30 Best 80s One Hit Wonders For Fun On Your Wedding Playlist

It's Labor Day Weekend. The fall wedding season has officially begun in Charleston, but I was lucky enough to be off this weekend. Since it's the unofficial end of summer and everyone out there in Charleston is heading out to the beach for one last time, I figured I would make it a fun post for Day 1 of this long weekend.  Being one of Charleston's top 80s DJs, I have blogged quite a bit about my love of 80s music. But you know in all my blogging, I have neglected to speak about the vast amount of One Hit Wonders we saw back during the decade of decadence. The One Hit Wonders of the 80s spanned across multiple genres ranging from rock to pop to R&B and hip-hop.  When it comes to creating the playlist for your Charleston wedding or event, you really can't go wrong when you throw in some of the greatest hits of the 80s. 

Lightning only struck once for the artists on this post today, but a lot of the songs selected left indelible images in our minds with the music videos you saw on MTV. Yeah, believe it or not, back in the 80s, MTV did play music videos. The songs that were selected for this post are pretty wedding friendly for your Charleston events. As one of the best Charleston's wedding DJs, it was my goal to choose some of the One Hit Wonders that were fun and memorable and would put a smile on you and your guests face. 

Download These 80s One Hit Wonders From Spotify Right Now
By the time you get to the end of this blog post, you'll see just how much of an 80s freak I truly am. I cannot help it. The 80s are in my blood. I grew up in the 80s and hosted several radio shows that featured the greatest music of the 80s. I've seen the power of 80s music at weddings too. As you begin to put together the music for your wedding playlist, be sure to follow me on Spotify and download this playlist, as well as others. Just search for DJ Mike Bills

"The Promise" | When In Rome
When In Rome were a Britsh pop / new wave group who had a one hit wonder back in 1988 with the release of their song "The Promise". "The Promise" would go all the way to Number 11 on the Billboard charts. Based on what I know about the texture of the song, it actually would be an excellent choice to throw on toward the end of your dinner at your Charleston wedding, right before we get into dancing.

"Tainted Love" | Soft Cell
Synthpop was coming on strong in the early 80s from English bands like Soft Cell. Soft Cell had multiple hits in it's native country of England, but "Tainted Love" was their only U.S hit making it into the Top 10 in 1981.

"She Blinded Me With Science" | Thomas Dolby
Back in 2009, VH1 ranked this song at #13 on their list of 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders. The song would be an excellent choice if you'd like to do an 80s Themed Cocktail Hour to get your guests loosened up after your wedding reception.

"I Melt With You" | Modern English
The early 80s also saw a New Wave invasion. Modern English was a new wave band whose hit "I Melt With You" was featured in the movie soundtrack of "Valley Girl". It went all the way to Number 7 on the Billboard charts. Jason Mraz actually did a cool cover of the song as well.  You might add the song into your cocktail hour playlist if you are thinking about an 80s theme.

"It Takes Two" | Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
One of the greatest hip-hop songs ever happens to be an 80s One Hit Wonder. The song was released just over 30 years ago in August of 1988 and went all the way to Number 3 on the Hot Dance charts, and the Top 20 on the Hot R&B charts. 

"Buffalo Stance" | Neneh Cherry
"Buffalo Stance" was released in November of 1988 and became one of the great hip hop and dance songs of the 80s. The song would go all the way to Number 3 at the beginning of 1989, and Number 1 on the Hot Dance charts.  The perfect record to throw on toward the end of your wedding reception over at the Historic Rice Mill or the South Carolina Aquarium.

"Supersonic" | JJ Fad
When you take a listen to this song, you'll probably remember it sampled in Fergie's song "Fergilicious". JJ Fad were an all-girl hip-hop / rap group whose first release went all the Top 10 on the Hot Dance charts in 1988.

"She's Like The Wind" | Patrick Swayze
Ah yes, we've reached the portion of the blog post where we can talk about Dirty Dancing. Patrick Swayze knocked it out of the park with this song. The song was released after the film in the fall of 1987 and would hit Number 1 on the adult contemporary radio charts.

C'est La Vie | Robbie Nevill
An excellent choice for your 80s-themed cocktail hour for your Charleston wedding. C'est La Vie would almost be Number 1 in the early part of 1987. The song did reach Number 1 on the Hot Dance charts at the start of 1987.

"Party All The Time" | Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy was not only making us laugh in the 80s on Saturday Night Live, but he also collaborated with Rick James to produce "Party All The Time". This song would reach Number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the fall of 1985.

"Come On Eileen" | Dexy Midnight Runner's
"Come On Eileen" is one of the most popular 80s songs requested by brides and grooms at Charleston weddings. It ends up on request lists because it's a song thar gets people in a fun and happy mood, especially when they've had a few adult beverages. :) The video down below was one of the more iconic music videos during the first year of MTV back in the summer of 1982.

