© Getty Images

Lou Bega - 'Mambo No. 5' (1999) -

Under his stage name Lou Bega, German singer David Lubega scored a worldwide smash hit with his jazzy homage to all the ladies he would like a "little bit of." The song was a cover of a 1949 song by Cuban musician Dámaso Pérez Prado, but that early version didn't enjoy success, and nor did Bega's follow-up singles.

© Getty Images

The Rembrandts - 'I'll Be There for You' (1995) -

The Rembrandts were already making music with low-key success before they soundtracked the theme tune to 'Friends,' but it was the mega-successful show that catapulted them to stardom. It was to be their defining musical moment.

© Getty Images

4 Non Blondes - 'What's Up?' (1993) -

The American alternative rock group's catchy call-to-arms was all over radio waves in 1993, when 'What's Up?' topped the charts around the world. Taken from their one-and-done album 'Bigger, Better, Faster, More!,' it's still an indie anthem.

© Getty Images

Musical Youth - 'Pass the Dutchie' (1982) -

Rumors abound that 'Pass the Dutchie' really meant passing around a joint, although Musical Youth insist it was in fact about a Dutch cooking pot. Whatever was being passed around in 1982, it brought international success for the British schoolboys, hitting the Billboard top 10 and earning them a Grammy nomination. But although they had some chart success on home soil, few could name any Musical Youth tunes other than this one.

© Getty Images

The Proclaimers - 'I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)' (1998) -

The title might come as a surprise to some—many people know this song by the chorus refrain: "I would walk 500 miles." Although they've had longstanding success in the UK and are musical heroes in their native Scotland, this 1988 pop stomper was The Proclaimers' only song to chart in the United States.

© Getty Images

Sir Mix-a-lot - 'Baby Got Back' (1992) -

This ode to the curvier female earned rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot a five-week stint at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. He's written and produced quite a few songs since, but has never been able to top this song about bottoms.

© Getty Images

Nena - '99 Luftballoons' (1983) -

Nena was a surprise success in the US with this anti-war pop song sung in her native German. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, but subsequent singles failed to bring success outside Europe.

© Getty Images

Sugarhill Gang - 'Rapper's Delight' (1979) -

Sugarhill Gang made musical history with their first and only hit record, 'Rapper's Delight.' It's widely acknowledged as the world's first rap song, and the game-changing tune reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and scaled the charts internationally.

© Getty Images

The Archies - 'Sugar Sugar' (1969) -

Comic-book quintet the Archies might be seen as the 1960s predecessor to Damon Albarn's 'virtual band' Gorillaz. First appearing in the comic strip 'Life with Archie' and later on the animated TV show of the same name, the fictional band scored a real-life hit with bubblegum-pop classic 'Sugar Sugar,' which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Follow-ups achieved moderate success, but it's 'Sugar Sugar' that lives on.

© Getty Images

Norman Greenbaum - 'Spirit in the Sky' (1969) -

Greenbaum's only success, 'Spirit in the Sky' reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and lingered in the upper reaches of the charts for weeks. It was a major hit internationally, and has spawned several cover versions.

© Getty Images

The Surfaris - 'Wipe Out' (1963) -

It's appeared in more than 20 TV films and shows since its release, making 'Wipe Out' a stone cold classic. Originally intended as a B-side, 'Wipe Out' spent four months on the Billboard chart. But the Surfaris never managed to ride the wave of popularity with subsequent releases.

© Getty Images

Whigfield - 'Saturday Night' (1992) -

Europop anthem 'Saturday Night,' and the song's accompanying dance moves, soundtracked many a summer disco in the early 1990s. It was a moderate dancefloor hit in the United States, and a smash hit elsewhere.

© Getty Images

Los del Río - 'Macarena' (1996) -

Another hit single that spawned a dance craze, Spanish band Los del Río's one-off hit 'Macarena' is one of the biggest Latin pop hits of all time. It was a slow burn sensation: beginning life in 1992, it wasn't until the Bayside Boys remixed the song in 1995 that 'Macarena' began to gain attention. It topped the Billboard charts in 1996, and stayed in pole position for 14 weeks.

© Getty Images

Bobby McFerrin - 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' (1988) -

Bobby McFerrin's cheerful tune was the first a cappella song to top the Billboard chart. A smash hit worldwide, it was a shift in musical style for McFerrin, who is better known as a jazz composer. He returned to his musical roots shortly after, and didn't release any further hits.

