Some songs aren’t just hits—they’re moments. They show up, take over the airwaves, live rent-free in our brains, and then—poof!—the artists vanish into the musical abyss. But let’s be honest, one legendary song is all it takes to become unforgettable. We’ll dive into what made these tracks legendary, where the artists are now, and why their music refuses to die!
OutKast – ‘Hey Ya!’ (2003)
If you didn’t shake it like a Polaroid picture to this song, did you ever experience the early 2000s? Hey Ya! was an unstoppable force of funky energy that made dancing mandatory.
OutKast had plenty of hits, but this was the song. André 3000 went off to do weird, artsy things while Big Boi kept making music. They never reunited, which remains one of music’s greatest tragedies.
The song’s impact is eternal. Memes, movie montages, and wedding DJs keep it alive. Science even debunked the Polaroid lyric, but honestly, we still shake it anyway.
Gotye – ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ (2011)
A song so dramatic even Shakespeare would’ve wept. Gotye’s breakup anthem for the ages had us all staring wistfully out of windows, feeling betrayed by relationships we weren’t even in.
Gotye basically pulled a musical Batman—he vanished after his hit, refusing to be commercialized. He’s still making music, but in a cool, artsy way that almost guarantees he’ll never have another radio hit.
Memes keep this song alive, especially the painted body music video, which inspired parodies galore. We may not hear from Gotye again, but at least we’ll always have somebody we used to know.
Taio Cruz – ‘Dynamite’ (2010)
This song was pure, unfiltered, radio-dominating chaos. It was EVERYWHERE! If you didn’t throw your hands up in a literal celebration, you might be a robot.
Taio Cruz had a few minor hits after Dynamite, but eventually, he just faded into the EDM shadows. He’s still making music, but not at the same explosive (pun intended) level.
Meanwhile, Dynamite is wedding DJ royalty. If this song doesn’t play at least once at an event, is it even a real party? (No. The answer is no.)
Gnarls Barkley – ‘Crazy’ (2006)
With its haunting melody and CeeLo Green’s powerhouse vocals, ‘Crazy’ had us questioning reality itself. This song was everywhere—on the radio, in movies, in the background of emotional YouTube montages—you name it, it was there.
CeeLo Green had a solo career (remember Forget You?), while Danger Mouse became a sought-after producer. Gnarls Barkley never officially broke up but never released anything that reached Crazy levels of success.
Even today, ‘Crazy’ remains a karaoke staple and soundtrack favorite. It’s been covered by everyone from The Violent Femmes to Beyoncé. If a one-hit-wonder royalty program existed, these guys would be swimming in gold.
DJ Pied Piper & The Masters of Ceremonies – ‘Do You Really Like It?’ (2001)
Before TikTok dances were a thing, this garage hit had people bopping with reckless abandon. It was the UK summer anthem of 2001, and its infectious bassline still SLAPS!
But good things come to an end. DJ Pied Piper faded into the underground scene, and the Masters of Ceremonies disappeared altogether. Their careers may have dipped, but their contribution to UK Garage lives on.
This song resurfaces at throwback parties where millennials try to relive their youth. Its magic? Making even the most rhythm-challenged individual feel like they belong on the dance floor.
J-Kwon – ‘Tipsy’ (2004)
‘Everybody in the club getting tipsy’—even if you were 14 years old at the time and your “club” was a friend’s basement with a broken strobe light. Relatable. Missing our childhood friends, for real!
Despite the song’s reach, J-Kwon fell off the map almost immediately after Tipsy. He tried to return in 2009 but disappeared again, like the last sip of a strong drink.
Even though J-Kwon left the party, Tipsy remains a college house party anthem. It also resurfaces whenever someone needs a nostalgic excuse to take another shot.
Metro Station – ‘Shake It’ (2007)
This song was Hot Topic in musical form—neon skinny jeans, scene hair, and awkward dance moves. Shake It became the anthem of teenage rebellion, even if nobody knew why.
Metro Station self-destructed faster than a relationship based on AIM chats. The lead singer was Miley Cyrus’ brother, which helped them at first… until the band flamed out from internal drama.
