3 Iconic One-Hit Wonders by Female Artists That Will Make You Raise Your Eyebrows

When people talk about one-hit wonders, most often male-led bands or solo artists come to mind. Groups like Right Said Fred, A-ha, Chumbawamba, The Knack, or Men Without Hats. Not enough love is given to the groups that are led by female singers.

But here we wanted to explore three one-hit wonders by women. Those songs that rose to the top of the charts that were written or performed by some of the most talented and catchy gals in music. Indeed, these are three iconic one-hit wonders by female artists.

[RELATED: 3 Energetic One-Hit Wonders That Are Perfect To Dance Along To]

“Criminal” by Fiona Apple from Tidal (1997)

While Fiona Apple is a fan favorite who is as nuanced and thought-provoking as any over the past few decades, the fact of the matter is she only boasts one Top-40 hit song on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and that was her breakout single “Criminal.” The song that makes you feel so good for being so bad was a success for Apple and put her on the pop culture map as both one to admire and pay attention to. And on this song, which hit No. 21 on the Hot 100, she sings,

I’ve been a bad, bad girl
I’ve been careless with a delicate man
And it’s a sad, sad world
When a girl will break a boy just because she can

Don’t you tell me to deny it
I’ve done wrong and I want to suffer for my sins
I’ve come to you ’cause I need guidance to be true
And I just don’t know where I can begin

“What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes from Bigger, Better, Faster, More! (1993)

This acoustic-driven song from the San Francisco-born, all-female group 4 Non Blondes was written by iconic artist Linda Perry. And while it was composed and released more than 30 years ago, it remains part of the zeitgeist today. The track, which is the only single from the group to land in the Billboard Hot 100 (it made it to No. 14), was most recently featured in the wildly successful animated movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. And the reason for its success is its stunning vocal performance and catchy lyrics. On the track, Perry sings,

25 years and my life is still
Tryin’ to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination

I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man
For whatever that means

And so I cry sometimes when I’m lying in bed
Just to get it all out what’s in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

“Mickey” by Toni Basil from Word of Mouth (1982)

While Toni Basil boasts three songs that landed on the Billboard Hot 100, her only song to hit the Top 40 is this supremely catchy track “Mickey,” which topped the chart for a week in the No. 1 spot. It’s a scientific fact that if you go up to another person and start to sing, Oh, Mickey you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind, hey Mickey! they will instantly repeat it and start singing back to you. That’s thanks to Basil, who released this song in 1982 on her LP Word of Mouth. Indeed, on the tune she sings,

Hey Mickey
You’ve been around all night and that’s a little long
You think you’ve got the right, but I think you’ve got it wrong
Why can’t you say goodnight? So you can take me home Mickey?

‘Cause when you say you will, it always means you won’t
You’re givin’ me the chills, baby, please, baby don’t
Every night you still leave me alone Mickey

Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic