Why don't you like that song? [Archive]

Doctor Q

Aug 24, 2007, 02:45 PM

Most of us can name a long list of songs we like, songs we have little opinion on, and songs that we actively dislike.

I'd like to know why there are songs you don't like. I don't mean an entire genre, such as not liking country music or not liking rock music. I'm talking about individual songs that make you leap for the Mute button or change radio stations.

What about certain songs rubs you the wrong way?

(Please don't simply post a list of songs you hate. Explain what the problem with them is.)

dops7107

Aug 24, 2007, 02:56 PM

MattG

Aug 24, 2007, 03:06 PM

Stupid, cliche, crappy thoughtless lyrics. I also don't like music that's been "manufactured" by record companies.

It's funny you mention Country specifically, because that's a subject my girlfriend and I frequently disagree on. She likes all that FM country crap, and I just can't stand it. Not because of the sound, not because of the twang ... it's because most of the people on country radio really aren't that talented, they're merely products of the record company. It's more about the image than genuinely caring about music and songcrafting. Corporate tools who will sing any song that's stuck in front of them. Lots of people can sing well and could easily learn a few chords on the guitar -- guarantee you there's a lot of acts at local bars and whatnot who will never make it to the big-time, who are far more talented than most of the acts out there now. THAT bothers me.

Aea

Aug 24, 2007, 03:14 PM

I absolutely hate Misery Business (Paramore), I hear it on the radio all the time and it makes me want to stab a kitten. Horrid lyrics, horrid vocals, etc.

Jaffa Cake

Aug 24, 2007, 03:34 PM

bartelby

Aug 24, 2007, 03:35 PM

You're beautiful - James *unt!

Horrible horrible vocals. Inane pathetic lyrics and no memorable tune.

Osarkon

Aug 24, 2007, 03:36 PM

I loathe the song Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The lyrics are awful, and when you're out for the night, you can guarantee the damn song will come on at least once. It makes me want to punch something.

calculus

Aug 24, 2007, 03:38 PM

You're beautiful - James *unt!

Horrible horrible vocals. Inane pathetic lyrics and no memorable tune.

I think you're being too kind to him...

bartelby

Aug 24, 2007, 03:39 PM

I think you're being too kind to him...

If I put what I thought I'd get banned...

noaccess

Aug 24, 2007, 03:47 PM

You're beautiful - James *unt!

Horrible horrible vocals. Inane pathetic lyrics and no memorable tune.
Thank you. :D

And there was that other song by him with a line that went like this:
I want you to have my baby...

Puh-lease...

bartelby

Aug 24, 2007, 03:49 PM

Thank you.

And there was another song by him with a line that went like this:

He wrote a 2nd song?!?!?:eek:

gauchogolfer

Aug 24, 2007, 03:56 PM

noaccess

Aug 24, 2007, 04:03 PM

Hmmm... to answer Dr. Q's question.
What immediately disqualifies a song from my "Like" list is bad vocals or bad lyrics, or worse... crappy, hyper-commercial, tacky instrumentals. Combine either of the first two with the third, and you get this (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=206365124&s=143441&i=206365181).

Info: The song was pretty popular in Germany a while ago and I literally jumped to change the channel/station every time it got played on TV or radio. Note that this is by far the song I most dislike.

EDIT: The link redirects to the iTunes Store, so you can hear a preview. Please don't click on buy by accident.

He wrote a 2nd song?!?!?:eek:

Lucky you for never hearing it :)

BoyBach

Aug 24, 2007, 04:04 PM

According to the zoologist Desmond Morris, the reason we like and dislike certain things is due to what he calls our "taxophilic urge" which developed in us 'way back' when we needed to classify our surroundings as food, prey, predator, etc.

He argues that this "urge" to catalogue developed further to encompass all of our surroundings for use in emergencies - so we know where something is when we need it quickly.

This now means that when we see or hear something 'new' our brain compares it to what it's already arranged into 'pleasant' and 'offensive' and if its familiar to something we find 'pleasant' we 'enjoy' it, and vice versa.

***

Anyways, enough of my rubbish attempt at trying to understand and describe Desmond Morris' theory about 'Aesthetic Behaviour' and on to 'The Song':

'America' - by Razorlight. Johnny Borrell? C**ty Borrell more like! :mad:

calculus

Aug 24, 2007, 04:07 PM

I just found this description of James Blunt by Rolling Stone magazine...

For people who like Coldplay but find them a touch abrasive

Tears are rolling down my cheeks...

noaccess

Aug 24, 2007, 04:11 PM

I just found this description of James Blunt by Rolling Stone magazine...

For people who like Coldplay but find them a touch abrasive

Tears are rolling down my cheeks...

Eek! Whoever wrote that article was having a bad trip... :eek:

ErikCLDR

Aug 24, 2007, 04:38 PM

Bad lyrics mostly or annoying vocals.

"And I'm going to miss you like a child misses their blanket" ~Fergie

Good job Fergie! Nice simile!

Doctor Q

Aug 24, 2007, 05:56 PM

I can't explain my musical taste, even to myself. I tend to think in algorithms, but I can't find one that will predict what music I will like and what I won't.

I know I appreciate artists with real musical talent, which leads me to a variety of styles, from hip-hop to show tunes. That's why I've always liked Paul McCartney's music, despite the too-pleasant pop style that gets him on the charts so often; he's just plain talented. My favorite McCartney song? Maybe I'm Amazed. My least favorite? Mull of Kintyre. Why? I don't know.

But I clearly don't demand talent, and I like quite a few bands that are equally good at noise and music, if their songs just happen to hit me the right way.

When it comes to bad tunes, I'm definitely bothered more by a single off-key note than by an uninspiring melody. I cringe if they miss the high note! Yet the cult classic Tainted Love is both off-key and has a "relentlesss" style without driving me batty, as it does for some people. I tend to laugh when I hear it.

Bad lyrics? I listen to lots of music where I can't understand the lyrics at all (either because they are crazed rock bands screaming and yelling) or because they are in some unfathomable foreign tongue. And when I can understand the lyrics (Foo Fighters; Jethro Tull) they may not make any sense anyway. So my taste doesn't always depend on lyrics. Clever lyrics can make a bad tune worth listening to, but repetitive lyrics can quickly turn me off. Anybody else hate it when they can't think of a rhyme so they use the same word twice?

I find myself laughing that I really like (and bought) Lady by "Lenny Kravitz" but detest the utterly boring and repetitive Fly Away by the same artist. Maybe it reminds me too much of Rock 'n Roll All Nite by Kiss, whose success I can't fathom in the least. That's probably #1 on my bottom ten.

Jaffa Cake is right about how inane "A Horse With No Name" is. And I've heard it performed live by America, so I should know! :eek:

Hey, nobody has mentioned Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus so far!

psycoswimmer

Aug 24, 2007, 06:28 PM

Bad lyrics mostly or annoying vocals.

"And I'm going to miss you like a child misses their blanket" ~Fergie

Good job Fergie! Nice simile!

Whenever I hear that song, that particular horrid line gets stuck in my head for hours. It just did again. ;)

®îçhå®?

Aug 25, 2007, 06:03 PM

Drawling, pained singing - I mean, he doesn't even sound like he thinks the girl's gorgeous!
It's actually him singing to another guy.

dops7107

Aug 25, 2007, 10:00 PM

It's actually him singing to another guy.

Well there you go, I couldn't stand it enough even to work that one out :o

SonicChronicler

Aug 25, 2007, 10:25 PM

OK, I passionately detest this song (lyrics (http://www.lyricsondemand.com/b/babybirdlyrics/youregorgeouslyrics.html)).

As with liking songs, disliking them is equally subjective and opinionated. But this one is awful. Reasons are:

Tedious lyrics
Drawling, pained singing - I mean, he doesn't even sound like he thinks the girl's gorgeous!
Utterly depressing repetitive melody, reaches a climax of despair when he launches into "Because youuuuuuuuuure gorgeous..."

If you don't know it, hunt it down, but I recommend you don't. I don't know if iTunes stocks it but if it does, I'd rather stay ignorant.

