American Authors, Best Day Of My Life | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 43rd edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024), we highlight “Best Day Of My Life” performed by American Authors. 

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  It is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, that ONE hit earned them recognition. So, in the 43^rd edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024), we dive into “Best Day Of My Life”,  the one-hit wonder by American Authors.

“I had a dream so big and loud / I jumped so high, I touched the clouds / Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh, oh…” And so begins the one-hit-wonder extraordinaire, “Best Day Of My Life”. “Best Day Of My Life” is the third track from American Authors’ 2014, gold-certified album, Oh, What A Life.  The bubbly and infectious pop/rock cut is the sole song that charted on the pop charts for the band. The single was a rousing success, peaking at no. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and being certified multiplatinum by the RIAA. “Best Day Of My Life” features six songwriters: Band members Dave Rublin (bass), James Adam Shelley (banjo), Matt Sanchez (drums), Zac Barnett (vocals and guitar), and producers Shep Goodman and Aaron Accetta.

“Best Day Of My Life” is sweet from the get-go. Incredibly groovy, the rhythm is constant. Besides the brightness of the instrumental, the vocals are enthusiastic, joyful, and irresistible. The playful lyrics are one of the biggest selling points, including the sing-along-able, recurrent “Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh, oh…” In the first verse, Zach Barnett adds, “I stretched my hands out to the sky / We danced with monsters through the night.” In the second, he cites, “All the possibilities / No limits, just epiphanies.” Word.  The centerpiece is the unforgettable chorus in all of its glory:

“(Woo, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh) This is gonna be the best day of my life

(Woo, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh) My li-i-i-i-i-i-ife

(Woo, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh) This is gonna be the best day of my life

(Woo, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh) My li-i-i-i-i-i-ife.”

“Best Day Of My Life” is American Authors’ sole hit, but it greatly enhanced the graduation soundtrack.

American Authors // Oh, What A Life // The Island Def Jam Music Group // 2014

American Authors, Best Day Of My Life: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 43 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Elias Souza from Pexels; OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]