Artist	Song
Nena	99 Luftballons
from 99 Luftballons (1984)
The Sugarhill Gang	Rapper's Delight
from The Showdown: The Sugarhill Gang Vs. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five (2005)
The Vapors	Turning Japanese
from Turning Japanese - The Best of The Vapors (2003)
DJ EZ Rock & Rob Base	It Takes Two
from Profilin' - the Hits (1990)
The Weather Girls	It's Raining Men
from Success (1987)
Benny Mardones	Into the Night
from Ultimate Wedding Hits, Vol. 2 (2006)
Men Without Hats	The Safety Dance
from The Silver Collection (2009)
Al B. Sure!	Nite and Day
from In Effect Mode (2008)
Re-Flex	The Politics of Dancing
from Lost & Found: Imagination, Vol. 1 (2007)
Split Enz	I Got You
from History Never Repeats - The Best of Split Enz (1987)
M/A/R/R/S	Pump Up the Volume (7" Version)
from Lilliput (1992)
Harold Faltermeyer	Axel F
from Totally '80s for Kids (2010)
Toto Coelo	I Eat Cannibals (Part 2)
from I Eat Cannibals (1987)
U.S.A. for Africa	We Are the World
from We Are the World - Single (1985)
Gary Portnoy	Where Everybody Knows Your Name (Cheers Theme)
from Keeper (2004)
Donald Fagen	I.G.Y.
from The Nightfly (2007)
Peter Schilling	Major Tom (Voellig Losgeloest)
from Major Tom (Voellig Losgeloest) - Single (2005)
Autograph	Turn Up the Radio
from Sign In Please (1985)
Mary Jane Girls	In My House
from 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Motown '80s, Vol. 1 (2002)
T'Pau	Heart and Soul
from T'Pau - Hits (2007)
Aldo Nova	Fantasy
from A Portrait of Aldo Nova (1991)
Boys Don't Cry	I Wanna Be a Cowboy
from Boys Don't Cry (2006)
The System	Don't Disturb This Groove
from Atlantic 60: Satin Grooves - The '80s (2007)
Stanley Clarke	Sweet Baby
from The Clarke / Duke Project (1985)
Oran "Juice" Jones	The Rain
from '80s Urban Beats & Grooves (2002)
J.J. Fad	Supersonic
from Supersonic (2005)
The Firm	Radioactive
from The Firm (2009)
Don Johnson	Heartbeat
from Heartbeat (1986)
Carl Anderson	Friends and Lovers
from Carl Anderson (1995)
The Blow Monkeys	Digging Your Scene
from Atomic Lullabies: Very Best of The Blow Monkeys (1999)
Junior	Mama Used to Say
from The Best of Junior: Mama Used to Say (2002)
Ollie & Jerry	Breakin'...There's No Stopping Us
from Number 1's: Dance (2007)
Diesel	Sausalito Summernight
from Watts In a Tank (2005)
Sybil	Don't Make Me Over
from Sybil's Greatest Hits (2007)
Rossington Collins Band	Don't Misunderstand Me
from 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Rossington Collins Band (2003)
Frank Stallone	Far from Over
from Frank Stallone (2006)
Saga	On the Loose
from Worlds Apart (2007)
Kix	Don't Close Your Eyes
from Rhino Hi-Five: Power Ballads (2006)
Double	The Captain of Her Heart
from Blue (1985)
The Kings	This Beat Goes On/Switchin' to Glide
from Party Live In '85 (2007)
Tracey Ullman	They Don't Know
from The Best of Tracey Ullman (1984)
Company B	Fascinated
from Company B (2008)
Sylvia	Nobody
from RCA Country Legends: Sylvia (2002)
Pseudo Echo	Funky Town
from Radio Hits of the '80s (2006)

Comment:

The musical landscape of the '80s was painted by artists both major and minor, and the one-hit wonders are as much a part of the canvas as anyone. Significantly, this was the first generation to come of age alongside burgeoning music television, so many of these songs — from "99 Red Balloons" by German vocalist Nena (and her like-titled band) to "Never Ending Story" from former Kajagoogoo front man Limahl — were vividly and inexorably married to wonderfully creative videos. It was a time when the world was changing with breathless speed, and even though Rubik's Cubes, Chia Pets, and Alex P. Keaton are long gone, the music remains — as fresh and vital as ever.

Feedback: