Daniel Powter

The One Hit Wonders Of The Decade

December 31st will mark the end of 2009, and it will also mark the end of the first decade of the 21st century. That means that list makers are clamoring to compile ever stranger collections of music-related facts for your delight and edification. Latest in line is from the chart leviathan Billboard, who have combed their archives to bring you the biggest one-hit wonders of the decade. Defined as acts who enjoyed success in the No.1 spot but who failed to crack the Top 25 thereafter, the list is an interesting collection of musical disappointment for the noughties. Top of the list is Daniel Powter, who reigned the top of the charts with “Bad Day” for a very respectable five weeks in 2006 and then failed to bother the charts again. Also featuring on the list is fellow mainstream crooner James Blunt, whose “You’re Beautiful” seemed omnipresent in 2005, but actually only tickled the No.1 spot for a single week. His future efforts failed to captivate the market and his next best performance was with “Goodbye My Lover” which hit the heady heights of No.66. The list could still grow, given that Billboard only factored in releases from 2000 to 2007 on the basis that some of the later artists who look like they may be destined for one-hit wonder status may yet surprise us all by producing a career breakthrough somewhat late in the day. There’s hope for Jay Sean and Owl City yet.