The "Greatest One Hit Wonder" Tournament

[revo]

Much like the "Most Iconic Song of the 1980s," let's do a tourney of the greatest one hit wonders of the rock era. I'll use the same (or similar) tourney sites to run it (to be discussed further). I'll list a bunch of one hit wonders, and we can add more based on other postings. My qualifications for being a "One Hit Wonder" is:

- artist must not have had another song enter the US Top 20 (not Top 40)
- artist must not have been in a successful group but only had one big hit as a solo artist (i.e. Lindsay Buckingham)
- artist must not have been known for not releasing singles (i.e. Grateful Dead)
- artist may have had international hits, but should not be a worldwide superstar with only one big US hit (i.e. Selena, Julio Iglesias)
- artist may be a supergroup with one big US hit (i.e. Bad English)
- artist must not have had one big crossover hit but is a star in another genre (i.e. The Bellamy Brothers, Arrested Development, Billy Ray Cyrus, Blink 182)

The top 64 will face off NCAA tourney style.

[revo]

Contenders

[revo]

Ace - How Long (1975)
Alive N Kickin' - Tighter, Tighter (1970)
The Alarm - Sold Me Down the River (1989)
Alicia Bridges - I Love the Nightlife (Disco Round) (1978)
The American Breed - Bend Me, Shape Me (1967)
? and the Mysterians - 96 Tears (1966)
Andrea True Connection - More, More, More (1976)
Animotion - Obsession (1984)
The Archies - Sugar, Sugar (1969)
Autograph - Turn Up the Radio (1984)
BW Stevenson - My Maria (1973)
Big Country - In a Big Country (1985)
Billy Vera & the Beaters - At this Moment (1987)
Blind Melon - No Rain (1992)

[Gregg]

In.

One hit wonders of the rock era. Does that mean it has to be a rock hit or can it be pop/bubblegum?

[Gregg]

In.

One hit wonders of the rock era. Does that mean it has to be a rock hit or can it be pop/bubblegum?

Well by your list I can see you have answered my question.

[revo]

Blue Swede - Hooked on a Feeling (1974)
Blues Image - Ride Captain Ride (1970)
Blur - Song 2 (1997)
Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods - Billy, Don't be a Hero (1974)
Bob & Doug McKenzie - Take Off (1981)
Bobby "Boris" Pickett - Monster Mash (1962)
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry, Be Happy (1988)
BoDeans - Closer to Free (1996)
Bonnie Pointer - Heaven Must Have Sent You (1979)
Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy (1982)
Bowling for Soup - 1985 (2004)
Brewer & Shipley - One Toke Over the Line (1970)
Brownsville Station - Smokin' in the Boys Room (1973)
Bruce Willis - Respect Yourself (1987)
Buckner & Garcia - Pac Man Fever (1982)
The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star (1979)
CW McCall - Convoy (1975)
Carl Carlton - Everlasting Love (1974)
Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting (1974)
The Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come Today (1968)
Chris Rea - Fool if You Think It's Over (1978)
Chumbawumba - Tubthumping (1997)
The Communards - Don't Leave Me This Way (1986)
Crispian St. Peters - The Pied Piper (1966)
The Cuff Links - Tracy (1969)
The Cyrkle - Red Rubber Ball (1965)

[revo]

Damn Yankees - High Enough (1990)
David Essex - Rock On (1973)
David Naughton - Makin It (1979)
Dee Lite - Groove is in the Heart (1990)
Devo - Whip It (1980)
Dexys Midnight Runners - Come on Eileen (1982)
Divinyls - I Touch Myself (1992)
Dobie Gray - Drift Away (1973)
Donnie Iris - Ah! Leah! (1980)
Dr. John - Right Place, Wrong Time (1973)
Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town (1985)
Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight (1997)
Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) (1971)
EMF - Unbelievable (1991)
Erasure - Chains of Love (1988)
Escape Club - Wild Wild West (1988)
Europe - The Final Countdown (1986)
Evanescence - Bring Me to Life (2003)
Eve 6 - Inside Out (1998)
Exile - Kiss You All Over (1978)
Faith No More - Epic (1990)
Fastball - Out of My Head (1998)
Fatboy Slim - Rockafeller Skank (1998)
The Firm - Radioactive (1985)
Five Man Electrical Band - Signs (1970)
Five Stairsteps - O-o-h Child (1970)
Foster the People -Pumped Up Kicks (2011)
Fountains of Wayne - Stacy's Mom (2003)
Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax (1984)
Gallery - Nice to Be With You (1972)
Gary Glitter - Rock & Roll Pt 2 (1972)
Gary Numan - Cars (1979)
George McCrae - Rock Your Baby (1974)

[Gregg]

So are we picking our top 64 after you finish posting the list (alphabetically)?

[revo]

So are we picking our top 64 after you finish posting the list (alphabetically)?

Anyone can add some I haven't listed. I'm just going through my iTunes list and finding some that fit the bill. But after we've exhausted that, yeah, we'll choose 64 to face off.

[Ken]

Kevin Maas

[DMT]

Anyone can add some I haven't listed. I'm just going through my iTunes list and finding some that fit the bill. But after we've exhausted that, yeah, we'll choose 64 to face off.

You've already listed more than 64 and you're only through "Ge".

[swampdragon]

Ace - How Long (1975) - LEAD SINGER OF SQUEEZE
Alive N Kickin' - Tighter, Tighter (1970)
The Alarm - Sold Me Down the River (1989) - NOT REALLY A HIT
Alicia Bridges - I Love the Nightlife (Disco Round) (1978)
The American Breed - Bend Me, Shape Me (1967)
? and the Mysterians - 96 Tears (1966)
Andrea True Connection - More, More, More (1976)
Animotion - Obsession (1984)
The Archies - Sugar, Sugar (1969)
Autograph - Turn Up the Radio (1984)
BW Stevenson - My Maria (1973) - ????
Big Country - In a Big Country (1985) - I SAW THEM LIVE - they played this song 3 times because they didn't have 45 minutes of material
Billy Vera & the Beaters - At this Moment (1987)
Blind Melon - No Rain (1992)

[swampdragon]

I can't wait for Right Said Fred

and where is Falco

[revo]

You've already listed more than 64 and you're only through "Ge".

Right - we need to narrow down the list to the best 64.

[revo]

I can't wait for Right Said Fred

and where is Falco

I looked up Falco and he had a 2nd song that went to #19 "Vienna Calling," so he's not eligible, surprisingly enough.

Right Said Fred is a good addition.

Paul Carrack became the lead singer of Squeeze well after Ace.

Yup, "Sold Me Down the River" was not a pop hit, but it was a college radio hit.