Top 23 One Hit Wonders of Each Year (2000 - 2022)
2000: “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)”
Nine Days This is the story of how one song by an unknown band took radio stations by storm just at the turn of the century. After failing to gain the attention of record labels for ages, New York rockers Nine Days finally got a hit with “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)”. Inspired by lead singer John Hampson’s partner, the song merges edgy emo lyrics with an infectious rush of guitars, drums and keyboards to create a perfect power pop blend. It may not have been Grammy-winning like Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out”. And it wasn’t an international chart-topper like Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag”, but it still makes us smile all these years later.
2001: “Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)”
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Blu Cantrell It’s the ultimate revenge song, but not in the way most people would expect. Back in 2001, R&B singer Blu Cantrell had some advice for ladies with unfaithful partners - just “get your hands on his cash and spend it to the last dime”. With her debut single, Cantrell soared to the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Grammy. Surprisingly, she apparently wasn’t the biggest fan of the song initially, and only went with it because she connected with it emotionally at the time. It, however, became the biggest hit of her career, as the singer sadly never managed to crack Billboard’s top 40 with another single again.
2002: “A Thousand Miles”
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Vanessa Carlton Delivering arguably one of the most recognizable piano riffs in music history, Vanessa Carlton tugged at the heartstrings of millions. For her debut single, “A Thousand Miles,” she drew on her experience liking a boy when she was younger. The incredibly catchy song speaks volumes with so little - creating an intimate mood with just the piano and string orchestra, which amplify Carlton’s evocative lyrics. Like a true classic, the tune has transcended different forms of media, with its inclusion in the 2004 film “White Chicks” and its reemergence on the social media platform TikTok. Even if she never matches its success again, Carlton can rest assured that she has created a timeless song.
2003: “Stacy's Mom”
Fountains of Wayne This effortlessly catchy song was written from the perspective of a young boy who discovers he has a crush on his female friend’s mom, and not the friend herself. A superb blend of new wave and power pop, “Stacy’s Mom” became the first and only major hit from New York band Fountains of Wayne. The track peaked at number 21 on the Hot 100 and earned the band a nomination at the 2004 Grammys. Its iconic music video pays homage to new wave band the Cars, who inspired the song’s sound, and received constant airplay on MTV and VH1. If you weren’t rocking to international hits like “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”, then we bet you were also crooning about Stacy’s mom.
2004: “Collide”
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Howie Day The saying “opposites attract” is only always right if you’re dealing with magnets. When it comes to human relationships, things get a little more complicated. On his hit folk rock tune “Collide”, singer-songwriter Howie Day mulls over a tricky relationship with a partner whose personality is worlds apart from his. He concludes that even though conflicts may arise, he’s ready to fight for their love, as he believes they’re clearly meant for each other. The contemplative ballad was released in June 2004 and became a sleeper hit, hitting its peak at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 a full year later.
2005: “Bad Day”
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Daniel Powter This power ballad by Canadian artist Daniel Powter was ranked by Billboard as the most popular song of 2006 in the U.S. Clearly, a lot of Americans were going through it in the mid-aughts. Almost as insanely catchy as it is relatable, “Bad Day” was released as the lead single from Powter’s sophomore album, and went on to become a worldwide hit. The track was heavily featured in commercials and TV shows, even being used as the send-off song on “American Idol”’s fifth season. It was number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 for five weeks and spawned an Alvin and the Chipmunks cover, which also charted on the Hot 100.
2006: “Crazy”
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Gnarls Barkley A dynamite collaboration between CeeLo Green and Danger Mouse, Gnarls Barkley was the quintessential flash in the pan. The duo had roughly two years of mainstream fame, recorded two albums, and put out one monumental hit single. Their debut, “Crazy” has a strange familiarity about it, with bouncy basslines and dramatic strings. But still manages to sound unlike anything you’ve ever heard. The song became so popular that it was even taken off shelves in an effort to avoid fans getting tired of it. Regardless, it hits just as hard today as it did the first time around. And don’t you think that’s crazy?
2007: “Whine Up”
Kat DeLuna feat. Elephant Man American singer Kat DeLuna arrived on the scene in 2007 with her addictive dancehall track “Whine Up”. With its stomping beat and irresistible energy, DeLuna does everything in her power to get you right on the dancefloor. She sings in English, raps in Spanish, and then employs popular Jamaican artist Elephant Man to round things off with a killer verse. The song’s popularity grew steadily post-release, and it eventually burst onto the Hot 100, snagging the 29th spot. DeLuna may have fallen off since then, but we’ll never get tired of getting down to “Whine Up”.
