Top 10 Songs That Proved an Artist Was NOT a One-Hit-Wonder
#10: “We R Who We R” (2010)
Kesha
In 2009, Kesha’s debut single “Tik Tok” was almost entirely unavoidable. It went platinum 12 times, alongside peaking at #1 on multiple countries’ charts. For a brief time, people wondered if Kesha could follow up such a huge track. Well, turned out she did it more than once, as she’s currently had ten tracks become top-ten singles. While “We R Who We R” was her fifth top ten single, it makes the cut because it’s her first stylistically different hit. The accompanying music video was also unique, showing a different side of Kesha rather than just repeating “Tik Tok” again.
#9: “Grenade” (2010)
Bruno Mars
Calling Mars a one-hit wonder these days is a pretty ridiculous statement. In 2024, he had huge hits with both “Die With a Smile” and “Apt.” alongside Lady Gaga and Rosé, respectively. That was 14 years after his breakout single, “Just the Way You Are.” It took him way less time to dispel any notions he’d be just another one-hit wonder. “Grenade” followed after a little over 3 months, also receiving excessive play for months after release. Both tracks came from his album “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” which featured even more hit tracks like “The Lazy Song.”
#8: “Summertime Sadness” (2012)
Lana Del Rey
She’s become one of the most celebrated pop stars of the 21st century, releasing a plethora of acclaimed albums like “NFR!” in 2019. Her career started in 2005, but she only entered the spotlight after releasing “Video Games” in 2011. At the time, some of us thought it would forever remain her most famous track. Now, it’s not even the most famous song from that era. Instead, “Summertime Sadness” is the most popular track off her “Born to Die” album. The entire album spent over 500 weeks on America’s Billboard 200, an extremely impressive feat.
#7: “ATLiens!” (1996)
Outkast
In 1994, Outkast released their hugely influential debut album“Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.” It earned them a reputation as pioneers of southern hip-hop, winning them the award for Best New Rap Group at the 1995 Source Awards. It also spawned a fairly big single, “Player’s Ball.” They not only managed to keep this momentum going, but they turned it up to the max. In 1996, their second album “ATliens” turned into an instant classic. Its title track turned into another notable single and is still played heavily today. This wasn’t even the peak for Outkast; that came when they achieved mainstream fame with tracks “Ms. Jackson” and “Hey Ya!”
#6: “I Really Like You” (2015)
Carly Rae Jepsen
In 2012, Canadian musician Carly Rae Jepsen’s hit single “Call Me Maybe” shot into the stratosphere in terms of popularity. Even today, it’s still a huge hit, considered one of the most nostalgic tracks of the 2010s. In 2015, she cemented herself as a pop star who was here to stay. Her album “Emotion” was judged a huge improvement; it earned her a dedicated following and is still widely praised. Its lead single was “I Really Like You,” which was accompanied by an iconic music video featuring Tom Hanks and Justin Bieber. She’s since released a variety of albums, changing up her sound with each one, making her a respected artist, rather than just the “Call Me Maybe” girl.
#5: “High and Dry” (1995)
Radiohead
“Pablo Honey” garnered Radiohead a significant fan base when this debut album was released in 1993. The number of tracks fans enjoyed increased substantially when they released their second album, “The Bends” in 1995. After spending two years riding the fame of the hit single “Creep,” their second album's lead single “High and Dry” became a huge hit. The album as a whole proved to be wildly popular among fans, and you’ll still find people who call it their favorite today. Thankfully, they didn’t double down on the style of their 1993 single “Pop Is Dead,” which Ed O’Brien called “a hideous mistake.”
#4: “All the Small Things” (1999)
Blink-182
After forming in 1992, their first two albums earned them a minor following. Their punk rock and pop punk sensibilities gathered more acceptance, and their third album, “Enema of the State,” became a huge hit. One of the biggest contributing factors was its lead single, “What’s My Age Again?” It was constantly played on MTV, but despite its success, it was shortly overshadowed by the follow-up hit “All the Small Things.” Over 25 years later, it’s still their most popular track. Both tracks were released alongside hilarious music videos, which are considered staples of 90s pop punk.
#3: “Sk8er Boi” (2002)
Avril Lavigne
In 2002, Lavigne released her debut album “Let Go,” which made history. It’s still the best-selling album by any Canadian this century. The first track she dropped from it was “Complicated,” which became an instant hit. She didn’t stop there. About 6 months later she released “Sk8er Boi,” which is one of the defining tracks of the 2000s. Now she’s regarded as one of the pioneers of the 2000s pop-punk movement, hence her title as the “Pop-Punk Queen.” Five years later, her track “Girlfriend” also topped charts globally, proving she was a musical force here to stay.
#2: “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” (2021)
Lil Nas X
In 2018, Lil Nas X’s track “Old Town Road” was played almost everywhere. It was number one on America’s Billboard Hot 100 for 19 weeks, which was the first to do so in its 60-year history. It was notable for blending country and hip-hop, a style rarely heard until the track’s success. Instead of sitting on the one hit, he decided to get to work and produce an equally memorable track, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).” It was released in 2021 and has since surpassed “Old Town Road” on some streaming services.
#1: “Hot n Cold” (2008) Katy Perry
While Perry’s newer music is nowhere near as successful as her older work, she can’t be considered a one-hit wonder by any means. Well, unless it’s the summer of 2008 and “I Kissed a Girl” is getting played on repeat. The track dropped in April 2008, but her follow-up track “Hot n Cold,” which came in September, sold even better. Two years later, she released the album “Teenage Dream,” which included an incredible five number-one singles. Her 2013 album also spawned the tracks “Dark Horse” and “Roar,” but unfortunately for Perry, she lost most of her momentum by the end of the decade.
What’s your favorite track that proved an artist was much more than just a one-hit wonder? Let us know in the comments section!