When you think of one‑hit wonders, names like ‘Macarena’ or ‘Who Let the Dogs Out?’ probably pop into your head. Yet the music business also harbors a rarer breed: artists who managed to snag a second smash hit before fading from the spotlight. In this roundup we spotlight 10 musicians who actually pulled off two chart‑topping songs in the United States, proving that a follow‑up hit is possible—just not always sustainable.
10 Musicians who: Two‑Hit Wonders Revealed
1 Carly Rae Jepsen: “Call Me Maybe” and “Good Time”
Carly Rae Jepsen’s breakout anthem “Call Me Maybe” dominated 2012, clinching the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for nine straight weeks and earning nominations for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the Grammys. Its sugary hook and viral dance craze made it an instant cultural touchstone.
Later that same year, Jepsen teamed up with Owl City for the breezy duet “Good Time,” which also vaulted into the Top 10, effectively shaking off the one‑hit‑wonder label. In a 2017 Billboard interview, she confessed the lingering fear of being a one‑track act, saying, “There’s this terrifying feeling of, ‘Oh god, what if it’s the only music that I create?’” Both she and Owl City remain two‑hit wonders, yet they continue to release music for their devoted fan bases.
2 Psy: “Gangnam Style” and “Gentleman”
When “Gangnam Style” burst onto the Korean scene in July 2012, it instantly claimed the No. 1 slot on the Gaon Chart and soon after vaulted to No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The track’s eccentric horse‑dance and its music video became the first YouTube clip to breach the one‑billion‑view milestone, cementing Psy’s global fame.
His follow‑up single “Gentleman” didn’t quite match the viral frenzy of its predecessor, yet it still climbed to No. 5 on the Hot 100 and amassed 18.9 million views within its first 24 hours—setting a new YouTube record at the time. Psy told MTV in 2013 that his sole goal was to avoid the one‑hit‑wonder tag, a goal he achieved, even if subsequent releases never cracked the Top 20 in America. He still enjoys massive success back home, scoring a No. 1 hit in 2022 with “That That” alongside BTS’s Suga.
3 Limahl: “Too Shy” and “Never Ending Story”
Limahl first rose to fame as the frontman of Kajagoogoo, whose synth‑pop single “Too Shy” peaked at No. 5 on the U.S. charts in 1983. Creative differences soon led to his departure from the band, with bassist Nick Beggs later recalling that Limahl wanted a direction that didn’t align with the rest of the group.
Undeterred, Limahl launched a solo career and lent his voice to the title track of the 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story. While the song only reached No. 17 on the Hot 100, its resurgence in 2019—thanks to a feature in the third season of Stranger Things—brought it back into public consciousness. In a Billboard interview, Limahl expressed delight at the renewed attention, noting the grueling promotional tour that initially left him “disappointed” when the track stalled at No. 17.
4 CeeLo Green: “Crazy” and “F**k You! (Forget You)”
“Crazy,” the debut single from the Gnarls Barkley duo—comprising CeeLo Green and producer Danger Mouse—soared to No. 2 on the Hot 100 and earned a Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. The follow‑up single “Going On” barely scraped the charts, peaking at No. 88, but the duo never aimed to become a hit‑factory, according to Danger Mouse.
In 2010, CeeLo Green resurfaced as a solo artist with the cheeky anthem “F**k You! (Forget You),” which also peaked at No. 2 in March 2011 and secured another Grammy. Despite the massive success of both tracks, Green hasn’t replicated that chart dominance since, though he’s remained active in music and television, notably as a coach on The Voice.
5 Natasha Bedingfield: “Unwritten” and “Pocketful of Sunshine”
Natasha Bedingfield’s empowering anthem “Unwritten” dominated U.S. airwaves in 2006, becoming the most‑played song of the year, reaching No. 5 on the Hot 100, and earning a Grammy nomination. Its catchy chorus and inspirational lyrics made it a staple on radio and TV, even serving as the theme for MTV’s reality series The Hills.
