17 One Hit Wonders Every 20-Something Loves

People toss around the label “one hit wonder” like it’s a bad thing, like it’s bad you got really famous for one song that was constantly on the radio, played in every TV commercial and which helped you earn millions of dollars. Every year MTV, VH1 and any number of music blogs count down the hottest singles and one hit wonders of the year, decade or more. But the awesome thing about one hit wonders is that these are the songs that end up defining an important period in our lives and that make a big splash in pop culture. They’re the songs you listen to and go “Awww SHIT!” They put a huge smile on your face and make you think about that time you were being ridiculous at some frat party when somebody wrote “dick” on your forehead in red marker or whatever. Here are 17 awesome one-hit wonders millennials know and love.

1. Eiffel 65, “Blue” (Da Ba Dee)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ugkg9RePc&w=584&h=390]

I had some friends over last night and we were guzzling bottles of Malbec and talking about how awesome this song was. My one friend was like, “At my high school all the guys were like ‘Hey he’s saying I’m blue I’m in need of a guy this song is so gay.'” Well nobody likes blue balls, it’s true.

2. Nine Days, “Absolutely (Story Of A girl)”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIANBamMgas&w=584&h=390]

“This is the story of a girl, who cried a river and drowned the whole world…” Can you listen to this song and not think about Dawson’s Creek?

3. Blu Cantrell, “Hit ‘Em Up Style (Oops!)”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMOKlXfXn50&w=584&h=390]

One of the best break-up revenge song of all time. “While he was scheming, I was beamin in the bimmer just beamin. Can’t believe that I caught my man cheatin!”

4. MIMS, “This Is Why I’m Hot”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwyE3WJ4AWo&w=584&h=390]

“I’m hot cuz I’m fly, you ain’t cuz you not. This is why, this is why, this is why I’m hot.” The song is pure poetry.

5. James Blunt, “You’re Beautiful”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oofSnsGkops&w=584&h=390]

This song was so huge I actually got sick of hearing it.

6. Gnarls Barkley, “Crazy”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd2B6SjMh_w&w=584&h=390]

Not sure if this counts as a one-hit wonder, but it sure is the only Gnarls Barkley’s song anybody knows!

7. Macy Gray, “I Try”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYIW6MTigGQ&w=584&h=390]

Whatever happened to this weird betch?

8. Vanessa Carlton, “A Thousand Miles”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwkej79U3ek&w=584&h=390]

I remember hearing about this person once.

9. Hurricane Chris, “A Bay Bay”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe9qb5yPQgA&w=584&h=390]

I know you know this one! You don’t even have to click the video, like you can already hear the song in your head.

10. Ashanti, “Only U”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfCsPidiUQI&w=584&h=390]

An ex-boyfriend of mine introduced me to this song years ago and it’s the only Ashanti song I think anybody cares about maybe?

11. Papa Roach, “Last Resort”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQSXZf8VVPE&w=584&h=390]

Dude if you listened to this song back in the day YOU WERE SO HARD.

12. The Ting Tings, “That’s Not My Name”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1c2OfAzDTI&w=584&h=390]

The Ting Tings were everywhere a couple years ago with “That’s Not My Name” and “Shut Up And Let Me Go,” two songs that I hope will provide the band with plentiful residual checks.

13. Amerie, “1 Thing”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbqVg_23otg&w=584&h=390]

This song is still the bomb and that fur coat in the video is EVERYTHING.

14. Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWNaR-rxAic&w=584&h=390]

“Call Me Maybe” was such a perfect pop jam that it is statistically impossible for Ms, Jepsen to have another hit that big. If she does, I will eat my own weave.

15. Daniel Powter, “Bad Day”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH476CxJxfg&w=584&h=390]

Ugh, this was another song that was on American Idol and played all the time. Still can’t listen to it.

16. Blink 182, “All The Small Things”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ht5RZpzPqw&w=584&h=390]

The video for this song is actually pretty amazing.

17. Willow Smith, “Whip My Hair”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymKLymvwD2U&w=584&h=390]

Think what you will about Willow Smith having hits at the age of 10, but it’s still a catchy song that will definitely make you whip your hair back and forth when this comes on at the club. Thought Catalog Logo Mark

image – Shutterstock

Author of How To Be A Pop Star.

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