Strange or Surprising #1 songs

[Alan Stallion]

What are some of the strangest or most surprising songs that have reached #1 on a music chart? Could be Hot 100, R&B, Country, or other genre; or something on an international chart.

For example:

Dominique - The Singing Nun (Sœur Sourire)
Belgian singer-songwriter, member of the Dominican Order as Sister Luc Gabriel. A folk song in Belgian French. Topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 with this song. Also #1 in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and Venezuela, and top 10 in other nations.

 

[Alan Stallion]

And now for something completely different...

Disco Duck - Rick Dees
A satirical song about disco tops the US chart for a week in 1976. #1 in Canada too.

 

[Alan Stallion]

Shaddup You Face - Joe Dolce

C'mon, really? #1 in UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, west Germany? Shaddup you face.

 

[Alan Stallion]

Telstar - The Tornados
Space race-inspired instrumental, with unconventional intro and outro, keyboard-driven ditty in 1962 from a UK band (pre-British Invasion and Beatlemania).

 

[Alan Stallion]

Ballad of the Green Berets - SSgt. Barry Sadler
1966 positive patriotic portrayal of the military as anti-Vietnam War and anti-military sentiments were ramping high in the 1960s.

 

[Alan Stallion]

War - Edwin Starr
On the flipside was this critical song of the war efforts. Starr took this song The Temptations had recorded previously. Three weeks at #1 in 1970.

 

[Alan Stallion]

Rapture - Blondie
A song with rapping hits #1 in 1981 in the USA. And Debbie Harry of all people took it there.

 

[Alan Stallion]

Kung-Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
Fun disco-infused novelty song was an international smash in 1974-1975 for this one-hit wonder.
#1 in US, UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, and West Germany.

 

[Alan Stallion]

Je T’Aime… Moi Non Plus - Jane Birkin / Serge Gainsbourg
Reached #1 in the UK despite having been banned there for its sexual content, and sung in French. Also hit #1 in Austria, Norway, and Switzerland.

 

[shockedcanadian]

Kung-Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
Fun disco-infused novelty song was an international smash in 1974-1975 for this one-hit wonder.
#1 in US, UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, and West Germany.

Kung Fu Figting was.well deserved,.catchy and fun lyrics.

 

[Alan Stallion]

In the Year 2525 - Zager & Evans
Cringy tale of future doom from this one-hit wonder duo. Six weeks at #1 in the US in 1969. Also topped the charts in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

 

[MaryL]

The one song that epitomizes the Vietnam war and the mid-sixties:

 

[Alan Stallion]

Ringo - Lorne Greene
Bonanza actor sings (or rather, narrates). Hmmm. #1 in late 1964.

 

[Alan Stallion]

The one song that epitomizes the Vietnam war and the mid-sixties:

Tiny Tim hit #17 in the US in 1968 with that tune.
Was a #1 song for ten weeks in 1929 for Nick Lucas.

 

[Alan Stallion]

Fish Heads - Barnes and Barnes
Reported as the #1 most requested song on the Dr. Demento Show

 

[MaryL]

Tiny Tim hit #17 in the US in 1968 with that tune.
Was a #1 song for ten weeks in 1929 for Nick Lucas.

I stand corrected.

 

[Alan Stallion]

All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
Christmas songs until recently wouldn't be expected to top the chart in the US. At the time of its first outing, in 1994, it wasn't even eligible for the Billboard Hot 100 because it wasn't released in a "physical format" (that rule would lapse in 1998) and didn't even top the adult contemporary chart at the time.
In 2000 it peaked at #83. Subsequent releases since 2012 would see it in the top 40, and would finally hit #1 in 2019 and each year since then. So now it's a given to be #1, but that wasn't always the case.

 

[Alan Stallion]

The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) - Alvin and the Chipmunks (David Seville)
Novelty Christmas song released in 1958 tops the US chart. The only Christmas song to do that until Mariah Carey (see previous entry). David Seville's second and final #1 song, after "The Witch Doctor."

 

[Alan Stallion]

Speaking of the Witch Doctor

Witch Doctor - David Seville
1958 ditty. Would lead to Alvin and the Chipmunks (not billed as them in this song). #1 in the United States and Canada.
Oo-ee-oo-ah-ah...

 

[Alan Stallion]

Convoy - CW McCall
The CB (citizens band radio) fad of the 70s.
This 1975 song inspired the 1978 movie of the same name. #1 in the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Breaker, breaker, this is the Rubber Duck. Looks like we got ourselves a Convoy!