One Singular Sensation (The Early 1980s) Quiz

Answer: Baltimora

The other three were one-hit wonders from the 1960s.

Baltimora had recurring success with the hit "Tarzan Boy", seeing it rechart in 1993 after it was featured in a prominent television commercial. The group didn't last very long, only putting out two albums. Jimmy McShane, the lead singer and frontman, died in 1995.

Answer: Benny Mardones

The other three were also one-hitters from the 1980s.

Benny Mardones gave so much energy on "Into the Night" in 1980, it is a wonder he had anything left to sing more songs. He experienced some drug addictions which led to getting dumped by his record label. But a radio station added "Into the Night" to its playlist in 1989 which inspired others to do the same, and before long he had charted again. He is on a very short list of artists to have charted twice with one song yet never charted again with anything else.

Answer: Taco

Taco Ockerse was born in Indonesia and grew up in Holland. He saw his biggest success in Germany after his breakthrough hit, but never to the degree of "Puttin' On the Ritz".

Answer: Soft Cell

The other three were also one-hit wonders from the 1980s.

Soft Cell didn't handle their overnight success well, delving into drugs and breaking up three years after the single was released. They have had brief reunions and tours in Great Britain since then, but they are one of the top examples of the definition of one-hit wonder as far as the United States go.

Answer: Jack Wagner

The other three were 1970s actors who saw mild success also on the music charts.

Jack Wagner was a staple as Frisco Jones on ABC's "General Hospital" in the 1980s when he tried his hand at singing. The song was bolstered by some play on the soap opera, which got the song to #2 on the Hot 100. Wagner never saw the top 40 again, but had a long career in acting, playing on "Melrose Place" for six years, and playing Frisco Jones off and on for nearly thirty.

Answer: Nena

All are German artists, but Nena was the one that took the world over with their anti-war anthem about red balloons. Nena was the nickname of lead singer Gabriele Kerner. "99 Luftballons" continued a very profitable career for this group in their native Germany and other Germanic speaking countries.

In fact, an English version was also released, so they double dipped on the same song in other countries.

Answer: Musical Youth

Musical Youth was formed in 1979 and lasted six years, finding more success in Europe than America. Their success led to much dissension in the group and their eventual disbanding. Sadly the song that put them on the map was deemed to be a copy of an earlier reggae hit called "Pass the Kouchie", and they lost a fair amount in royalties.

Answer: Matthew Wilder

All were American one-hit wonders, but Matthew Wilder is the one behind this song. Matthew would make the rounds of the television variety shows with this song, but he would nearly fall off the face of the earth, never seeing the Top 20 again in any country.

Answer: Toni Basil

The others were one-hit wonders from the 1970s.

Toni Basil was primarily a choreographer prior to trying her hand at singing. The hit that made her a musical star for a brief time was originally named "Kitty", and done by a group named Racey. The lyrics have been analyzed over the years as being overtly sexual, to which Basil has said they are reading too much into it.

Answer: The Vapors

The Vapors actually knew they had a hit on their hands, and intentionally didn't release it first in fear they would be a one-hit wonder. But that first single went nowhere, and their fears came true upon releasing "Turning Japanese". More successful in other countries, it was a mild USA hit bolstered by it being one of the few songs with a planned video, pre-MTV.