Debating The 25 Best One-Hit Wonders Of The 90s

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Premier Eli Manning enthusiast Rob Fee and I decided to rank our 25 favorite one-hit wonders of the 1990s. In order to best simulate a pointless Saturday afternoon couchside convo, we’ve peppered in some nice back and forth. If anything, we hope that this nice little exercise will temporarily distract you from the soul-crushing spreadsheets and assignments that have been vying to threaten your sanity:

Songs 25-21:

Lance:

25. Hooch – Everything

24. She’s So High – Tal Bachman

23. mmm mmm mmm mmm – Crash Test Dummies

22. Bittersweet Symphony – The Verve

21. Sex and Candy – Marcy Playground

Rob:

25. Divinyls – I Touch Myself

24. Tonic – If You Could Only See

23. House of Pain – Jump Around

22. Eagle Eye Cherry – Save Tonight

21. The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbNlMtqrYS0&w=584&h=390]

Lance: Solid selections, Rob. Had this been a power ranking of 90s karaoke songs, it’d be pretty hard not to give the top spot to The Proclaimers.

Gotta say though, I strongly disagree with your (radically premature) placement of Eagle Eye Cherry. I’ve always admired Save Tonight‘s versatility. It’s a song seemingly sculpted for any situation — from a memorable summer barbecue, to a messy breakup that’s temporarily halted by intense sexual desire.

Rob:

At first I was thinking that maybe I was wrong for not including Hooch, but then I saw the video and now I never want that song near me again. It looks like the Oak Ridge Boys just gave up. Also I refuse to believe that you can listen to more than 40 seconds of She’s So High without wanting to drive your car into a ravine.

Songs 20-11:

Rob:

20. Sir Mix a Lot – Baby Got Back

19. Skee-Lo – I Wish

18. Robin S. – Show Me Love

17. Charles & Eddie – Would I Lie to You?

16. Mighty Mighty Bosstones – The Impression That I Get

15. The Cardigans – Lovefool

14. Blind Melon – No Rain

13. Tony Rich Project – Nobody Knows

12. Meredith Brooks – Bitch

11. Len – Steal My Sunshine

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1fzJ_AYajA&w=584&h=390]

Lance:

20. How Bizzare – OMC

19. All For You – Sister Hazel

18. Breakfast At Tiffanys – Deep Blue Something

17. I Love You (Always Forever) – Donna Lewis

16. Flagpole Sitta – Harvey Danger

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVOD5D4IArw&w=584&h=390]

15. Just  A Friend – Biz Markie

14. Steal My Sunshine – Len

13. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers

12. Baby Got Back – Sir Mix A Lot

11. Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega

Rob: I feel like Would I Lie to You is one of those songs that no one would actually put on a list, but if it came on the radio there’s no way you would turn it. It’s a lost gem. I am saddened by how low Just a Friend fell on your list. That song would be a hit even if it came out today. I love some Biz Markie.

Lance: Sorry bro. Love me some Biz as well, but you’d think he’d have figured out what was going on long before he made that surprise visit. I can’t completely support such irresponsible airfare spending.

Songs 10-6:

Lance:

10. C’est La Vie – Bewitched

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

9. The Impression That I Get – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

8. Jump Around – House Of Pain

7. Save Tonight – Eagle Eye Cherry

6. Barely Breathing – Duncan Sheik

Rob: I just hope more than anything that you actually have Bewitched in your iTunes library somewhere or at least on a Spotify playlist. I’ve noticed you have a deep love for Save Tonight. Did you have a special kiss during that song? The world wants to know.

Rob:

10. Duncan Sheik – Barely Breathing

9. Toadies – Possum Kingdom

8. Joan Osborne – One of Us

7. Citizen King – Better Days

6. Sister Hazel – All For You

Lance: Of course I have Bewitched in my iTunes library. I believe I even went as far as to purchase the song — as instrumental to my freshman year as sour apple vodka and trying way too hard to fit in.

THE TOP 5:

Rob:

5. 4 Non Blondes – What’s Up?

4. Marcy Playground – Sex and Candy

3. White Town – Your Woman

2. Harvey Danger – Flagpole Sitta

1. Biz Markie – Just a Friend

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

Lance:

5. Get Ready 4 This – 2 Unlimited

4. Macarena – Los Del Rio

3. The Freshman – The Verve Pipe

2. Closing Time – Semisonic

1. Tubthumping – Chumbawamba

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H5uWRjFsGc&w=584&h=390]

Lance: Pretty incredible we have no matches here. Though I guess it shows how great an era the 90s were for the one-hit wonder. And steroids.

Instead of playing the hater, I’ll justify why I (strongly) feel my selections are worthy of the top spots:

  • Get Ready 4 This:  For a list like this, being the Space Jam theme is kind of like being the son of a rich Wall Street Guy; nepotism is gonna get you places.
  • Macarena: VH1 called this the best one hit wonder of the 90s. VH1 one-hit wonder countdowns are tough to disagree with.
  • The Freshman: I like this song, and used to listen to it when talking long, #deep walks in college.
  • Closing Time: Out of any 90s song, this one might prove to last the longest.
  • Tubthumping: More of an anthem than a song. Shame that none of the other songs on this album really took off (I’m a huge fan of the song Scapegoat), but Tubthumping blows nearly every other song ever made out of the water.

Rob: I don’t think yours are wrong at all, but they were a little too novelty for my taste. All of my top five songs are tracks that I still frequently listen to, but I’m willing to bet you haven’t listened to the Macarena or Tubthumbing since your cousin Greg got married in Palm Springs.

Lance: Greg’s wedding was pretty incredible. The chocolate fountain was to die for.

Suddenly irrationally mad at one of us? Think we missed one? Comment away!