"The Safety Dance" | Men Without Hats
"The Safety Dance" is also another one of the most requested 80s songs by Charleston brides and grooms. Originally released in Canada, the song was a minor hit there, but a much bigger hit in America reaching the Top 5 in the fall of 1983.

"Pass The Dutchie" | Musical Youth
The perfect choice if you wanted to do some reggae for your cocktail hour. The song was a huge hit in Britain and would peak in the Top 10 in America in the fall of 1982.

"Don't Worry, Be Happy" | Bobby McFerrin
You might remember this song from the Tom Cruise movie "Cocktail", that just celebrated it's 30th anniversary. "Don't Worry, Be Happy" is the perfect chill song to unwind during your cocktail hour at your Charleston wedding. 

"Puttin On The Ritz" | Taco
Originally written by Irving Berlin in 1927, Taco (a German singer) turned the song into an 80s synthpop classic reaching Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982.  It wuld be an ideal song for your 80s Themed Cocktail Hour or maybe during dinner before we get into some serious dancing.

"Walking On Sunshine" | Katrina & The Waves
The title track to their album "Walking On Sunshine" would be released in the spring of 1985 and be the biggest hit for this English pop band. It would settle at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Break My Stride" | Matthew Wilder
"Break My Stride" is a song that has that infectious 80s pop sound and would be an excellent addition if you were thinking about having an 80s themed cocktail hour. It's a song that will pick you up and make you feel good.

"Lean On Me" | Club Nouveau
Club Nouveau turns the 70s classic from Bill Withers into a Number 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 and dance charts._

"Da Butt" | EU
Their name stands for Experience Unlimited. EU was one of the greatest one hit wonders of the 80s in a VH1 poll and was featured in the movie School Daze. The song would go all the way to Number 1 on the Hot Black singles charts. Requests for this song are few and far between but when they come in, it's usually toward the end of the night.

"Forget-Me Nots" | Patrice Rushen
Even though disco had died back the early 80s, people still wanted to dance and Patrice Rushen was there with this early 80s club hit.  George Michael sampled this song in his song "Fast Love" in 1996, and more famously Will Smith sampled it in 1997 with Men In Black.

"Heart & Soul" | T'Pau
Released back in the spring of 1987, "Heart & Soul" would be one-hit wonder for Carol Decker and T'Pau. The song, which was a great 80s new wave song that would peak at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Der Kommissar" | After The Fire
After The Fire was one of the early 80s bands from England who was in heavy rotation during the early days of MTV. "Der Komissar" was released in 1982 and would become a Top 5 hit on the Hot 100 chart.

"Your Love" | The OutField
Even as we approach 35 years since it's release, "Your Love" is still an 80s crowd pleaser by people of all ages at a lot of my weddings. Released in February of 1986, "Your Love" would peak at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Mickey" | Toni Basil
If you were watching MTV when it first signed on the air, you'll remember the video to this song. "Mickey" would go on to top the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1982.

"99 Luftballoons" | Nena
Back in the early 80s, German band Nena would record this song in German, as well as English. They'd score a hit all over the world with a song that would become an iconic song of the 80s. The song would hit #1 in numerous countries, but only peak at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"At This Moment" | Billy Vera & The Beaters
I'm not sure if you can find old episodes of Family Ties on Netflix or Hulu, but if you did find them, you'd find this song in some of the later episodes. Released in January 1981, the song would peak at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and adult contemporary charts. The song would serve as the background music for Alex P. Keaton's love interest in the show, who would actually end up marrying him.

"One Night In Bangkok" | Murray Head
One Night In Bangkok was featured in the musical Chess, back in 1984. Murray Head would score at #3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1985. The song would top the charts in the South Africa and West Germany.

"I Want Candy" | Bow Wow Wow
Originally recorded by the Strangeloves in 1965, Bow Wow Wow would cover the song in 1982 and put a bit of a new wave spin on the song. The video was one of the iconic images you saw in the first few years on MTV.  The song came in at #8 on VH1's List Of Greatest One Hit Wonders.

"Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades" | Timbuk 3
This lone hit by Timbuk 3 is probably on most 80s music fan's list of one-hit wonders. Released in 1986 off their first album, the song would peak at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Lets Go All The Way" |  Sly Fox
When I hear songs from the 80s like this, it makes me wonder what it was like back in December of 1985 when you were in a club and the DJ dropped this song for the very first time.  The song would top the charts in Canada and peak at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.  You need to promise me you'll crank this one up.

Wanna Talk To Mike About  Being Your 80s Wedding DJ?
Thanks for making it to the end of another one of my blog posts. Hope you found this post to be "fun" as you try to unwind on this hot Labor Day weekend in Charleston. "Fun" should be what you have this weekend as we get ready to wrap up another summer season.  As I mentioned up above, the fall wedding season in Charleston is beginning to get under way. If you are just recently engaged and are looking to get married in 2019 and would like to set up a time to speak to one of the best Charleston wedding DJs.