As the mean of communication and transportation become more efficient and convenient, the exchange between people in the world become more frequent and diverse - not only for the trade and idea, but also the culture, language, and music. Nowadays, you can find non-English records in most of the English-speaking countries. They are always markets for these exotic music, even though most people may not be able to understand a word in them - they are still good music to listen to. Since the pre-rock & roll era, many non-English-speaking songs have made their way through the English-speaking countries' charts. Here are the list of those who made their appearance on the US, or UK, chart only once - and never return.
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Artist
Domenico Modugno
Year
1958
Song
Nel Blue Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)
Chart
1
An Italian singer Domenico Modugno was a renowned two-time Grammy Awards winner and a member of the Italian Parliament. His career's summit came in 1958 when his song "Nel blu dipinto di blu" won 2 Grammy Awards and topped the chart in US. He composed several more songs afterward, but none could match up with the success of this one song.
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Artist
Renato Carosone
Year
1958
Song
Torero
Chart
18
Renato Carosone was regarded as the pioneer of modern canzone napoletana (Naples' song tradition). His career during 1950s period was a big success both in his homeland and oversea. In 1958, his song "Torero" became a Top20 hit on US pop chart. It was translated into 12 lanauges and covered by numous artists. It was his only US success till he passed away in 2001.
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Artist
Lolita
Year
1960
Song
Sailor (Your Home Is The Sea)
Chart
5
Ditta Zusa Einzinger was an Austrian singer from the late 1950s, who usually recorded under the alias Lolita. She was best known for her 1960's hit "Seemann, deine Heimat ist das Meer", AKA "Sailor (Your Home Is the Sea)". This German song became a big hit in US and other German-speaking countries in Europe. It was her only international success.
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Artist
Joe Dowell
Year
1961
Song
Wooden Heart
Chart
1
Although Elvis Presley may be the first to sing this old German folk song in his 1960 film 'G.I.Blues'. But it was actually Joe Dowell who made his name with this song. His version, released in 1961, was more commerically successful and topped the Billboard chart in 1961. However, he could not carry on this fame and disappeared from the music scene by 1963.
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Artist
Emilio Pericoli
Year
1962
Song
Al Di La'
Chart
6
"Al Di La'" was a popular Italian song by Betty Curtis whose versio nbecame an Italian entry for Eurovision Song Contest in 1961. It was later made famous again by Emilio Pericoli, another Italian singer. His version also an internationally success. It became a no.6 hit on Billboard Pop chart in 1962. Pericoli never found another internationally success again.
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Artist
The Singing Nun
Year
1963
Song
Dominique
Chart
1
Sister Luc Gabriel, better known as The Sining Nun, was an artist who responsibled for the 1963 international smash "Dominique". The song hit no.1 in US and leaded to the hollywood movie in 1966. But her fame was brief and she soon faded from music world as quickly as she came.
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Artist
Ray Barretto
Year
1963
Song
El Watusi
Chart
17
A Puerto Rican descent Ray Barretto was widely regarded as the godfather of Latin jazz and famous for his unique conga style. In 1963, he scored the biggest hit of his life with the Charanga-style song "El Watusi". It became the first Latin song to enter Billboard chart. He continued to produce many more Latin jazz music but he never broke the Top40 chart again.
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Artist
Kyu Sakamoto
Year
1963
Song
Sukiyaki
Chart
1
In 1963, the Japanese singer Kyu Sakamoto made a history when his singles "Sukiyaki" became no.1 hit in US. It was the first true Japanese song ever to top the Billboard chart (and since). Although he was a popular singer in Japan, he never made another hit in US again till his death in 1985.
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Artist
David & Jonathan
Year
1966
Song
Michelle
Chart
18
Although "Michelle" was one of the Beatles's most well-known songs, it was another group who brought this half-French/half-English song to the chart. In 1966, a British vocalist duo, Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, recorded their version under the name David & Jonathan. It became a Top20 hit on Billboard chart and remained their only hit in the State until they broke up not long after that.
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Artist
Miriam Makeba
Year
1967
Song
Pata Pata
Chart
12
Miriam Makeba is a famous South Africa female musician, who introduced an African music to the international level during 1960s. She had one major hit in 1967 when the singles "Pata Pata" became top20 in US. It was her lone international hit to date.
Collection of your favorite one hit wonders from 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's. Hard to find one hit wonder, one hit wonderer of the period, The weirdest one hit wonder, two hit wonder, double hit wonder, onehitwondercenter