Top 10 Artists and Bands Whose Debut Single is Their Biggest Hit

These are artists whose debut singles in the mainstream music world are not only their most successful debuts, but also their most successful songs to this day.

They've received tons of positive reception, and these songs remain their signature hits.

The Top Ten

Britney Spears (...Baby One More Time)

Britney Jean Spears (born on December 2, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi) is an American former singer and actress. She was raised in Kentwood, Louisiana. As a child, she performed acting roles in stage productions and television shows, such as The Mickey Mouse Club, before signing with Jive Records in... read more

Her debut single is Baby One More Time, which was her biggest hit as well as the biggest debut single in the history of music. It hit #1 in 22 countries and was certified gold in many places. It was the best single of 1999 in the U.S. Long live Britney Spears.
Ke$ha (Tik Tok)

Kesha Rose Sebert (formerly Ke$ha), born March 1, 1987, in Los Angeles, California, is an American singer and songwriter. She became famous for her energetic pop hits like Tik Tok, Die Young, and her collaboration with Pitbull on Timber.... read more

Her debut single is TikTok, which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks and achieved the biggest weekly sum of all time by a female artist, with 610,000 downloads in one week. It was certified eight times platinum by the RIAA and sold 6.8 million copies in the U.S. and 12.8 million worldwide.
Overall, it was the best-selling global single of 2010, with nearly 20 million copies sold, making it one of the best-selling digital singles by any artist to this day. It ranked 61st on the top Billboard Hot 100 songs of all time.
Olivia Rodrigo (Drivers License)

Olivia Isabel Rodrigo (born February 20, 2003) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She first gained recognition for her roles as Paige Olvera on the Disney Channel series Bizaardvark and Nini Salazar-Roberts on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.... read more

Her mainstream debut single is Drivers License, which hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks in a row and became the most streamed song of 2021 on Spotify. Even Deja Vu and Good 4 U didn't receive quite the same reception, though Good 4 U surpassed Drivers License as her highest-charting song on the Billboard Year-End chart.
All I Want, released earlier, wasn't mainstream, as it was simply made as a soundtrack for High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and her theme for American Girl's Grace wasn't mainstream either. So Drivers License was her debut on the mainstream music scene, which is what we focus on today.

Omg. Her song Driver's License has skyrocketed in popularity.
Lorde (Royals)

Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor (born November 7, 1996), better known by her stage name Lorde, is a singer-songwriter from New Zealand. She released her debut EP The Love Club in 2012 and rose to international fame with the single "Royals" at age 16.... read more

Her debut single is Royals, which achieved international success, reaching #1 in Belgium, the Republic of Ireland, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, the U.K., and Canada. Royals stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks and was certified Diamond by the RIAA. It sold 10 million units worldwide, making it her best-selling song and one of the best by anyone worldwide.
It was also the second most consumed song of 2013 in New Zealand and was certified nine times platinum in Australia and Canada. It won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance. Royals is credited with bringing alternative-focused artists into mainstream music.
Spice Girls (Wannabe)

The Spice Girls are an English pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consists of Emma Bunton (Baby Spice), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty Spice), Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice), Melanie Brown (Scary Spice), and Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice).... read more

Their biggest hit was in fact their debut single Wannabe, which peaked at #1 in many places and sold 100,000 copies from June to October that year.
Billy Ray Cyrus (Achy Breaky Heart)

Billy Ray Cyrus is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. Having released 16 studio albums and 53 singles since 1992, he is best known for his hit single "Achy Breaky Heart." The song topped the U.S. Hot Country Songs chart and became the first single to achieve triple platinum status in Australia... read more

His cover of Achy Breaky Heart was his first and biggest hit, making him a one-hit wonder as a solo and lead artist.
Norah Jones (Don't Know Why)

Norah Jones is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and actress. She has won 10 Grammy Awards and sold more than 53 million records worldwide. Billboard named her the top jazz artist of the 2000s decade.

