MTV kicked off in 1981 and became one of the most memorable things about music media in the 1980s. The channel’s early days were marked by ongoing music video feeds and the interesting personalities of video jockeys, and it was a great time for both music and television. These four one-hit wonders were on repeat during the early days of MTV, and we think they’re worth revisiting.
1. “Come On Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners
Even if you weren’t around in MTV’s heyday of the 1980s, you probably know at least some of this iconic 1982 new wave tune by heart. “Come On Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners was a smash hit for the English outfit, and it made it to no. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, among many other charts that year. The music video became an iconic part of pop culture history, too.
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2. “867-5309” by Tommy Tutone
Catchy earworms, especially in the new wave and power pop genres, were all the rage in the 1980s. “867-5309” by Tommy Tutone is just one example. This jam was as addictive as they come and reached no. 4 on the Hot 100 chart in 1982. Tommy Tutone never produced a high-charting single again after this hit, but it got more than enough play on MTV for a few years.
3. “Relax” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
This 1983 dance-pop tune is one of the most memorable MTV one-hit wonders out there. And it was quite controversial, too. The music video for this song featured quite a bit of homoerotic imagery, which prompted MTV and the BBC to (allegedly) ban the song for a time. However, MTV continued to air the music video through the years, as well as a live performance video and another version of the music video that featured footage from the erotic thriller Body Double.
4. “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell
Few songs sound like the 80s quite like “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell, and few music videos are etched so deeply into the musical history of a decade quite like this one. This 1981 cover of an Ed Cobb hit from decades prior blew up pretty quickly upon its release, especially in the band’s native UK. It also made it to no. 8 on the US Hot 100 chart.
Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns
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