Two years later, she followed up with another Top 5 hit, “Pocketful of Sunshine,” which also peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100. Despite these successes, Bedingfield confessed in a 2019 interview with the Independent that extensive touring—six months of daily state‑to‑state performances with acoustic sets—didn’t translate into lasting U.S. chart presence. She remains philosophical, noting that overexposure can be more damaging than obscurity. Her brother Daniel also experienced two‑hit status in America with “Gotta Get Thru This” (No. 10) and “If You’re Not the One” (No. 15).
6 Taio Cruz: “Break Your Heart” and “Dynamite”
In 2010, English pop‑dance star Taio Cruz ruled the clubs with “Break Your Heart,” which hit No. 1 on the Hot 100, and “Dynamite,” which settled at No. 2. Both tracks became club anthems, but despite high‑profile collaborations with artists like Kesha, Kylie Minogue, and Flo Rida, Cruz never produced another chart‑topping single.
Reflecting in 2018, Cruz explained that engineering a No. 1 had become more challenging in the streaming era, emphasizing the need for cultural relevance, social media buzz, and influencer backing. He admitted that while he still strives for excellence—“whenever I write anything, I want it to be the best, and the best is No. 1”—he’s also content with stepping away from the relentless rat race by 2020.
7 Ugly Kid Joe: “Everything About You” and “Cats in the Cradle”
Ugly Kid Joe burst onto the mainstream with “Everything About You,” a track that rode the wave of its inclusion in the 1992 film Wayne’s World to reach No. 9 on the Hot 100. Their follow‑up single, a cover of Harry Chapin’s “Cats in the Cradle,” climbed even higher, peaking at No. 6 in April 1993.
After a string of lesser‑known releases, the band dissolved in 1997. They reunited in 2010, but none of their newer material matched the impact of those early hits. At the 2019 Ramblin’ Man Fair, frontman Whitfield Crane admitted he grew weary of revisiting the two classics in the ’90s, yet now finds performing them cathartic, especially given the enthusiastic crowd responses.
8 Soulja Boy: “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” and “Kiss Me Thru the Phone”
In 2007, the teenage rapper Soulja Boy exploded onto the scene with “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” a track that dominated the Hot 100 for seven weeks and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song. The song’s accompanying dance sparked a nationwide craze, though it also attracted criticism from veterans like Ice‑T, who claimed it “single‑handedly killed hip‑hop.”
Soulja Boy insisted he wasn’t content with a single hit, stating, “I didn’t want to be a one‑hit wonder… I was determined to keep making hits.” He managed a second Top 3 entry with “Kiss Me Thru the Phone” (featuring Sammie) in 2009, but after that, his presence on the charts dwindled dramatically.
9 Cobra Starship: “Good Girls Go Bad” and “You Make Me Feel…”
Cobra Starship first attempted mainstream exposure with “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)” for the 2006 film, but the track failed to chart. Their breakthrough arrived in 2009 with “Good Girls Go Bad,” featuring Leighton Meester, which climbed to No. 7 on the Hot 100.
Two years later, they reclaimed the same chart position with “You Make Me Feel…,” featuring Sabi—and an unexpected cameo by Robin Williams in the video. The band dissolved in 2015, though frontman Gabe Saporta transitioned to a managerial role. In a 2019 Billboard interview, he reflected, “I took a swing at pop. I experienced it to its fullest,” adding that he doesn’t miss performing.
10 Vanilla Ice: “Ice Ice Baby” and “Play That Funky Music”
When “Ice Ice Baby” hit the airwaves in November 1990, it became the first rap single to top the Billboard Hot 100, propelling hip‑hop into the mainstream. The track sparked controversy over songwriting credits and its unlicensed sample of Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure.” Yet Ice wasn’t limited to that one hit.
Initially, the label pushed “Play That Funky Music,” but it lagged behind. A Georgia DJ named Darrell Jaye flipped the record to its B‑side, discovering “Ice Ice Baby,” while Mississippi DJ Dave Morales helped the track dominate radio play. The success of “Ice Ice Baby” revived interest in “Play That Funky Music,” which was re‑released and eventually reached No. 4 in early 1991. Like its predecessor, the song also faced legal trouble for sampling Wild Cherry’s original version.