2008: “American Boy”
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Estelle feat. Kanye West The late 2000s ushered in a flood of singer-songwriters from the UK who dominated American airwaves in what was deemed the “Third British Invasion”. One of these artists was Estelle, who released the intercontinental banger “American Boy” as the second single from her sophomore album “Shine”. Estelle may not have been the biggest name on the track’s star-studded list of songwriters, which include John Legend, will.i.am and Kanye West. But her buttery-smooth vocals over the delectable disco-funk beats instantly make her the center of attention. Much like its protagonist, the song traveled far and wide, reaching the top ten in several countries, including the UK (her home!), where it topped the charts.
2009: “Bulletproof”
La Roux The 2020s have produced multiple records that were influenced by the synthpop wave of the ‘80s. But before artists like Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus were harkening back to the good old days, there was La Roux. The British act, which was a duo at the time, put their unique spin on the great things about that era, and channeled them into their hit single “Bulletproof”. With the electrifying synthesizers and the vocoder-enhanced vocals, this song has no right to be as instantly catchy as it is. Top that off with lyrics that could ring true in any challenging situation, and you’ve got quite the masterpiece on your hands.
2010: “Teach Me How to Dougie”
Cali Swag District The Dougie is a Texas Dance craze that was elevated to the national stage when this 2010 track hit the airwaves. “Teach Me How to Dougie” served as the debut single for the California hip hop group Cali Swag District, becoming their only song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The straightforward hook and infectious beat make it an instant earworm that’s sure to get you bopping your head, at the very least. The following year, the group put out “The Kickback” which remains their lone studio album. Two of their members later sadly passed away, and the group ultimately disbanded in 2015.
2011: “Somebody That I Used to Know”
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Gotye feat. Kimbra In 2011, the whole world got addicted to a song that was certainly different from the usual earworm. Unlike most other catchy tunes, “Somebody That I Used to Know” swaps the heavy production for a more sublime approach in its telling of a heartbreak story. It became a megahit, in every sense of the word. It was praised by critics for its quirky melodies and softly whispered vocals, and snagged two Grammys, including Record of the Year. It also became a success on the commercial side, peaking at number-one in the U.S. for about two months and charting in a slew of other countries too.
2012: “I Love It”
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Icona Pop feat. Charli XCX While Gotye took a sublime approach to narrating heartbreak, Icona Pop and Charli XCX decided to go in the complete opposite direction. First penned by the latter artist, “I Love It” is a song that just never stops giving. Its lyrics seem to reflect moving on from a relationship with an older lover - a detail that instantly drew Icona Pop’s members to the demo. The production on this track goes into overkill, but in the best way possible, featuring a swelling synth that transitions into a smashing never-ending beat drop. Parallels were drawn between it and “Since U Been Gone” and that, in itself, is high praise enough.
2013: “Take Me to Church”
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Hozier Hozier captured the hearts of millions around the world in 2013 with “Take Me to Church”. The beautifully written song makes use of religious metaphors and deeply poetic lyrics to paint a picture of forbidden love. Bolstered by a poignant video that took the Internet by storm, the single became a phenomenon, occupying the number one chart spot in a dozen countries. It took Hozier from a relatively unknown musician making music in his mom and dad’s attic to an international in-demand sensation. While 2013 gave us other beloved one-hit wonders like “Say Something”, we’ll always remember Hozier for flooring us with his deep, haunting voice.
2014: “Shut Up and Dance”
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Walk the Moon A night out with his partner gave Walk the Moon member Nicholas Petricca the idea for this pop rock banger. Fueled by heavy drums, guitars and ‘80s-inspired synths, “Shut Up and Dance” is as on-the-nose as it gets. It basically instructs everyone listening to forget their worries and take it all out on the dancefloor. And judging by the number four spot it secured on the Billboard Hot 100, a lot of people were clearly taking notes. The song was understandably a mainstay in clubs everywhere. Now, we hope it’s been part of the soundtrack to a real-life experience that’ll inspire another catchy-as-hell tune in the coming years.