Still, this song lives on in throwback playlists, TikTok revivals, and every person who refuses to let their emo phase die (we see you, and we respect you).
Far East Movement – ‘Like a G6’ (2010)
We have no idea what this song means, but it feels like we get it. Everyone was obsessed with being “fly like a G6”—even if they didn’t know what a G6 was.
Far East Movement actually kept making music, but they pivoted to producing and working behind the scenes. They were smart enough to realize that nothing was topping ‘Like a G6.’ (Have they tried G7? Kidding.)
Like a G6 will always be a drunken party anthem for the ages. If this plays, shots WILL be taken, and regrets WILL happen.
Daniel Powter – ‘Bad Day’ (2005)
If your bad day didn’t come with an emo montage and soft piano backing, were you even really struggling? This song was THE theme for every person who needed an unnecessary amount of pity.
Unfortunately, Daniel Powter had a bad decade after this hit. He tried to revive his career multiple times, but the universe was like, “Nah, bro, one’s enough.” He still makes wholesome music, though.
Meanwhile, Bad Day is still ruining people emotionally. American Idol used it to brutally humiliate eliminated contestants, and it remains the song of choice for ice cream-eating, couch-crying sadness.
The Calling – ‘Wherever You Will Go’ (2001)
The official anthem of couples in a long-distance setup! It was the go-to romantic ballad for anyone who was dramatic enough to believe love was an epic journey. (LDR is no joke.)
Like some LDRs falling out, The Calling also called it quits after some band drama, reunions, and nobody paying attention anymore. Their lead singer tried to go solo but got lost in adult alternative rock oblivion.
The song itself, though? Unstoppable. It pops up in wedding playlists, soap operas, and that one weird movie starring Nicolas Cage as an angel. It’s basically love’s last desperate hope in musical form.
Vanessa Carlton – ‘A Thousand Miles’ (2002)
If you didn’t dramatically pretend to play the piano in a moving vehicle to this song, did you ever experience the 2000s? (We’re so guilty of this!) This track single-handedly fueled teen heartbreak montages everywhere.
Vanessa Carlton never disappeared—she just got cooler. She ditched pop, went full indie, and continues making moody, witchy music that nobody listens to but should. Her talent? Unmatched.
Meanwhile, White Chicks ensured this song would never die. The Terry Crews scene? Cinematic gold. It’s also the official theme song of every hopeless romantic who stares wistfully out of windows.
Natalie Imbruglia – ‘Torn’ (1997)
Some songs gently break your heart—Torn drop-kicked it! This 1997 classic had us belting out, “I’m already torn,” as we had just been dumped via pager message. The ultimate fake-smile heartbreak anthem!
After Torn, Natalie tried to keep the pop magic going, but the universe had other plans. She dabbled in acting, made indie albums, and even became a judge on The X Factor UK.
Want some fun facts? Torn is actually a cover—the song was first recorded by a band called Ednaswap. Oh, and thanks to TikTok, Gen Z rediscovered it, proving that sad bangers never die!
Las Ketchup – ‘The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)’ (2002)
Even nonsense could cast a spell. No one knew what the lyrics meant (even in Spanish), but we all danced to it like a salsa-loving demon possessed us.
Las Ketchup had a few comeback attempts, but nothing matched their first hit. They still perform occasionally, proving that once a condiment, always a condiment in the pop world.
TikTok recently resurrected this song as Gen Z discovered its bizarre brilliance. It remains a wedding reception staple, perfect for awkward uncles trying to prove they’ve still got rhythm.
Eiffel 65 – ‘Blue (Da Ba Dee)’ (1999)
A song that sounds like a Windows 98 error message had a breakdown. Nobody understood the lyrics, but who cares? We were all da ba dee da ba dying on the dance floor.
Eiffel 65 never matched Blue’s success, though they’re still making music for people who refuse to move on from the techno era. They even re-recorded Blue in 2022 because why not?
This song never fully left pop culture. It got meme’d into oblivion, sampled in viral remixes, and somehow still haunts every gym playlist and gaming montage ever made.
O-Zone – ‘Dragostea Din Tei’ (The Numa Numa Song) (2003)
What happens when you mix Eurodance, nonsensical Romanian lyrics, and an enthusiastic dude lip-syncing on a webcam? You get the world’s most unstoppable meme anthem.
