New wave hit the US like a ton of bricks back in the 1980s. And with that sudden change in mainstream musical interest came a whole slew of new wave one-hit wonders. Let’s take a walk through music history and revisit just four new wave goodies!
1. “I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock Of Seagulls
This was the new wave synth-pop track in 1982. “I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock Of Seagulls had quite a bit of success in the US and Europe. It peaked at no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a no. 1 hit in Australia.
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However, it’s a bit difficult to definitively label this hit as a one-hit wonder. A Flock Of Seagulls had a ton of hits climb the charts in their native UK, and the 1982 hit “Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)” was almost as successful in the US as “I Ran (So Far Away)”. However, “I Ran (So Far Away)” was their only no. 1 hit single in Australia, and none of their other songs charted quite as well in the US again.
2. “Never Ending Story” by Limahl
No matter your age, you probably know the chorus to this beautiful new wave synth-pop classic by heart. “Never Ending Story” by Limahl was the title song of the 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story, and it’s about as famous as the film itself.
The anthemic song was a no. 1 hit on quite a few charts, though it only peaked at no. 17 on the Hot 100. Limahl never broke the Top 10 in the US again, though the 1983 song “Only For Love” charted well in the UK.
3. “99 Luftballons” by Nena
New wave was big in the UK and US, but we can’t forget the genre contributions from good ol’ Deutschland. “99 Luftballons” by Nena was released in 1983 and was a hefty hit in West Germany, but it also peaked at no. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and no. 1 in countries like Australia. Nena struggled to follow up on their international success with this single, and they disbanded in 1987.
4. “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell
There are a few new wave one-hit wonders on our list that are definitively “new wave”, but “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell is a bit different. This hit 1983 track has elements of synth-funk, synth-pop, and R&B.
The song peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was also a pretty hefty international hit upon its release. Sadly, though, it was Rockwell’s one and only Top 30 hit. “Obscene Phone Caller” from 1984 managed to reach no. 35 in the US, but that’s as high as he got.
Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns
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