Top 10 Most Surprising Hits In Music History

#10: “Somebody That I Used to Know” (2011)

Gotye

2011 was a prime time for traditional pop songs, with tunes like “Good Feeling” by Flo Rida finding their way to the top. So when the then-virtually-unknown independent artist Gotye came to the table with his unconventional lyrics, sound, and aesthetic, it wasn’t a song that audiences and critics thought would be memorable or popular. But the song exceeded expectations by a landslide. It’s certified multi-platinum in various countries and according to recent data, it’s been streamed over 2 billion times on Spotify. Gotye hasn’t reached the same heights musically since this song was released and he’s rarely seen or discussed in the media, so now I guess he’s just somebody that we used to know.

#9: “Old Town Road” (2018; Remix 2019)

Lil Nas X (Remix feat. Billy Ray Cyrus)

Lil Nas X has made quite a name for himself in recent years, but when this genre-blending song was released in the late 2010s, he shook up the industry as an unknown. “Old Town Road” is considered country rap, which you’d think wouldn’t land with either audience, yet it blew up with everyone. Lil Nas X recorded the song on his own, worked hard behind the scenes to make it go viral, and did all of this while still a teenager. When he re-mixed it with Billy Ray Cyrus, the haters had to shut up and listen, and love or hate this song, you have to admire how big it became.

#8: “Macarena” (1993)

Los del Rio

Getting flashbacks to school dances or wedding receptions? You’re not alone, because this song is a staple at all of those events. Driven by simple dance moves and lyrics, this song unites people on the dance floor, even when they don’t understand all of the lyrics. “Macarena” was originally performed by Los del Rio, but it’s the 1995 remix version by the Bayside Boys that we’ve all come to know and love. It came out of the blue, it was fun, it was not at all 90s-coded, yet it’s become universally recognized and utilized, and for that we are truly shocked and impressed.

#7: “Creep” (1992)

Radiohead

The name of the song alone is enough to make it unlikely to ever be popular. It flopped when it first came out in the UK, but in the States, alternative listeners in particular gravitated towards it quickly. Even the group themselves didn’t think it would succeed and didn’t really even want it to. To this day, Radiohead is hesitant to play “Creep” live and they’ve grown resentful of what was supposed to be a filler song on their debut album becoming their most popular and requested song. We wonder when they’re performing if they’ve ever asked themselves “What the hell am I doing here?”

#6: “Theme from Shaft” (1971)

Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes was about as unknown as the film was upon its release, but they both became household names after the “Theme from Shaft” dropped. It’s a long, instrumentally-focused song that talks about sex, women, and of course, Shaft, in very few words, with sensual harmonies, and a fun beat. It may seem like a run-of-the-mill disco adjacent song from the 70s now, but it was revolutionary at the time. With smooth vocals and funky music, it’s a great mixture that was rarely heard in this era. The song was a hit in night clubs and on the radio, and it became a sensation that not only topped the Billboard charts, it even won an Oscar for best original song.

#5: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)

Nirvana

Grunge? In the 90s? More groundbreaking than you’d think. On the surface, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a mish mosh of random words, explicit yelling, and loud guitars. At its core, it’s raw, unfiltered, and deeply human, much like the frontman of Nirvana. This song was released in the beginning of the new decade, right after the 80s had become popular for musicians like Madonna, Whitney Houston, and Michael Jackson. Kurt Cobain is the antithesis of these artists, and in turn, he became the new voice of a generation in the 90s. An anthem for those who don’t care about glamor, money, or fame, it’s no wonder it’s now remembered as one of the biggest songs of all time.

#4: “Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band” [aka “Mad About Me”] (1977)

Figrin D’An and the Modal Nodes

“Star Wars” in and of itself is an unlikely hit, and it’s still insanely popular and recognized today. But no one in their right minds could’ve anticipated that the “Cantina Band” song, otherwise known as “Mad About Me,” would be a huge hit as well. The legendary John Williams took inspiration from 1930s swing music, and crawled inside the mind of an extraterrestrial to interpret how that might sound to them. The result is this classic tune that is well-known and beloved by “Star Wars” fans everywhere. Even though this band had virtually no reason to be in the film other than for fun, it’s a plot point that we’d be lost without.

#3: “Take On Me” (1984)

A-ha

If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. That was the case for A-ha, since their biggest song, “Take On Me,” was unsuccessful when it was first released. So they released it again over a year later and the reception was vastly different. The difference? Some revised sound helped, but what really sealed the deal was the now iconic music video. The mixture of live action and comic book sketching animated via rotoscope made for a fun and memorable take on a music video, and even though the vibe of the video and the sound are so quintessentially 80s, it never goes out of style.

#2: “Gangnam Style” (2012)

Psy

It’s almost entirely sung in Korean, it’s referencing a neighbourhood in Seoul, and its staple dance move involves riding a horse. Not exactly a traditional formula for an international sensation, but here we are. What it did have was a fun, quirky, and somewhat strange music video and singer to accompany it, not to mention it hit the market at the right place at the right time. The music video has been viewed over 5 billion, with a ‘b’, times, and it was the first video on YouTube to ever reach 1 billion views. Everyone learned the dance and attempted to learn the words, and even though it was a weird way to bring people together, it worked.

#1: “Baby Shark” (2016)

Pinkfong

How could a song with lyrics as repetitive as [“Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo.Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo.Baby shark!”] not make this list? Just kidding! On to our real #1 now…

#1: “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)

Queen

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Either way, we didn’t know there could be a world where this song became a hit single, but we’re glad we get to live in it. Freddie Mercury begged the question “Why settle for one genre per song?” and meshed together classic rock, opera, and a ballad to create “Bohemian Rhapsody.” It’s long, it tells an incoherent story, and it makes us want to bang our heads. Whether you first heard it in the 70s, rediscovered it in the 90s, or had a new appreciation for it in the 21st century, its impact proves its timelessness, and vice versa.

Which song’s popularity surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments!