VH1 Top 100 One-Hit Wonders of the 80s Part 5: 20-1

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Poll Results

OptionVotes
18 Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock: “It Takes Two” 10
1 Dexys Midnight Runners: “Come on Eileen” 6
14 Big Country: “In A Big Country” 6
3 A-Ha: “Take On Me” 4
5 Soft Cell: “Tainted Love” 4
12 Animotion: “Obsesssion” 3
16 Nena: “99 Luft Balloons” 3
15 Devo: “Whip It” 2
17 Men Without Hats: “The Safety Dance” 2
11 Gary Numan: “Cars” 2
20 Rockwell: “Somebody’s Watching Me” 2
19 Dead or Alive: “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” 1
2 Flock of Seagulls: “I Ran (So Far Away)” 1
6 Toni Basil: “Mickey” 1
7 Modern English: “I Melt With You” 1
8 Bow Wow Wow: “I Want Candy” 1
10 Frankie Goes to Hollywood: “Relax” 1
4 Tommy Tutone: “867-5309 / Jenny” 0
13 Thomas Dolby: “She Blinded Me With Science” 0
9 Kajagoogoo: “Too Shy” 0


kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 14:06 (seventeen years ago)

God, if they're going to be dense and call Flock of Seagulls one-hit wonders, then pick their BEST song (and a top 40 hit): "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph Of You)."

I'm crossing over into enterprise (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 14:09 (seventeen years ago)

"Tainted Love"

Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 14:14 (seventeen years ago)

"It Takes Two."

I'm crossing over into enterprise (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 14:14 (seventeen years ago)

Impossible.

Enemy Insects (NickB), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 14:16 (seventeen years ago)

In A Big Country

kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 14:21 (seventeen years ago)

It Takes Two, easy

loaded forbear (gabbneb), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 14:24 (seventeen years ago)

I prefer 21-40

neu hollywood (Eric H.), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 14:27 (seventeen years ago)

20-way tie. These are all unequivocally great songs.

naturally unfunny, though mechanically sound (Pancakes Hackman), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 14:28 (seventeen years ago)

kind of mind-boggling that "867-5309" is my least-favorite song here

the freakish wonder of nature that is "Beat Me" (HI DERE), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 14:31 (seventeen years ago)

I love "Take On Me" and "It Takes Two" and "I Melt With You" and "Tainted Love," but really I gotta go with "Come On Eileen," I was relieved to see it at #1 when I first watched the special.

Only one here that doesn't seem like obvious top 20 material is "Obsession."

just being playful and friendly (some dude), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:02 (seventeen years ago)

I dunno, that's the one I'm most tempted to vote for!

the freakish wonder of nature that is "Beat Me" (HI DERE), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:06 (seventeen years ago)

Can't believe "It Takes Two" is getting such attention here. I mean, yeah, I remember summer of `89 too, but against "Tainted Love"? Not a chance.

Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:09 (seventeen years ago)

Most of these songs I never want to hear again, as they're eighties-radio and Adam Sandler movie staples.

I'm crossing over into enterprise (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:11 (seventeen years ago)

20-way tie. These are all unequivocally great songs.

Maybe "You Spin Me Roun (Like A Record)".

Eazy, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:11 (seventeen years ago)

animotion

FREE DOM AND ETHAN (special guest stars mark bronson), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:17 (seventeen years ago)

One of these four:

5 Soft Cell: “Tainted Love”
9 Kajagoogoo: “Too Shy”
11 Gary Numan: “Cars”
18 Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock: “It Takes Two”

neu hollywood (Eric H.), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:18 (seventeen years ago)

Also, "Relax" still slays virtually all in its path.

Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:18 (seventeen years ago)

if I really wanted to wreck this thread i'd just start filling it with YouTubes of Flo Rida's "Right Round" (or Save Ferris's "Come On Eileen," the "Melt With You" Burger King ad, Slim Thug's "I Run," the "Whip It" Swiffer ad, the Zoolander scene with "Relax" in it, etc.)

just being playful and friendly (some dude), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:19 (seventeen years ago)

ALL OF THEM ARE WINNERS

rebel without a wrinklepaws (King Boy Pato), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:19 (seventeen years ago)

Can't believe "It Takes Two" is getting such attention here. I mean, yeah, I remember summer of `89 too, but against "Tainted Love"? Not a chance.

That's stupid. I mean outrageous.

Unknown Artist (G00blar), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:21 (seventeen years ago)

And let's not skip "In A Big Country."

Eazy, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:30 (seventeen years ago)

it takes two

congratulations (n/a), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:31 (seventeen years ago)

I'm sure it goes without saying, but "Pop Goes the World" >>> "The Safety Dance." I voted for "In a Big Country."

lindseykai, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:53 (seventeen years ago)

I might as well pick one out of a hat. Solid top twenty. "Obsession" is the only one of these I've bought from iTunes, so I'll use that as the decider.

EZ Snappin, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 15:55 (seventeen years ago)

I'm sure it goes without saying, but "Pop Goes the World" >>> "The Safety Dance."

This says nothing about the quality of "The Safety Dance".

the freakish wonder of nature that is "Beat Me" (HI DERE), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 16:00 (seventeen years ago)

Most of these songs I never want to hear again, as they're eighties-radio and Adam Sandler movie staples.

^^^ Yeah, this is like attack of the overplayed 80's songs or something. For that reason, it's hard to get excited about this list. I'm surprising myself and going with Devo here.

Sleep Tundra (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 16:20 (seventeen years ago)

"99 Luftballons," easy -- in fact, even though I like almost every song up there, this was probably the easiest one of these polls for me to vote in. Which must mean I like Nena a LOT. (Maybe has something to do with living in Bad Kreuznach and Mainz at the time. I WAS THERE!)

Could live without Animotion, I guess. Always seemed kind of so-what to me.

Would take the retarded rap song that currently samples "I Ran" (Slim Thug) over the retarded rap song that currently samples "You Spin Me Round" (see above) any day (though I like both originals about equally -- A Flock Of Seagulls is more beautiful, Dead Or Alive discoer. Neither is a one-hit wonder of course.)

xhuxk, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 19:29 (seventeen years ago)

okay I had no idea WAYNE HUSSEY was in Dead Or Alive

the freakish wonder of nature that is "Beat Me" (HI DERE), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 19:32 (seventeen years ago)

Yep, but he left circa Sophisticated Boom Boom

Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 19:33 (seventeen years ago)

"Space Age Love Song" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "I Ran"

Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 19:34 (seventeen years ago)

the retarded rap song that currently samples "I Ran" (Slim Thug)

Must hear this.

Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 19:34 (seventeen years ago)

Favorite Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock single, btw: "Get On The Dance Floor." (Thought it was better then, still do.)

xhuxk, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 19:35 (seventeen years ago)

no way, "Joy and Pain" pwns

the freakish wonder of nature that is "Beat Me" (HI DERE), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 19:37 (seventeen years ago)

sing it now god's children

Unknown Artist (G00blar), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 19:38 (seventeen years ago)

"Space Age Love Song" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "I Ran"

REAL TALK

Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 20:00 (seventeen years ago)

"Wishing" >>> "The More You Live, The More You Love" >>>> "Space Age Love Song" >>>> "I Ran"

I'm crossing over into enterprise (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 20:03 (seventeen years ago)

(not that it matters...I voted a-ha)

Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 20:06 (seventeen years ago)

"Wishing" >>> "The More You Live, The More You Love" >>>> "Space Age Love Song"

You're high.

Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 20:09 (seventeen years ago)

"Too Shy?" Really? Is in the top 20? Wld rather Limahl's elegant ode to Falkor and Atreyu chart.

fillibustar superstar! (Abbott), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 20:58 (seventeen years ago)

fillibustar superstar! (Abbott), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 20:58 (seventeen years ago)

I forgot that song had a sitar in it!

fillibustar superstar! (Abbott), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 21:02 (seventeen years ago)

kind of mind-boggling that "867-5309" is my least-favorite song here

Dude how is that mind-boggling?

fillibustar superstar! (Abbott), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 21:03 (seventeen years ago)

Chuck is right re: Animotion. Never could see the appeal of that one.

Earl of Gothington Manor (Bimble), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 21:29 (seventeen years ago)

come on eileen

iatee, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 21:32 (seventeen years ago)

I hate the SYNTH sound of "Obsession."

I'm crossing over into enterprise (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 21:38 (seventeen years ago)

That's my favorite thing about the song!

the freakish wonder of nature that is "Beat Me" (HI DERE), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 21:39 (seventeen years ago)

My favorite is that it is a completely ridiculous duet, and then the synth sounds. I will rep for 'Obsession' any day.

fillibustar superstar! (Abbott), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 21:40 (seventeen years ago)

I can't believe people are voting for It Takes Two over tracks like Relax and Safety Dance.

Edward Aetheling (Viceroy), Tuesday, 28 April 2009 21:47 (seventeen years ago)

Definitely lots of good ones on here. I'm going with Big Country. I'm kind of surprised that they never were able to hit again, it seemed like they were pretty solid musicians and songwriters.

Moodles, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 21:48 (seventeen years ago)

I can't believe people are voting for It Takes Two over tracks like Relax and Safety Dance.

Right there with ya. Must be a generational thing.

Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 21:58 (seventeen years ago)

"It Takes Two" is a good record. But I've had a sort of knee-jerk grudge against it ever since the grandstanding nincompoops at Spin named it the greatest single of all time in 1987 or whatever year it came out (when really it was maybe one of the 100 best rap singles in the world up to that point, if you were really really generous. But probably not.)

xhuxk, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 22:03 (seventeen years ago)

Oops, it was 1988 -- Just looked it up. (The whole point, though, was "we're not like those stodgy old geezers at Rolling Stone with their outdated hippie music. What we love best is what's current. In fact it's playing in the office right now!" Or maybe they really liked it that much, who knows.)

xhuxk, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 22:08 (seventeen years ago)

They certainly did that when I interned there, back in the ice age.

Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 28 April 2009 22:19 (seventeen years ago)

Easier to identify my least favorites, Mickey & Jenny. Those 2 can have each other as long as they stay behind an indestructible barrier never to be heard from again lest they burrow into one's brain and block out all thought. C'Mon Eileen is nearly as dangerous especially when coupled with the silly dancing in the video.

Voting Tainted Love.

that's not my post, Wednesday, 29 April 2009 06:09 (seventeen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Wednesday, 29 April 2009 23:01 (seventeen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Thursday, 30 April 2009 23:01 (seventeen years ago)

God the 80s were so great.

Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 30 April 2009 23:04 (seventeen years ago)

Again, pathetic.

Alex in NYC, Thursday, 30 April 2009 23:12 (seventeen years ago)

I knew it! "Oh, it's the hip hop one, yeah I'll vote for that one." What a crock.

Earl of Gothington Manor (Bimble), Thursday, 30 April 2009 23:23 (seventeen years ago)

God the 80s were so great.

― Mr. Snrub, Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:04 PM (36 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Again, pathetic.

― Alex in NYC, Thursday, April 30, 2009

God, ILM is so great.

I'm crossing over into enterprise (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 30 April 2009 23:41 (seventeen years ago)

crybabies.

neu hollywood (Eric H.), Friday, 1 May 2009 03:25 (seventeen years ago)

I like "It Takes Two" but compared to the rest it's def overrated. On any given day I'd normally rather listen to any of the 3 songs that received zero votes..

billstevejim, Friday, 1 May 2009 03:39 (seventeen years ago)

who'd've thought that splitting the fey new wave vote 13 ways would benefit the outlier

the anonymity of your username helps to dehumanise! (some dude), Friday, 1 May 2009 03:40 (seventeen years ago)


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