Grab your hairspray and neon accessories as we travel back to the decade of synthesizers and unforgettable melodies! Join us as we count down the bands who blazed brightly with one massive hit before fading into musical history. From synth-pop sensations to hard rock rebels, these artists defined the 80s with singles that still get us dancing today.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best 1980s bands with
00:09one major standout hit.
00:11They might have other singles or success, but nothing surpasses one track in particular.
00:20From the hair to the music, Kajagoogoo was tailor-made for the 1980s.
00:38This pop group started under a different line-up in the late 1970s.
00:42After gaining Christopher Hamill as a singer, they changed their name and reached for pop
00:46glory.
00:56The musicians released Too Shy on their debut album, White Feathers.
00:59With its atmospheric intro, the single connected with audiences and achieved chart success
01:03around the world.
01:13The song's incredible bassline is one element that makes it stand out.
01:17While it had a heavy, groovy production, it didn't make the band a guarantee in the
01:21industry.
01:22The band quits in 1985, with Hamill trying a solo career under his stage name, Limahl.
01:47These new wave musicians provided an underrated piece of 1980s pop.
01:51Frankie Goes to Hollywood was arguably a groundbreaking act, willing to discuss sex in more explicit
01:56ways.
02:03In the United States, nothing the group put out reached the same levels of popularity
02:07as Relax.
02:08It is danceable, bombastic and lyrically bold.
02:11The band didn't hold back on their most iconic tune, garnering controversy during
02:15its initial release.
02:23Collaborating with the producer Trevor Horn, the pop act also worked with talented members
02:27of the business.
02:29With only two studio albums to their name, this collective arrived and left like a bolt
02:33of lightning.
02:43You don't need four, or even three people to be a powerful group.
02:46Singer Mark Almond teamed up with David Ball in the late 1970s, exploring the future of
02:51electronic music.
02:53This duo brought out their best attempt at synth pop, giving Tainted Love a new spin.
03:04The single came out in 1981, and became a phenomenon all its own.
03:09Their cover kicks off with a strong beat, networking a 1960s recording into an energetic
03:14production.
03:22Soft Cell never repeated the commercial success of their debut album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.
03:27However, if you turn on oldies radio, you'll probably hear the hit that made them famous.
03:35Hailing from Ohio, Daz Band came from the same state as legends like Bootsy Collins
03:47and the O'Jays.
03:48Following in that tradition, they brought their funk and R&B influence to 1980s audiences.
04:00Let It Whip is a crowd pleaser that transcends genre.
04:03It's one you almost have to dance to, with a big production full of great instrumentation.
04:08Winning a Grammy for the track, the group gave their all to their most successful song.
04:20Other minor hits followed as they released albums into the 2000s.
04:24Decades later, their most recognisable effort still packs a funky punch.
04:44As members of Talking Heads, drummer Chris France and bassist Tina Weymouth created another
04:48band for themselves.
04:49TomTom Club's most celebrated track is the catchy Genius of Love.
05:02It's got a perfect mix of funk, pop and rock all rolled into one.
05:06The sound also became influential to other artists like Mariah Carey.
05:19As a sampled work, the music lives on through multiple generations of audiences.
05:23France and Weymouth used this track to expand their legacy beyond their more famous band.
05:27Their combined efforts also shined in the classic concert film, Stop Making Sense.
05:45With a dramatic piano, The Promise comes to life as a moody ballad.
05:49It's the band's most successful track and it's easy to see why.
05:52The duelling vocals by Clive Farrington and Andrew Mann only make the song more emotional.
06:04It went to number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the group's calling card.
06:08The first trio lasted until the early 1990s, but their musical efforts have transcended
06:13their original run.
06:14Their track was also part of Napoleon Dynamite, with the movie introducing it to younger audiences.
06:26The members later formed two new groups, with instrumentalist Michael Floreal starting When
06:31in Rome 2.
06:42These art rockers defied the odds and created new sounds.
06:52They took aim at the music industry, science and traditional rhythms.
06:55Before their breakthrough, the band even covered I Can't Get No Satisfaction.
07:05Their most famous song, Whip It, helped them reach the MTV generation.
07:09It became a hit single, and video, on the music video network.
07:18The band's influence extends beyond success, creating an image all their own with signature
07:23hats.
07:24With a unique place in pop culture history, the group should be counted as an essential
07:28part of the 1980s.
07:36The Fabulous Thunderbirds Stevie Ray Vaughan might have been one of
07:47the best guitarists ever, but he also had a talented brother.
07:50Jimmy Vaughan and his group The Fabulous Thunderbirds created exciting rock music.
08:01This includes their hit, Tough Enough, from the album of the same name.
08:04It features the best of Vaughan's guitar, with some slick vocals and punchy bass lines.
08:16While they didn't have another huge single, their tunes like Wrap It Up will satisfy fans
08:20of their R&B-influenced sound.
08:22They're the kind of band that features talented players and a catalogue of solid material.
08:29Two years after their debut album, this English
08:40band released their follow-up record, To Rye A.
08:43It contained a legendary track that came to define the group's output.
08:46Within a few seconds, many listeners can recognise this electric tune.
08:58Some rock fans from the 1980s will be able to sing every single word.
09:01Dexys, Midnight Runners and their folk style made them stand out, having already released
09:05fun songs like Geno.
09:07They kept playing together and releasing music as recently as the 2020s.
09:11While they haven't surpassed their original glory, Kevin Rowland and his bandmates continue
09:15to perform.
09:21Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions.
09:25Men Without Hats This group created another reason to dance,
09:28with their catchy single.
09:38Romeo Void This group brought attitude to new wave hits
09:41like A Girl In Trouble.
09:49Water Flash The early 1980s band churned out the memorable
09:52hit Harden My Heart.
10:02Till Tuesday, Amy Mann reveals her talent for songwriting before her solo career.
10:14The Waitresses A new wave band with a cool lead singer that
10:18knows what boys like.
10:45Twisted Sister Twisted Sister mixed hard rock and glam into
10:54one exciting package.
10:56Led by singer Dean Snyder, these musicians created the anthem, We're Not Gonna Take
11:00It.
11:04It's a supercharged single that stands up against oppression of any kind.
11:10The band also churned out other awesome rockers, like I Wanna Rock.
11:21With bold style and an edgy vibe, these bandmates stood up for big sounds and the right to express
11:26themselves.
11:27Snyder famously testified at the PMRC hearings, defending his music against critics and political
11:32leaders.
11:33He and his group helped to define the 1980s heavy metal scene.
11:43So what is your favourite 1980s one-hit wonder?
11:46Let us know in the comments below.