I was in a conversation about one-hit wonders recently and started thinking about a subset: songs that everyone knows the name of, but few know the ar
February 20, 2009

I was in a conversation about one-hit wonders recently and started thinking about a subset: songs that everyone knows the name of, but few know the artist.

Case in point, Murray Head. It actually turns out (thank you, music dork utopia songfacts.com) that Murray Head had a hit with "Superstar" from Jesus Christ Superstar, in which he played Judas, so he technically isn't a one-hit wonder -- but who's counting.

Anyways, "One Night In Bangkok" (which was written by consummate tunesmithing professionals Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson from ABBA, with Tim Rice) made the top ten despite being about an epic chess match in the far east, and containing a flute solo. Well played, gents.

What other songs can you think of with equally high levels of ubiquity and anonymity?

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