Top 10 Songs by Big Artists That Flopped in the US But Blew Up Internationally
#10: “Black Magic” (2015)
Little Mix
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One of the best-selling girl groups ever, Little Mix was immensely popular across Europe, South America and Asia, but in the U.S., their success was moderate, at best. Their 2015 hit “Black Magic” reached number one in the UK, staying there for three consecutive weeks. The song also hit the top 10 in Ireland, Australia, Belgium and Israel. But across the pond, “Black Magic” struggled to put Americans under its spell. It failed to crack the top half of the charts, peaking at number 67 and fading from the Hot 100 after just eight weeks. The track became their highest-charting single in the U.S., peaking above their subsequent hits “Shout Out to My Ex” and “Sweet Melody,” which were also more successful internationally.
#9: “I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” (2002)
Britney Spears
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In Britney Spears’ eponymous third album, the pop star ventured into a more mature territory than her previous efforts. The essence of this transformation was encapsulated in the album’s third single “I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman.” Despite receiving critical acclaim for its introspective lyrics and Spears’ vocal performance, the song hardly struck a chord with her American fanbase. It failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100, only peaking at number two on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. However, the track found a much warmer reception internationally, as it managed to crack top 10 positions in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and the UK, where it peaked at number two.
#8: “When Love Takes Over” (2009)
David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland
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Kelly Rowland’s foray into dance-oriented music began with this lush collaboration with French DJ David Guetta. The song was met with universal acclaim, helping to solidify Rowland’s solo career following her success with Destiny’s Child. It quickly rose through the charts, claiming the top position in several European countries, as well as in the UK. Even in countries where it didn’t reach the top spot, it was still popular enough to secure a spot within the top 10. That is, of course, except in Rowland’s own home. In the U.S., “When Love Takes Over” didn’t do much taking over, as it only peaked at number 76 and spent a mere nine weeks on the chart before falling off.
#7: “Playing with Fire” (2016)
Blackpink
Upon their debut in 2016, South Korean girl group Blackpink initially struggled to break into the U.S. market. “Playing with Fire,” which was only the third single of their career, became a hit in their home country and also performed well in Japan and Canada, where it marked the first appearance of a Korean girl group on the charts. However, it appears fans in the U.S. weren’t feeling the heat. The song was a huge flop in America, failing to even chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Blackpink ultimately cracked the code in the U.S., achieving a top 20 hit with their single “Ice Cream” four years later.
#6: “Chain Reaction” (1985)
Diana Ross
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Few artists in the U.S. have amassed as many chart-topping singles as Diana Ross. Throughout her career, the legendary singer earned 18 number-one hits, both as a solo artist and a member of The Supremes. However, as her career progressed, Ross’ success in the U.S. waned. Her 1985 single “Chain Reaction” topped the charts in the UK, Australia and Zimbabwe, and was a top 10 hit in several other countries. Unfortunately, its impact back home was minimal, as the song initially only reached number 95 on the Hot 100. Even a remixed version, released a few months later, failed to substantially improve its performance, peaking at number 66 before quickly dropping off the charts.
#5: “Spinning Around” (2000)
Kylie Minogue
Following the disappointment of her 1997 album “Impossible Princess,” Kylie Minogue made a remarkable comeback with “Light Years,” just as the new millennium began. Critics lauded the lead single, “Spinning Around,” which went on to become a bona fide global hit. But you’d never know that just by looking at the song’s performance in the U.S. Not only did it debut at the top spot in the UK and Minogue’s homeland, Australia, it also cracked the top five in several other countries, such as Croatia, Ireland, New Zealand and Russia. However, in the U.S., “Spinning Around” was essentially dead on arrival, barely making any noise and falling short of the Billboard Hot 100.
#4: “Super Trouper” (1980)
ABBA
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Despite their immense global popularity, ABBA struggled to resonate with American listeners. After all, the Swedish pop supergroup hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 only once, with their classic 1976 hit “Dancing Queen.” Four years later, ABBA released “Super Trouper,” the third single from their seventh studio album of the same name. “Super Trouper” secured ABBA their ninth and final number-one hit in the UK, and as of 2021, remains their second biggest song in the country. Its success was, however, mainly confined to Europe. While it topped the charts in places like Belgium and the Netherlands, the track had minimal impact in the US, barely breaking into the top half of the Hot 100.
#3: “Just a Little While” (2004)
Janet Jackson
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On February 2nd 2004, Janet Jackson released “Just a Little While,” the lead single from her eighth studio album “Damita Jo.” Despite high expectations from music critics, several factors hindered the song’s potential. For one, just the day before, Jackson faced industry backlash due to her involvement in the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show controversy. This led to her being blacklisted, and her music being banned from many radio and TV channels. To further complicate things, the song leaked prematurely, resulting in a rushed and confusing promotional campaign. Consequently, the track lived up to its title, spending just a little while on the Hot 100, after peaking at number 45. It fared much better internationally, reaching the top 20 in at least 10 countries.
#2: “Ashes to Ashes” (1980)
David Bowie
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David Bowie certainly wasn’t your typical artist. The English singer-songwriter was known for his boundary-pushing music that often left critics and fans polarized. This might explain why his 1980 single “Ashes to Ashes” failed to catch on with American audiences. Inspired by Bowie’s own experiences with substance use disorder, the song marked a commercial resurgence for the singer, becoming his fastest-selling single in the UK. It eventually rose to the number one spot there, and reached the top 10 in several European countries. In the U.S., however, listeners paid “Ashes to Ashes” dust. The song never made it onto the Billboard Hot 100, only reaching the number one spot on the Bubbling Under chart.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Sound of the Underground” (2002), Girls Aloud
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“You Win Again” (1987), Bee Gees
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“Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” (2018), Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus
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“Flames” (2018), David Guetta & Sia
Near-Total Absence in America for 2018’s Most-Played Song on European Radio
“I'm Outta Love” (2000), Anastacia
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#1: “The Best” (1989)
Tina Turner
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Turning someone else’s song into a global hit is no ordinary feat, but Tina Turner was anything but ordinary. In 1989, the singer recorded a cover of Bonnie Tyler’s “The Best,” which became the lead single of her album “Foreign Affair.” Turner’s version introduced fresh elements into the original, transforming it into a more infectious tune. As such, it caught on easily with listeners around the world, cracking the top five in at least 12 countries. But you know what they say, a prophet is not honored in their own hometown. Despite the international acclaim, Turner’s version only achieved moderate success in her native U.S., with a peak of number 15, a far cry from the best of her offerings.
What other international hits do you think deserved the same level of success in the U.S.? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
