CNN has a story posted regarding the worst song ever. In my opinion - the story itself is poorly written - but I supposed that's not the point. There are tons of 'best of' song/album lists ("Hey Jude"???? Gimme a break!) but not just not enough 'worst of'.
In 1989(?), Jon and I drove to Florida and each of us had to make a tape of the worst songs that we owned. The deal was - we could not fast forward through any of them! (Somewhere, I still have that tape!). It was funny and painful at the same time.
Then a few years ago, Rebecca and Art Silverman attempted to do a worst repsonse list to a 'best of' piece on All Songs Considered for All Things Considered a few years ago that never got aired. Becky had asked some people for their submissions - and I think it's time to re-examine the songs that would rather send us to the dentist for a root canal than to endure the 3 minutes 30 seconds of radio airtime.
As a number of people can tell you, for decades my #1 choice was Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street". That soul-piercing saxophone could (and still can) make me take plunge over a cliff. But as luck (?) would have it - newer, worser music has come along, or been rediscovered. The eerie thing is - how do these songs slip into our sub-conscious? I mean - I've always hated these songs. It was a not a slow decline into, 'wow, this song has really become annoying'. Yet I know every fucking word to each of my worst list (or most of the songs). How does this happen?????
Granted I do not listen to radio that much anymore (unless it's NPR) - so most of my choices are not current.
Though you can email CNN your submissions at worstsong@cnn.com, I'd love to.....no, need to see what everyone has to say (so list them here people!!!!). I don't think you have to put only one down. G-d knows I'm not! Unlike CNN's stipulations, these do not necessarily have to be 'hits'.
You can't (or shouldn't) put down blanket statements 'anything Whitney Houston / Celine Dion' because
- It's just being lazy
- It just stands to reason
Kokomo - Beach Boys
Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
Cook of the House - Wings
I've Never Been to Me - Charlene
War - Culture Club
Rock Me Amadeus - Falco
Come On Eileen - Dixie's Midnight Runners
Run-Around - Blue Travelers
Let it Be - Beatles (there! I said it. someone had to!)
4 comments:
My most hated song ever:
Billy Don't be a Hero by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods (yes, I had to look up the band name)
You've GOT to dig up that tape. It's prolly with the VHS tape of MTV you recorded in 1988.
This is tough for me as I think I sometimes like a song due to it's badness. Kind of like picking out the ugly dog from the pound. However, that "thinkin' about my doorbell" song by that horrible striped group makes my testicles crawl up inside me. And you know how Rush songs make Becca and me burn ourselves with cigarettes.
"Fluffy" by Gloria Balsam. Unbelievable. Once heard, you can never forget it.
From the New York Times Pop Life column: "Few will deny that Gloria Balsam's ''Fluffy,'' a warbled, off-key evocation of a deceased dog, is genuinely horrifying."
Post a Comment