Top 10 '90s One-Hit-Wonders That Still Bang

MsMojo

Get ready to groove as we revisit an unforgettable era of 90s music! From dancefloor anthems like “I’m Too Sexy” and “Macarena” to iconic jams such as “Return of the Mack” and “Baby Got Back,” these one hit wonders continue to dominate playlists. Whether you’re craving catchy beats or nostalgic vibes, these timeless tunes prove that some hits just never lose their sparkle.

Transcript

00:00When a girl walks in with an itty-bitty waist and a round thing in your face, you get...

00:03Welcome to Ms. Mojo.

00:07And today, we're counting down our picks for the one-hit wonders we're still bumping to this day.

00:18Number 10. I'm Too Sexy, Right Said Fred.

00:22I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt, so sexy it hurts.

00:30This song really is the definition of a one-hit wonder.

00:33Outside of their native UK, this Right Said Fred song feels like an anonymous track.

00:37I'm Too Sexy is still the ultimate dance track about narcissism.

00:41Famously, the song just lists the things its narrator is way too sexy for.

00:46I'm too sexy for my car, too sexy for my car, too sexy by far.

00:53Making fun of the superficiality of gym culture and the narcissism of other men was a pretty novel idea, especially for a hit song.

01:01But why male models?

01:07You serious? I just... I just told you that a moment ago.

01:12Right.

01:13It's still cultural shorthand for a specific type of man who's in love with himself.

01:17Looking around at the social media landscape now, it's still kind of hits.

01:29Number 9. Mambo No. 5. Lubega.

01:32One, two, three, four, five.

01:35Everybody in the car, so come on, let's ride.

01:38Sampling a Mambo track from the mid-century, this song hit No. 1 across the world.

01:43Lubega's high-energy Mambo Pop Fusion track had the whole world dancing.

01:47In the grand tradition of songs that just list people's names, it's definitely one of the greats.

01:52And while it may have been one of those songs that got old really fast,

01:55there's no denying that when it comes on now, it instantly transports us back to 1999.

02:01A little bit of Jessica, here I am.

02:04A little bit of you makes me your man.

02:06We're still waiting for Mambo No. 6, Lou.

02:09Actually, we still feel cheated that we didn't get Mambo's No. 1 through 4.

02:13You and me gonna touch the sky.

02:21Number 8. Return of the Mac.

02:24Mark Morrison.

02:24I guess you didn't move as I said a story go.

02:29Baby, now I got the flow.

02:31The title song from this British artist's most popular album saw crossover success in the U.S.

02:37Return of the Mac is a soul-inspired New Jack Swing track told from the point of view of a vengeful ex.

02:43Catchy and buoyant, with soul and dance pop influence, the song still hits.

02:48Your lives are mine.

02:50The timeless themes of feeling wronged by an ex, paired with an infectious 90s R&B sound is still a winning combo today.

03:03Although Morrison had some minor success in his home country, he failed to chart in the U.S. after Return of the Mac.

03:09Return of the Mac.

03:11Return of the Mac.

03:13Come on.

03:14Return of the Mac.

03:15Oh my God.

03:17Number 7.

03:18What is love?

03:18It's a dance hit from 1993 that asks an age-old question, what is love?

03:32Trinidadian German singer Hadaway dropped this absolute bop and it immediately became a hit all around the world.

03:38Though the song doesn't bring us any closer to an answer, that iconic refrain is still stuck in our heads over 30 years later.

03:45Its usage in SNL's Roxbury Guys sketches cemented it forever as a sure-fire nostalgia bomb.

03:59Since then, what is love has become a meme and was even featured in 2018's Black Panther.

04:05But it wouldn't be half as popular if it weren't so easy to dance to.

04:08What is love?

04:10Baby, don't hurt me.

04:13Don't hurt me.

04:15No more.

04:16Number 6.

04:17Macarena, Bayside Boys Remix, Los Del Rio.

04:20Macarena, Bayside Boys Remix, Los Del Rio.

04:28Since its first recording in 1993, this song has been remixed across the world.

04:32The most famous version, at least in America, was remixed by the Bayside Boys in 1995.

04:39They added English verses instead of the original Spanish, and suddenly an early viral sensation was born.

04:52Although the lyrics are pretty cheeky, that's not what we come back for.

