Top 20 TWO-Hit Wonder Artists

#20: Owl City

“Fireflies” (2009) & “Good Time” (2012)

We’d like to make ourselves believe that Adam Young has a third hit in his arsenal. In 2009, the man behind the musical project Owl City took the world by storm when he released “Fireflies.” After ten weeks, it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would be another two years before he hit the top 10 again – but not without some help. In 2012, Young teamed up with Carly Rae Jepsen on the duet “Good Time.” The upbeat track debuted at #18, before peaking at #8. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to strike gold a third time. Since then, none of his songs have charted — but hopefully he’s not giving up yet.

#19: Snap!

“The Power” (1990) & “Rhythm Is a Dancer” (1992)

They may have several big hits in Europe, but more limited success in the United States. That briefly changed in 1990, when Snap! released “The Power.” It was their first to break into the American market, and it was a smash hit. It reached #2 and easily achieved platinum status. They achieved a similar feat two years later, with their house-inspired track “Rhythm Is a Dancer.” Although it didn’t reach the same heights as “The Power,” it did peak at #5 and spent a total of 39 weeks on the Hot 100. Although their work continued to succeed in Europe, their newfound fame in the States ended just as soon as it began.

#18: Fine Young Cannibals

“She Drives Me Crazy” (1988) & “Good Thing” (1989)

They graced the lower end of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985 – but it wasn’t until 1988 that they released what would become a true smash. At the end of the year, Fine Young Cannibals dropped the funk-laden track “She Drives Me Crazy.” Not only did it become their most successful song in their home country, it also achieved the #1 spot in the United States. Their streak continued just a few months later with “Good Thing,” which also reached the top spot. That would be their final moment in the top 10, with the band officially coming to an end in 1992. They released one final single in 1996, but not even their brief reunion could secure them a third hit.

#17: Tone Loc

“Wild Thing” (1989) & “Funky Cold Medina” (1989)

In 1988, Tone Loc released what would eventually go on to be his most beloved work. “Wild Thing,” a rock-rap fusion, sold over two million units in the States alone and hit #2 on the Hot 100. He set the bar high for himself, but he managed to replicate that success when“Funky Cold Medina” shot to the third position on the chart a month after it was dropped. The hip hop track was just as lucrative as the one that came before it, earning platinum status and a top-20 placement on some global boards. That would be his final smash of his music career, with him eventually pivoting into acting in the 1990s.

#16: Cobra Starship

“Good Girls Go Bad” (2009) & “You Make Me Feel…” (2011)

They may have come together for the first time in 2005, but it wouldn't be until 2009 that they reaped the benefits of their hard work. That year, they released “Good Girl Gone Bad,” a vibrant dance track that eventually peaked at #7– a huge feat for any artist, let alone one that hadn’t charted before. Seven ended up being their lucky number, with their 2011 release “You Make Me Feel…” reaching the same position. The electropop bop ended up being their biggest hit of their career, going platinum in multiple countries. They continued releasing singles throughout the 2010s, but none came close to the popularity of those two pieces.

#15: Sixpence None the Richer

“Kiss Me” (1998) & “There She Goes” (1999)

There’s no rule that says a two-hit wonder’s second song has to be their own. Sixpence None the Richer first got a taste of pop fame with the acclaimed ballad “Kiss Me.” Its journey to the top was tumultuous, with it initially reaching #90 before slipping off. Months later, it re-entered, and then rose over the next eleven weeks before reaching #2. All in all, it spent over thirty weeks in the top 100. In 1999, the band recorded a cover of the La’s “There She Goes.” Their rendition of the dream pop piece achieved global recognition and modest chart success. They haven’t had as much traditional acclaim since then, but they haven’t let that stop them from continuing to create.

#14: Blues Traveler

“Run-Around” (1995) & “Hook” (1995)

In the 1990s, Blues Traveler established themselves as an up and coming jam band. They grew to national prominence in 1995, thanks to their first entry onto the Hot 100. “Run-Around” proved to be a smash among rock fans and the public alike, with five top ten chart placements in the United States. Their acclaim didn’t end there. Months later, they dropped the satirical “Hook,” which lampooned the concept of popular music as a whole. Ironically enough, their parody ended up resonating with mainstream audiences, leading to their second hit in a year. They unfortunately weren’t able to maintain their new status as hitmakers, and after some personal tragedy, they were dropped from their label in 2002.

