10 One Hit Wonders of the 2010s

There are too many one hit wonders from the 2010s to put them all on one list, so here’s a few highlights that will undoubtedly bring back nostalgia of those oh-so-cringeworthy tween-age years.

Written by Jessica Regan

1. “Somebody That I Used to Know” - Gotye

Starting off the list strong is the song that dominated the airwaves in 2012. Most people can likely sing the chorus from memory. It stayed at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks, and had the fourth highest selling week ever, with 542,000 downloads. It also became the top song of 2012 on the Alternative Songs, Adult Pop Songs, and Billboard Hot 100 charts.

2. “We Are Young” - Fun.

This song reminds me of building my first Tumblr page, alongside every other girl in 2012. “We Are Young” called to our wild sides, telling us to live in the moment and enjoy it while we can. And even as a tween, you felt an urge to party as hard as they did in the music video. While Fun. has had some other successful singles, none of them ever reached the fame of “We Are Young.” It was highly acclaimed by critics, winning Song Of The Year at the 2013 Grammys. It stayed at #1 on the charts for six weeks, and earned 120,000,000 impressions over seven weeks. The amount of video montages still made today increases its longevity. It’s the “Livin’ On A Prayer” of the 2010s, and it will be remembered as such.

3. “Bulletproof” - La Roux

Even though this song came out in 2009, there’s no way this list would be complete without it. Initially released in the U.K., it rose to Billboard’s Hot 100 at number 8 in June 2010. If this song doesn’t remind you of the mustache trend that took over every middle school that year, nothing else will.

4. “Shake It” - Metro Station

“Shake It” is truly the quintessential one-hit wonder. Yes, it did come out in 2008, but the nostalgia factor off our tween years is very high. I clearly remember shamelessly dancing to this song in the family room, playing it on my green iPod mini with my friends. Metro Station was completely forgotten after this song, and I honestly had to look up who performed this before I wrote this article — a true indication of a one hit wonder.

5. “Harlem Shake” - Baauer

I don’t even have to explain this one. “Harlem Shake” videos spread like a disease when this song got popular, and Billboard called it the most popular viral music video since “Gangnam Style.” The now defunct video-sharing app Vine was simultaneously becoming huge, and this song came out at exactly the right time to cement itself in pop culture history. Fun fact: “Harlem Shake” was the first fully-instrumental song to top the Billboard Hot 100 since 1985, when the Miami Vice theme song held the top spot.

6. “Magic” - B.o.B. feat. Rivers Cuomo

Middle school dances were not ready for this iconic bop. B.o.B. is now busy exposing conspiracy theories, but in 2010 he and Rivers Cuomo from the band Weezer were sitting pretty on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is goofy, catchy and entertaining, and even though it’s not something people play when reminiscing on the good old days, it still deserves a spot on the list.

7. “Shower” - Becky G

Becky G’s “Shower” has been called 2014’s “Call Me Maybe” – and rightly so. Although it only reached number 16 on the charts, everyone knew all the words. Sure, the only award it won was the Radio Disney Music Awards’ “Catchiest Song,” but that’s fair considering the song isn’t exactly as powerful or influential as some of the others on this list. It’s literally about singing in the shower.

8. “Glad You Came” - The Wanted

The Wanted, a.k.a. The Walmart One Direction, had their own moment after this song came out. I’m not going to lie, the song is still super catchy. It was a staple on my middle school soccer team’s pregame playlist. Sadly, the five boys of The Wanted completely fell off after this track died out. Listening to it again, I sort of want to bring it back, because it really has an ability to get you pumped up.

9. “Cashin’ Out” - Cash Out

This is the song on the list I still (shamelessly) listen to the most out of all 10. It’s timeless in a hysterical way, and has the ability to hype up an entire party or bar. The single only made it to 36 on the Hot 100, but managed to make the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 of 2012, being ranked at #92.

10. “Written in the Stars” - Tinie Tempah

This is probably the least memorable song on the list, but ir deserves a spot for its success and popularity. It sold 115,000 copies in the first week of release, and peaked at 12 on the Hot 100 charts. Major League Baseball and WWE both utilized these songs in advertising, and it went platinum in six countries.