One Hit Wonder Wednesday – 1983 – on the Night Shift
Our journey of the one hit wonders of the 1980s continues with 1983 on the Night Shift with Craig Allen. It's One Hit Wonder Wednesday Night starting at 7 p.m. on 98.7 WFGR, Grand Rapids' Greatest Hits.
Some of the biggest one hit wonders from 1983:
KAJAGOOGOO – TOO SHY: Always loved the name of this band and probably would have had more hits if lead singer Limahl hadn't left the band. The band originated in Hertfordshire, England. "Too Shy" reached #5 in May of '83.
FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - RELAX: This song was actually on the chart two times first in May and again in 1985 because of it's popularity in dance clubs. Band name is a term for Frank Sinatra and his rise in the movie business. They also had 2 other hits just outside the Top 40: "Two Tribes" and "Welcome to the Pleasuredome"
NENA – 99 LUFTBALLOONS: "Nena" Kerner is from Berlin, Germany and had two different versions of this song popularized by MTV. The original "99 Luftbaloons" which translates to 99 Air Balloons and an Americanized version called "99 Red Balloons" The two versions counted as one song and reached #2 that year.
TACO – PUTTIN ON THE RITZ: Not a lot is known for this German based techno pop singer who was originally from Indonesia. "Puttin' On The Ritz" was his only chart song and hit #4 in the summer of '83.
SPANDAU BALLET - TRUE: A pop group from London, England had 5 songs make the charts and is so well known for this one song they are considered an One Hit Wonder. "True" reached 4 in August. And sometimes you may wonder why this song sounds so familiar. Well it was sampled a few years later by PM Dawn with a song called "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss"