Top 10 Worst One Hit Wonders Of All Time
#10: “Rico Suave” (1990)
Gunna & Young Thug RICO Case | Kendrick Lamar Breaks The Internet! | iamhil Interview
Gerardo Ecuadorian-American singer Gerardo is all swagger in the latin hip hop single “Rico Suave.” The musical piece reached 7 on the Hot 100 and had a brief impact on pop culture, but it never amounted to much more than shallow braggadocio. One positive thing you can say about the song is that it gave people a chance to make parodies of the singer’s persona. Without his leather jacket or toned physique, the artist doesn’t have many other tricks to amplify this track. This hit and the accompanying album “Mo’ Ritmo” are really the only notable aspects of his discography.
#9: “Star Trekkin’” (1987)
Who Is The Biggest Pop Star In The World with Dre The Music Man
The Firm Even if you do love “Star Trek,” The Firm’s novelty song might be too corny for any listener to thoroughly enjoy. In the ‘80s, a group of fans produced the inspiration for The Firm’s track in the style of a bar room singalong. Including several catchphrases from the original series, the repetitive lyrics prove to be as welcoming as a dentist drill. They also include a number of character impressions like Bones and Spock that provide some amount of entertainment. Not long before the release of “The Next Generation,” this song hit the top of the UK Singles chart on the cusp of another Trekkie renaissance. This production boldly goes where no song went before and in this case that might be a bad thing.
#8: “The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)” (2002)
Top 10 Worst Song Duets
Las Ketchup This international hit sold millions on the back of its catchiness. In both its original Spanish and Spanglish versions, this track makes no attempt to be anything more than a vehicle for dance. The chorus harkens back to The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” in a set of gibberish lyrics. For most listeners, this is the part where they either embrace the number or immediately shut it off. The single tries to follow in the footsteps of other dance songs like “The Electric Slide” or “Macarena,” but it struggles to be as memorable. Las Ketchup tried to come back with another album and a stab at Eurovision, but neither carried the same success as this production.
#7: “Turning Japanese” (1980)
The Vapors At the start of the 1980s, The Vapors made a big splash with “Turning Japanese.” The use of the stereotypical musical motif feels dated at minimum. Other than a decent guitar hook, the entire production builds to a chorus that wears thin after a few listens. The Vapors intended the title phrase to have a more symbolic meaning, but that hasn’t stopped it from raising eyebrows over the years. The music video also doesn’t do the track any favors as it leans into a more literal translation of the lyrics. Without another significant release, the group remains a one-hit wonder from a decade full of one-off rock.
#6: “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)” (2013)
Top 20 Cheesiest One Hit Wonders of the 1990s
Ylvis Norwegian comedy duo Ylvis put out a goofy song that became an unexpected viral hit. While they mostly meant to release it as a joke, the main premise about the fox saying absurd things definitely overstays its welcome. There’s only so many times that the main premise makes you laugh before you can’t take it anymore. With “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?),” Ylvis went well beyond YouTube stardom to even place high on several musical charts around the world. The pop piece goes for huge laughs, and ends up becoming a bit one-note in the end.
#5: “Blurred Lines” (2013)
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams “Blurred Lines” was a high point for Robin Thicke’s career, but also possibly his downfall. Getting some help from T.I. and superstar producer Pharrell Williams, the singer crafted a track that was consumed by controversy. Thicke’s suggestive lyrics take questionable turns in their discussion of women with concerning metaphors. Even if you gave the artist the benefit of the doubt, the music video only furthered the bad press as it objectified its models in both a clothed and unclothed version. This doesn’t even count the copyright case brought against the song accusing the authors of appropriating Marvin Gaye. Taking all of this into account, the otherwise catchy hit continues to give off bad vibes all these years later.
#4: “Teach Me How to Dougie” (2010)
Cali Swag District The hip hop collective known as Cali Swag District came onto the scene in 2010 with their hit "Teach Me How to Dougie." While it clearly made an impact on the Billboard charts, the song was not necessarily lyrically or musically sophisticated. Defenders of the single would say that it is just another fun way to get people to learn a whole new dance. This might be true, but the overall production doesn't have much staying power beyond its initial release. Some people might not even remember the Dougie, which doesn't help this track's legacy either. Their follow-ups couldn't gain the same hype as their debut, making this particular release their one imperfect and defining statement.
#3: “Laffy Taffy” (2005)
D4L D4L isn’t well-remembered for their own name, but they do have the number-one hit “Laffy Taffy.” The snap genre track infuses a digital back beat that’d feel more suitable in an old Nintendo game than in a rap song. Most of their laughable verses follow the same thread comparing women to candy, with the title brand being just one of them. “Laffy Taffy” has that all-style-no-substance attitude that represents the worst of 2000s-era hip hop. Beyond its status as a definite earworm, the production fades faster than the sugary treats that get name-dropped in the lyrics.
#2: “Disco Duck” (1976)
Top 10 Panic! at the Disco Songs
Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots For anybody having second thoughts about disco, “Disco Duck” certainly won’t help sell you on the genre. Radio DJ Rick Dees helped create this homage to an earlier 60s song with the addition of cartoon duck voices. The fact that this became a significant presence on the Billboard charts calls into question the musical tastes of those in the 70s who let it top the Hot 100. If you think Donald Duck and disco don’t make a good team, you’re both correct and going to want to avoid this single. The strange track functions well as a parody, but its novelty status doesn’t quite justify its existence.
#1: “Friday” (2011)
Rebecca Black Rebecca Black has had no shortage of online criticism for this particular viral hit. While some of the comments went overboard, it’s still undeniable that “Friday” is a musical train wreck from start to finish. Black might have been an inexperienced teenage singer, but she doesn’t have any writing credit for the awful lyrics. The majority of the track comes off like an adult desperately trying to write a relatable song for kids. If that wasn’t enough, there’s a rap verse that almost derails an already shaky product. “Friday” inspired plenty of songwriters to feel much better about themselves after achieving fame for all the wrong reasons.
