Top 10 Best 90s One Hit Wonders
#10: “Bitter Sweet Symphony”
The Verve While all four of The Verve's albums experienced some degree of success in the UK, the Britpop band had to wait until their third project, "Urban Hymns," to score their solitary hit in the States. "Bitter Sweet Symphony" is a densely packed melodic epic that's nearly perfect from beginning to end. Laced with sharp lyrics that juxtaposition excellently with the song's fantastic music video, the track makes brilliant use of an infectious riff from Andrew Loog Oldham's cover of The Rolling Stones' "The Last Time," a sample that resulted in some legal squabbles.
#9: “Tubthumping”
Chumbawamba Debuting in 1985 in the UK punk rock scene, Chumbawamba released eight albums before scoring their big crossover hit, a feat they would never really attempt again. "Tubthumping" is the bar jam to end all bar jams; an explosive rock song with a contagious main chorus, scarce verses that do not get in the way, and memorable vocal hooks courtesy of Lou Watts and Dunstan Bruce. "Tubthumping" is not representative of most of Chumbawamba's songs, so it's hardly surprising that the band never scored another major hit in the States.
#8: “You Get What You Give”
Top 10 Pop One Hit Wonders
New Radicals Despite only peaking at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100, the New Radicals' "You Get What You Give" feels like the definitive song of that late '90s' post-Nirvana period when music adopted a slicker and sunnier sheen. A tightly written pop-rock track that constantly shakes things up throughout its 5-minute runtime, "You Get What You Give" mixes socially conscious themes with melodies for days. The final verse's celebrity callouts can overshadow the rest of the song, which is a shame since this entire track should be remembered and celebrated. The New Radicals split up soon after the song’s release, but their one album is definitely worth a spin.
#7: “How Bizarre”
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OMC Sometimes all it takes to make a song instantly unforgettable is a single line, and this one-hit-wonder has two of them. Released by New Zealand's OMC, "How Bizarre" is a breezy track with nearly indecipherable lyrics all connecting to a brilliant main chorus. Accompanied by a summery instrumental, Pauly Fuemana, the lead vocalist, combines the oddly catchy "How Bizarre" hook with bright background vocals by a group of female singers. All these elements combine to create a truly peerless track, at least in terms of uniqueness. OMC never came close to having another hit in the States, but “How Bizarre” is quite the exception.
#6: “Mr. Vain”
Top 20 Best 90s One Hit Wonders
Culture Beat Eurodance was a reliable source for one-off commercial hits during the '90s, and few of the genre's success stories compare favorably to "Mr. Vain." The track's pulsating electro beat instantly conjures up images of German raves, with the bass and keyboards adding extra dimensions to the instrumental. While lyrics don't tend to be a big focus of Eurodance, "Mr. Vain" has more going for it than just an earworm chorus. Tying everything together is Tania Evans, whose strong and confident vocals manage to make "Mr. Vain's" somewhat clumsy English work in the song's favor.
#5: “Sex and Candy”
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Marcy Playground As post-grunge took hold of the rock scene, the airwaves started to be flooded with moody but less aggressive songs. For the band's only charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, Marcy Playground released the evocative "Sex and Candy," a short and slow-paced rocker with somber vocals. Often attracting comparisons to Nirvana, "Sex and Candy" mixes suggestive lyrics with radio-ready friendliness. The chorus's opening line is one of the most memorable of the late '90s, while the song's surreal music video splendidly complements "Sex and Candy's" tone and mystique. Marcy Playground created something special with their one bonafide hit.
#4: “No Rain”
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Blind Melon The rock scene of the early '90s consisted of far more than just grunge, and Blind Melon's hit stands out as a prime example of that. “No Rain" has a loose, almost jam session feel to it, and the track incorporates psychedelic influences into what is otherwise a familiar alternative rock sound. Although quite a happy song, lyrically "No Rain" deals with depression and alienation, elements reflected in its iconic music video. As great as the track is, "No Rain" might not have been as massive of a hit without its accompanying Bee Girl video.
#3: “Steal My Sunshine”
Len Released right before the end of the '90s, "Steal My Sunshine" reflects just how much the music landscape had changed throughout the decade. A pop-rock blast that sprinkles in elements of hip hop, Len's summertime anthem combines a sugary sweet hook with clever verses that add depth to the overall package. Making expert use of a sample of Andrea True Connection's "More, More, More," "Steal My Sunshine" jumps back and forth between two singers, Marc and Sharon Costanzo, as the song paints a picture of a hazy summer rave. Len would go on to release a few more albums, although none would spawn a single as big as "Steal My Sunshine."
#2: “Informer”
Snow It's difficult to imagine that "Informer" could have topped the Billboard Hot 100 in any other year besides 1993, and even then it was controversial. Released by Snow, a Canadian musician, "Informer" fuses reggae and hip hop while lyrically covering a range of topics, including police raids and the vocalist's musical influences. Except for one unforgettable and somewhat confusing verse in the chorus, "Informer's" lyrics can be difficult to understand, although Snow's flow keeps the track moving along nicely. Although Snow scored a few more hits in Canada, "Informer" is his lasting legacy in the rest of the world. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Whoomp! (There It Is),” Tag Team Because a Party Ain’t Complete Until This ‘90s Classic Hit “Baby Got Back,” Sir Mix-a-Lot Because This Track Has Become an Inescapable Part of Pop Culture “Jump Around,” House of Pain Because on the Rare Occasions Hip Hop & Rock Mix Well, They Produce Something Great "I'm Too Sexy,” Right Said Fred Because Everyone at One Point or Another Has Sung Their Own Version of This Song “One of Us,” Joan Osborne Because This Song’s Simple, But Effective
#1: “What Is Love”
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Haddaway Now, this is a debut single. Love is probably the most overused topic in music, but this Eurodance classic distills the theme down to its essence, asking a universally relatable question that manages to be both direct and profound. Haddaway's soulful vocals bring a lot of weight to the bursts of verses, while the beat maintains an intense rhythm that is impossible to resist. Haddaway might not have scored another timeless hit in the U.S., but "What Is Love" lives on in dance clubs, on the airwaves, and in pop culture.
