4 One-Hit Wonders That Are Best Known for Their Music Videos

One-hit wonders are often as famous as their iconic song’s music video. Let’s look at just a few one-hit wonders that might even be better known for their music videos over their famous tunes. You’ll definitely remember at least a couple of these legendary MVs!

1. “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye

This one-hit wonder came out back in 2011, and it was absolutely everywhere for a couple of years. It’s wild to think that Gotye didn’t have any chart-topping hits after “Somebody That I Used To Know” was released.

The music video for this song is similarly memorable. It’s a simple, artistic short film that features both Gotye and Kimbra, covered in body paint as if trapped in an abstract painting with one another.

2. “Take On Me” by A-Ha

This is probably the most famous entry on our list of one-hit wonders with super-famous music videos. In fact, the music video for the 1985 hit “Take On Me” by A-Ha has had an important place in pop culture for years.

The video for “Take On Me” features the band’s lead singer Morten Harket, along with actress Bunty Bailey, in a pencil sketch animation combined with live-action footage. It’s an interesting and artist example of rotoscoping.

3. “Whip It” by Devo

Nothing says “new wave” quite like the 1980 synth-pop tune “Whip It” by Devo. Funnily enough, quite a few listeners thought the song was about masturbation. And despite denying those allegations, Devo decided to make fun of (and confuse) their haters by incorporating such vulgar themes into the music video for the song.

The video is set on a ranch and follows a number of characters watching “whipping” in action, from Mark Mothersbaugh whipping clothing to several women whipping cream in their old-timey homes. In good Devo fashion, the band members are dressed in black shirts and red energy dome hats.

4. “Relax” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

This is one of our favorite one-hit wonders with similarly famous music videos. “Relax” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood was a pretty taboo hit when it was released in 1984. And the music video was also pretty controversial.

The original music video for this hit dance-pop hit is set in a gay nightclub in London, where the bandmembers find themselves surrounded by leathermen, drag queens, and a man dressed as a Roman emperor. It was so controversial that it was originally banned by the BBC as well as MTV, and the band had to put together a second music video to attempt to get the song out there.

Photo via screenshot of “Somebody That I Used To Know” Gotye music video

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