Favorite One Hit Wonder......?

Question

whose hit was a cover of someone else's song?

Mine:
Alanna Davis - 32 Flavors (originally done by Ani DiFranco)

I love how people read the full question............ the one hit should be a COVER

Spooky: Yeah, I don't think so either......I completely forgot about that one

Answer 1

"Wild Thing" - Senator Everett McKinley and Senator Bobby (a hilarious spoof by voice imitators of Senators Everett Dirksen and Bobby Kennedy from 1966 on Parkway Records)

Originally by the Troggs

"Hooked On A Feeling" - Blue Suede (1974) covering the 1969 B.J. Thomas hit

Answer 2

There are quite a few of these:

Doctor & The Medics (where are they now?) are pretty much only famous for covering Norman Greenbaum's late 60s hit "Spirit In The Sky".

Club Nouveau, whose only real smash was "Lean On Me' by Bill Withers.

"Baby, I Love Your Way" by Big Mountain (also by Will To Power, partly) - it was a Peter Frampton song.

"Mickey" by Toni Basil (first recorded by UK group Racey in 1979)

"Don't Leave Me This Way" by The Communards was a cover of the Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes song from 1975.

"Mad World" by Gary Jules (Tears For Fears song). Guess the jury (Jules-ry?) is still out on whether Gary will have another hit...

"I Love Rock And Roll" by Joan Jett is her only real major hit (there were some minor ones). It's a cover of The Arrows.

But, on deliberation, this is my personal favourite. The band has been around for 25 years, but in most parts of the world, this was their only serious chart placer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHZiDHjq8rs

If the question had been: "What's the best-ever cover by a famous band of a one-hit wonder?" then I have a hands-down, overwhelming favourite.

The original:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km2qrc9nqCg

Sadly there is no video of the cover version I need, so here's some silly ones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixv8w4lGCCA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zixZSj30Uc4&feature=related

And the famous band who covered it?

Sonic Youth.

If you can find their version anywhere, have a listen. It's a blast!

Answer 3

House Of The Rising Sun by Frijid Pink

Answer 4

Ooh tough one...
Gonna go with Nicki French's Total Eclipse of the Heart (original by Bonnie Tyler)

Not because I particularily like the version, just having trouble recalling other ones.....lol

Edit >> Unless Melanie Laine goes on to become a one-hit wonder with her version of Queen of Hearts. Then I'd change my answer to her. Too early to tell if she's a one-hitter though.

Answer 5

Ok, to start off with, One hit wonder means having only one hit...not just one hit that folks can remember...Martin Briley actually had more than one hit, and I am not including the ones he wrote and not sung.  Secondly a group who never really sang, really shouldn't be included in one hit wonders.The absolute classic one hit wonder launched a brand new channel, that subsequently seems to be more about reality TV than music.  As "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles launched the first channel totally dedicated to music, MTV.

Answer 6

Wow, this question really made me think.... I've been thinking about it since you posted and all that comes to mind right now is Ram Jam's cover of Black Betty.

I love Ani DiFranco btw :0)

Answer 7

Word Up ~ Gun
{original : Cameo}

I don't know if it was a hit over there, but here in the UK it got to #8.


Edit :~

I've just scrolled up to look at the other answers, and Darth got one of the only other ones I could think of!

Answer 8

Jimmy Eat World-The Middle
Someone should so cover that song.

Answer 9

You Aint Worth The Salt in My Tears - Martin Briley

Answer 10

Juice Newton--Angel of the Morning