O-Zone tried to capitalize on their fame, but nothing could top Numa Numa levels of ridiculous joy. They split up, reunited, and then disappeared into Romanian pop mysticism.
Even 20 years later, this song refuses to die. From TikTok remixes to ironic club bangers, it’s forever embedded in the DNA of the internet. Miya hee, miya hoo indeed.
The Veronicas – ‘Untouched’ (2007)
If pure adrenaline could be a song, it would be Untouched. It hits like a caffeinated freight train, blending fast strings and electro beats that make us feel feral on the dance floor.
The Veronicas, Australian twin queens of pop-punk chaos, never entirely vanished. They kept making music, dropped a few more albums, and still tour. But Untouched remains their undisputed peak, the song that refuses to age daily.
Where does Untouched live now? TikTok, gym playlists, and any club brave enough to handle its energy. It’s also scientifically impossible to sit still when it plays. If you hear it, accept your fate and dance.
Cassie – ‘Me & U’ (2006)
We love this slow-burn R&B masterpiece, which had everyone trying to be mysterious and seductive—even if they were standing awkwardly at a high school dance.
Yes, the song was successful, but Cassie got caught up in Diddy’s orbit and spent years being famous for not making music. Honestly, we miss such bangers!
But we’re so happy to see her finally break free, start a family, and retire from music entirely. Me & U lives on as a quiet storm classic and a TikTok resurgence track.
Uncle Kracker – ‘Follow Me’ (2000)
At first listen, this sounded like a sweet love song, but then you realize it’s about… cheating! Yikes. Romantic? Nah. But catchy? Absolutely. But still, you don’t want to dedicate that to someone you love!
Uncle Kracker never hit the same level again, but he pivoted into country music, which is basically what ex-pop stars do when they refuse to quit music.
Somehow, Follow Me has survived as a guilty pleasure jam. It sneaks onto nostalgic road trip playlists, making people say, “Wait, I forgot how good this was.”
Kevin Lyttle – ‘Turn Me On’ (2003)
We’re certain that nobody knew what Kevin Lyttle was saying. But did that stop us from mumbling along with confidence? Absolutely not. This song was pure island-flavored magic!
Kevin Lyttle tried to keep the dancehall vibes going but never landed another major hit. But we assure you he’s still out there, dropping music, but the world has moved on to new dancefloor anthems.
Meanwhile, Turn Me On remains the official theme song of sweaty summer parties. If this plays at a club, and your hips don’t start moving involuntarily, check your pulse. You might be dead.
Chamillionaire – ‘Ridin’’ (2006)
You’re lying if you haven’t envisioned your teenage self in sketchy parking lot meetups pretending to be criminals. Of course, that’s not complete without a soundtrack! Ridin’ made everyone feel like they had something to hide.
Chamillionaire, however, played the long game. Instead of chasing music, he invested in tech, became a millionaire businessman, and now laughs at all of us from his private jet. We didn’t see that coming!
Until now, Ridin’ lives on as THE ultimate “we’re getting chased by cops” track. If you ever hear it playing in a car? Chances are, that person is going 15 mph over the limit.
Eamon – ‘F* It (I Don’t Want You Back)’ (2004)**
The pettiest breakup anthem ever recorded. Rolling our eyes. Eamon didn’t just get dumped—he got so emotionally wrecked that he turned his pain into a full-scale scorched-earth campaign.
Eamon tried to follow up, but his whole identity was being mad at one girl—just one girl. It was insane. Once he cooled off, so did his career.
This song remains the gold standard of heartbreak rage. If you play this in public, someone WILL sing along with their whole chest.
Frankee – ‘F.U.R.B. (F U Right Back)’ (2004)
We get another ultimate petty breakup song, explicitly created to dunk on Eamon’s ‘F* It (I Don’t Want You Back).’** And yes, it was as messy as it sounds.
Frankee vanished immediately after because let’s be honest—her entire career was also built on one giant clapback. What did you expect when the drama cooled? Of course, her music career followed.
But F.U.R.B. remains a savage classic. If this ever plays in public, expect at least one person to scream, “THIS IS MY JAM” while flipping off the air.
