The 90s produced quite a few chart-topping one-hit wonders. And like many one-hit wonders that came before and after them, they virtually disappeared from the face of the planet. Let’s take a look at four decade-defining solitary hitmakers who seemed to vanish from the charts, and what they’re up to today!
“Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba exploded onto the charts with their uplifting pub hit “Tubthumping” in 1997. The song hit no. 6 on the US Hot 100 and made it to no. 2 in the UK. The anarcho-punk band was set up for success. And yet, they virtually disappeared after that one hit.
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So, what happened to Chumbawamba? To be honest, they didn’t disappear in the UK. However, they did virtually disappear from the US charts. Perhaps they were just a bit too anarcho-punk for American audiences. Either way, they last for quite some time and released a lot of music, some of which charted decently in the UK until 1998. The group ultimately disbanded in 2012.
“One Of Us” by Joan Osbourne
“One Of Us” by Joan Osbourne was standard coffeehouse fodder in the 90s. Released in 1995 as Osbourne’s debut single, the tune made it to no. 4 on the Hot 100 and charted even higher in Canada, Australia, and elsewhere. Osbourne’s follow-up song “St. Teresa” did okay outside of the US in 1996, but after that, she never made a major appearance on the charts again.
I’m not sure what made Osbourne fall off. She definitely deserved better. Thankfully, she continues to make music to this day and is also a political activist.
“What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes
This short-lived rock outfit caught mainstream attention with the 1993 song “What’s Up?” The tune peaked at no. 14 in the US and hit no. 1 in Germany, Norway, Australia, and other countries. The band’s follow-up single, “Spaceman”, managed to chart but did not do nearly as well as “What’s Up?”
4 Non Blondes ended up disbanding just a few years later in 1994, and frontwoman Linda Perry went on to become a successful record producer. Luckily, the band might be getting back together soon.
“How Bizarre” by OMC
This entry on our list of 90s one-hit wonders is a bit of a deep cut. New Zealand group OMC became an international sensation with their 1996 pop song “How Bizarre”. It was a Top 10 hit across the globe. The band continued their success for another year in New Zealand, but they failed to chart in the US again.
Their album of the same name would be their only LP release, and the band would later disband in 2010. Sadly, a reunion won’t likely happen, as core members and brothers Phil Fuemana and Pauly Fuemana have since passed away.
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