Because in the ‘80s, you didn’t need a career—you just needed one great track and a killer music video.
Ah, the 1980s. Big hair, mixtapes, cassette singles in your backpack—and that one song you played on repeat until your Walkman ate the tape. While some artists dominated the decade, others hit the jackpot once and ghosted. But their one hit? Still echoing through karaoke nights, commercials, and every 80s playlist worth its leg warmers.
Let’s revisit the top 5 biggest one-hit wonders of the ‘80s—bigger, louder, and more nostalgic than ever.
🎵 #5: “I Want Candy” – Bow Wow Wow (1982)
Genre: New Wave / Post-punk
Chart Peak: #62 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (but HUGE on MTV)
Fun Fact: The song has been covered more than 20 times since its original release.
Bow Wow Wow took a 1965 bubblegum pop track by The Strangeloves and turned it into a hyperactive, tribal beat anthem for the MTV generation. With its punk energy and bratty charm, “I Want Candy” was less about sugary treats and more about youthful rebellion.
Lead singer Annabella Lwin was just 15 when she was discovered working at a dry cleaner in London. Her bold style—mohawk, ripped clothes, and zero filter—became a fashion icon overnight. The band was created by Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, who was known for stirring the pot (and lawsuits).
Cultural Impact:
- Played in commercials, video games (Dance Dance Revolution), and teen movies.
- Sparked controversy over Annabella’s age and some promotional photo shoots.
- Frequently referenced as a go-to “bad girl anthem” of the era.
Why It Still Slaps:
It’s loud, bratty, impossible not to dance to, and screams Gen X angst with a side of bubblegum.
🎵 #4: “Tainted Love” – Soft Cell (1981)
Genre: Synthpop / New Wave
Chart Peak: #8 on the Billboard Hot 100
Fun Fact: This version holds the record for the longest consecutive run on the Billboard Hot 100 in the ’80s—43 weeks!
Originally recorded in 1964 by soul singer Gloria Jones, “Tainted Love” was completely reborn by British synth duo Soft Cell. It arrived like a gloomy day at the beach: haunting vocals, droning synths, and emotional collapse on the dance floor.
Marc Almond and David Ball formed Soft Cell in art school. Their cover of “Tainted Love” was a last-ditch attempt to make it big. It worked—hugely. In fact, the 12” extended version became legendary for combining it with another Motown classic, “Where Did Our Love Go” by The Supremes.
Cultural Impact:
- Covered and sampled by Marilyn Manson, The Pussycat Dolls, and Rihanna.
- Featured in movies like Coneheads, Not Another Teen Movie, and Wild Things.
- Became a gay club anthem and staple in alt-scene soundtracks.
Why It Still Slaps:
It’s moody, iconic, and oddly empowering. The anthem of toxic relationships… set to a dance beat.
🎵 #3: “Come On Eileen” – Dexys Midnight Runners (1982)
Genre: Celtic Pop / New Wave
Chart Peak: #1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Fun Fact: Beat Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” out of the #1 spot in 1983.
Possibly the most chaotic love song of the decade, “Come On Eileen” is part Irish drinking song, part teenage yearning, and part overalls appreciation society. It’s a masterpiece of tempo changes, awkward lyrics, and fiddles.
The band’s look was unforgettable—“ragamuffin chic” or as some called it, “hobo cabaret.” Frontman Kevin Rowland insisted the band wear matching outfits and even wanted them to talk in fake accents for interviews. Bold choices.
Cultural Impact:
- Still a pub favorite in the UK and bar playlist staple in the U.S.
- Inspired countless parodies and nostalgia-driven covers.
- The song’s bridge (“Toora loora toora loo rye aye…”) is Gen X’s Pavlovian singalong trigger.
Why It Still Slaps:
When the beat drops and tempo changes, it doesn’t matter where you are—you’re dancing. Or stomping. Or shouting. Maybe all three.
🎵 #2: “99 Luftballons” – Nena (1983)
Genre: Synthpop / Anti-War Protest Song
Chart Peak: #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
Fun Fact: The English version (“99 Red Balloons”) also charted, but most fans preferred the original German.
This isn’t your typical one-hit wonder—it’s a full-blown Cold War allegory disguised as a synthpop banger. Nena, the band fronted by Gabriele Susanne Kerner, delivered a song that was catchy, upbeat… and literally about accidental nuclear war triggered by balloons.
Origin Story:
Inspired by a Rolling Stones concert in West Berlin where someone released red balloons. Songwriter Carlo Karges imagined what might happen if a radar mistook them for a threat. Spoiler alert: Armageddon.
Cultural Impact:
- Played on MTV and U.S. radio in German, which was nearly unheard of.
- Covered by Goldfinger and sampled in various TV shows and movies.
- Nena became a huge star in Europe, but this was her only U.S. hit.
Why It Still Slaps:
Synthpop with a message. It’s catchy and deep—and hits different every time you listen, especially in hindsight.
🎵 #1: “Take On Me” – a-ha (1985)
Genre: Synthpop / Pop Rock
Chart Peak: #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
Fun Fact: The iconic music video took over 16 weeks to animate using rotoscope technology—frame by frame.
There is no more iconic one-hit wonder than a-ha’s “Take On Me.” The Norwegian band had released this song multiple times before it clicked. But when they paired the remix with that groundbreaking animated/live-action video, everything changed.
The Video:
A-ha’s “Take On Me” video was the template for MTV stardom. It combined hand-drawn animation with live action, telling a comic book-style love story that’s been parodied by Family Guy, The Simpsons, and Community.
Cultural Impact:
- Won six MTV Video Music Awards in 1986.
- Featured in movies like Ready Player One, Deadpool 2, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
- Became a viral meme thanks to TikTok’s “falsetto challenge.”
Why It Still Slaps:
From the soaring vocals to the unforgettable synth riff, “Take On Me” is more than just a hit—it’s a visual and musical time capsule of the 1980s.
🎖️ Honorable Mentions:
- “Mickey” – Toni Basil: A cheerleading chant turned pop sensation. Toni was 39 when it hit big!
- “I Melt with You” – Modern English: A romantic apocalypse song perfect for slow dancing in a prom scene.
- “Obsession” – Animotion: The synth-heavy soundtrack to every 1980s commercial and perfume ad.
- “Puttin’ on the Ritz” – Taco: A surreal, jazz-age throwback that somehow worked.
- “Turning Japanese” – The Vapors: Not actually about what the rumors say—but very, very catchy.
🎙️ Final Thoughts
The artists may have faded, but these songs are immortal. They’re burned into our Gen X DNA—played at weddings, road trips, and every retro night worth its neon lights. These tracks didn’t just top the charts—they topped our memories.
Got a favorite one-hit wonder that didn’t make the list? Drop it in the comments or scream it into the void while holding a hairbrush microphone.