70 One-Hit Wonders From the ’90s You Won’t Know Until the Chorus
Did Hanson REALLY not have a second hit?
For all the bands who stand the test of time and remain at the top of the charts through numerous reinventions, there are the darling one-hit wonders who stand the test of time in their own special way — by releasing one amazing song and then drifting off into the sunset. I'm willing to bet that some of your favorite songs from the '90s were actually one-hit wonders. Just try to name a second song from some of these artists. You can't! Let the nostalgia take you back with these undeniable hits.
"Macarena" (1993)
*Chandler voice* Could there be a bigger mic drop than Los Del Rio releasing the dance craze of the decade and bouncing? Do you still remember all the steps? How has this not had a renaissance on TikTok??
"All For You" (1997)
Sister Hazel was a huge deal if you grew up in the South in the '90s and '00s, but their biggest hit is probably considered a one-hit wonder to the general public. Sorry 'bout it!
"Send Me On My Way" (1996)
You might not know Rusted Root, but you know this is the song from both Matilda and Ice Age.
"Walking in Memphis" (1991)
I didn't even know this was a '90s song, it feels kind of... timeless?
"Crush" (1998)
Jennifer Paige's song was perfect for sneaking onto a mixtape for a not-so-subtle hint that you like like someone. And we never, never speak of the Glee version. Keep it secret, keep it safe.
"Here Comes The Hotstepper" (1994)
Here Ini Kamoze comes and... here he goes. NAHHHHH NAH NAH NAH NAHHHHHHH!
"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" (1993)
Before you say anything, I knoooow that The Proclaimers' Sunshine on Leith was released in 1988, but it crossed the pond in 1993 thanks to Benny & Joon and is a '90s song as far as the Billboard Hot 100 is concerned.
"Nothing Compares 2 U" (1990)
Sinead O'Connor became famous without really releasing another hit, and even that hit was made famous by Prince. Isn't that wild?
“Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” (1999)
It is weird how often director Baz Luhrmann's spoken word chart-topper comes up in conversation. Bar trivia is absolutely obsessed with this song. Get into it.
"Sunny Came Home" (1996)
The chorus Shawn Colvin's one hit did not need to go this hard. This song also fits really well with the plot of A Series Of Unfortunate Events which is... so random.
“Torn” (1997)
What self-respecting ’90s teen *didn’t* know this moody pop song? Natalie Imbruglia’s hit has been streamed more than 230 million times on Spotify to date.
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1995)
This romantic pop song was released into the world by Deep Blue Something in 1995—and then we never heard from the band again. But we definitely heard this song again...and again...and again....
“Mambo No. 5” (1999)
“Mambo No. 5,” by Lou Bega, is one of the most iconic songs in all of history of the ’90s. It became a worldwide hit after it was released, topping almost every chart in Europe and making it onto the playlist of every bar mitzvah I’ve ever attended.
“Steal My Sunshine” (1999)
Canadian band Len released this song without expecting much to come of it, but “Steal My Sunshine” was a total sleeper hit. It was so successful that the band had to push up its album release date!
"Barbie Girl" (1997)
What is it about this song that makes it so infuriatingly catchy? I swear I know every line to this upbeat peek into your favorite Mattel doll's charmed life.
"Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" (1990)
An excellent pump-up song and a dance hit tied into one, "Gonna Make You Sweat" is still a banger, and should be respected as such.
"Possum Kingdom" (1994)
Apart from its deeply concerning lyrics, including "Don't be afraid/I didn't mean to scare you/So help me, Jesus," this post-grunge song was made even weirder by its title, an ode to a lake in North Texas.
"Kiss Me" (1997)
If you ever need evidence that the '90s were a breeding ground for musical talent, just remember that the first song Taylor Swift learned on guitar—when she was 12!!—was this classic from Sixpence None The Richer.
"Black Velvet" (1990)
The King of Rock 'n Roll lives on in this power ballad that honors Elvis Presley's life, death and "slow Southern style."
"One Headlight" (1997)
If you've ever felt pressured to live up to your parents' expectations, imagine being Jakob Dylan, the son of superstar folk singer Bob Dylan. He led The Wallflowers until they broke up in 2005, and together they made "One Headlight" a huge hit.
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