#13: Mr. Mister

“Broken Wings” (1985) & “Kyrie” (1985)

Their debut album came and went without much fanfare. Their sophomore release, on the other hand, had the opposite experience. The lead single on the 1985 project, “Broken Wings,” unexpectedly took off and skyrocketed to the top of the Hot 100, where it reigned supreme for two weeks. Their follow-up release “Kyrie” slowly climbed its way to the top of the chart over the next few months, which eventually led to their second consecutive #1 song. Both singles were so beloved that the album they were associated with reached the top of the Billboard 200. They disbanded in 1990, and weren’t able to snag another #1 single before then — but their victories leading up to that point can’t be discounted.

#12: LMFAO

“Party Rock Anthem” (2011) & “Sexy And I Know It” (2011)

In the early 2010s, they quickly established themselves as one of the biggest groups of that period. “Party Rock Anthem” was LMFAO’s first track to break out into the mainstream, flying up to the top spot and maintaining it for six weeks. The song was so popular that it became Billboard’s seventh most successful track in its history. They followed that up in September with “Sexy and I Know It,” which reached #1. Although their final release as a duo made it into the top 50, it didn’t come close to the placements they saw a year beforehand.

#11: Golden Earring

“Radar Love” (1973) & “Twilight Zone” (1982)

Some musicians are lucky enough to score their first chart placement within the first few years of their career. Others, not so much. Golden Earring first formed in 1961, and wouldn’t see mainstream popularity until 1973’s “Radar Love.” The anthemic rock song resonated with fans globally, and secured their first entry on the Hot 100 at #13. It seemed they would be relegated to one hit wonder status, with their subsequent releases failing to make the same impact outside their home country. They broke that curse in 1982 thanks to “Twilight Zone,” which reached an even higher peak at #10. It was the ultimate proof that success isn’t necessarily linear, and that it can happen when everyone – including the artist themselves – least expects it.

#10: The Rembrandts

“Just the Way It Is, Baby” (1990) & “I’ll Be There For You” (1995)

It’s nothing new for television shows to seek out certain pop acts to craft a theme tune for their show. “I’ll Be There For You” wasn’t the first flirtation with the Billboard Hot 100 for The Rembrandts, however, since this Los Angeles-based band actually scored a hit with “Just the Way It Is, Baby,” off of their self-titled debut. That song peaked at number fourteen, while the smash follow-up, “I’ll Be There For You,” actually wasn’t taken from any of The Rembrandts albums. Instead, this theme from “Friends” was released as a single, and earned The Rembrandts notoriety not only at home, but abroad, as well.

#9: Extreme

“More Than Words” (1991) & “Hole Hearted” (1991)

“Every bad boy has a soft side.” This was a quote taken from the advertising for “Monster Ballads,” a popular line of power-ballad CDs that compiled hits from the world of pop/rock and hair metal. Extreme were a Boston-based hard rock/metal act that was largely indebted to a style of shredding hard rock in the Van Halen mold. Yet, early singles like “Get the Funk Out” didn’t really do the numbers earned by comparatively mellower songs like “More Than Words” and “Hole Hearted.” Oh, Extreme certainly retained their fair share of heavy rock fans, but the proof of the band’s acoustic prowess seemed undeniable back in the early nineties.

#8: KT Tunstall

“Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” (2006) & "Suddenly I See" (2006)

Just because an artist earned two hits doesn’t necessarily mean that both hits have retained the same level of visibility. It’s more than likely that viewers of a certain age can remember when KT Tunstall’s “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” was plastered all over MTV. That song was notable for its earworm repetition of “woo-hoo” over an arrangement that felt indebted to traditional folk music, blues and bluegrass. Meanwhile, “Suddenly I See” feels a bit more contemporary, but still with that rootsiness that fans gravitated towards within Tunstall’s music. Both songs are honestly pretty great, but KT Tunstall struggled to keep the crossover commercial success going in the wake of these tunes.

#7: Paula Cole

“Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” (1997) & “I Don’t Want to Wait” (1997)

The nineties were a pretty good decade for “girl power” in music. Travelling music festivals like Lilith Fair highlighted both classic and emerging female talent, while the latter part of the decade saw two smash hits from Rockport, Massachusetts’ own Paula Cole. The singer/songwriter’s career actually never stopped, and Paula Cole still regularly releases new music, and tours to support her art. Most passive fans of the radio would likely be hard pressed to recall Cole’s more recent material. They COULD, however, probably name both of her hits: “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” and “I Don’t Want to Wait.” The latter doubled as the theme to the T.V. show “Dawson’s Creek,” while Paula Cole’s impressive resume belies her status as a two-hit wonder.

