Listicle: 10 one-hit wonders from the last 15 years

Where did they go? Sing along to these well-remembered songs as algorithms take over music playlists

First time’s the charm

• 
  Estelle:

  Admit it, it was your introduction to Kanye West too. Estelle’s 2008 superhit, American Boy, by the British singer and rapper (from her second studio album, Shine) even won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and was nominated for Song of the Year. The compelling groove and her melodic vocals left fans asking for more, and though she collaborated with John Legend, Robin Thicke, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, will.i.am, and even David Guetta, nothing stuck like her Grammy winner.
• 
  Gotye:

  The title the Belgian-Australian multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter’s only hit, Somebody That We Used To Know, is how we remember him now. The 2012 song, which featured artist Kimbra, won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 2013. The melodic break-up song was an instant hit at karaoke nights and house parties, for its harmonies and an addictive melodic line. But, Gotye aka Wouter André “Wally” De Backer, has failed to win people’s hearts since.
• 
  Carly Rae Jepsen:

  She reminded everyone of Rebecca Black (“Friday, Friday, Gotta get down on Friday”). And we didn’t hear from the Canadian singer-songwriter after her 2012 hit Call Me Maybe, until her collaboration with Adam Young and Owl City in Good Time. But, Jepsen’s single was declared the best-selling single of that year, selling over 18 million copies. And why wouldn’t it? Call Me Maybe became the best pick-up line in every bar.
• 
  Swedish House Mafia:

  The controversial one. Because they’ve had some work after their 2012 song Don’t You Worry Child (featuring John Martin), a part of their album Until Now. Not only was the song nominated at the Grammy’s in the Best Dance/Electronic Recording category, but it was an introduction to the progressive house genre for many back here in India. It set the tone for the EDM boom. They haven’t topped that feat.
• 
  A Great Big World:

  This American duo’s Say Something was a one of the biggest hits of 2013, and the credit doesn’t even go to Christina Aguilera, who reached out to the duo to collaborate after she heard it. The duo (Ian Axel and Chad King) won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and were nominated for Best Video at the World Music Awards. The heart-wrenching love ballad became a go-to for those looking for duets with beautiful harmonies. But that was the last we heard from them. Release something. We’re giving up on you!
• 
  James Bay:

  The English singer-songwriter’s 2014 release, Let It Go, from his album Chaos and the Calm, was just that: chaos and calm. It became a song people sang to woo someone as well as to cry over them. What helped the song’s popularity was that it featured in American TV series The Vampire Diaries, Grey’s Anatomy and then, Jane the Virgin. Bay need to let his burst of fame go and do better with his follow-up efforts.
• 
  WALKTHEMOON:

  Shut Up and Dance was a song that brought back dance and electro pop back into many people’s lives, at a time when EDM was in the middle of a lull. The 2014 release, from the album Talking is Hard, won the Billboard Music Award for Top Rock Song as well for Top Radio Song. The American pop/rock band became popular for using the keyboard and synthesizer in the typical 1980s style, but they’ve failed to do much since.
• Magic!:

  When a band’s debut single sounds as promising as Magic’s did, it’s just plain Rude to deprive fans of more. The Canadian band hit it big in 2014 thanks to its rebellious love-will-conquer-all lyrics and addictive reggae tone. Magic!’s music video took inspiration from the early 2000s,getting millennials nostalgic. People had all but forgotten about them until they performed at IIT Bombay in 2019. They could have easily headlined the NH7 Weekender, had they released more songs like their debut!
• 
  Gnash:

  Garrett Charles Nash’s 2016 release, I Hate U, I Love U, with singer Olivia O’Brien, got pure love from fans worldwide. The American musician, rapper and singer actually produced the slow, groovy love song in his garage. It went viral, and you’ll still find it being used in Reels. But when you try to look for more songs by Gnash on music apps, nothing similar shows up.
• 
  Lauv:

  The American singer’s 2018 viral hit, I Like Me Better, continues to rule Reels and TikToks five years on. The mushy pop love song, from Ari Staprans’s Leff aka Lauv’s album, I Met You When I Was 18 (The Playlist), also works as an appreciative song dedicated to anyone you love, partner, colleague, friend or pet. But that’s that. The love for Lauv’s work hasn’t disappeared completely, but we’re waiting for another IG song we’ll actually like.