Top 10 Cheesiest One-Hit Wonders of the 1980s

who says cheezy has to be bad welcome to

who says cheezy has to be bad welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten cheesiest

down our picks for the top ten cheesiest

down our picks for the top ten cheesiest one-hit wonders of the 1980s for this

one-hit wonders of the 1980s for this

one-hit wonders of the 1980s for this list we’ve chosen acts that were

list we’ve chosen acts that were

list we’ve chosen acts that were strongly identified with one extremely

strongly identified with one extremely

strongly identified with one extremely cheesy and successful song during the

cheesy and successful song during the

cheesy and successful song during the 1980s we’re not limiting things to acts

1980s we’re not limiting things to acts

1980s we’re not limiting things to acts that literally only had one hit single

that literally only had one hit single

that literally only had one hit single throughout their entire careers but

throughout their entire careers but

throughout their entire careers but we’re picking acts that are most known

we’re picking acts that are most known

we’re picking acts that are most known today for a chosen song also know

today for a chosen song also know

today for a chosen song also know singing actors

if you’ve ever been to an 80s retro

if you’ve ever been to an 80s retro night or tried cool mint Listerine

night or tried cool mint Listerine

night or tried cool mint Listerine you’ve heard the song cool serene works

you’ve heard the song cool serene works

you’ve heard the song cool serene works like Miss green tastes like cool mint

like Miss green tastes like cool mint

like Miss green tastes like cool mint with its message about living free and

with its message about living free and

with its message about living free and Tarzan’s familiar refrain as its chorus

Tarzan’s familiar refrain as its chorus

Tarzan’s familiar refrain as its chorus it’s catchy er than a cold

that’s why it was a smash with the

that’s why it was a smash with the Italian Irish band however Baltimore

Italian Irish band however Baltimore

Italian Irish band however Baltimore a-couldn’t managed another hit and so

a-couldn’t managed another hit and so

a-couldn’t managed another hit and so they disbanded too bad too there are so

they disbanded too bad too there are so

they disbanded too bad too there are so many fictional characters to sing about

number 9

number 9 taco putting on the Ritz and jumping

taco putting on the Ritz and jumping

taco putting on the Ritz and jumping when you don’t know where to go – don’t

when you don’t know where to go – don’t

when you don’t know where to go – don’t just bet

another is we were all ready to mock the

another is we were all ready to mock the band name taco then we found out it’s

band name taco then we found out it’s

band name taco then we found out it’s actually one dude and that’s his name

actually one dude and that’s his name

actually one dude and that’s his name putting on the wrist is a Fred Astaire

putting on the wrist is a Fred Astaire

putting on the wrist is a Fred Astaire cover and taco put his stamp on it

cover and taco put his stamp on it

cover and taco put his stamp on it if by stamp you mean utterly 80s

if by stamp you mean utterly 80s

if by stamp you mean utterly 80s synth-pop by is it us or is the song

synth-pop by is it us or is the song

synth-pop by is it us or is the song creepy regardless it was a hit and taco

creepy regardless it was a hit and taco

creepy regardless it was a hit and taco followed it up with another less

followed it up with another less

followed it up with another less successful cover number 8 Thomas Dolby

successful cover number 8 Thomas Dolby

successful cover number 8 Thomas Dolby she blinded me with science it’s about a

she blinded me with science it’s about a

she blinded me with science it’s about a mad scientist who falls in love with his