While I'm at it I also dislike "A Design For Life" by the Manic Street Preachers. Talk about stretching lyrics to fit a dreary tune. I guess it's the chorus which does it for me: "A des-ign. fo-or Life. A des-ign. fo-or life etc. etc."

I'd have to disagree with you on both of those choices (but of course it's your own choice what you like and dislike)

The Babybird song isn't really about thinking someone is gorgeous - it's pretty much just the opposite, irony you see. ;) the song was hijacked because of the catchy melody and lyrics and made the top 3 in the UK and is forever linked with couple proclaiming the other is gorgeous.

The Manics? Well we'll have to agree to disagree on that one, pretty uplifting song IMHO (although again the lyrics don't really reflect that.)

Sonic

SonicChronicler

Aug 25, 2007, 10:26 PM

It's actually him singing to another guy.

I can assure you it's not.

Sonic

Dagless

Aug 25, 2007, 10:32 PM

I don't like new music in general. It all seems like music aimed at students, with either-

-gritty/urban sound, but with a nice voice that can hold a note.
-rock bands that wear blazers and sound like everyone else.
-boys who pretend to be girls.
-girls who pretend to be boys.
-lyrics about the attempts to gain or joys of drinking or sex.

Meh. I shouldn't be so picky with music. I don't just hear the song, I hear the genre they're trying to be and the background/image they're trying to make you. I hear students lisping about how great it is and how fantastic they are with more upward inflections than all the radio stations of the world combined and how it ¨totally hits their scene¨.
...And I'm only 21!
Just give me Chumbawamba or New Order.

Know what I mean? I don't think I do, actually. I can't actually see properly I'm so tired. :)

Cassie

Aug 26, 2007, 12:29 AM

At the moment I really hate "Lips of an Angel" by Hinder. Of course, this is just one of those songs that I've heard too man times.

I've always disliked "All my ex's live in texas" by George Strait. I'm a big fan of country music, but I can't stand the melody in that song.

rockosmodurnlif

Aug 26, 2007, 05:38 AM

The first song that comes to mind is "Broken" by Seether (with Amy Lee). The guest vocal being the first reason I don't like that song, talk about a blatant attempt at moving units. After that comes the fact that the rest of the instruments join the acoustic guitar, anguished vocal midway through the second verse which always throws me off. That's really the reason I hate the song. Why do the instruments come in then? It doesn't punctuate anything. It sounds like random for the sake of being random. I mean they could come in on the last part of the final chorus and it wouldn't make a difference. Its so aggravating to me and I'm not sure why.

Oh and um, "This is Why I'm Hot" by MIMS. It sounds like it was written by a six year old, its got that This-is-a-song-that-never-ends vibe and it gets constant airplay. At least the few times when I'm on the bus and the radio is on I hear it. I wouldn't mind it if I didn't hear it all the time.

Now that I think about it, hearing a song a lot probably has a lot to do with 'hating' a song. I heard "Broken" a lot too.

Yaris

Aug 26, 2007, 11:59 AM

"We in the club doin' the same ol' two step
Guerilla Unit
'Cause they say we bugged out
'Cause we don't go nowhere without toast."

annk

Aug 26, 2007, 12:06 PM

Well, it's not a song, but I absolutely HATE Ravel's Bolero.

I worked as a professional orchestra musician for 12 years, played with some of the world's best conductors and soloists, and love classical music in general, but Bolero has an unpleasant melody with a boring chord progression, it's repeated in unpleasant variants ad nauseum, and it's WAY too long. It's an unimaginative piece of crap. If it hadn't been used in a film, it would've faded into obscurity, where it belongs. It's a cheap piece of ****.

I've played it many, many times, and it makes my blood pressure rise. I really, really hate it. Does it show? :p

balofagus

Aug 26, 2007, 06:24 PM

1. Walls Fall Down by Bedouin Soundclash! 1. Because I don't care about the gosh-darned walls and that they're falling down and 2. because I'm pretty sure it's played every hour on the local radio station (that I'm forced to listen to at work)

I actually quite like some of their songs but that one is seriously gonna drive me off a tall cliff!