Her debut single is Don't Know Why, which peaked at #30 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and was critically successful, more than any other song of hers. It won three Grammy Awards in 2003 for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
It was her biggest hit in the U.S. and worldwide and her only hit to reach the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. It ranked #5 in Australia, #24 in New Zealand, and #59 in the U.K. It was ranked #459 on the list of the 500 Greatest Songs That Played Since You Were Born.
Evanescence (Bring Me to Life)

Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1994 by singer and keyboardist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. The group rose to prominence in the early 2000s with their debut studio album Fallen (2003), which included the hit singles Bring Me to Life and My Immortal.... read more

Their debut single was "Bring Me to Life," which received mostly positive critical responses. Critics praised the song's melody, Amy Lee's vocals, and their accompaniment by McCoy. It remains the band's signature song.
Following the inclusion of the song on the Daredevil soundtrack, it became a commercial and critical success, topping the charts in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Italy. It charted in the top 10 in more than 15 countries, including the U.S., Argentina, Germany, and New Zealand. "Bring Me to Life" was certified platinum by the RIAA and twice platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).
Some interpreted the song's lyrics as a call for new life in Jesus Christ, which helped it chart on the Christian rock charts, despite it not being the songwriters' intention. Evanescence won the Best Hard Rock Performance category at the 46th Grammy Awards, where the song was also nominated for Best Rock Song.
Directed by Philipp Stölzl, the accompanying music video shows Lee singing and climbing on a skyscraper while having nightmares in her bedroom. "Bring Me to Life" was part of the set list during the Fallen and The Open Door Tour. Many artists recorded cover versions of the song, including the classical singer Katherine Jenkins and American pianist John Tesh. It was also used on several television shows.
Vanessa Carlton (A Thousand Miles)

Vanessa Lee Carlton is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She rose to fame with her 2002 hit single A Thousand Miles. Since then, she has released several albums and continued to tour and perform around the world.

Her debut single A Thousand Miles was her only hit to reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #5 and making it her only top 5 hit.
A Touch of Class (Around the World (La La La La La))

Their debut single is Around the World, which covered Pesenka by the Russian band Ruki Vverh. It hit the top 20 in many countries worldwide, proving a Russian song can be enjoyed worldwide, not just in Russia.

The Newcomers

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The Calling (Wherever You Will Go)
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Echosmith (Cool Kids)

Echosmith is an American indie pop band that was formed in February 2009 in Chino, California. The original lineup consisted of siblings Graham, Sydney, Noah, and Jamie Sierota. Before signing with Warner Bros. Records in May 2012, the group performed under the name "Ready Set Go!"... read more

The Contenders

Frankie Goes to Hollywood (Relax)

The band's debut single is Relax, which hit #1 on nine charts, #5 on four charts, #11 on one chart, #9 on one chart, and #10 on one chart. It was also their only global hit, making them one-hit wonders worldwide. They had multiple hits in several local places though.
Juli (Perfekte Welle)

Juli is a German alternative rock band formed in 2001. The group consists of Eva Briegel (vocals), Jonas Pfetzing (guitar), Simon Triebel (guitar), Andreas Herde (bass), and Marcel Römer (drums). They gained national fame with their debut single "Perfekte Welle" in 2004.... read more
The Zombies (She's Not There)

The Zombies are an English rock band formed in 1962 in St Albans and led by keyboardist and vocalist Rod Argent and vocalist Colin Blunstone. They are best known for their hit singles She's Not There, Tell Her No, and Time of the Season. The band's 1968 album Odessey and Oracle is widely regarded as... read more

They debuted with She's Not There, which was their only top 40 hit on U.K. radio.
No Angels (Daylight in Your Eyes)

No Angels were an all-female pop band from Germany formed in 2000. The group consisted of band members Nadja Benaissa, Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling, Vanessa Petruo, and Jessica Wahls. They rose to fame after winning the first season of the German talent show Popstars and became one of the most successful... read more