Blu Cantrell – ‘Hit ‘Em Up Style (Oops!)’ (2001)
Folks, we’re not done with revenge masterpieces! If you got cheated on, Blu Cantrell’s advice was to max out his credit cards and ruin his life. Iconic behavior.
Blu Cantrell disappeared from the music industry like a ghost. She never followed up with another hit, and nobody knows what happened to her. A true mystery.
Even now, Hit ‘Em Up Style remains a masterpiece. If this song plays, you are legally required to flip your hair and channel your inner scorned diva.
Trapt – ‘Headstrong’ (2002)
Teenage boys seeking a sense of invincibility will always include this song in their playlists. Even if they had no actual enemies, they were mentally preparing for battle.
Trapt never stopped making music, but they also never stopped embarrassing themselves on social media. Their frontman became a meme factory for bad takes.
These days, Headstrong is still THE official “I’m angry for no reason” song. You cannot hear this without clenching your fist and considering a mosh pit.
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – ‘Face Down’ (2006)
Peak emo angst. A song designed to be scream-sung in your bedroom while pretending you had deep personal struggles (even if your biggest problem was math homework).
Red Jumpsuit never stopped making music (we still hear them now), but they never topped Face Down. They quietly joined the emo nostalgia circuit, where they thrive in Hot Topic-approved obscurity.
Hands down. This song remains undefeated as a mosh pit anthem. If you hear that intro, prepare to witness 30-year-olds reliving their teenage rage in the middle of a bar.
Marcy Playground – ‘Sex and Candy’ (1997, but permanently stuck in the early 2000s alt-rock playlist void)
Some call it the laziest, most seductive grunge-lite song ever. It had the energy of a dude lying on the floor of his apartment, pretending to be deep. Doesn’t sound like a compliment.
Marcy Playground tried to make more music, but they were too chill to care about fame. They disappeared into alternative rock mythology. But at least he made a legacy on this one!
Sex and Candy is still considered a late-night diner jukebox staple. If this comes on, you are legally required to stare dramatically into your coffee.
Soft Cell – ‘Tainted Love’ (1981, but resurrected by every 2000s emo kid)
If Goth Heartbreak had a theme song, this was it. This track was a synth-wave fever dream soaked in eyeliner and regret. (More eyeliner, please. Just in case it runs down our cheeks.)
Soft Cell had other songs, but nobody cared, really. The success of this massive, moody anthem swallowed up their career. It defined their whole discography!
But Tainted Love is IMMORTAL. It lives in karaoke bars, vampire movies, and every “I hate my ex” playlist ever made. You hate your ex? Add this now.
Crazy Town – ‘Butterfly’ (2000)
Butterfly was a soft-core nu-metal meets makeout playlist that had every middle schooler feeling deep emotions they didn’t understand. Yeah, we’re all exploring in middle school, by the way!
Crazy Town, unfortunately, imploded under their own weight. Drugs, feuds, and bad business decisions turned them into a cautionary tale. They still attempt comebacks, but it’s mostly nostalgia circuit gigs and questionable life choices.
Even if the band went downhill, Butterfly is relevant in romantic playlists and guilty pleasure throwbacks. Also, let’s be real—you still know every word, even if you don’t admit it.
T.A.T.U. – ‘All the Things She Said’ (2002)
We talked about goth heartbreaks. Now, it’s time for gothic lesbian angst! All the Things She Said is the perfect soundtrack. It was rain-drenched melodrama, and nobody knew whether to cry or aggressively dance.
T.A.T.U. leaned hard into controversy, but their career flamed out like a soap opera plot twist. They broke up, tried solo careers, and became footnotes in Russian pop history.
That said, All the Things She Said still gets played at emo throwback nights. It’s a queer anthem, a punk-pop classic, and an absolute masterpiece of over-the-top energy.
Baha Men – ‘Who Let the Dogs Out?’ (2000)
Nobody knows who let the dogs out, and at this point, we’re too afraid to ask. This song was children’s birthday party chaos wrapped in a mystery.
Baha Men kept trying to recapture the magic, but there’s only so much you can do after dropping the biggest novelty song of all time.
