Top 10 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 1990S

Written by brothers Isaac, Taylor, and Zac Hanson when they were 16, 14, and 11 respectively, MMMBop reached number one in 27 countries simultaneously in 1997 and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Its chord progression has been analyzed in music theory curricula as a near-perfect pop construction.

Richard Ashcroft's masterpiece sampled the Rolling Stones' The Last Time, leading to a legal dispute awarding 100% of royalties to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for 23 years — until 2019 when they voluntarily returned the rights. It reached number two in the UK and is consistently ranked among the greatest songs of the 1990s.

Trinidadian-German artist Haddaway released this Eurodance anthem in 1993 and it reached the top five in 13 countries simultaneously. It was immortalized when Jim Carrey used it in A Night at the Roxbury, adding a head-bobbing meme that made it one of the first viral music moments of the internet age.

British anarchist collective Chumbawamba had been releasing political music since 1982 when Tubthumping accidentally became one of the biggest pop hits of 1997, reaching number two in the UK and US simultaneously. The band used MTV airtime to make speeches about labor rights and anti-capitalism before dissolving in 2012 after 30 years.

Danish-Norwegian pop group Aqua's debut single spent four weeks at number one in the UK, became the fastest-selling single in Danish history, and was the subject of a Mattel copyright lawsuit dismissed by US courts in 2002. Despite eight subsequent singles, none approached the 14 million copies sold by this camp pop masterpiece.

Austin, Texas trio Fastball wrote this song inspired by a real news story about an elderly couple who disappeared driving to a folk festival, their bodies found weeks later. The Way reached number one on the US Adult Top 40 chart and was the most played rock song on US radio in 1998, with the band never producing another comparable hit.

Nassau-based Junkanoo group Baha Men recorded this Anslem Douglas composition in 2000 and it won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording, appearing in 30 film and television productions within two years. It became a global stadium anthem played for decades after its chart run ended.

Toronto duo Len recorded Steal My Sunshine with $5,000 and it reached the top five in 11 countries in 1999. The song is the definitive sound of late-1990s carefree summer — the duo never released another charting single and retired from music without a follow-up album.

Dutch duo Doop released this 1920s Charleston-inspired novelty track in 1994 and it reached number one in 17 countries, spending three weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart. Performed by two anonymous producers who appeared in public only twice, they then retired from music entirely after one of the decade's most eccentric chart successes.

Written by brothers Isaac, Taylor, and Zac Hanson when they were 16, 14, and 11 respectively, MMMBop reached number one in 27 countries simultaneously in 1997 and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Its chord progression has been analyzed in music theory curricula as a near-perfect pop construction.

Richard Ashcroft's masterpiece sampled the Rolling Stones' The Last Time, leading to a legal dispute awarding 100% of royalties to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for 23 years — until 2019 when they voluntarily returned the rights. It reached number two in the UK and is consistently ranked among the greatest songs of the 1990s.

Trinidadian-German artist Haddaway released this Eurodance anthem in 1993 and it reached the top five in 13 countries simultaneously. It was immortalized when Jim Carrey used it in A Night at the Roxbury, adding a head-bobbing meme that made it one of the first viral music moments of the internet age.

British anarchist collective Chumbawamba had been releasing political music since 1982 when Tubthumping accidentally became one of the biggest pop hits of 1997, reaching number two in the UK and US simultaneously. The band used MTV airtime to make speeches about labor rights and anti-capitalism before dissolving in 2012 after 30 years.

Danish-Norwegian pop group Aqua's debut single spent four weeks at number one in the UK, became the fastest-selling single in Danish history, and was the subject of a Mattel copyright lawsuit dismissed by US courts in 2002. Despite eight subsequent singles, none approached the 14 million copies sold by this camp pop masterpiece.

Austin, Texas trio Fastball wrote this song inspired by a real news story about an elderly couple who disappeared driving to a folk festival, their bodies found weeks later. The Way reached number one on the US Adult Top 40 chart and was the most played rock song on US radio in 1998, with the band never producing another comparable hit.

Nassau-based Junkanoo group Baha Men recorded this Anslem Douglas composition in 2000 and it won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording, appearing in 30 film and television productions within two years. It became a global stadium anthem played for decades after its chart run ended.

Toronto duo Len recorded Steal My Sunshine with $5,000 and it reached the top five in 11 countries in 1999. The song is the definitive sound of late-1990s carefree summer — the duo never released another charting single and retired from music without a follow-up album.

Dutch duo Doop released this 1920s Charleston-inspired novelty track in 1994 and it reached number one in 17 countries, spending three weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart. Performed by two anonymous producers who appeared in public only twice, they then retired from music entirely after one of the decade's most eccentric chart successes.