2015: “Panda”
Desiigner With a menacing beat sourced from YouTube, New York rapper Desiigner co-wrote this trap hit spotlighting luxury vehicles. On “Panda”, Desiigner professes his love for BMW’s X6 automobiles, drawing parallels between their black and white models and the titular animal. The song was first released on Soundcloud where it began gaining traction. And being sampled by Kanye West, well, that took its success to another level. “Panda” steadily climbed the charts, eventually peaking atop the Hot 100. Desiigner received moderate attention for his follow-up releases, but none quite at the level of “Panda”. In 2022, he decided to hang up his mic, in light of artist Takeoff’s unfortunate passing.
2016: “Roses”
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Saint Jhn Some artists are lucky to have their songs become instant hits worldwide, but for others, success can take years. Rapper and singer Saint Jhn certainly falls in the latter category. The Guyanese-American musician released “Roses” in 2016, but it wasn’t until producer Imanbek put his spin on it three years later that the song really bloomed. It won the Grammy for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical and was a mainstay on the charts, earning the number one spot in multiple countries and peaking within the top five on Billboard’s Hot 100. The success of this version opened the door for both artists and spawned further remixes with both J Balvin and Future.
2017: “Feel It Still”
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Portugal. The Man Although indie rock band Portugal. The Man had been on the alternative music scene for years, it was this earworm that shot them into the limelight. A single from their eighth album, “Feel It Still” harkens back to the distorted psychedelic sounds of the ‘60s, even drawing on “Please Mr. Postman” for its unforgettable melody. With a trippy bassline and falsetto notes high enough to reach the sky, the song soared to the top ten in several countries and got the band a long overdue Grammy. The infectious groove of this tune deeply resonated with listeners back in 2017 and all these years later, we’re still feeling it.
2018: “Boo’d Up”
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Ella Mai At a time when the scene was populated with trap and emo-rap, Ella Mai delivered a fresh yet familiar sound with “Boo’d Up”. Following in the footsteps of ‘90s R&B artists, Mai’s impassioned vocals take center stage on the song, never overshadowed by the simple, shimmery production. It became a massive success in the States, grabbing the Hot 100’s number five spot and earning a Grammy for Best R&B Song. Following up such a huge hit is never easy. Though none of her subsequent singles have quite matched the success of “Boo’d Up”, the future still seems bright for this star.
2019: “Dance Monkey”
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Tones and I Aussie musician Tones and I became a superstar in 2019 with the release of her viral single “Dance Monkey”. Inspired by her own experiences, the track describes the struggles of being an emerging performer in Australia. It’s quite mind-boggling how incredibly popular this song became. Not only was it the number one song in over two dozen countries, it also shattered multiple chart records. No other song had ever topped Australia’s Singles Chart for as long as this one, and it was named the “most Shazamed song of all time” in November 2020. We’ll be waiting with bated breath to see if Tones and I ever tops this supremely impressive accomplishment.
2020: “Heat Waves”
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Glass Animals Although their debut studio album came in 2014, it would take years for British indie rock band Glass Animals to score their first mainstream hit. Every bit as hopeful as it is melancholic, “Heat Waves” features frontman Dave Bayley diving deep into an ache and yearning. At a time when most people were staying indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and going through those same feelings, the song resonated with many. This possibly contributed to “Heat Waves” rising through the charts for months, before hitting number one in 2022. While it remains to be seen if Glass Animals will produce further hits, we’ll keep playing this tune late at night, in the middle of June.
2021: “abcdefu”
Gayle We wouldn’t recommend breaking a songwriter’s heart, unless you have no problem being the subject of a global hit song. Emerging artist Gayle made everyone pay attention with “abcdefu”, a defiant breakup anthem in which the singer comes to terms with her actual feelings towards her ex, literally spelling them out. The track quickly went viral online, traveling far and wide to achieve international success. Healing from a messy breakup? Need some help expressing your true feelings? Need a refresher on your ABCs? This song has got you covered! Even though her follow-up singles haven’t been as big, we’re sure Gayle can find another hit in the remaining alphabet letters.
2022: “Bad Habit”
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Steve Lacy After rising to prominence as the guitarist for The Internet, Steve Lacy established a solo career. With “Bad Habit”, Lacy broke out from the alternative underground and into the mainstream. Here, a bad habit of biting his tongue prevents the singer from making a move on someone who felt the same way about him - a decision he now regrets. The song blew up on TikTok and landed on the Hot 100, giving the talented musician his first ever Billboard chart-topper. Even though it’s too soon to say what direction Lacy’s career will go in, we’re certain this song will dominate playlists for years to come.
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