Get ready to dive into the world of musical lightning strikes! We're exploring the artists who captured lightning in a bottle with their unforgettable hits that defined an era, but couldn't quite sustain their musical momentum. From 80s synth-pop to unexpected chart-toppers, these one-hit wonders left an indelible mark on music history.
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the artists that struck lightning in a bottle and could have become the next big thing, had they not become defined by their biggest hit.
00:1810. Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum
00:29As soon as that guitar riff starts, you know you're in for a good time.
00:40Infusing elements of faith-based lyricism and rock and roll, Norman Greenbaum's Spirit in the Sky appeals to everybody, even if they aren't religious.
00:48It easily sailed up the charts after nearly not being released at all, peaking at number three.
01:00Even other rock legends such as John Lennon complimented it.
01:03While it seemed like it could have signaled the beginning of a long career in music for Greenbaum, he was never able to replicate the same success.
01:09By the 1980s, his star had all but faded, but Spirit in the Sky has ensured that he'll live on in the hearts and speakers of listeners for years to come.
01:349. Come on Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners
01:46Sometimes, all it takes is one song to cement your legacy for generations to come.
01:51Between the constant fiddle played throughout and the upbeat vibe, Come on Eileen quickly differentiated itself from other tracks found on the charts.
01:58It became an immediate crowd-pleaser and even prevented Michael Jackson from earning consecutive number one hit songs.
02:12Dexys Midnight Runners were primed to become the next big thing, but their following single failed to reach as many listeners within the United States, quickly leading them to fade from the spotlight.
02:22Now, their legacy mostly lives on at sporting events and among fans of the perks of being a wallflower, but for a fleeting moment, they nearly had it all.
02:398. Somebody That I Used To Know – Gautier Featuring Kimbra
02:43Fame isn't for everybody, but that's hard to know for sure until it happens to you.
02:55Gautier got a taste of the high life after the immense success of Somebody That I Used To Know, which hit number one worldwide and even earned him two Grammy Awards.
03:03Despite the mass acclaim, it soon became clear that it didn't fulfill him.
03:15A few years later in 2014, he went on an official solo hiatus, all but confirming his solo retirement.
03:21The decision was shocking as it was clear from both his hit and the rest of his work that he had what it took to succeed.
03:28While he's teased other iterations of his biggest hit, his passion seems to lie in performing with his band, The Basics.
03:427. Tainted Love – Soft Cell
03:44Some songs were just made to be successful. Tainted Love first found a bit of love as an R&B-inspired track, but it wasn't until Soft Cell infused it with synths that it truly blew up.
04:01It even became so popular that it spent 43 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
04:14Despite the popularity of the sound, their time in the sun didn't last long.
04:17They found some success in the United Kingdom, but elsewhere they didn't have much luck.
04:22Their decline in popularity combined with their personal troubles led to them disbanding in 1984.
04:27Although they've reunited a few times since then, nothing they've released has come close to the magic that was Tainted Love.
04:346. My Sharona – The Knack
04:51For a fleeting moment, they seemed to capture the same magic that the Beatles found early on in their career.
04:57When it first dropped, My Sharona quickly sold over a million copies, earning it gold status.
05:02Inspired by the lead singer's relationship with his actual girlfriend at the time, it ended up resonating with young romantics everywhere.
05:15Unlike their British counterparts, they weren't able to maintain their success on the charts.
05:19Their following albums failed to make the same waves as their initial release, resulting in them disbanding for the first time in 1986.
05:26Now, My Sharona is the only remaining proof of their former reign at the top.
05:395. Mickey – Tony Bazzle
05:42It may be a cover, but she is the reason the song became the hit it is today.
05:46Before Tony Bazzle got her hands on it, Mickey, formerly known as Kitty by Racy, didn't have half the embellishments it does today.
05:53She added the cheerleader aesthetic and sound, morphing it into a smash single that's still beloved to this day.
06:12It was clear by her ability to craft hits that she could have become the next main pop girl.
06:17Unfortunately, her success began and ended with Mickey, with her other attempts ending up on the dance charts, but not the main ones.
06:24Her final album was released in 1983, and a return to acting signaled the end of her short-lived music career soon after.
06:314. You Spin Me Round Like a Record – Dead or Alive
06:49While there are several songs that helped define the sound of the 1980s, few do so quite as well as this one.
06:56You Spin Me Round Like a Record was a perfect fusion of trends from disco to new wave.
07:00It's still regarded as one of the best of its time, but it wasn't enough to ensure a long-term career for its creators.
07:14Dead or Alive released several other songs, but a combination of label interference and unapologetic lyrics led to them not reaching the same widespread audience they had before.
07:23However, their hit has long since outlasted their tenure, with other artists interpolating it decades after first releasing it.
07:383. 99 Luftballons – Nina
07:45A political message and a bop all wrapped in one? Who could ask for anything more?
07:50Fun in both German and English, the former helped 99 Luftballons reach number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
07:56Listeners adored the deceptively cheery production that cleverly masked lyrics calling for the end to war.
08:09While it helped them early on in their career, it soon became clear that Nina's immense success was a double-edged sword.
08:15They were unfortunately never able to garner the same love for their other singles, even after they were translated from their original language.
08:22Their audience members continued to dwindle, with the group unceremoniously breaking up in 1987 without another hit.
08:372. Video Killed The Radio Star – The Buggles
08:46With intelligent lyrics and an ever-relevant message that still applies to art today, it's no wonder this track had two separate peaks.
08:54While The Buggles found initial success with 1979's Video Killed The Radio Star in the United Kingdom,
08:59it wasn't until it helped launch MTV in 1981 that it cemented its lasting reputation.
09:06Although it had an immediate impact both with listeners and critics, the band never really toured or made many large-scale appearances.
09:13They were also largely considered washed up by studio executives, making it easy for the members to move on to other projects.
09:20Though their time was short-lived, the impact they made with just one track cannot be overstated.
09:351. Take On Me – A-Ha!
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10:011. Take On Me – A-Ha!
10:12Given how prevalent it is in pop culture today, it's hard to believe that this barely even grazed the charts when it was first released.
10:19It wasn't until A-Ha! tried releasing Take On Me a second time that it became the phenomenon it is now.
10:24The impressively sweeping vocals coupled with the breathtaking music video helped the re-release easily hit number one in several different countries.
10:39Their success was akin to a flame in that it burned bright and hot, only to peter out shortly afterwards.
10:45Though they released their second album shortly after their big song's success, it struggled to reach the same sales numbers.
10:51And as such, their fanbase began to dwindle as well.
11:02Which one-hit wonder do you think should've had a bigger career? Let us know in the comments below.
11:08Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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