5 One-Hit Wonders That Defined the Sound of 5 Generations

From the 1960s to the early aughts, one-hit wonders have often defined the sound of whole generations. Let’s look at just five one-hit wonders that will always be closely associated with the decades and generations they were born out of!

1. “Spirit In The Sky” by Norman Greenbaum – 1960s

One-hit wonders come and go, but songs like “Spirit In The Sky” by Norman Greenbaum are remembered for generations. This solitary hit, which blends gospel music with psychedelic rock, is one of the most recognizable songs to come out of the late 1960s. You might not know all of the words to this tune, but you probably know the line “I got a friend in Jesus.”

2. “My Sharona” by The Knack – 1970s

In the late 1970s, The Knack was making power-pop classics in an era where disco was dying and the world of music was heading in various new genre directions. The Knack released their incredible debut album in 1979 and closed out the 1970s with a sense of hope for the future of new wave and rock music in general. 

“My Sharona” is the most well-known song from that record. It really doesn’t make sense how The Knack never had a Top 10 hit in the US again.

3. “Take On Me” by A-Ha – 1980s

Nothing sounds like the 1980s quite like “Take On Me” by A-Ha. This track was released in 1985, and these Norwegian one-hit wonders are still loved across the globe, several generations after their debut. 

A-Ha enjoyed quite a long and successful career in Europe, but they are considered one-hit wonders in the States.

4. “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba – 1990s

Quite a few different one-hit wonders that defined generations could have made it to the 1990s entry, but we just had to go with “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba. The 1990s was all about getting hammered and pushing through the hard times, after all. What better anthem for the 90s than one about getting knocked down, then getting up again?

5. “Absolutely (Story Of A Girl)” by Nine Days – 2000s

Whether you love this song or find it annoying, the chorus of this 2000 power pop hit is burned into the memory of every living being that was around and conscious at the turn of the millennium. And it’s still a bop today, honestly.

Photo by Tim Roney/Getty Images

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