Their debut single Daylight in Your Eyes hit the top of the Austrian, German, and Swiss Singles and Airplay Charts, making it their biggest hit to this day.
The Killers (Mr. Brightside)

The Killers are an American pop rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2001 by Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning. The band gained international fame with their debut album Hot Fuss (2004), which included hit singles like Mr. Brightside and Somebody Told Me. They've since released multiple albums and... read more

Their first single, "Mr. Brightside," was massive ever since it was released in 2003 and even bigger when re-released a year later. It is still on the U.K. charts after all this time and is around the 100th most streamed song on Spotify.
Tokio Hotel (Monsoon)

Tokio Hotel is a pop rock band from Magdeburg, Germany, formed in 2001. The group consists of Bill Kaulitz on vocals, Tom Kaulitz on guitar, Gustav Schäfer on drums, and Georg Listing on bass and keyboard.
They rose to fame in Germany with their 2005 debut album Schrei, when most members were... read more
JoJo (Leave (Get Out))

Joanna Noëlle "JoJo" Levesque is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She rose to fame in 2004 with her debut single "Leave (Get Out)", which made her one of the youngest solo artists to top the Billboard Pop Songs chart. Over her career, she has released multiple albums, acted in films and television... read more

Her debut single Leave (Get Out) peaked at the top of the U.S. Billboard Pop Songs chart while she was 13, making her the youngest to ever achieve that.
The Knack (My Sharona)

The Knack was an American rock band based in Los Angeles that rose to fame with its debut single, "My Sharona," an international number-one hit in 1979. The song was featured on the band's debut album, Get the Knack, which was also a commercial success. The band is often associated with the power pop... read more

Their debut single My Sharona hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart for six weeks and was #1 on Billboard's 1979 Top Pop Singles Year-End Chart. They became one-hit wonders for this. They never had another global hit.
Silento (Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae))

Richard Lamar Hawk, better known by his stage name Silentó, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He was born on January 23, 1998, in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He is best known for his debut single "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)," which reached number three on the Billboard... read more

His song Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a trend in the early 2010s, making it his only song to do so. He is a one-hit wonder for these reasons. Though he is no longer a hit after he killed his cousin and got arrested for it.
Samantha Mumba (Gotta Tell You)

Samantha Tamania Anne Cecilia Mumba is an Irish singer and actress born on January 18, 1983. She gained international fame in 2000 with her debut single "Gotta Tell You," which reached the Top 10 in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Her debut album of the same name also saw commercial... read more

Her debut single, Gotta Tell You, reached the top 5 in Ireland, the U.K., and the U.S. It's been listed in Billboard's 100 Greatest Choruses of the 21st Century.
Her album of the same name was released later that year and reached #4 in Ireland and #9 in the U.K. Since then, she has had 7 top 5 hits in Ireland, 6 top 10 hits in the U.K., and 1 top 5 hit worldwide. She's a one-hit wonder worldwide for a reason.
CeCe Peniston (Finally)

Never mind her name. Her debut single was Finally, which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became her only top 10 hit in the U.S.
Rose Royce (Car Wash)

The band's debut single is Car Wash, which reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts. It also peaked at #3 on the National Disco Action Top 30 chart and #9 on the U.K. Singles Chart in February 1977.
The song was later covered by Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott as the theme song for the 2004 CGI film Shark Tale. R.I.P. to the writer and producer behind it all, Norman Whitfield (1940-2008).
Rachel Stevens (Sweet Dreams My LA Ex)

Her debut single from her debut album as a solo artist is Sweet Dreams My LA Ex, which hit #2 in the UK and received a silver certificate from the BPI.
Baccara (Yes Sir, I Can Boogie)

They were known for their debut single, Yes Sir, I Can Boogie, which became their biggest hit and the best-selling single by a girl group, with a whopping 23.5 million sales worldwide.
R.I.P. María Mendiola (1952-2021).
Saving Jane (Girl Next Door)