Top 10 Two Hit Wonders of the 2010s

#10: X Ambassadors

“Renegades” (2015) & “Unsteady” (2015)

This Ithaca-based band broke into the mainstream with “Renegades,” the second single off their debut album. A soaring, feel-good anthem, the track became a huge hit after it was used in a Jeep Renegade commercial. Its uplifting message and music video, featuring people with disabilities striving to achieve their goals, helped it reach the top 20 on the Hot 100. A few months later, they replicated the same success with “Unsteady.” Inspired by frontman Sam Nelson Harris’ parents’ divorce, this song was a raw and vulnerable follow-up that tugged at heartstrings everywhere. But after those two hits, the magic sort of fizzled. The band kept releasing music and experimenting with new sounds, but none managed to recapture their earlier success.

#9: Desiigner

“Panda” (2015) & “Timmy Turner” (2016)

In 2016, rapper Desiigner seemed to appear out of nowhere one day only to suddenly be everywhere the next. That was thanks to his breakout hit “Panda.” Released at the tail end of 2015, the song blew up in early 2016, dominating radio stations and club playlists across the country. By May, it had reached number one on the Hot 100, making Desiigner one of the youngest artists ever to top the chart. He soon signed a record deal with Kanye West’s GOOD Music, and West later sampled “Panda” on his song “Pt. 2.” Now with the backing of a label, Desiigner scored another hit with his follow-up “Timmy Turner,” a darker, more experimental track named after the Nickelodeon character from “The Fairly OddParents.”

#8: Daya

“Hide Away” (2015) & “Sit Still, Look Pretty” (2015)

There are a lot of pop artists who debuted in the 2010s that remain relevant today. And for a while, it seemed Daya had the potential for such longevity. In April 2015, she released her debut single “Hide Away,” a sparkly, rebellious anthem that crept up the charts until it peaked in the top 25. She rode that wave and dropped her follow-up single, “Sit Still, Look Pretty,” a sassy pop gem that told the world she wasn’t going to play by anyone’s rules. During this time, Daya’s name was hot – two hits as a lead artist and a Grammy for her feature on The Chainsmokers’ “Don’t Let Me Down.” But despite such early promise, her momentum faded just as quickly.

#7: Aloe Blacc

“I Need a Dollar” (2010) & “The Man” (2014)

Even if his moment in the sun didn’t last forever, this R&B singer made soul music sound fresh again. His debut album “Shine Through” didn’t make that big a splash commercially, but with “I Need a Dollar,” the lead single off his second album, Aloe Blacc finally received some overdue recognition. Released during the post-recession era, the song became a global anthem and it was used as the theme song for HBO’s “How to Make It in America.” It would take four years for Blacc to score another hit, in the form of “The Man.” Gone was the struggling hustler looking for a dollar, in his place was a suave gentleman with a lot of swagger.

#6: Tove Lo

“Habits (Stay High)” (2013) & “Talking Body” (2015)

It might seem unfair to call Tove Lo a “two-hit wonder” given her undeniable talent, but going by pure chart metrics, she technically falls under the category. Lo crashed onto the pop scene with “Habits (Stay High),” which was released in 2013, but didn’t become a worldwide hit until the following year. The song turned the Swedish singer into pop’s unapologetic wild child. Those who believed she was merely a flash in the pan were proven wrong when “Talking Body” dropped in 2015, which saw the singer embracing a more sultry sound. Since then, Tove Lo has only continued to evolve as an artist. And although her fan base remains devoted, that hasn’t always translated into mainstream commercial success.

#5: Bastille

“Pompeii” (2013) & “Happier” (2018)

The 2010s were a golden era for alternative and indie music, and one of the decade’s early success stories was Bastille. The British band broke through with “Pompeii,” an indie pop anthem inspired by the volcanic eruption that buried the Roman town in 79 AD. Its infectious, chant-like hook was impossible to escape, propelling the song into the top five on the Hot 100. For the next few years, Bastille struggled to match that success, leading many to label them a one-hit wonder. They proved otherwise with “Happier,” their collaboration with Marshmello, which surpassed “Pompeii” and peaked at number two. They haven’t achieved a similarly successful song since, but who knows? A third hit might still be on the horizon.

#4: Carly Rae Jepsen

“Call Me Maybe” (2011) & “Good Time” (2012)

When it comes to churning out bibles of phenomenal pop music, very few 21st century artists can rival Carly Rae Jepsen. However, the charts haven’t necessarily caught up to her talent. Of course, everyone remembers “Call Me Maybe,” the song that launched Jepsen into the limelight. The irresistibly catchy single became a global phenomenon, topping the charts in over a dozen countries. She found her next hit in “Good Time,” a sunny duet with Owl City that perfectly captured the feeling of summer. This song broke the “one-hit wonder” spell not only for Jepsen, but also for Owl City, who struck gold in 2009 with “Fireflies.” Commercially, Jepsen has never hit such dizzying heights again, but her subsequent music has been far more impressive.

#3: Fun.

“We Are Young” (2011) & “Some Nights” (2012)

This pop rock band formed in 2008 but didn’t get their breakout hit until three years later with “We Are Young.” Featuring Janelle Monáe, this explosive singalong about reckless youth soared to number one and made the band instant stars. Not only did it top the charts for six consecutive weeks, it was also nominated for three Grammys, ultimately winning Song of the Year. They followed that up with “Some Nights,” a power pop anthem that mixed indie flair with the theatrical style of Queen. Everyone believed they were the next big thing in indie rock and the Grammys agreed, awarding them Best New Artist. But by 2015, the band announced a hiatus to pursue solo projects, and they have never reunited since.

#2: Psy

“Gangnam Style” (2012) & “Gentleman” (2013)

Before groups like BTS dominated the airwaves, one artist gave K-pop its first major international breakthrough: Psy. The South Korean rapper took the world by storm in 2012 with “Gangnam Style,” a satirical and addictive track that sparked its own dance craze. The song topped the charts in over 30 countries and made history as the first YouTube video to hit a billion views. Replicating that kind of success is difficult, but Psy gave it a solid shot with his follow-up single “Gentleman.” While it didn’t capture the same lightning in a bottle, it still landed in the top five of the Hot 100. After that, Psy continued making music and remains a legend in South Korea, but the world mostly moved on to the next viral craze.

#1: LMFAO

“Party Rock Anthem” (2011) & “Sexy and I Know It” (2011)

No music act embodied the wild, party-loving spirit of the early 2010s quite like LMFAO. In fact, they helped define it. The uncle-nephew duo, Redfoo and Sky Blu, turned every dance floor upside down in the summer of 2011 with their song “Party Rock Anthem.” It was inescapable, hitting number one in over 20 countries, including the U.S., where it spent six consecutive weeks at the top. They quickly followed that with “Sexy and I Know It,” yet another goofy, tongue-in-cheek party anthem that topped the charts. Together, both songs turned LMFAO into cultural icons of the party-rock era. But just as they reached the height of their fame, the group announced a hiatus, promising to return “stronger than ever,” but that still hasn’t materialized.

Did we miss any other two-hit wonders of the 2010s? Shout them out in the comments below.