04:56It's all in the dance.

04:58If you were there at its height, every hip swing and pose is probably burned into your memory.

05:03As soon as you hear those first few electronic notes, it's hard not to start moving.

05:14Number 5.

05:15Groove is in the Heart, D-Lite.

05:17Mixing a bunch of different genres and samples from other songs, this lovable dance track is funky and fresh with a twist of goofiness.

05:32Although it sounds distinctly early 90s, Groove is in the Heart is kind of timeless.

05:36It doesn't take itself seriously at all.

05:38The death of who the groove moves the two, then swoop, we're going through two, heart and here's a hoop.

05:45Released in 1990, the song is just an irreverent, referential and dance-worthy party track.

05:52New York-based music group D-Lite never had a hit as big as this one.

05:56Since then, though, the song has been frequently listed among the best in the dance genre.

06:00Groove is in the Heart, Groove is in the Heart.

06:08Number 4.

06:09Baby Got Back, Sir Mix-A-Lot.

06:11I like big butts and I cannot lie, you other brothers can't deny.

06:16Despite a 1992 release, Sir Mix-A-Lot's anthem to his love of large posterior ends still has a profound effect on the culture.

06:23Even if you don't know the song, you've at least heard references to its hilarious chorus and its opening narration.

06:30Talk about a cultural footprint.

06:31Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake that healthy butt.

06:35Baby Got Back.

06:36The song and accompanying music video were highly controversial.

06:41Which just makes it more irresistible.

06:43And we're not the only ones still listening.

06:45Nicki Minaj's Anaconda is one of the most famous examples.

06:49In fact, Minaj's now-classic track heavily samples sections of the song and even takes its title from a line in Baby Got Back.

06:56My anaconda don't, my anaconda don't want none unless you got buns, hun.

07:03Number 3.

07:04Fade Into You, Mazzy Star.

07:06Back in 2013, Vulture made the bold claim that this 1993 indie hit was the most overused needle drop in movies and television.

07:21Still, can you blame them?

07:23Fade Into You by alternative pop group Mazzy Star is a dreamy, love-lorn ballad.

07:36It's an incredibly simple song.

07:38It maintains the same energy throughout and has a simple chord progression.

07:42But it's one of the most haunting songs ever.

07:44Lead vocalist Hope Sandoval's breathy voice and gentle approach makes it sound like a magic spell.

07:49The simplicity and the ethereal sound are what makes Fade Into You an unforgettable classic.

07:55Strange, you never knew.

08:03Number 2.

08:04Barbie Girl, Aqua.

08:06I'm a Barbie girl in the Barbie world.

08:10Laughing classic, it's fantastic.

08:13Deeply ironic and dripping with subtext, this bubblegum pink pop hit is an earworm to end them all.

08:20Despite being a satire of the brand, it's since gone on to become synonymous with the eponymous doll.

08:25Come on Barbie, let's go party.

08:27Come on Barbie, let's go party.

08:32The Scandinavian dance pop novelty hit was actually a thorn in Mattel's side for years.

08:37The toy maker unsuccessfully sued MCA Records.

08:41Their lawsuit accused the company and the band of damaging their brand.

08:44Times have changed, though.

08:46Barbie Girl has stayed with us since its release in 1997.

08:50Even Mattel had to get on board.

08:51The song reappeared on the official Barbie movie soundtrack in 2023, sampled in Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice's Barbie World.

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09:21Number 1.

09:22Bittersweet Symphony, The Verve.

09:24Cause it's a bittersweet symphony that's like

09:32No other song captures that particular brand of 90s malaise like this Britpop sensation.

09:38With its haunting violin hook and tranquil vocal track, this is a song that is peak 90s in every way.

09:44I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

09:52Frontman and songwriter Richard Ashcroft actually took inspiration from 60s rock music.

09:57However, the band updates the sound for a modern audience, mixing a strong beat, a melancholy mood, and a soulful vocal.

10:04All these years later, it still goes as hard as it ever did.

10:07Bittersweet Symphony is a perfect hit of nostalgia and genuine musicianship, and it's still listed among the best songs ever released.

10:14Which of these tracks gave you major nostalgia?

10:29Let us know in the comments.

10:30Well, imagination, life is your creation.

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