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Quizzes > Entertainment & Pop Culture > Music

One Hit Wonders Trivia: Test Your Music Memory!

Think you can ace this one-hit wonders quiz? Prove your music trivia skills.

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art shows vinyl record floating musical notes and text One Hit Wonders on sky blue background.

This one-hit wonders trivia quiz helps you see how many catchy, one-time chart hits you still remember. Play for fun and pick up a fact or two about lyrics and artists; if you want a warm-up, try this related quiz before you start.

Which Canadian band had a one-hit wonder with "The Safety Dance"?
Men Without Hats
Nena
a-ha
Dexys Midnight Runners
Men Without Hats released "The Safety Dance" in 1982 and it became their only top 10 hit in the US and UK. The song's catchy synth riff and memorable video made it emblematic of early MTV rotation. Despite subsequent releases, the band never replicated that chart success.
"Tainted Love" was a one-hit wonder for which British synth-pop duo?
Erasure
The Human League
Soft Cell
Pet Shop Boys
Soft Cell covered Gloria Jones's 1965 soul track and released their version in 1981. Their synth-driven rendition soared to number one on the UK Singles Chart but they never matched that mainstream success afterward. It remains their most iconic song.
Which Norwegian band scored a one-hit wonder with "Take On Me"?
Men Without Hats
The Buggles
Flock of Seagulls
A-ha
"Take On Me" was released by A-ha in 1985 and reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. Its groundbreaking animated music video cemented its status as an iconic '80s track. Although A-ha enjoyed a long career in Europe, this remains their sole US top 10 hit.
Which artist had a one-hit wonder with the song "Mickey"?
Toni Basil
Debbie Gibson
Cyndi Lauper
Madonna
Toni Basil's cheerleader-themed hit "Mickey" topped the UK charts and reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1982. Despite her work as a choreographer and performer, she never scored another major hit single. The track remains a staple of '80s nostalgia playlists.
"My Sharona" was a one-hit wonder by which American rock band?
The Cars
The Knack
Rupert Holmes
Rick Springfield
The Knack released "My Sharona" in 1979, and it quickly climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was their debut single and remains their most enduring song. The band failed to replicate its success with subsequent releases.
"Come On Eileen" was a one-hit wonder by which band?
Simple Minds
Culture Club
Dexys Midnight Runners
Eurythmics
"Come On Eileen" topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1983 and remains the only US top 40 hit for Dexys Midnight Runners. The song's blend of folk, pop, and Celtic influences made it an international sensation. Other releases by the group didn't chart as high stateside.
Which German singer had a one-hit wonder with "99 Luftballons"?
Samantha Fox
Falco
Sandra
Nena
Nena released the anti-war song "99 Luftballons" in German in 1983, and its English-language version "99 Red Balloons" became a hit in the US. The track peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, but Nena never had another major US chart success. It remains her signature song worldwide.
Which artist had a one-hit wonder with "Ice Ice Baby"?
MC Hammer
LL Cool J
Tone Loc
Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice released "Ice Ice Baby" in 1989 and it became the first hip-hop single to top the Billboard Hot 100. Despite its massive success, his later singles failed to match that peak. The song is known for sampling the bassline from Queen and David Bowie's "Under Pressure."
Which one-hit wonder by The Buggles was the first video ever played on MTV?
Tainted Love
Take On Me
Video Killed the Radio Star
Safety Dance
"Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles was released in 1979 and became MTV's first video broadcast on August 1, 1981. The song reached the top 40 in multiple countries but remained the band's only major hit. Its pioneering video underscored the shift toward MTV-driven music promotion.
"Who Let the Dogs Out" is a one-hit wonder by which group?
Baha Men
Men at Work
Ace of Base
Village People
The Baha Men released "Who Let the Dogs Out" in 2000, and it reached the top 40 in several countries while becoming a sports anthem. They never achieved comparable chart success before or after this track. It won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording in 2002.
Which one-hit wonder features the lyrics "I get knocked down, but I get up again"?
Tubthumping
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Walk Like an Egyptian
U Can't Touch This
"Tubthumping" was released by Chumbawamba in 1997 and became a global hit with its singalong chorus. It remains their only song to crack the Billboard Hot 100 top 10. The song's message of resilience struck a chord worldwide.
Which artist scored a one-hit wonder with "Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)"?
Lou Bega
Pitbull
Enrique Iglesias
Ricky Martin
Lou Bega's 1999 dance-pop hit "Mambo No. 5" was based on Pérez Prado's instrumental. It reached number one in multiple countries but remained his only global hit. Bega never replicated its chart performance.
Which one-hit wonder by Visage reached the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1981?
Night Train
Fade to Grey
Mind of a Toy
Pleasure Boys
Visage's "Fade to Grey" was released in 1980 and became a defining track of the New Wave movement. It charted in the US in 1981, marking the band's sole entry on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's moody synth sound influenced many '80s artists.
Which artist scored a one-hit wonder with "Pump Up the Volume"?
MARRS
The KLF
WestBam
Coldcut
MARRS, a British electronic duo, released "Pump Up the Volume" in 1987 and it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. It was their only single under that name, securing their one-hit wonder status. The track is credited with shaping early sample-based dance music.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Classic One-Hit Wonders -

    List iconic one-hit wonders from different eras and remember key details like memorable hooks and standout choruses.

  2. Identify Artists and Song Titles -

    Match performers to their one-hit wonder songs trivia and reinforce your recall of those unforgettable track names.

  3. Analyze Musical Styles -

    Differentiate genres and production elements in one hit wonder songs trivia to appreciate the variety of pop and rock trends.

  4. Explore Fun Facts and Histories -

    Discover background stories and trivia behind famous one hit wonders quiz entries to enrich your understanding of music history.

  5. Evaluate Your Trivia Skills -

    Assess your performance in the one hit wonders quiz and pinpoint areas for improvement in your pop culture knowledge.

  6. Share and Engage -

    Use one hit wonders trivia questions to challenge friends and spark lively discussions about timeless music moments.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Billboard Breakthroughs -

    In one hit wonders trivia, tracks that hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 but never charted again create memorable milestones. For example, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles surged to the top in 1980 but marked their sole top 40 success according to Billboard archives.

  2. Dissecting Musical Hooks -

    Recognizing signature hooks is key for a one hit wonders quiz; use the formula hook = catchy chorus + unexpected instrumentation. Think of the synth riff in "Take On Me" by A-ha as a blueprint for crafting unforgettable melodies that stick in your mind.

  3. Contextual Clues -

    Historical context can be a guiding star in famous one hit wonders quiz rounds; understanding the MTV revolution of the early '80s explains why certain songs soared instantly. Refer to Library of Congress archives to link cultural moments with classics like "Mickey" by Toni Basil, released in 1982 amid cheerleading trends.

  4. Mnemonic Mastery -

    Use the STAR acronym - Song Title, Time Period, Artist Region - to recall answers during one hit wonder songs trivia under pressure. For instance, STAR helps you remember "Who Can It Be Now?" by Men at Work by tagging Australia to its 1981 release.

  5. Chart Chemistry -

    Analyzing chart longevity helps crush one hit wonders trivia; note that many famous one hit wonders peaked within weeks and then cratered, averaging eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 according to Official Charts Company data. Tracking rise-and-fall curves reveals patterns you can leverage for future quiz victories.

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