#6: Men Without Hats

“The Safety Dance” (1982) & “Pop Goes the World” (1987)

It was the MTV revolution that helped Canada’s Men Without Hats crossover BIG time with their 1982 single, “The Safety Dance.” The group’s sound was total synth-pop, but the accompanying video felt like something from a sword and sorcery film, complete with period costumes and sets. This video for “The Safety Dance” would go on to help define those early years of MTV, but it’s something of a misconception that Men Without Hats were a one hit wonder. The group actually charted again in 1987 with “Pop Goes the World,” reaching number twenty on the Billboard Hot 100, number two on Canada’s Top Singles and number ONE over on Austria’s Top 40.

#5: Quiet Riot

“Metal Health (Bang Your Head)” (1982) & “Cum On Feel the Noize” (1983)

This L.A. band made history as the first heavy metal act to top the Billboard Top 200 album charts with their third effort, “Metal Health.” This LP featured both of Quiet Riot’s biggest hits, the title track and their cover of Slade’s “Cum On Feel the Noize.” The former was an anthemic clarion call for heavy metal’s commercial dominance throughout the ‘80s, while the latter was a nice connection to Quiet Riot’s own glam roots alongside former member Randy Rhoads. Frontman Kevin DuBrow’s frustration with following up the success of “Metal Health” spilled over into his interviews within the press, however, with Quiet Riot essentially sealing the roots of their own commercial doom. Not even yet another Slade cover could save them.

#4: The Presidents of the United States of America”

“Lump” (1995) & “Peaches” (1996)

It’s perhaps a little unfair to label The Presidents of the United States of America as a “novelty act.” A little unfair, but also impossible to avoid, since both of the band’s hits, “Lump” and “Peaches” were quirky and massively outside the pop music norm. Shades of acts like They Might Be Giants or even Frank Zappa could be found within The Presidents of the United States of America, thanks to their sense of humor. Meanwhile, both “Lump” and “Peaches” had moments of aggro guitar that were surprisingly effective, but the writing seemed to be on the wall. These Presidents were just too good for this world.

#3: Spin Doctors

“Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” (1992) & “Two Princes” (1993)

Jam band culture felt alive and well back in the early nineties, thanks to the chart success of the Spin Doctors. The roots of this New York band can actually be traced back to a group called The Trucking Company, which featured within its ranks future Blues Traveler frontman John Popper. The Spin Doctors’ occupied a similarly retro space with their jangling, hippie-band guitar rock, a sound that first hit charts with 1992’s “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong.” Fans seemed to respond to that tune’s memorable chorus, so they showed up again big time for the band’s second single, “Two Princes.” Both songs allowed for the Spin Doctors’ debut album, “Pocket Full of Kryptonite,” to go an astonishing quintuple platinum.

#2: a-ha

“Take On Me” (1984) & “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” (1985)

We get it: “Take On Me” was such a huge and iconic hit for a-ha, that it’s easy for some fans to forget that this Norwegian band struck again only a year removed from their biggest-selling song. “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” may not have had the same cultural impact as “Take On Me,” but the song is also very melodic, memorable and well-composed. Lead singer Morten Harket doesn’t hit the same sort of stratospheric high notes on this one, but “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” is a nice reminder about how the career of a-ha continued long after their MTV flirtation.

#1: The Romantics

“What I Like About You” (1979) & “Talking in Your Sleep” (1983)

The Detroit power-pop machine known as The Romantics first hit rock radio with their 1979 single “What I Like About You.” That tune continues to be a heritage station staple to this day, but the band definitely bettered their success on album number four, thanks to a little song called “Talking in Your Sleep.” The song is a tour de force of jangling guitar melodies, punctuating bass lines and driving drums. There’s a pre-chorus to die for that leads right into a million dollar chorus. “Talking in Your Sleep” is economically written, with no fat or extraneous jamming to bog down what The Romantics are trying to achieve: another smash hit.

Who’s your favorite two-hit wonder? Let us know in the comments below!