Top 10 2000s One Hit Wonders: Where Are They Now?

Chamillionaire feat. Krayzie Bone

In 2005, Hakeem Seriki, aka Chamillionaire, hit it big time when he released “Ridin’,” the second single from his debut album “The Sound of Revenge”. Notable for its message about racism and police brutality, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the rapper a Grammy. The final stamp of approval came from Weird Al’s equally popular parody “White & Nerdy,” which also reached the top 10. Seriki had a promising follow-up album and a few additional releases, but nothing struck a chord like “Ridin’”. He later transitioned to entrepreneurship and invested in various tech startups. These days, Seriki occasionally dips his toe back into music, while managing his own label, Chamillitary Entertainment.

Mims

In 2006, Mims arrived on the scene with the platinum, chart-topping single “This is Why I’m Hot.” The track’s swagger made it an anthem for people who wanted to feel cool. Unfortunately for the artist, his second album "Guilt" failed to garner the same reception. Instead of continuing with hip-hop, Mims tried his hand at various business ventures and behind-the-scenes work. In 2016, he teamed up with businessman Erik Mendelson to build the music interface app RecordGram, which helps artists record and share their own music. It’s unlikely that Mims will return to recording his own music but at least, we still have this hit to reminisce about.

Jet

During the height of the garage rock revival, Australian band Jet emerged with the well-timed single “Are You Gonna Be My Girl.” With its engaging rock sound and catchy riff, the track helped their breakout album “Get Born” sell millions, and played a pivotal role in shaping their career. Despite this early success, their subsequent two albums received mixed to negative reviews and failed to replicate the triumph of their breakout hit. Jet disbanded in 2012, but returned in 2016 as the opening act for heavyweights like Bruce Springsteen. Although they haven’t released any new music since, they reunited for the 15th and 20th anniversary tours of their debut album. In 2023, Jet was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Howie Day

Howie Day experienced a momentary heartthrob status after the release of his platinum-certified single “Collide”. Its usage in film and television further established it as a modern pop rock classic. Despite the song’s commercial performance, Day wasn’t able to replicate his early success. His career stalled after his third and fourth albums failed to measure up to the impact of “Collide.” At the same time, the singer also faced personal challenges, grappling with substance use disorder and a couple of violent offenses. In both 2018 and 2019, he was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend. These mounting legal issues effectively derailed Day’s music career for what seems like the foreseeable future.

Daniel Powter

Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter wrote “Bad Day” in 2002, but it would take a few years for the song to garner widespread attention. Despite this delay, Powter was propelled to international fame when the single finally hit the airwaves. Some enjoyed the universal message and others ironically embraced the hit through numerous parodies. Four years after its release, “Bad Day” was certified three-times platinum. For his part, Powter has continued to release music and tour well beyond his “Bad Day” success. His prolific and underrated career has also pressed on through a series of collaborations with artists from all over the world. Even well into the 2020s, Powter continues to prove that his best instruments are his pen and his voice.

Orianthi

In early 2009, Australian guitarist Orianthi started drawing attention after performing with Carrie Underwood at the Grammys. She then signed on with Michael Jackson for his proposed “This Is It” tour. After Jackson’s untimely death, Orianthi released her major label debut single “According to You,” which hit the top 20 on the Hot 100, and propelled her into the spotlight. Her pop rock prowess and impressive guitar skills attracted high-profile collaborators like Steve Vai and Richie Sambora. She has also worked as a touring guitarist for Alice Cooper, Michael Bolton and Dave Stewart. While her later career has not lived up to her earlier success, Orianthi has more than made up for it with her remarkable touring and performance credits.

La Roux

Singer Elly Jackson and producer Ben Langmaid came together to create the synth pop duo La Roux. Their most notable piece of music was the international hit “Bulletproof,” which struck a chord with listeners with its throwback, yet futuristic take on electronic music. Under the same band name, Jackson released a second album without Langmaid that failed to garner the same attention as their original record. In 2020, she followed this up with a third album, “Supervision,” which showcased a synth style reminiscent of the band’s first big single. Despite changing lineups and new genre explorations that may not have been commercially appealing, La Roux remains as resilient as ever, proving that she is, indeed, bulletproof.

Fountains of Wayne

With subversive and humorous lyrics, Fountains of Wayne found a surprise hit in “Stacy’s Mom,” a defining pop song of the 2000s. The group was able to take this track on tour in an era dominated by pop punk acts. They delivered two more albums over the next decade, while mainly living off the glory of “Stacy’s Mom.” Fountains of Wayne effectively disbanded in the early 2010s, with each member pursuing other ventures. Singer Chris Collingwood embarked on solo pursuits and bassist Adam Schlesinger wrote music for numerous films and television shows. Tragically, in 2020, Schlesinger succumbed to complications from COVID-19. In tribute to their former bandmate, the remaining members reunited for a charity livestream that year.

Baha Men

It’s one of the most iconic questions ever asked in music. Baha Men unleashed “Who Let the Dogs Out” in 2000 with a unique junkanoo sound. Some people don’t even know that the hit was a cover. After winning a Grammy for it, the Bahamian group released three more albums and had songs played in several movies. Their upbeat performances were perfect for the early 2000s, but didn’t quite fit the mold of the next decade. Baha Men put out a Christmas medley and other singles in the 2010s, but they’ve yet to eclipse their original calling card.

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa Carlton was a singer-songwriter sensation in the early 2000s, thanks to “A Thousand Miles.” The huge track became a top 10 single and positioned her as one of the most promising talents of her generation. However, despite a steady output, all of her subsequent albums and singles decreased in popularity. “A Thousand Miles” seemed to overshadow everything she released. As a result, Carlton went through periods where she hated the single, but she eventually made peace with its enduring legacy. The singer also embarked on a variety of different projects, including a stint in the Broadway musical “Beautiful.” Despite this variety, to this day, she’s still mostly remembered for her stellar debut from 2002.


Did we miss one of your favorite one-hit wonders? Let us know in the comments below.