mad scientist who falls in love with his

mad scientist who falls in love with his lab assistant plus it’s got a stuffy

lab assistant plus it’s got a stuffy

lab assistant plus it’s got a stuffy British guy tons of catchy hooks and

British guy tons of catchy hooks and

British guy tons of catchy hooks and lots of synthesizer well it was the 80s

lots of synthesizer well it was the 80s

lots of synthesizer well it was the 80s Dolby’s fellow Brits might recognize a

Dolby’s fellow Brits might recognize a

Dolby’s fellow Brits might recognize a few of his other songs but across the

few of his other songs but across the

few of his other songs but across the pond this was his only track to crack

pond this was his only track to crack

pond this was his only track to crack the top 40 you can’t argue that the

the top 40 you can’t argue that the

the top 40 you can’t argue that the song’s cheesy why because science

number seven cutting crew I just died in

number seven cutting crew I just died in your arms

only an 80s synth-pop power ballad has

only an 80s synth-pop power ballad has this much passion speaking of passion

this much passion speaking of passion

this much passion speaking of passion apparently the French used the phrase a

apparently the French used the phrase a

apparently the French used the phrase a little death as a metaphor for mm

little death as a metaphor for mm

little death as a metaphor for mm climaxing and that’s what this songs

climaxing and that’s what this songs

climaxing and that’s what this songs about go figure

but oddly this number one didn’t cause

but oddly this number one didn’t cause nearly as much controversy as other

nearly as much controversy as other

nearly as much controversy as other Tunes on our list however unfortunately

Tunes on our list however unfortunately

Tunes on our list however unfortunately for cutting crew after this song they

for cutting crew after this song they

for cutting crew after this song they suffered a little death of their own and

suffered a little death of their own and

suffered a little death of their own and not in a good way

any song with a whip crack sound is by

any song with a whip crack sound is by definition cheesy even so

definition cheesy even so

definition cheesy even so DeVos New Wave smash caused a stir due

DeVos New Wave smash caused a stir due

DeVos New Wave smash caused a stir due to its ambiguous lyrics while the band

to its ambiguous lyrics while the band

to its ambiguous lyrics while the band claims it’s about overcoming adversity

claims it’s about overcoming adversity

claims it’s about overcoming adversity some people think it’s about well

some people think it’s about well

some people think it’s about well whipping it or S&M or sucking on a

whipping it or S&M or sucking on a

whipping it or S&M or sucking on a whipped cream can now rip it either way

whipped cream can now rip it either way

whipped cream can now rip it either way with their one smash Devo proved songs

with their one smash Devo proved songs

with their one smash Devo proved songs don’t need to make sense to crack charts

slab number five the weather girls it’s

slab number five the weather girls it’s raining men finally a song where women

raining men finally a song where women

raining men finally a song where women objectify men too bad it was written by

objectify men too bad it was written by

objectify men too bad it was written by two dudes one of whom was Paul Shaffer

two dudes one of whom was Paul Shaffer

two dudes one of whom was Paul Shaffer that is absolutely true

that is absolutely true

that is absolutely true anyway settling any questions about the

anyway settling any questions about the

anyway settling any questions about the weather girls Rep as a novelty act the

weather girls Rep as a novelty act the

weather girls Rep as a novelty act the weather related puns and sound effects

weather related puns and sound effects

weather related puns and sound effects are brought to life in a gloriously

are brought to life in a gloriously

are brought to life in a gloriously low-budget video

cheesy or not these ladies churned out a

cheesy or not these ladies churned out a number one that became an anthem in

number one that became an anthem in

number one that became an anthem in strip clubs gay bars and everywhere in

strip clubs gay bars and everywhere in

strip clubs gay bars and everywhere in between number for lips Inc funky town

this disco holdover is considered one of

this disco holdover is considered one of the genres last hits and we can’t think

the genres last hits and we can’t think

the genres last hits and we can’t think of a song with a more blatant 70s slash

of a song with a more blatant 70s slash

of a song with a more blatant 70s slash 80s vibe written about New York funky

80s vibe written about New York funky

80s vibe written about New York funky town spent four weeks at the top of the

town spent four weeks at the top of the

town spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1986

Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1986

Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1986 years later it hit charts again when