© Getty Images

New Radicals - 'You Get What You Give' (1998) -

Bucket-hatted front man Gregg Alexander led indie-poppers New Radicals to worldwide success with this single taken from their first, and only, album, 'Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too.' It didn't top the charts, but was a radio and music TV mainstay for much of the late '90s, and has appeared on several film soundtracks, too.

© Getty Images

Chumbawamba - 'Tubthumping' (1998) -

Chumbawamba were little known outside the UK indie-rock scene when they released this uncharacteristically-poppy single. Taken from their 1997 album 'Tubthumper,' it hit number six on the Billboard charts before the band slid into relative obscurity again.

© Getty Images

Hanson - 'MMMbop' (1997) -

The baby-faced Hanson brothers did have a degree of success with follow-ups, but the uber-catchy 'MMMbop' was their only Billboard number one, and the only Hanson song that lives on in the musical memory banks.

© Getty Images

Blind Melon - 'No Rain' (1992) -

Anybody who watched MTV during the early '90s will recall the music video to Blind Melon's only chart success. It featured a young girl dancing around in a bumble bee suit, and was a classic of its time.

© Getty Images

EMF - 'Unbelievable' (1991) -

They had quite a few hits in their native UK, but 'Unbelievable' was the only EMF song to make a mark on the Billboard charts. The instant indie classic stormed to number one, and regularly crops up on TV and radio.

© Getty Images

Tag Team - 'Whoomp! (There It Is)' (1993) -

'Whoomp! (There It Is)' brought multi-platinum mainstream success for Miami bass duo Tag Team, and can still be relied upon to get a party started decades later. Follow-ups failed to have the same impact, however.

© Getty Images

Gotye featuring. Kimbra - 'Somebody That I Used to Know' (2012) -

It was impossible to escape Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used to Know' in 2012. The song was everywhere, topping charts in more than 20 countries, including the United States. The video was on constant music TV rotation, but while the subsequent album sold well, future singles failed to set the charts alight.

© Getty Images

Jean Knight - 'Mr. Big Stuff' (1971) -

This sassy disco anthem reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and is still a guaranteed floor filler decades after its release.

© Getty Images

Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone - 'Ridin'' (2005) -

Working with fellow rapper Krayzie Bone on 'Ridin'' brought number one Billboard chart success for Chamillionaire. This catchy number from the rapper's debut solo album made waves across the musical world, but he hasn't found major chart success since.

© Getty Images

Mr. Big - 'To Be with You' (1991) -

Mr. Big topped the US Hot 100 with 'To Be with You' in 1991, and was number one in 15 countries. But subsequent singles failed to replicate that success. One later chart attempt saw them reach number 16, but 'To Be with You' is the only song getting airplay to this day.

© Getty Images

Silentó - 'Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)' (2015) -

Silentó's debut single peaked at number three on the Billboard charts, with dancers the world over copying his slick moves. But the success was short-lived, and things took a sinister turn in February 2021 when the singer was arrested on suspicion of his cousin's murder.

© Getty Images

The Buggles - 'Video Killed the Radio Star' (1979) -

The first music video ever played on MTV in 1981, the Buggles' 'Video Killed the Radio Star' failed to make an impact on the US market when it was released in 1979. Nevertheless, it has become a one-off classic for the British act.

© Getty Images

Dexys Midnight Runners - 'Come On Eileen' (1982) -

Known as Dexys in the UK, the band have enjoyed long-term success on home turf, but their 1983 banger 'Come On Eileen' was their one-and-only US chart hit, hitting number one on the Billboard chart.

© Getty Images

A-ha - 'Take On Me' (1985) -

Norwegian band A-ha were hugely successful in Europe for much of the 1980s, but only managed one hit in the United States. 'Take on Me,' with its memorable music video in which a comic-strip version of heartthrob singer Morten Harket comes to life, helped them top the Billboard Hot 100.

© Getty Images

Vanilla Ice - 'Ice Ice Baby' (1990) -

"Alright stop, collaborate and listen," sang Vanilla Ice over the hook from Queen's 'Under Pressure.' And the world did listen, with 'Ice Ice Baby' hurtling to the top of singles charts worldwide. He could perhaps be more accurately considered a 'two-hit wonder,' as 1991's 'Play That Funky Music' had a degree of success, but Vanilla Ice will be forever remembered for 'Ice Ice Baby.'

Sources: (Insider) (Business Insider) (Billboard)

See also: The best debut albums of all time

© Getty Images