George Ezra, Budapest | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 22nd edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2025), we highlight “Budapest” performed by robust-voiced singer-songwriter George Ezra. 

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 22^nd edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2025), we dive into “Budapest”, the one-hit wonder by George Ezra.

“My house in Budapest, my / My hidden treasure chest / Golden grand piano 🎹  / My beautiful Castillo [castle 🏰] / … But for you, ooh, you, ooh / I’d leave it all.” George Ezra has the type of voice and presence when he sings that will make you swoon. One of the reasons why “Budapest” was a breakout single for the English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 singer-songwriter was his deep, distinct, and robust voice.  Ezra ate when it came to this song named after the capital of Hungary, flexing those sickening pipes like a C-H-A-M-P (that spells champ)! The second track from his 2014 debut album, Wanted on Voyage, is the song to beat.  Yes, I have preached a sermon about how much booty “Listen to the Man” kicks (it is a killer, alternative bop), but everybody in England, stateside, and worldwide knows that George’s ace-in-the-hole is “Budapest.”  He co-wrote “Budapest” with Joel Pott. Cam Blackwood produced it. Stateside, “Budapest” not only earned Ezra his only top 40 hit but also his only charting single on the pop charts. Yeah, it’s giving one-hit wonder. “Budapest” peaked at number 32 on the Hot 100.  On the bright side, as of January 2022, the Recording Industry Association of America certified the single as quadruple platinum.

How much is “Budapest” about 📍 Budapest, Hungary 🇭🇺? Very little. He mentions a city that he has admittedly never been to, as well as fancy possessions he lacked in the first verse (excerpted earlier). In reality, it would be less difficult to “leave it all” if you never had it to begin with 🤷🏾‍♂️. He is more focused on love, hence why he’s willing to give up EVERYTHING it. “And give me one good reason why I should never make a change,” he sings in the chorus, continuing, “And baby if you hold me, then all of this will go away.” Ah, the power of love 🥰! George admits, “My friends and family, they don’t understand / They fear they’ll lose so much if you take my hand.” That is not an unreasonable statement – it is relatable universally.  This relationship could potentially cost him the relationship he has with others he loves, as well as take him a distance away, etc. The songwriting is top-notch, with memorable lyrics and tuneful melodies.  Even as husky as Ezra’s pipes are, he exhibits exceptional control.  Even though the utterly sublime “Budapest” is Ezra’s only hit ‘technically’ in the United States, it’s not doom and gloom for the talented musician. Wanted on Voyage, the song’s parent album, was certified gold. Also, without touching the charts, two more songs from the album were certified gold (“Barcelona” and “Blame It On Me”), while “Shotgun” (Staying At Tamara’s, 2018) was certified platinum.  Even without success outside of pop, if “Budapest” is the only song we remember from George, it’s a damn good one. It slaps!