5 Times a Number Is 200 What Is the Number
Most Successful One-Hit Wonders of All Time
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One catchy song is all it takes to launch a musician's career and create a lasting cultural impact. Sometimes, a song is so huge it makes it hard for a musical act to replicate the monster success.
We looked at the sales figures, streams, downloads, views, media appearances, chart positions and more to determine which one-hit wonders qualify as the most successful of all time.
"Rico Suave" by Gerardo (1990): When it debuted, this song hit #2 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles — but later nabbed a spot on "Worst of" lists. Despite some mixed reviews, Gerardo undoubtedly created a Casanova for a new generation.
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"Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" by Silentó (2015): Silentó's debut single spent six non-consecutive weeks near the top of Billboard's Hot 100, reached more than 2 million sales in a few months and went 6X Certified Platinum in the U.S.
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"Lately" by Divine (1998): Divine, an American R&B girl group, released only one album in 1998 before disbanding in 2000. Nonetheless, singers Kia Thornton, Nikki Bratcher and Tonia Tash made a mark with their platinum hit.
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"What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes (1993): The 4 Non Blondes' second single snagged the top spot in 11 countries as well as #2 in Australia and the U.K. Now, it's 2X Certified Platinum in five countries and the star of a He-Man-themed YouTube meme.
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"Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia (1997): Imbruglia's Grammy-nominated cover of "Torn" reached #1 in half a dozen countries when it launched. In her native Australia, the song is the most-played radio tune. Each day, roughly 75 perfect skies end up torn.
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"Harlem Shake" by Baauer (2013): Hailed as "the biggest viral sensation since PSY's 'Gangnam Style,'" this song claimed the #1 spot in the U.S. for five consecutive weeks and went 2X Platinum. Thanks to Baauer, Billboard started factoring video streams into its equation.
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"Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba (1997): This hit from everyone's favorite anarchist punk band has sold more than 880,000 copies in the U.K. alone and topped the charts in half a dozen countries. It even spent a whopping 31 weeks on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 list.
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"Mambo No. 5" by Lou Bega (1999): Bega's cover held the #1 spot in Australia for eight weeks, going 4X Certified Platinum Down Under. Additionally, it topped almost every chart in continental Europe and set a record for longest #1 song in France (20 weeks).
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"Take on Me" by A-ha (1985): It took A-ha several tries to get the song right, but the innovative music video, which blended live-action clips with animated ones, was an instant success. This led to an impressive 27 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 in the U.S.
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"Bad Day" by Daniel Powter (2005): This song remained #1 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 for 19 weeks in the U.S., eventually going 3X Certified Platinum. It also became the first song in the U.S. to sell 2 million digital copies.
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"La Bamba" by Los Lobos (1987): Many bands have recorded this Mexican folk song, but the Los Lobos version is the most successful rendition, thanks in part to the 1987 film La Bamba. This track reached #1 in 10 countries and went 2X Certified Platinum in the U.S.
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"Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum (1969): From 1969 to 1970, the song sold 2 million copies, making it certified Gold. Although the psychedelic rock anthem didn't reach #1 in the U.S., it did claim the top spot in five countries.
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"99 Luftballoons" by Nena (1984): Inspired by the red balloons that rained down at a Rolling Stones concert, this next hit made it to #1 in 12 countries. The English version snagged one Platinum and one Gold certification, while the German version has four Gold certifications to its name.
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"Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice (1990): Believe it or not, "Ice Ice Baby" clinching the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 marks the first time a hip-hop single did so in the U.S. The Certified Platinum song heavily samples the Queen and David Bowie hit "Under Pressure," which led to some legal trouble.
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"Who Let the Dogs Out?" by Baha Men (2000): Although this song peaked at just #21 on Billboard's Top 40 in the U.S., the Certified Platinum hit still made waves in the promotional material for Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (1998) and as the New York Mets' anthem during their 2000 World Series bid.
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"Mickey" by Toni Basil (1982): Following a reissue a year after its initial release, this tune hit #1 in Australia, Canada and the U.S. and went Certified Platinum in all three countries. The track has since been sampled by the likes of Run-DMC and Madonna.
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"I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred (1991): This hit topped the charts in six countries and went Certified Platinum in the U.S. and Australia. The divisive earworm has made several of VH1's "Greatest" lists — but Blender dubbed it one of the worst songs ever written.
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"Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners (1982): Although this tune was the band's second #1 song in the U.K., it was their first #1 hit in the U.S. and half a dozen other countries. In the U.K. alone, the 2X Certified Platinum hit sold more than 1.33 million copies.
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"Tainted Love" by Soft Cell (1982): This re-recording of an underappreciated Gloria Jones song from the '70s just needed Soft Cell's '80s influence to break into the Top 40. In the end, it spent a record-breaking 43 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100.
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"Gangnam Style" by PSY (2012): Not only did this become the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views, but it's also the most-liked YouTube video with 16 million thumbs up. After reaching #1 in more than 30 countries, "Gangnam Style" went 10X Certified Platinum in Australia.
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"Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth (1982): This reggae-style hit reached #1 in six countries and sold more than 5 million copies worldwide. Music icons such as Missy Elliott, A Tribe Called Quest and The Black Eyed Peas have since sampled or reused the song.
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"San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" by Scott McKenzie (1967): This counterculture anthem reached #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 and helped smooth things over with locals in Monterey, California, who were concerned about the hippies descending on their town for the now-historic pop music festival.
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"Barbie Girl" by Aqua (1997): The bubblegum pop hit reached #1 in the U.K. and Australia for three weeks and hit #7 in the U.S. It also earned a lawsuit from Mattel — how fantastic!
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"Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot (1992): Initially banned by MTV for its lyrics, this song went on to earn Sir Mix-a-Lot a Grammy in '93. Nicki Minaj famously samples the hit in "Anaconda."
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"My Sharona" by The Knack (1979): In addition to holding onto the Hot 100 #1 spot for six weeks, this new wave hit nabbed #1 on Billboard's Year-End chart. It's also the debut single that Certified Gold the fastest, edging out the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand."
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"Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies (1969): Recorded by The Archies, a "virtual band" composed of the Archie Comics characters, this 1969 hit sold 1 million copies in four months and held the #1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 for four weeks.
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"Whoomp! (There It Is)" by Tag Team (1993): Although it peaked at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100, this song stayed in the Top 10 for 24 weeks and has sold more than 4 million copies.
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"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor (1982): Thanks to the massive exposure this tune received from Rocky III (1982), it remained #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 for six consecutive weeks, went 2X Certified Platinum in the U.S. and earned Survivor a Grammy.
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"Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye featuring Kimbra (2012): As one of the bestselling digital singles of all time, the song went 11X Certified Platinum in Australia and 8X Certified Platinum in the U.S. — and won two Grammys.
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"Macarena" by Los Del Rio (1996): Although the Flamenco duo's song reached #1 in Spain initially, the "Bayside Boys Remix" helped it claim #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 for a whopping 14 weeks. Until 2010, it held the record for remaining in the Hot 100 for 60 weeks.
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5 Times a Number Is 200 What Is the Number
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