the Secret Weapons:

A Brief History of One Hit Wonders from the 1980’s

Image: Eddie Murphy and Rick James In Party All The Time Video Clip.

10 of The Biggest One Hit Wonders from The 1980s

One Hit Wonders are a phenomenon that has been rampant since the 1980s. The term came to be used in music circles when artists would have a major hit single, but then fade into obscurity after releasing only one album. This is because the bands are not able to maintain their success or release any more albums because of a lack of funds, time, or promotion.

One Hit Wonders are not just limited to musicians; they can apply to anyone who has one breakout moment and then falls off the radar afterward. Some examples would be famous actors who were popular for one blockbuster film or athletes who had one great season where they won everything and then retired soon afterward.

They could also lead to an artist’s downfall if they rely on their old success to stay relevant in the industry.

In the 1980s, hair metal dominated the music industry. It was a time of excess and glamor with bands like Def Leppard, Duran Duran, and Bon Jovi. But there were also some one-hit wonders from the 1980s that you may not know about.

10. ”Voices Carry" by 'Til Tuesday

Yes, Aimee Mann's hair was pretty ridiculous in the video for "Voices Carry," and that final scene in Carnegie Hall where she stops the opera to start singing is quite cringeworthy. But few songs from the 1980s were more pleasant to sing along to when alone in your room after some jerk at school destroyed your heart than this one. It's the ideal combination of self-pity and righteous outrage.

9. “Don't Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin

This upbeat classic from the 1980s was the epitome of positivity. While it may not have been so simple to simply stop worrying and be joyful, Bobby McFerrin made us believe it was with his four-minute hit and the whistling certainly helped. However, the erroneous "Bobby McFerrin suicide tale is not true. The true counterpart artist who wrote the music for "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile" in 1915 committed suicide on February 10, 1942. Former British Staff Sergeant Felix Powell, dressed in the Peacehaven Home Guard outfit, shot himself in the heart with his own rifle.

8. “I Melt With You” by Modern English

I Melt with You is a song by the British band Modern English, which was released in 1981. The lyrics for this song were written by Stephen Duffy and the music was composed by Robbie Grey. I Melt with You is a song that is about a man's love for a woman who loves him back even more passionately. Most '80s teens still feel like they're working up the guts to ask someone to dance at the junior high Spring Fling when they hear this new wave classic. Anyone from the 1980s who doesn't acknowledge that listening to this song made them desire to fall in love is either lying or dead inside. It also includes, without a doubt, the finest humming solo in recorded music history. So, Modern English, thank you. Thank you very much.

7. “Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners

The song "Come on Eileen" is a classic from the late 70s. It was written by Kevin Rowland, the lead singer and founder of Dexys Midnight Runners. The song gets its name from a woman named Eileen, who was a dancer in one of the clubs that Rowland frequented at the time. How many other 1980s one-hit wonders start with a Celtic-style fiddle? (None) The only thing that makes us sad about "Come on Eileen" is that Kevin Rowland, the band's leader, no longer wants to sing it. In an interview with The Irish Times, he revealed that he despises attending to shows and hearing bands perform their old songs. "I try not to live in the past," he explained. "It's basically people reliving their memories," he says. And, well, what precisely is wrong with that? Kevin, please! Check out the 17 Hits Popular Musicians Hate Playing Live for more famous songs that bands no longer want to perform.

6. ”I Ran (So Far Away)" by A Flock of Seagulls

"I Ran (So Far Away)" is a song by the band, A Flock of Seagulls. It was released at the height of their fame and became one of their signature songs. This number was written by the band's lead singer, Mike Score. It was released in 1982 and became one of the band's most popular songs. The song is about a man who has lost control of his life and has run away from everything that he knows. It is a song about a man who feels suffocated in his own life, and the only way to be free is to run away from it.

5. “Party All the Time" by Eddie Murphy

"Party All the Time" is a song by Eddie Murphy, released in 1985. The song was written and performed by Murphy, James Ingram and Michael Jackson, and was the second single from his album "Why You So Crazy". Eddie Murphy is regarded as one of the greatest comedians of all time. But as a vocalist, it's difficult not to chuckle at his attempt to be a legitimate pop sensation. Yes, he has a terrific singing voice, and yes, he had Rick James produce and compose his one Billboard hit—but for any '80s child, seeing Murphy take himself so seriously about partying all the time with his girl was perplexing.

4. “Mickey" by Toni Basil

You know what else completely blew our minds? Finding out that "Mickey" is a version of "Kitty," a 1979 song about a girl named, you guessed it, Kitty. Toni Basil didn't modify much for her 1980s cover, except for the main character's name and gender. We were blown away after hearing both songs, but we still prefer Basil's version, if only because it's the one that was included in the video that we watched over and over on MTV.

3. “Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles

"Video Killed the Radio Star" was the song that literally began MTV in 1981, even though it was released in 1979. Its accompanying video was the first to play on the 24-hour music channel. While The Buggles' two-man band never had another song that came close to matching the success of "Video Killed the Radio Star," it is one of those '80s classics that evokes instant recall. Not to mention, it was incredibly prescient: how could they have known that the radio star would be killed by video?!

2. “Tainted Love" by Soft Cell

80’s synthpop duo Soft Cell, was looking for a "throwaway cover song" to record when they came across Gloria Jones' 1964 soul classic "Tainted Love." They couldn't have known it at the time, but they'd end up with the biggest—and, sadly, only—hit of their careers.

1. “Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood

The band claimed that this song was really about "inspiration" when it first reached the charts. Even teenagers were not deceived by this, and all we could do was hope that our parents wouldn't pay attention to the lyrics too attentively. At the very least, those "Frankie Says Relax" T-shirts appeared confusing.

So Why Are We Still Listening To And Loving These Tracks Decades Later?

Music is a form of art. It has the power to take you back in time. The 80’s are known for some of the best music ever created. One hit wonders are still appreciated, decades after their release, because they are unique and have personality.

The era before the internet era was a time when things were not so complicated. People relied on radio stations and MTV for their music fix, which led to the emergence of one-hit-wonders in the 80’s that have remained popular decades later.