National One Hit Wonder Day
September 25 of every year is National One Hit Wonder Day. Created by music journalist Steve Rosen in 1990, it is a celebration of those artists who climbed the charts once – but only once – with a classic tune. No shame here – many bands toil in obscurity for their entire career, never leaving their mark on the public that these artists did. Here’s a list of some of my favorites:
Pengins – Earth Angel (1959)
Bobby Pickett – Monster Mash (1962)
The Exciters – Tell Him (1962)
Knickerbockers – Lies (1966)
Capitols – Cool Jerk (1966)
? and the Mysterians – 96 Tears (1966)
Napoleon XIV – They’re Coming To Take Me Away (1966)
Human Beinz – Nobody But Me (1968)
Zager & Evans – In The Year 2525 (1969)
Shocking Blue – Venus (1970)
Norman Greenbaum – Spirit In The Sky (1970)
Free – All Right Now (1970)
The Jaggerz – The Rapper (1970)
Mungo Jerry – In The Summertime (1970)
Jean Knight – Mr. Big Stuff (1970)
Five Stair Steps – O-o-h Child (1970)
Billy Paul – Me and Mrs. Jones (1972)
Looking Glass – Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) (1972)
Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music (1976)
Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back In Town (1976)
The Knack – My Sharona (1979)
Devo – Whip It (1980)
Lipps Inc. – Funkytown (1980)
The Vapors – Turning Japanese (1980)
Tommy Tutone – 867-5309 (Jenny) (1981)
Soft Cell – Tainted Love (1981)
Modern English – I Melt With You (1982)
Men Without Hats – Safety Dance (1982)
Tony Basil – Mickey (1982)
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Relax (1983)
Michael Sambello – Maniac (1983)
Weathers Girls – It’s Raining Men (1983)
Naked Eyes – There’s Always Something There To Remind Me (1983)
Murray Head – One Night In Bangkok (1984)
a-ha – Take On Me (1984)
Nena – 99 Luft Balloons (1984)
Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) (1984)
Timbuk 3 – The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades (1986)
Stacey Q – Two Of Hearts (1986)
Bobby McFerin – Don’t Worry, Be Happy (1988)
Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Walk (500 Miles) (1988)
Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U (1990)
EMF – Unbelievable (1991)
Las- There She Goes (1991)
Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back (1992)
Blind Mellon – No Rain (1993)
Joan Osborne – One Of Us (1996)
Los Del Rio – Macarena (1996)
The Cardigans – Lovefool (1997)
The Verve Pipe – The Freshman (1997)
Shawn Colvin – Sunny Came Home (1997)
Chumbawamba – Tubthumping (1997)
Marcy Playground – Sex and Candy (1998)
Semisonic – Closing Time (1998)
New Radicals – You Get What You Give (1999)
Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5 (1999)
Baha Men – Who Let The Dogs Out (2000)
American Hi-Fi – Flavor of the Weak (2001)
t.a.t.u. – All The Things You Said (2003)
Ataris – Boys Of Summer (2003)
Fountains of Wayne – Stacy’s Mom (2003)
Plain White T’s – Hey There Delilah (2005)
Here are six of my personal favorite one hit wonders –
Tommy Tutone – 867-5309 (Jenny)
Modern English – I Melt With You
Shocking Blue – Venus
Knickerbockers – Lies
Human Beinz – Nobody But Me
Zager & Evans – In The Year 2525
And for fun, here’s a list of a number of other national days/weeks that should not be a thing either –
National Bathroom Reader Month – June (I shit you not …..) According to the Bathroom Readers’ Institute of Ashland Or, who publish Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader, “Since 1988, the Bathroom Readers’ Institute has led the movement to stand up for those who sit down and read in the bathroom. National Bathroom Reading Month celebrates the 66 percent of Americans who proudly admit to this time-honored pastime.”
National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day – April 2
National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day – April 12 (hey, you don’t think the grilled cheese guys would be outdone by the pb&j guys, do you?)
and of course, who could forget
National High Five Day – April 18.