Despite being objectively ridiculous, this song refuses to die. It thrives in sporting events, kids’ movies, and every ironic throwback playlist ever created.
Haddaway – ‘What Is Love’ (1993, but legally a 2000s meme)
Night at the Roxbury made it a full-blown pop culture legend, turned What Is Love into an unforgettable meme, ensuring that wherever there are two people in suits, an invisible third head is bobbing between them.
Haddaway never had another major song, but thanks to one legendary track, he’s been living the nostalgia dream. He’s still out there, performing at European nostalgia festivals.
What Is Love is forever tied to head-bobbing skits, awkward dance moves, people pretending they were cooler than they actually were, and the feeling of being at a party you didn’t really want to go to.
Lou Bega – ‘Mambo No. 5’ (1999)
At this point, listening to this song felt like you were reading (maybe singing?) a resume of Lou Bega’s dating history, and yet, we all danced along as if our lives depended on it.
Lou Bega tried to milk “Mambo No. 5” for all it was worth, even making a Disney version (yes, really). But let’s be real: Nobody wanted Mambo No. 6, just like no Like A G7 today.
Admit it, Mambo No. 5 is definitely timeless. If this plays at a wedding, prepare to see a group of drunk uncles completely lose control of their limbs.
Chumbawamba – ‘Tubthumping’ (1997, but it never left us)
The drunken singalong to end all drunken singalongs. Nobody actually knows the verses, but when that CHORUS hits? Chaos is unleashed! It was so catchy you’d keep singing without knowing the lyrics.
Chumbawamba was actually a political anarchist band, but the industry turned them into a meme, and they HATED IT. They eventually quit music altogether out of spite.
Seriously, Tubthumping will outlive us all. This song is legally required to be played at every pub, wedding, and sporting event until the end of time.
Crash Test Dummies – ‘Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm’ (1993, but stuck in our heads forever)
The weirdest, deepest-voiced song ever recorded. We’re exaggerating because Hoist the Colors literally exists. But that doesn’t change the fact that the singer had a deep voice singing this one!
This track was so bizarre that nobody understood it, but we all remembered that humming chorus. Crash Test Dummies never had another mainstream hit, but they’re quietly making music for those who stuck around.
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm remains a fever dream classic. If you hear it, prepare to be instantly confused and nostalgic at the same time. You don’t have to understand it, you just have to feel it.
Toni Basil – ‘Mickey’ (1981, but still ruling the early 2000s cheerleading scene)
The cheerleader chant that REFUSED to die. No matter what you do. This song made everybody with pom-poms feel like they were leading the winning team.
Toni Basil was already a choreographer and actress, so when her pop career fizzled, she just returned to being a boss behind the scenes.
But Mickey never left pop culture. From Bring It On to high school pep rallies, this song remains the undefeated queen of cheer anthems. It was even remixed with Rose and Bruno Mars’s APT!
OPM – ‘Heaven Is a Halfpipe’ (2000)
Skaters, assemble! We know this was the ultimate skater philosophy anthem—a song that made it seem like heaven was just an eternal X Games event with free snacks.
OPM never really had another major hit, though they kept releasing music in the underground stoner-ska scene (yes, that’s a real thing). They still tour somewhere.
Heaven Is a Halfpipe is permanently embedded in the DNA of 2000s alternative kids. You felt this in your soul if you had Etnies, Vans, or DCs.
MIMS – ‘This Is Why I’m Hot’ (2007)
A song so brilliantly lazy that the entire chorus features MIMS explaining his own hotness. Somehow, it worked because we listened, and we’ve added it to this banger list.
MIMS didn’t give us another LSS-worthy song after this, but he didn’t need to—he went full tech entrepreneur mode and now makes more money in business than music ever gave him. Smart man.
Currently, “This Is Why I’m Hot” remains the go-to song for anyone wanting to brag about themselves without putting in much effort. It’s truly a perfect anthem.
Kevin Rudolf – ‘Let It Rock’ (2008)
This one has a very aggressive tone. It made you feel like you could fight a grizzly bear and win. It was rap-rock at its most unnecessarily intense.
Kevin Rudolf tried to stay relevant, but the world only cared about this one song. He disappeared into the music industry, writing for other artists instead.
