14 One Hit Wonders From The 1980s We Still Love Today

Some songs refuse to leave. You hear the first few notes at a wedding or in a grocery store and suddenly you are seventeen again, windows down, radio up. The funny part is that many of the artists behind those songs never had another big hit.

Music writers call them one-hit wonders, and the 1980s produced a bumper crop. This list draws on 24/7 Wall St.’s 2023 ranking of the biggest one-hit wonders of the decade, using Billboard Hot 100 data current through April 2023.

To make that list, an act had to reach No. 1 or No. 2 on the Hot 100 between 1980 and 1989, with no more than three Top 40 hits and no more than five million U.S. album sales. Here are 14 of them, with the facts as the ranking lists them.

Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” Is Called The Era’s Most Successful One-Hit Wonder

24/7 Wall St. puts Bonnie Tyler at the very top, calling her song “the most successful one-hit wonder of the era.” The husky-voiced Welsh-born singer took it to No. 1 in 1983, where it stayed for four weeks.

It spent 18 weeks in the Top 40, tied for the longest run on the list.

Toni Basil’s “Mickey” Also Spent 18 Weeks In The Top 40

Toni Basil matched that staying power in 1982. “Mickey” reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 for one week and logged 18 weeks in the Top 40, according to 24/7 Wall St.

That is a long stay, and it ties Bonnie Tyler for the longest Top 40 run on the whole list.

Michael Sembello’s “Maniac” Took The Top Spot In 1983

Michael Sembello’s “Maniac” hit No. 1 in 1983 and held it for two weeks. The ranking shows it lasted 16 weeks in the Top 40.

It sits third on the 24/7 Wall St. list, just behind the two songs above.

Technotronic’s “Pump Up The Jam” Came Within One Spot Of No. 1

Technotronic featuring Felly closed the decade in 1989 with “Pump Up the Jam.” It peaked at No. 2 for two weeks and stayed in the Top 40 for 16 weeks.

Fourth on the list, it is proof that you do not need to hit No. 1 to be remembered.

Eddy Grant’s “Electric Avenue” Stayed At No. 2 For Five Weeks

Here is a hard-luck story. Eddy Grant’s 1983 hit “Electric Avenue” sat at No. 2 for five weeks, longer than any other song on the list sat at its peak, and never made it to No. 1.

It still racked up 15 weeks in the Top 40, per 24/7 Wall St.

Lipps, Inc. Danced To No. 1 With “Funkytown” In 1980

“Funkytown” by Lipps, Inc. opened the decade in style. It reached No. 1 in 1980 and held the spot for four weeks.

The song spent 15 weeks in the Top 40, according to the ranking.

a-ha’s “Take On Me” Made The Norwegian Synth-Pop Band A Chart Topper

24/7 Wall St. describes a-ha as a “Norwegian synth-pop band,” and “Take On Me” was their moment. It hit No. 1 in 1985 and spent 15 weeks in the Top 40.

Plenty of us can still hum the opening line on command.

Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen” Hit No. 1 For A Week

Dexys Midnight Runners reached the top spot in 1983 with “Come On Eileen.” It stayed at No. 1 for one week and logged 14 weeks in the Top 40.

Not a long reign, but a long afterlife at parties.

Los Lobos Took “La Bamba” To No. 1 For Three Weeks In 1987

Los Lobos reached No. 1 in 1987 with “La Bamba,” where it stayed for three weeks. The ranking lists 14 weeks in the Top 40.

A 1980s chart topper that still gets people up out of their chairs.

Nena’s “99 Luftballons” Was An Anti-War Single That Hit No. 2

24/7 Wall St. calls Nena’s “99 Luftballons” an “anti-war single.” It reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 in 1984 and spent 13 weeks in the Top 40.

It is the shortest Top 40 stay of the 25 songs in the ranking, and still unforgettable.

Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” Peaked At No. 2 In 1987

Crowded House made it to No. 2 in 1987 with “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” The song held that peak for one week and spent 15 weeks in the Top 40.

It is a gentle reminder that a No. 2 song can last longer than many No. 1s.

Tone-Loc’s “Wild Thing” Was A No. 2 Hit In 1988

Tone-Loc’s “Wild Thing” reached No. 2 in 1988, for one week, and stayed in the Top 40 for 14 weeks. It sits near the bottom of the list by Top 40 weeks, but it made its mark.

The ranking puts it at 24 of 25.

John Parr’s “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion)” Went To No. 1 In 1985

John Parr took “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)” to No. 1 in 1985. It stayed on top for two weeks and ran 14 weeks in the Top 40.

A big sound, a short chart career, and a song that still shows up on playlists.

Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” Spent Three Weeks At No. 2

Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” reached No. 2 in 1984 and sat there for three weeks. It logged 14 weeks in the Top 40, per 24/7 Wall St.

The song still sounds fresh to anyone who danced to it.

Why We Still Sing Along To These 14

What is it about the one-hit wonder that stays with us? Perhaps it is that the song was never overplayed with a dozen follow-ups.

Whatever the reason, these 14 are the proof. Chart data tells part of the story, but the rest is in memory, so cue one up tonight and see who in your house can sing every word.

Vinyl and Velvet