3 One-Hit Wonders That I Want To Remember Forever

Sometimes a song can feel like a friend. Or even a family member. Just hearing them can conjure up emotions or vivid images in your mind. They can be so important that they stick with you forever—or at least that’s what you hope. This can happen not only with run-of-the-mill everyday songs, but it can happen with one-hit wonders, too.

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We wanted to explore three examples of that here. These three one-hit wonders are so indelible and hit at the right time that they remain crucial for the cultural zeitgeist. These are a trio of tunes that not only individuals want to never forget but that culture itself wants to keep a hold on. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonders we want to remember forever.

“Because The Night” by Patti Smith from ‘Easter’ (1978)

Just a sublime rock song, both in its lyrical and musical content and in its lore. A track about lovers performed with confidence and allure, this Patti Smith song, which hit No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, was written originally by Bruce Springsteen. But he didn’t think it would work as well off his tongue as it would someone like Smith’s. So the Boss sent the track over to her and Smith made it her own with muscle and fantasy. It remains the icon’s sole top-40 single but if you only get one, this is the one to get.

“Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger from ‘Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?’ (1998)

We all know the 1990s were the best decade ever (right? right!) and perhaps the most quintessential 90s song that was ever written and released is by Harvey Danger. The Seattle-born band’s track “Flagpole Sitta” bears the paranoia and poetry of the decade while also sounding like it is frantically barreling toward an unknowable new millennium. The song is still showing up in throwback commercials these days, including one from Taco Bell. Let’s never forget this feeling!

“Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley from ‘St. Elsewhere’ (2006)

A song that had all the world singing about mental health, about whether or not each of us is crazy. This tune, which hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, comes from the minds of CeeLo Green and Danger Mouse. Sung by the former and produced by the latter, the duo’s combination was one of the great things about the first decade of the 2000s. Melding hip-hop sensibilities with soul, Gnarls Barkley and their song about madness should never be forgotten.

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