20 queer one-hit wonders that we'll never forget

Who doesn't love a one-hit wonder?

An artist doesn't have to have dozens of top ten hits for us to stan them. In fact, many of our favorite songs come from artists who only had a few hits — or even just one!

These 20 songs prove that all you need is one great hit to make history! And more specifically, queer history!

Here are 20 of our favorite one-hit wonders by queer artists and with queer themes. (Let us know if we missed any of your favorites!)

1. T. Rex, "Bang a Gong (Get It On)"

T. Rex's bisexual lead singer Marc Bolan had an infectious hit with this glam rock single from 1971. The song is currently being used in the serial killer horror movie Longlegs, proving its lasting impact.

2. Soft Cell, "Tainted Love"

English new wave group Soft Cell, fronted by gay singer Marc Almond, released this Gloria Gaynor cover in 1981, and it hasn't left the radio since. This is, without a doubt, one of the greatest pop songs of all time.

3. Josie Cotton, "Johnny, Are You Queer?"

This 1981 song was first performed live by The Go-Go's and eventually recorded by Josie Cotton. While it only reached number 38 on the Billboard Club Play Singles chart, the song, in which a woman wonders if her boyfriend is gay, has real staying power.

4. Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax"

Another new wave one-hit wonder, Frankie Goes to Hollywood were among the first out gay pop acts, and this song, released in 1983, featured a music video filmed in an S&M club. Singers Holly Johnson and Paul Rutherford were both out as gay, making them trailblazers for LGBTQ+ rights.

5. Kajagoogoo, "Too Shy"

Kajagoogoo, fronted by gay singer Limahl, had its one hit in 1983 with this new wave track that hit number one in the UK and number 5 in the US.

6. Dead or Alive, "You Spin Me Round"

Dead or Alive was an iconic dance pop group (led by queer icon Pete Burns) who had the UK number one hit "You Spin Me Round," which hit number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US in 1985. In 2009, rapper Flo Rida and singer Kesha released the song "Right Round," which sampled "You Spin Me Round," and hit number one.

7. Baltimora, "Tarzan Boy"

This 1985 single was sung by Northern Ireland native Jimmy McShane, who sadly passed away from an AIDS-related illenss in 1995.

8. Right Said Fred, "I'm Too Sexy"

One of the most iconic songs of the '90s, "I'm Too Sexy" has become so ubiquitous that it's basically a meme. It's hard to think about supermodels without thinking of this 1991 track. Right Said Fred lead singer Richard Fairbrass is bisexual.

9. Sinéad O'Connor, "Nothing Compares 2 U"

Queer Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor probably would've had a lot more top ten singles if she had not been partially blacklisted from the music industry after ripping up a picture of Pope John Paul II during an appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1992, just one year after this song was released. Originally written by Prince, O'Connor's version is considered one of the greatest singles of all time.

10. Sophie B. Hawkins, "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover"

Hawkins' 1992 single reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the music video was so sexy, it was banned from MTV and she had to film a new version. Hawkins identifies as omnisexual.

11. k.d. lang, "Constant Craving"

While lang is considered a legend of Canadian music and has been nominated for 11 Grammys, winning four of them, she only has had one top 40 hit, the 1992 song "Constant Craving," which peaked at 38 in the US.

12. 4 Non Blondes, "What's Up"

In 1993, everyone was singing along to queer singer Linda Perry and her band 4 Non Blondes' hit song "What's Up," even if they thought it was called "What's Going On" or simply "Heyeyeyey." The song peaked at number 14 in the US and hit number one in several countries. Perry went on to write hits for other artists, like "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera and "Get the Party Started " by Pink.

13. Chely Wright, "Single White Female"

Country singer Chely Wright came out in 2010, a decade after hitting number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart with her 1999 song "Single White Female." The song also hit number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100.

14. S Club 7, "Never Had a Dream Come True"

This English pop group had lots of hits in Europe, but "Never Had a Dream Come True" was their only US hit. Member Jon Lee came out as gay in 2010.

15. Vanessa Carlton, "A Thousand Miles"

In 2002, Carlton released her debut album Be Not Nobody, and this song, with its iconic piano riff, spent 41 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100. Carlton came out as bisexual in 2010.

16. t.A.T.u., "All the Things She Said"

While the bandmembers aren't actually queer, we would be remiss to talk about queer one-hit wonders and not mention this song. For queer girls in 2002, this was the ultimate anthem and one of the few mainstream examples of a lesbian love story.

17. Nina Sky, "Move Ya Body"

Nina Sky is a duo made up of twins Nicole and Natalie Albino. Nicole came out as a lesbian in 2010, six years after this dancehall song was released and hit number four on the Billboard Hot 100.

18. Teddy Geiger, "For You I Will (Confidence)"

Singer-songwriter Teddy Geiger had her only top 40 hit with this emotional pop-rock song from 2006. Geiger came out as trans in 2017 and has written hits for artists like One Direction and Shawn Mendes.

19. The Veronicas, "Untouched"

While Australian pop-punk band The Veronicas might be iconic to a lot of people who were teens in the 2000s, this 2007 song was their only entry in the Billboard top 40, reaching number 17 in 2009. The band is made up of sisters Lisa and Jessica Origliasso. Jessica is a lesbian.

20. La Roux, "Bulletproof"

La Roux singer Elly Jackson prefers not to label herself, but also has confirmed she is queer. This dance track with its unforgettable synth and hook you have to sing along to had us all dancing in 2009.