That being said, Let It Rock never really left us. It remains a gym playlist staple, a hype-up anthem, and the soundtrack to bad life decisions.
Rich Boy – ‘Throw Some D’s’ (2007)
Yeah, we get it, pal. We’re broke, but it’s not wrong to imagine spending money you don’t have. Were you even vibing correctly to this if you weren’t throwing imaginary Ds on your nonexistent Cadillac?
Rich Boy basically fell off the face of the Earth after this track. He dropped a few projects occasionally, but… nobody was checking for them. They were new bangers to focus on.
Regardless, Throw Some D’s is forever iconic. If you blast this in 2025, grown men will still randomly yell “RIIICH BOOOOY” like it’s a battle cry. They surely passed the vibe check!
Nina Sky – ‘Move Ya Body’ (2004)
This song was pure reggaeton club magic, and for a brief moment, it felt like Nina Sky was about to take over the world. Though we know they didn’t.
The twins behind Nina Sky kept making music, but they never cracked the mainstream again. The industry moved on, but their song refuses to die.
Nowadays, Move Ya Body is the perfect nostalgia trip. If this plays at a function, people who haven’t danced in 10 years will suddenly start moving like they’re back in high school.
Rednex – ‘Cotton Eye Joe’ (1994)
Talking about a song that took over weddings, sports events, and school dances against our will. If chaos had a theme song, it would be Cotton Eye Joe.
Rednex, a Swedish (yes, Swedish!) group, never matched the success of Cotton Eye Joe, but they never really quit either. They kept touring, changing members like a karaoke night gone rogue.
The song refuses to die. It haunts wedding receptions, line-dance tutorials, and every minor league baseball game in America. If this starts playing, you will dance—it’s a law of physics, not a choice.
Tag Team – ‘Whoomp! (There It Is)’ (1993)
Whoomp! (There It Is) was everywhere—sports arenas, house parties, and every movie scene where someone won the lottery or dunked on their enemies.
The problem with huge success like this is the expectations. Tag Team never quite followed up on their massive hit. But this one song paid the bills. They spent the last three decades licensing it.
Also, Geico revived Whoomp! in a 2021 ice cream-themed commercial, proving this song is unkillable. If humanity ever colonizes Mars, you bet astronauts will still be chanting, “Whoomp! There it is!” in zero gravity.
Sir Mix-a-Lot – ‘Baby Got Back’ (1992)
Before Baby Got Back, mainstream music ignored big butts—then Sir Mix-a-Lot changed history. This 1992 track wasn’t just a song; it was a cultural movement, turning backside appreciation into a national pastime.
Sir Mix-a-Lot never had another hit on this scale. However, he’s still cashing in, making appearances, licensing the song, and even collaborating with Nicki Minaj, who sampled Baby Got Back for Anaconda! Impressive hit.
This song never left pop culture. It’s been in movies, commercials, memes, and viral videos for over 30 years. If Baby Got Back plays, someone, somewhere, is about to drop it low—and history will thank them.
Los Del Rio – ‘Macarena’ (1993)
You can’t just call it a hit because Macarena became a global epidemic! This 1993 track infected every wedding, school assembly, and awkward office party. Millions of people dance to this!
Los Del Rio, two Spanish musicians, never needed another hit—they’re still living off Macarena royalties. They’ve dropped new versions, remixes, and even a reggaeton update, proving they’ll never let us escape.
No matter how hard we try, Macarena will always find us. Whether it’s a TikTok trend, a nostalgic throwback, or that one DJ who refuses to move on, this dance isn’t going anywhere.
Bobby McFerrin – ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ (1988)
For three minutes, Don’t Worry, Be Happy tricked us into thinking that life was chill, stress was optional, and we could all vibe our problems away. Reality? Not so much.
Bobby McFerrin, a jazz genius, never chased another pop hit. Instead, he focused on a cappella mastery, conducting orchestras and reminding us that he’s way more talented than we ever gave him credit for.
Even today, Don’t Worry, Be Happy lives on—in movies, commercials, and as the unofficial theme song of people pretending they’re fine. Whether it’s ironic or sincere, this song just won’t stop smiling.