2. If Everyone Cared by Nickelback. I don't know why Chad has to take a loud sharp breath after seemingly every line, it's all I can pay attention to. I've actually ruined this song for several people b pointing that out :D

ghall

Aug 26, 2007, 09:26 PM

Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne makes me wanna kill myself. Seriously, it was overplayed before the first time it was ever played.

tyranna

Aug 27, 2007, 01:06 PM

Hey, nobody has mentioned Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus so far!
you know, i always hated that stupid song, but never fell straight into loathing it until i :cool: heard it performed in spanish.

ugh!

Applespider

Aug 27, 2007, 01:10 PM

It tends to be when an average song is overplayed that I start leaping to turn it off. There are even songs that I liked initially that I was turned off from them being overplayed - Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars is one - and then it ended up in my Body Pump class :rolleyes:

Otherwise, it's songs that have 'catchy' lyrics so are likely to get stuck in my head for the rest of the day/week that bug me. Sadly for those, by the time you get to the radio to turn it off, there's just enough of it stuck in your head that you're already doomed.

CortexRock

Aug 27, 2007, 01:19 PM

You're Gorgeous by Babybird:

My interpretation of this song has always been that it's sung from the point of view of a girl who's been exploited by a bloke.

She's persuaded to model for 'artistic' photos and videos on the bonnet of a "rented motorcar" with a promise she'll appear in magazines "on every table, in every lounge".

She goes along with it because "you told me I wasn't cheap, you gave me twenty pounds"

How anyone could think it's a love song I don't know! :rolleyes:

As for songs I hate... pretty much anything by the Black Eyed Peas/Fergie. Over-rated rubbish with the usual "uh, uh-huh, uh, yeah" backing vocals which seem to be an essential part of today's hip-pop/rap'n'b hits. And someone really ought to tell Fergie that next time her "London, London Bridge wanna go down" she really should dance in front of the actual London Bridge, instead of Tower Bridge.

aloofman

Aug 27, 2007, 01:25 PM

The worst song in the world is A Horse With No Name by America.

It has tedious and repetitive lyrics, a tune that manages to be bland but annoying at the same time, and is generally a banal and dreary waste of a piece of vinyl.

I think it's funny how the lyrics make no sense whatsoever, not even in a "nonsensical vocals that sound cool"-kind of way. And if the songwriter actually explained the lyrics to me, I'm sure I'd be disappointed. :p

IJ Reilly

Aug 27, 2007, 01:50 PM

"Horse with No Name" is a definite top-ten annoying song in my book (competing with anything else by America), but... here's the weekly radio show dedicated entirely to annoying music:

http://chicagopublicradio.org/Program_AM.aspx

The host, Jim Nayder, is hilarious. His choices make America sound like Montovani. ;)

Jaffa Cake

Aug 27, 2007, 02:34 PM

I had a discussion with a couple of people yesterday who were convinced that A Horse With No Name was sung by Neil Young. Rest assured that I soon put then right on that one...

Doctor Q

Aug 27, 2007, 03:25 PM

here's the weekly radio show dedicated entirely to annoying music:

http://chicagopublicradio.org/Program_AM.aspx

The host, Jim Nayder, is hilarious. His choices make America sound like Montovani. ;)It says the show starts "Saturdays at 6:59pm." Is the show only one minute long (because nobody could listen any longer than that)?

I had a discussion with a couple of people yesterday who were convinced that A Horse With No Name was sung by Neil Young. Rest assured that I soon put then right on that one...That's quite a mistake! Maybe it came from Neil Young having recorded with a band that called itself "Crazy Horse."

Jasonbot

Aug 27, 2007, 03:33 PM

Whats that one with that woman wishing she was a punk rocker with flowers in her hair?

Well it really annoys me, firstly the lyrics and singing are BAD. Secondly punk rockers dont go round putting flowers in their hair- imagine travis barker with a flower in his mowhawk.

Artists rendition:

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/8858/punkzu9.png

As we can see it just doesnt work...

yellow

Aug 27, 2007, 03:41 PM

I'm talking about individual songs that make you leap for the Mute button or change radio stations.

Zombie. The Cranberries.

Her voice cuts through my mind like a circular saw.

