Top 10 2010s One Hit Wonders: Where Are They Now?

Top 10 2010s One-Hit Wonders: Where Are They Now

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 2010s One-Hit Wonders: Where Are They Now?

For this list, we’ll be checking in on the most beloved one-hit wonders from the 2010s to see what they’ve been up to recently.

Which of these music acts are you still a devoted fan of today? Let us know in the comments.

#10: Elle King
“Ex’s & Oh’s” (2014)

Many artists go years in their career before scoring a hit, while others, like Elle King, are lucky to achieve that pretty early on. “Ex’s & Oh’s,” the lead single from King’s debut album, topped the charts in multiple countries and was certified quadruple platinum in the U.S. While her sophomore album, “Shake the Spirit,” received positive reviews from music critics, it didn’t fare quite as well commercially. Since then, the California-born singer-songwriter has collaborated with other artists, earning herself a total of four Grammy nominations in both the rock and country categories. In 2019, she appeared as a guest co-host on the seventh season of MTV’s “Catfish: The TV Show.”

#9: OMI
“Cheerleader” (2014)

Born Omar Samuel Pasley in Clarendon, Jamaica, OMI first released “Cheerleader” in his home country in 2012. His song was a hit, but it wasn’t until the tune was remixed by German DJ Felix Jaehn that it took the world by storm. This remix topped the charts in twenty countries, including the U.S., the U.K., and Canada, and received the title of “Song of the Summer” by Billboard. As the “Cheerleader” faded from the airwaves, however, so did OMI. He released a few singles from 2016 through to 2021, but none of them made it onto the charts. Nevertheless, the singer has remained undeterred and is currently working on new music.

#8: Passenger
“Let Her Go” (2012)

Passenger’s 2012 single “Let Her Go” was an international success that reached the top spot in many countries and sold millions of copies worldwide. The song marked a turning point in his career, as the English singer-songwriter had been making music professionally since as far back as 2003. Although he hasn’t quite attained the same level of success since, he has continued to put out albums… and we mean ALBUMS. Since his “Let Her Go” vehicle “All the Little Lights,” the highly productive singer has released an astounding nine albums, with his most recent having dropped in April 2022. Passenger has combined his love for music with his philanthropy, often donating proceeds from his album sales to various charitable causes.

#7: Carly Rae Jepsen
“Call Me Maybe” (2011)

When Carly Rae Jepsen released “Call Me Maybe” in 2011, she was relatively unknown, even in her home country of Canada. But one year later, the song had achieved super-smash hit status, dominating music charts and becoming the best-selling single of the year worldwide. Her follow-up album “Emotion” didn’t exactly reproduce that success, but it did receive critical acclaim and was hailed as one of the best albums of the 2010s. Still, many music fans apparently forgot Jepsen’s number–or perhaps just didn’t want to call her, maybe. Her next two albums “Dedicated” and “Dedicated Side B” received similar reception to “Emotion.” The Canadian singer has recently returned to the mic, with the release of her sixth studio album right around the corner.

#6: Magic!
“Rude” (2013)

This reggae fusion band from Toronto, Canada found the biggest hit of their career in their first ever single “Rude.” Released in late 2013 as the first taste of their debut album “Don’t Kill the Magic,” the track was, without a doubt, one of the biggest songs of 2014, hitting the number-one spot in both the U.S. and the UK, among other countries. After riding the “Rude” wave, Magic! released another album in 2016 titled “Primary Colours,” which produced only one charting single - a collaboration with reggae icon Sean Paul. With their most recent release, 2018’s “Expectations,” the band doubled down on their super catchy, reggae-infused pop formula, but unfortunately, it didn’t replicate the “magic” of their first hit.

#5: Alex Clare
“Too Close” (2011)

This English singer-songwriter has Microsoft’s advertising team to thank for the success of his well-known single “Too Close.” After the song was featured in the rollout for the company’s Internet Explorer 9, it debuted on charts around the world and quickly worked its way up to the top ten in several countries. Clare went on to release two studio albums in 2014 and 2016, only one of which managed to chart in the UK, Germany and Switzerland. Following his 2016 album “Tail of Lions,” Clare took a five-year hiatus from making music, returning with the single “Why Don’t Ya,” ahead of an EP in 2022.

#4: Portugal. The Man
“Feel It Still” (2017)

Certainly not an early bloomer, Portugal. The Man had been grinding for over a decade before landing their first top ten hit. “Feel It Still,” the second single from the band’s eighth studio album, topped the U.S. Billboard Alternative charts and reached number four on the Hot 100. The band even picked up a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2017. While they put a hold on new music after that, the Oregon-based group remained active politically, playing shows to raise awareness for various advocacy campaigns. For their activism, they were honored with an award by the National Congress of American Indians in 2020. They returned with a new single in 2022, the lead-in to their first body of work in five years.

#3: Icona Pop & Charli XCX
“I Love It” (2012)

The collaboration between Icona Pop and Charli XCX birthed one of the biggest and loudest pop hits of the 2010s. “I Love It” soared to the top ten in multiple countries and had everyone, regardless of when they were actually born or their gender, feeling like a 90s chick. Only one half of this pairing qualifies as a one-hit wonder, as Charli XCX later featured on the number-one single “Fancy” and has found success as an experimental pop artist. Icona Pop continues to release singles, most of which only chart in the duo’s native country, Sweden. They announced their upcoming third album in 2019 with a single titled “Next Mistake,” but at the time of writing this, there is still no release date for the new record.

#2: Foster the People
“Pumped Up Kicks” (2010)

This indie pop band from LA struck gold in 2010 with their debut single “Pumped Up Kicks.” The upbeat alternative song with dark, gloomy lyrics crossed over into the mainstream, where it became hugely successful, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Their second record “Supermodel” peaked even higher than their first, although it sold less overall. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of their debut album, the band issued a re-release in 2021, featuring new songs and remixes of old ones. Two of the original three members of Foster the People announced their departure from the band in 2015 and 2021, leaving behind just Mark Foster, pretty much without the people.

#1: Gotye & Kimbra
“Somebody That I Used to Know” (2011)

Released in the summer of 2011, “Somebody That I Used to Know” became an unexpected hit months later, topping the charts in more than twenty countries and winning the Grammy for Record of the Year. While Gotye took a self-imposed hiatus afterwards, Kimbra remained active, releasing two albums in 2014 and 2018, both of which charted on the Billboard 200. She starred in the 2019 movie “Daffodils,” and is set to release her fourth album in 2022. During his hiatus, Gotye co-wrote music and contributed vocals for other bands such as Broods and The Basics. He is reportedly working on his next album, but hasn’t released any details.