Ah, karaoke bars. The one place where anyone can go, have a few drinks, belt out some one-hit wonders terribly, and not feel entirely judged for it. Pop music is definitely the lifeblood of most karaoke bars, but one-hit wonders tend to always make an appearance at some point in the night. Let’s take a look at four one-hit wonders who are still keeping karaoke bars alive decades after they were released!
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1. “Take On Me” by A-Ha
This one-hit wonder hit the airwaves back in 1985. Even those of us who weren’t alive back then know most of the chorus to this iconic synth-pop tune. It’s simply that iconic, and it’s not exactly shocking that it’s still a karaoke favorite today.
“Take On Me” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart when it was first released. However, Norwegian outfit A-Ha never had an internationally massive song quite like it again. Though, the band definitely enjoyed a long and successful career in Europe.
2. “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains Of Wayne
This song is one of those one-hit wonders that get karaoke bars roaring with excitement with just the opening guitar riff. Millennials eat it up like candy. And why wouldn’t they? This power pop hit from Fountains Of Wayne is incredibly nostalgic and honestly so much fun to sing. The subject matter of “Stacy’s Mom” may not have aged incredibly well, but the song itself is still quite a jam.
3. “What Is Love?” by Haddaway
If the only lyrics you know to this Eurodance hit are “What is love / Baby don’t hurt me / No more”, you’re not alone. “What Is Love?” by Haddaway has one of the most memorable choruses of any dance tune from the early 1990s.
This killer track topped the international charts back in 1993. Sadly, though, Haddaway didn’t have quite as much success in the US again. His sophomore hit “Life” was huge throughout Europe and the UK, but it didn’t even make it to the Top 40 in the US.
4. “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus
This is another one of those one-hit wonders that Millennials tend to love at karaoke bars. “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus has even made a resurgence in popularity on social media platforms like TikTok in recent years, so who knows? Maybe this will be one of those songs that people love to drunkenly sing for generations to come.
Photo by kpa/United Archives via Getty Images
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