And it's so repetitive. And annoying. And repetitive. And annoying. And repetitive.

Oh... and Feliz Navidad. <BANG!>

You're beautiful - James *unt!

Horrible horrible vocals. Inane pathetic lyrics and no memorable tune.

LOL. Agreed. First time I heard it, I asked if that girl had some sort of problem. Oh, it's a dude.

Jaffa Cake

Aug 27, 2007, 03:44 PM

That's quite a mistake! Maybe it came from Neil Young having recorded with a band that called itself "Crazy Horse."Thing is though, it's a mistake quite a few people seem to make – I know I've corrected quite a few people myself about it in the past. And yesterday I was having the discussion with three or four people and all of them were convinced it was Mr Young who was responsible for said song.

Whats that one with that woman wishing she was a punk rocker with flowers in her hair?Strangely enough, that'll be I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair) by Sandi Thom.

To be fair, I think the lyrics aren't supposed to be saying that she thinks punks wore flowers in their hair, but rather she wants to have the same spirit that punk and flower power had – they were indeed very different movements but both possessed a revolutionary spirit that the singer wants to embrace. However, I will agree with you in so far as it's a bloody awful song. ;)

yellow

Aug 27, 2007, 04:55 PM

The worst part?

Now rattling around in my head I have:

ZaaaaahhummBEH ZaaaaahhummBEH ZaaaaahhummBEH uuuuh-heey uuuuh-heey uuuuh-heey

And I did it to myself.

CortexRock

Aug 27, 2007, 04:58 PM

ZaaaaahhummBEH ZaaaaahhummBEH ZaaaaahhummBEH uuuuh-heey uuuuh-heey uuuuh-heey

Withtheirtanksandtheirbombsandtheirgunsandtheirendlessdroningvoicesgoingonandonforever...

:rolleyes:

yellow

Aug 27, 2007, 05:02 PM

Withtheirtanksandtheirbombsandtheirgunsandtheirendlessdroningvoicesgoingonandonforever...

:rolleyes:

GAH!! So I'm not the only one!? <platonic kisses>

I once lost a bet over this damn song.

There were 2 dudes in my fraternity who would just listen to it over and over and over, loudly. I couldn't stand it. So I dared them to do 3 shots (shotglass shots) of tabasco each and keep it down for 20 minutes.

If they could.. I'd listen to that damn song 10 times in a row.

I listened to it 11 times, just because I loved it so much.

:D

aloofman

Aug 27, 2007, 05:52 PM

Zombie. The Cranberries.

Her voice cuts through my mind like a circular saw.

And it's so repetitive. And annoying. And repetitive. And annoying. And repetitive.

Completely agree. The circular saw analogy is a good one. I think I described her voice at the time as "nails on a chalkboard." I don't know why that song was such a hit.

IJ Reilly

Aug 27, 2007, 06:09 PM

It says the show starts "Saturdays at 6:59pm." Is the show only one minute long (because nobody could listen any longer than that)?

Pretty much. Actually, I usually get to hear him when he does an occasional segment on Saturday Morning Edition. That amounts to a good ten minutes of annoying music.

That's quite a mistake! Maybe it came from Neil Young having recorded with a band that called itself "Crazy Horse."

An easy mistake to make. I find Neil Young's vocals to have about as much appeal as rubbing two balloons together.

MattG

Aug 28, 2007, 08:30 AM

The worst part?

Now rattling around in my head I have:

ZaaaaahhummBEH ZaaaaahhummBEH ZaaaaahhummBEH uuuuh-heey uuuuh-heey uuuuh-heey

And I did it to myself.

I loathe that song. Some people just shouldn't sing.

roman david

Aug 28, 2007, 04:10 PM

'Away From Here' by The Enemy. (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZCVds_Q3WE)

If you've decided to namecheck Richard and Judy in a song, please don't sing it in such a way that makes you sound like a football hooligan. Arrgh, this song drives me up the wall. It's just so formulatic; the 'I hate work, not working For The Man' theme's been tread too many times...

bartelby

Aug 28, 2007, 04:16 PM

Well it really annoys me, firstly the lyrics and singing are BAD. Secondly punk rockers dont go round putting flowers in their hair- imagine travis barker with a flower in his mowhawk..

