Posted October 6, 20204 yr We all know about one hit wonders, but have we ever thought about two hit wonders? I mean, artists that have had only two Top 40 hits. After watching Crash Thompson's video on the Top 10 Two Hit Wonders, I thought I'd start a thread of artists that have had only two UK Top 40 hits two their names. Joy Division (1980, 1988) {re-releases of Love Will Tear Us Apart hit the Top 40 in 1983 and 1995} (Yeah! I wouldn't call them 'two hit wonders' considering the huge impact they have had, as well as the two excellent studio albums they have put out. However, they have had only two of their songs reach the Top 40) The J Geils Band (1982) Glass Tiger (1986, 1991) Spear Of Destiny (1987, 1988) Danny Wilson (1988, 1989) Senseless Things (1992) The Sundays (1992, 1997) Shut Up And Dance (1992, 1959) Evolution (1993) Funkdoobiest (1993, 1994) Atlantic Ocean (1994) {Waterfall charted again in 1996 upon re-release} Freak Power (1994, 1998) {Tune In, Turn On, Cop Out charted twice on separate releases. It's a project of Norman Cook [a.k.a. Fatboy Slim]} Joshua Kadison (1995) Xscape (1995, 1996) {might not qualify if you count their feature in a Top 40 hit by MC Lyte in 1997} De'Lacy (1995, 1996) The Tony Rich Project (1996) Honeycrack (1996) Az Yet (1997) Puff Johnson (1997) Bentley Rhythm Ace (1997, 2000) David Holmes (1998) Unbelievable Truth (1998) Deetah (1998, 1999) Duane Harden (1999) [?] {mainly as featured artist. Armand Van Helden, Powerhouse} Spiller (2000, 2002) Lonyo = Comme Ci Comme Ca (2000, 2001) J Majik and Wickaman (2001, 2008) Dirty Vegas (2001, 2002) {Days Go By charted twice upon separate releases} Puretone (2002) Easyworld (2003, 2004) Boogie Pimps (2004) The Bees (2004) LCD Soundsystem (2005, 2007) (Again! Wouldn't call them 'two hit wonders' as their studio albums are well-known amongst music critics) MVP (2005/2006) Captain (2006) Soulja Boy Tell 'Em (2007, 2009) (unless you count the Greg Street remix of Turn My Swag On) Platnum (2008) {first hit as featured artist on H2O song} Kevin Rudolf (2009, 2010) Little Boots (2009) Agnes (2009) Medina (2009, 2018) {the 2nd hit was as a featured artist on an M-22 song} Duck Sauce (2009, 2011) {Armand Van Helden is a member of this act} Owl City (2010, 2012) The xx (2010, 2016) (Like Joy Division and LCD Soundsystem, would be weird to refer to them as that, as I know them for more than just the two hits they've had) The Pretty Reckless (2010) Yasmin (2011) {might not qualify if you count her feature in a Top 40 hit by Devlin} Modestep (2011) Vato Gonzalez (2011, 2012) Redlight (2012) Drumsound & Bassline Smith (2012) {if you count the Utah Saints remix they did} Tom Cane (2012, 2014) {mainly as featured artist for Drumsound & Bassline Smith and Wilkinson} Reconnected (2013) {both songs spent only one week on the chart} Elyar Fox (2014) LuvBug (2014) {Marvin Humes of JLS} I'm mainly focusing on those from 2015 and before. The ones from after 2015 that come to mind are Riton, Lil Nas X, Sigrid and Bazzi. But who know? Either of them might score another hit. Edited October 6, 20204 yr by DalekTurret32
October 6, 20204 yr Little Boots was being hyped a lot to become a major pop star back then, pity she only had two hits as Remedy in particular was great. Pity Yasmin and Agnes too didn't have more hits as Finish Line and Release Me are top class pop songs imo. The crazy sounding Drumsound and Bassline Smith Utah Saints remix which you counted as being one of their two hits I was obsessed with back then - I discovered the original Utah Saints track a year or so ago and still prefer the remix. There were quite a few two hit wonders in dance music not mentioned yet Modjo Beatfreakz Styles and Breeze Ann Lee and I am sure there are more... Edited October 6, 20204 yr by Вuzzjack user
October 6, 20204 yr There are quite a few acts who had one big chart hit and managed to follow it up with a smaller top 40 hit before fading into obscurity. Some acts managed two big hits though: Mai Tai (1985) Johnny Logan (1980, 1987) Starship (1985, 1987, plus download re-entries in 2013, 2014) KWS (1992) Baccara (1977, 1978) Edited October 6, 20204 yr by Robbie
October 6, 20204 yr Afroman: Because I Got High & Crazy Rap M.O.P: Cold As Ice & Ante Up PSY: Gangnam Style & Gentleman DJ Otzi might be another one.
