# The 16 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of All Time

> New-wave earworms, disco-era novelties, and indie surprises that each captured lightning exactly once before slipping off the charts forever. Cast your vote for the greatest!

*By YPB Team · Published July 12, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-16-greatest-one-hit-wonders-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Crazy - Gnarls Barkley** — score 1000/1000
   The Grammy-winning 2006 psych-soul hit that topped charts worldwide.
2. **Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles** — score 785/1000
   The 1979 synth-pop landmark and the first video ever aired on MTV.
3. **I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred** — score 577/1000
   The tongue-in-cheek 1991 dance-pop hit about vanity.
4. **Take On Me - a-ha** — score 577/1000
   The 1985 synth-pop anthem famous for its rotoscoped music video, a-ha's lone U.S. smash.
5. **Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum** — score 577/1000
   The fuzz-guitar 1969 gospel-rock classic that hit number three in the U.S.
6. **Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye** — score 576/1000
   The haunting 2011 indie-pop duet with Kimbra that swept the Grammys.
7. **Whip It - Devo** — score 500/1000
   The quirky 1980 new-wave hit and Devo's signature song.
8. **Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood** — score 500/1000
   The provocative, initially-banned 1983 dance hit that became a UK sensation.
9. **Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners** — score 500/1000
   The exuberant 1982 Celtic-pop chart-topper about young love.
10. **Mickey - Toni Basil** — score 409/1000
   The cheerleader-chant 1982 pop hit that became an enduring earworm.
11. **Macarena - Los del Rio** — score 300/1000
   The 1995 Spanish dance sensation that became an inescapable global craze.
12. **867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone** — score 300/1000
   The 1981 power-pop hit built around an unforgettable phone number.
13. **How Bizarre - OMC** — score 300/1000
   The breezy 1995 New Zealand pop hit that charted around the globe.
14. **Tainted Love - Soft Cell** — score 167/1000
   The 1981 electronic reworking of a soul classic that defined new-wave heartbreak.
15. **99 Luftballons - Nena** — score 167/1000
   The 1983 German new-wave protest song that crossed over to worldwide success.
16. **In the Year 2525 - Zager and Evans** — score 167/1000
   The 1969 sci-fi folk-rock number one, an oft-cited ultimate one-hit wonder.

Tags: pop, music, 80s, classics, one-hit wonders