And who does he drum for?

Not exactly a punk band are they?..

yellow

Aug 28, 2007, 04:17 PM

Not exactly a punk band are they?..

Hells no.

RugoseCone

Aug 28, 2007, 04:43 PM

GAH!! So I'm not the only one!?

You are not alone. I absolutely despise the song, Zombie, for all the reasons listed in previous posts.

However, I recently came across a bit of music much worse. While waiting for takeoff on an Iberia Airlines flight to Madrid they played a soundtrack and then again on arrival. It consisted of three songs playing on a loop. The absolute worst that was on the verge of driving me to getting of the plane, was a Spanish version of Bowie's "Changes".

It was awful! Acoustic, droning, and sung completely without any passion.

Jasonbot

Aug 28, 2007, 05:06 PM

And who does he drum for?

Not exactly a punk band are they?..

Hells no.

I couldnt think of anyone more punk than blink-182 at the time, give me a better example of a punk and Ill make a new rendition. maybe my first one wasnt good enough.

*posts pic again for good measure*
http://img116.imageshack.us/img116/9510/punkqu7.jpg

Queso

Aug 28, 2007, 05:20 PM

If it's just too damn formulaic I can't bear it. Joyride by Roxette jumps immediately to mind, as does anything by Michael Bolton.

mduser63

Aug 28, 2007, 09:37 PM

I know I appreciate artists with real musical talent, which leads me to a variety of styles, from hip-hop to show tunes. That's why I've always liked Paul McCartney's music, despite the too-pleasant pop style that gets him on the charts so often; he's just plain talented. My favorite McCartney song? Maybe I'm Amazed. My least favorite? Mull of Kintyre. Why? I don't know.

It's funny, because Maybe I'm Amazed was the first song that came to mind when I saw this thread. I can't get to the radio fast enough to turn that song off. Some of McCartney's other stuff is quite good, although all in all I think he has the worst* solo catalog of any of the Beatles (yes, including Ringo).

*I'm not talking about the artistic significance or influence of their music, simply my own opinion of and like/dislike for it.

bartelby

Aug 29, 2007, 04:14 AM

I couldnt think of anyone more punk than blink-182 at the time, give me a better example of a punk and Ill make a new rendition. maybe my first one wasnt good enough.

You couldn't think of anyone more punk that Blink 182:eek::confused:

Bloody hell, Kylie Minogue is more punk that Blink 182!!

raptor96

Aug 30, 2007, 11:20 PM

The worst song in the world is A Horse With No Name by America.

It has tedious and repetitive lyrics, a tune that manages to be bland but annoying at the same time, and is generally a banal and dreary waste of a piece of vinyl.

I apologise unreservedly if my mentioning this song has now put it into anyone's head. I'm sorry, I truly am. :o

I truly despise you....it's now stuck in my head. God I hate that song. Also anything by James Taylor because that man writes terrible saccharine slow drivel.

EDIT!: I wanted to add my agreement with regard to Neil Young's voice making me want to die (and Neil Young in general). Also, I never realized in all the times I heard that Zombie song that that's what she was saying. Haha, I never cared for the song but for some reason I just assumed she was saying either gibberish or "savé" (a made up word). *Shudder* Neil Young....and now Zombeh Zombeh is stuck in my head (though she's still saying savé savé in here :-)

mduser63

Aug 30, 2007, 11:36 PM

I truly despise you....it's now stuck in my head. God I hate that song. Also anything by James Taylor because that man writes terrible saccharine slow drivel.

EDIT!: I wanted to add my agreement with regard to Neil Young's voice making me want to die (and Neil Young in general). Also, I never realized in all the times I heard that Zombie song that that's what she was saying. Haha, I never cared for the song but for some reason I just assumed she was saying either gibberish or "savé" (a made up word). *Shudder* Neil Young....and now Zombeh Zombeh is stuck in my head (though she's still saying savé savé in here :-)

As you may have guessed by my avatar(s), I strongly disagree with you regarding Neil Young, although I can understand that some people are put off by his voice. I like everything about him, lyrics, guitar, arrangements, voice, personality, etc. However I'll agree with you on James Taylor. Of course, it's James Taylor's voice that puts me off him. I'm not sure what it is about his voice, but I find it impossible to listen to for long. His songs being mediocre doesn't help, but his voice is my main complaint.