October 6, 20204 yr From artists not mentioned in the opening post I think Jason Mraz is very interesting case of two hit wonder on UK chart.
October 6, 20204 yr There are quite a few acts who had one big chart hit and managed to follow it up with a smaller top 40 hit before fading into obscurity. Some acts managed two big hits though: Mai Tai (1985) Johnny Logan (1980, 1987) Starship (1985, plus download re-entries in 2013, 2014) KWS (1992) Baccara (1977, 1978) Speaking of KWS, there was also Undercover, Rage and Mad'house who were also all two hit wonders with dance cover versions. Rage's cover of Run To You and Mad'house's cover of Like A Prayer I really like, Undercover's Baker Street a bit less so. Edited October 6, 20204 yr by Вuzzjack user
October 6, 20204 yr Oh and the legend that was Scatman John too was a two hit wonder, also Rednex from around the same time. Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop) >>>> Cotton Eye Joe in my opinion. Looking at some more artists on the opening post and I liked Modestep and Vato Gonzales' hits at the time. Shut Up And Dance may have had more hits in the early 90s if their debut hadn't been withdrawn from sale on week two because of a sample issue! Edited October 6, 20204 yr by Вuzzjack user
October 6, 20204 yr Bob The Builder had 2 #1 hits and no other top 75 hits. Alien Ant Farm had 2 top 5 hits then their next hit reached #66 before they vanished. Eiffel 65 had 2 top 3 hits and no other top 75 hits.
October 6, 20204 yr Oh another two hit wonder: Reconnected, the boyband on Duncan Bannatyne's record label, remember them? Also both with number based titles: 3rd Edge and 2wo Third3 - discovered their brief chart careers while listening to radio 1 chart shows on Mixcloud. Edited October 6, 20204 yr by Вuzzjack user
October 6, 20204 yr As a solo artist, Art Garfunkel had two number 1 singles. His only other top 40 single reached number 38. LadBaby is currently a two hit wonder.
October 6, 20204 yr As a solo artist, Art Garfunkel had two number 1 singles. His only other top 40 single reached number 38. LadBaby is currently a two hit wonder. Don’t talk 10 weeks too soon....
October 6, 20204 yr I believe September is missing from that list too! {2008, #5} Cry For You {2009, #14} Can't Get Over Don't think she had any other hits. Right there with fellow scandinavian pop queens Medina & Agnes <3
October 7, 20204 yr Hard to believe but Michelle McManus only had 2 top 40 hits. :cry: A fair few acts from reality TV fame only had 2 top 40 hits, as it happens! X Factor: Jedward Chico Joe McElderry Leon Jackson Lucy Spraggan Ben Haenow Rak-Su Matt Terry Fame Academy: Sinead Quinn Alex Parks James Fox Pop Idol: Rosie Ribbons Rik Waller Sarah Whatmore Sam & Mark Michelle McManus In total, 7 winners of reality TV shows have only had 2 top 40 singles. Quite mad, really.
October 7, 20204 yr I immediately thought of Pepsi & Shirlie, who had a #2 and a #9 in 87/88 and never charted again
October 7, 20204 yr More recent dance two hit wonders that came to my mind: - Chris Malinchak - 'So Good to Me' was obviously massive hit in 2013. It debuted at number 2 and was number 51 on year-end best sellers list. It is currently certified gold. Follow-up single 'If U Got It' peaked at #23 and spent only 2 weeks in top 100 in early 2014. 'Stranger' featuring Mikky Ekko was released in August 2014 and failed to make the top 40 peaking at #45 (though it charted at #32 on sales). He hasn't charted ever since. - Breach - 'Jack' and 'Everything You Never Had (We Had It All)' were two hits for him in the second half of 2013. Both peaked at number 9 and were certified silver - Le Youth - Despite peaking only at #26 his first hit 'C O O L' spent 7 weeks in top 40. 'Dance with Me' reached number 11 in February 2014. According to Wikipedia his next single 'Feel Your Love' peaked only at #146 and that was it. - Bakermat - 'One Day (Vandaag)' was huge hit in Europe and reached number 15 in UK in 2014. Follow-up 'Teach Me' went to number 22 in 2015. None of his other singles charted.
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