Domenico Modugno was one of the towering figures of twentieth-century Italian music, and his place on this list could hardly be more at odds with his stature. A singer, songwriter, and actor of immense influence, often called the father of modern Italian song, he had a long and celebrated career. Calling him a one-hit wonder is almost absurd, which is exactly why the caveat matters.
His defining song is "Nel blu dipinto di blu", better known to the world as "Volare", released in 1958. A soaring, joyful anthem of flight, it became a global phenomenon and won the very first Grammy for Record of the Year.
On streaming, "Volare" sits near 84 million plays, while his next most-streamed track trails at around 12 million. That puts the ratio above 7, past our 5.0 line.
So by our strict, numbers-only measure, Domenico Modugno registers as a certified one-hit wonder, and we flag the caveat as loudly as we can. This was a legend with a vast, beloved catalogue. It is only that one euphoric, world-conquering song has gathered the streaming crowd far ahead of the rest.