago and they STILL TOUR
“In a Big Country” by the band Big Country is a great guitar tune that doesn’t get a lot of love!
Still touring too, in UK.
My favorite one hit wonder from the 80's. That guitar riff almost sounds like electric bagpipes!
Fields of Fire is arguably a better song. It was a bigger hit in the UK than In a BIg Country.
It's also a huge ear worm. Just by reading your comment I now have the song stuck in my head.
Love it.
The vocal for "Come on Eileen" is my favorite of the entire list...so unique!
That was so fun thank you, one week from turning 60 and I knew all of these songs and I love your honorable mention voices Carry.
80’s were such a creative period, a top 200 wouldn’t be enough.
200 one hit wonders from the '80s? that sounds more challenging than you make out.
Best times of my life. Sadly my youth has passed, but the music takes me back there
I really love Rick's list of 80's one hit wonders. I would have chosen the same songs. These songs were even more unforgettable because MTV (new at the time) had the corresponding videos in constant rotation. And then VH1 followed their lead shortly thereafter.
Great list Rick!
Maybe add “99 red balloons” and “putting on the ritz”
“The Friends of Mr Cairo” comes to mind also. 😀
Der Kommissar, much?
Anyone? 🤷🏻♂️
“The Friends of Mr Cairo” made it to number one in Canada. Vangelis had other hit songs in the US though, like Chariots of Fire. So not a one hit wonder.
99 Red Balloons is a good one to add.
@@johnstrange6799 - Murray Head's first hit was "Superstar", from Jesus Christ Superstar. Falco hit the top 40 again (#18) with "Vienna Calling".
@@38bass Except Rock Me Amadeus went to number one for Falco in 1986.
I've been obsessed with Voices Carry lately. Such a good song. Really captures the spirit of the 80s sound. Love it
And the lady singing is kinda pretty too.
That was one of my favorites from the 80's but I never could find out the name of the band or the song. It was frustrating. A couple of decades ago I put a incorrect lyric or two on a synth mailing list and asked if anybody knew the song. Somebody did and told me what it was. That also led me to "Coming Up Close" also by the band, which is nice too.
Definately one of my favorites from those days. Still love the song ... I just know what the words are now. Back then I thought she was singing something like: "Fuss fuss, take it down town, Misses Kerry"
@@Lord_Volkner I keep having people tell me they hear "hush hush, keep it down now. This is scary!"
@@asmith121 Yeah, that too. I don't remember exactly what I use to hear, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I figured out the actual words.
GREAT List! So many of my favorite songs ever included, especially Take on Me and Our House!
A rather comprehensive list!
Can't argue with any of these songs - as the list was rolling out, I was wondering if Mexican Radio by Wall of Voodoo, or Turning Japanese by the Vapors would show up.
Other one hit wonders to consider would be Electric Avenue, Mickey, She Blinded Me with Science, The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades, In a Big Country, or Der Kommissar. You could probably do a top 50 list of One Hit Wonders of the 80s.
I was expecting Mexican Radio as well - and Boys Of Summer.
@@cloudtowerphotography815 Don Henley had more than one hit. I agree with Wall of Voodoo!
@@cloudtowerphotography815 Henley had several hits off of those solo albums, so not really a one-hit-wonder.
Loved the bagpipes in Big Country…. Let’s go all the way, Sly Fox…. Nina 99 balloons….
I'd like to see a list of one hit wonders that were remakes
One of my favorite bands of all time--Big Country, cracked the top 40 in 1983 with "In a Big Country." They had several hits in the UK, but that was it for them in the U.S. I always preferred them to U2, but it was U2 that shot to world wide fame.
Don't forget about The Alarm!
@@sirrealistic5625 saw them open for U2. Almost outshone the main attraction.
Yes, yes, yes! Big Country! Great call out!
I was looking to see if anyone else would mention In a Big Country. I had to go listen to it after the video to hear how it compared to these. It's in my Top 20, but I can see how it might be passed over for some of the song's on Rick's list.
Big Country was amazing. I remember when they performed "In A Big Country" on Saturday Night Live. Amazing
Nu Shooz - I can’t wait. The strong synth, and “Coke bottle” percussion throughout the song, makes it stand out.
They also had Point of No Return
not a 1 hit wonder
Loved watching all the one hit wonder episodes! Thank goodness for your Spotify lists. I love them … not all of them, it most.
You MUST do the WMTSG on Voices Carry - it’s absolutely one of the best songs of its time and it holds up so well today
So underrated.
I thought that girl was Sinead O Connor, she even look a little like her, now I'm listening to some of their music and it really neat.
Killer song! One of the best pop songs ever.
@@psylopanda2841 Its Aimee Mann - a fantastic solo artist!
*PLEASE* Beato! 🙏
The 80's were such an interesting musical time to be a teen in, glad I was there for it lol.
I was just thinking the same thing! I was 17 in 1980 - and the entire decade was a blast musically!
It's not really a list unless you include Dream Academy's "Life in a Northern Town"...timeless and soothing to this day.
So was their second top 40 hit called "The Love Parade". In other words, they don't qualify.
They qualify if the flock of seagulls does
agree! I was thinking that song belonged on this list for sure.
What a great track that is. It's one of those songs that just instantly takes me back to 1985
or...West End Girls by PSB
I really enjoyed this, thank you for your insight, from a Kent based showman, Englishman born in 1979 this pretty much spot on, yes we could all argue about our favourites. But I would love to share a rum with this man & easily discuss Roxette, & the film influence from Goonies, pretty women, mannequin, Labyrinth, the list if fantastic music goes on. The man knew his stuff x
For us living in Europe, Video Killed The Radio Star qualifies as a 1970s one hit wonder. It was all over the radio during the late summer/fall in 1979!
It might have gotten more play in the 80s because of MTV though
Same in Canada, I bought the album in 79, the year I graduated high school.
The song is so appropriate for 1979-1980. It ushered in the music video age in the 80s even though The Beatles made promotional song videos long before video killed the radio star...my two cents.
@@PianoGesang Geoff Downes...later of Asia and Yes fame.
@@PianoGesang Bruce Woolley co-wrote it with Horn and Downes. Zimmer happened to be around, and mimed on their music videos, but was not involved in the actual recording.
You could also consider one of my faves - Life in a Northern Town by Dream Academy from 1985
great song, yes, and a song, some say, about Nick Drake. Does not get better than that :)
Their follow up, "The Love Parade" also hit top 40. In my opinion, it is also a better song. So no, no one hit wonder for Dream Academy.
Oooh-ma-ma-ma how did you think of that? :)
I love the song they use in Ferris Bueller.
@@ImYourHuckleberry_29 Yello...."Oh Yea"
Shout out to the Jane Child song! I was a child of the eighties, and when this song came out I was much more likely to be listening to Journey or Yngwie or maybe Mike Stern. But this song definitely caught my ear. Later was impressed to learn how much of a real musician Jane Child is - writer, vocalist, and she crushed the keyboard solo on this one as well.
I was also a child of the 80s (Europe) but I didn't get to know her music until around 30 and I'm sorry that she didn't have a longer career in pop music because her '89 album is almost perfect.
Mike Stern..well that's always a good thing especially when he played with Miles
Only one on list I'd never heard!
She played almost everything on her 1st album. She pushed the capability of the Fairlight Synth so far that she actually had to call the engineers to figure how to physically modify it to make the sounds she wanted.
Fantastic list, sometimes its hard to remember all of the great music including the one hit wonders of the 80's. It was a great time to grow up and go through High School to cap off the decade and graduate in the class of '90.