years later it hit charts again when

years later it hit charts again when remade by pseudo echo to sound even more

remade by pseudo echo to sound even more

remade by pseudo echo to sound even more 80s

question our Funkytown and Electric

question our Funkytown and Electric Avenue near each other then trick I

Avenue near each other then trick I

Avenue near each other then trick I value number three Frankie Goes to

value number three Frankie Goes to

value number three Frankie Goes to Hollywood relax

nothing sells records faster than a

nothing sells records faster than a scandal when Frankie strutted onto the

scandal when Frankie strutted onto the

scandal when Frankie strutted onto the scene the BBC was happy to oblige by

scene the BBC was happy to oblige by

scene the BBC was happy to oblige by banning a song almost for the duration

banning a song almost for the duration

banning a song almost for the duration of its charts day because of homoerotic

of its charts day because of homoerotic

of its charts day because of homoerotic and sadomasochistic

and sadomasochistic

and sadomasochistic imagery in the video and blatantly

imagery in the video and blatantly

imagery in the video and blatantly sexual lyrics in the song however all

sexual lyrics in the song however all

sexual lyrics in the song however all that did was sell tons of Frankie says

that did was sell tons of Frankie says

that did was sell tons of Frankie says relax t-shirts and secure the band’s

relax t-shirts and secure the band’s

relax t-shirts and secure the band’s place as a one-hit wonder he is a little

place as a one-hit wonder he is a little

place as a one-hit wonder he is a little song Iowa number 2 Bobby McFerrin don’t

song Iowa number 2 Bobby McFerrin don’t

song Iowa number 2 Bobby McFerrin don’t worry be happy don’t worry be happy if

worry be happy don’t worry be happy if

worry be happy don’t worry be happy if you remember the late 80s you know this

you remember the late 80s you know this

you remember the late 80s you know this song prompted a catchphrase became an

song prompted a catchphrase became an

song prompted a catchphrase became an inescapable phenomenon and won tons o

inescapable phenomenon and won tons o

inescapable phenomenon and won tons o Grammys that’s because people were blown

Grammys that’s because people were blown

Grammys that’s because people were blown away by its upbeat message and the fact

away by its upbeat message and the fact

away by its upbeat message and the fact that the song uses no instruments that’s

that the song uses no instruments that’s

that the song uses no instruments that’s right that’s only McFerrin voice and

right that’s only McFerrin voice and

right that’s only McFerrin voice and whistling on the track in fact this was

whistling on the track in fact this was

whistling on the track in fact this was the first acapella song to hit number

the first acapella song to hit number

the first acapella song to hit number one

one

one so McFerrin x’ optimistic philosophy

so McFerrin x’ optimistic philosophy

so McFerrin x’ optimistic philosophy must work don’t worry it will soon pass

must work don’t worry it will soon pass

must work don’t worry it will soon pass whatever it is number 1 Toni Basil

whatever it is number 1 Toni Basil

whatever it is number 1 Toni Basil Mickey

instead of being sung by a Pep Squad

instead of being sung by a Pep Squad this novelty smash was brought to us by

this novelty smash was brought to us by

this novelty smash was brought to us by Toni Basil who seemingly came out of

Toni Basil who seemingly came out of

Toni Basil who seemingly came out of nowhere to play the cheerleading motif

nowhere to play the cheerleading motif

nowhere to play the cheerleading motif for all it’s worth

but basil was already a dancer slash

but basil was already a dancer slash choreographer slash actor with an

choreographer slash actor with an

choreographer slash actor with an impressive resume that included a part

impressive resume that included a part

impressive resume that included a part in Easy Rider what’s the matter don’t

in Easy Rider what’s the matter don’t

in Easy Rider what’s the matter don’t you like me so don’t feel too bad she

you like me so don’t feel too bad she

you like me so don’t feel too bad she also created one of the most ear wormy

also created one of the most ear wormy

also created one of the most ear wormy songs ever and became the quintessential

songs ever and became the quintessential

songs ever and became the quintessential one-hit wonder

do you agree with our list what song is

do you agree with our list what song is your favorite one-hit wonder of the

your favorite one-hit wonder of the

your favorite one-hit wonder of the 1980s be sure to subscribe to

1980s be sure to subscribe to

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