Ok, I ran across an old story on the BBC website about the worst song ever and it got me thinking, so what is the worst song ever. Sure I don't think Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da is that great of a song, but it certainly isn't the worst song ever.
Reading the comments that were left on that page made me think and sort of illustrated the problem here. I mean what's the criteria here. Obviously MacArthur Park by Richard Harris is a totally terrible song but I'll still listen to it and laugh at it. It is just so far beyond bad that it is funny. And there are a lot more songs in that category that are just so awful but they are funny. Heck, I think that most satanic speed death metal is totally funny, especially all that stuff from Norway.
I know for myself, the two songs that I detest, that I want to claw my ears out whenever they come on are American Pie by Don McLean and You're So Vain by Carly Simon. American Pie is probably out in front right now because the grocery store I used to shop in had it on their tape loop of songs they used to play, so generally, if I didn't hurry, I would hear it each time I went shopping. But still, You're So Vain probably makes me want to die more when I hear it.
But as bad as those songs are, I agree with one of the comments that if you have ever heard O Superman by Laurie Anderson, then you can have no doubt what the worst song of all time is. Unfortunately, I've heard O Superman, so it is going to top my list then. Even though it doesn't induce the desire to kill myself like the other two songs, it is bad mostly because it defies the whole concept of music and goodness and songness and probably a lot of other things.
It was like one of the 3 videos that Channel 12 had for FM TV and I not only had to hear the song but also see it. And it goes on for like 45 minutes and it has that endless ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha part all through it. I don't know if Laurie Anderson has other songs that don't suck or if she is a genius or whatever, this song is so bad that there is no way I would ever want to know any of that.
Hmm, what about Mambo No 5 by Lou Bega, mustn't forget that one.
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21 hours ago
5 comments:
i've made a habit of avoiding hits radio for nearly 25 years, so i'm often left in the dark when lists like this come out or discussions turn to recent pop hits. however, i do have my own vote for worst song ever - "we built this city" by starship. this tune is beyond awful. a few months ago this song came on, and several people in the room said that they thought it was the BEST song of all time. i just about gagged, but kept my mouth shut - i was a guest in their home, and there was not point in pissing them off and pointing out their lack of taste.
i actually like "o superman," no joke. but i can see how it might annoy some people.
Identifying the worst song ever is really an incredibly daunting task. It's blowing my mind just imagining it. I'll be researching, but it has to be some kind of prog rock with electric ebow solos and and entire albumn sides filled with flute solos. ELP is ccoming to mind, but let's face it, who has the time to listen to a whole song by those bastards. I also disliked "We are the World" by the pretentious faggmiesters from the 80's. Just some thoughts.
Umm, no way. I think what you meant to say is that Tank by ELP is the best song ever. Because there is no way that something that great could be the worst song ever.
Starship, hmm, I wonder if there is a way to scientifically prove that bands just get better and better as their names get shorter.
when it comes to ELP, i've always been a "tarkus" fan. you gotta love an album all about a large armadillo with tank treads. pure gold.
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