ScruffyTheMac

Aug 31, 2007, 11:37 AM

My musical tastes are pretty varied, and there are always exceptions to any general trends in what I like. The bulk of my music collection is rock (or "four guys with guitars and bad haircuts"), but I like jazz, classical, some country, etc. In general, I tend to dislike artists that pander to the commercial mainstream. There's nothing wrong with 'popular' music, but you can certainly tell the difference between songs that are popular because they are good, or unique, or skillfully performed, as opposed to songs which are clearly riding the wave of someone else's creativity.

Songs I truly hate usually have the following thing in common: heavy rotation on the station tuned on my clock radio. Notable examples would be Firefall "You are the Woman", and recently James Blunt "You're Beautiful" (loathed by many in this thread). Rude awakening, for sure.

Then, there are those songs that are just crimes against nature. Has anyone mentioned Minnie Riperton yet?

edesignuk

Aug 31, 2007, 11:42 AM

OK, I passionately detest this song (lyrics (http://www.lyricsondemand.com/b/babybirdlyrics/youregorgeouslyrics.html)).Yes! I've always hated that song too.

First saw it when they performed it live on TFI Friday, it was just after TFI's "Ugly Bloke" segment, it was so awful I thought they were being funny playing a song called "you're gorgeous" after ugly bloke. Apparently, sadly, they weren't.

Jaffa Cake

Aug 31, 2007, 11:44 AM

As you may have guessed by my avatar(s), I strongly disagree with you regarding Neil Young, although I can understand that some people are put off by his voice. I like everything about him, lyrics, guitar, arrangements, voice, personality, etc.
Neil Young is quite ace.

That is all. :cool:

bartelby

Aug 31, 2007, 11:51 AM

Neil Young is quite ace.

That is all. :cool:

He is indeed!!

IJ Reilly

Aug 31, 2007, 12:00 PM

Neil Young is quite ace.

That is all. :cool:

To be honest, I never understood the appeal. It'd be a cinch to name a better song writer, better guitar players, and easily, a better singer. Neil Young is one of those artists critics always told us we were supposed to like. I never figured out why. David Bowie is another.

ScruffyTheMac

Aug 31, 2007, 12:09 PM

To be honest, I never understood the appeal. It'd be a cinch to name a better song writer, better guitar players, and easily, a better singer. Neil Young is one of those artists critics always told us we were supposed to like. I never figured out why. David Bowie is another.

For artists with, ahem, unusual vocal qualities, I love Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Billy Bragg. On the other hand, Bruce Springsteen gets on my last nerve.

Robyn Hitchcock sometimes goes wandering aimlessly around the melody tent, but he's one of my all-time favorites as well.

IJ Reilly

Aug 31, 2007, 12:16 PM

For artists with, ahem, unusual vocal qualities, I love Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Billy Bragg. On the other hand, Bruce Springsteen gets on my last nerve.

Robyn Hitchcock sometimes goes wandering aimlessly around the melody tent, but he's one of my all-time favorites as well.

If Dylan couldn't write a great song, who'd care? If Springsteen couldn't write great songs, and perform like nobody else, then who'd care? I always thought Young was a weak songwriter. I could never find anything in his presentation to mitigate his whiney vocals.

Not trying to start a fight here, but the question was "why don't you like that song?"

(Hitchcock is the King of Quirky. Either you go for it or you don't.)

ScruffyTheMac

Aug 31, 2007, 12:25 PM

mduser63

Sep 1, 2007, 02:27 AM

If Dylan couldn't write a great song, who'd care? If Springsteen couldn't write great songs, and perform like nobody else, then who'd care? I always thought Young was a weak songwriter. I could never find anything in his presentation to mitigate his whiney vocals.

Not trying to start a fight here, but the question was "why don't you like that song?"

(Hitchcock is the King of Quirky. Either you go for it or you don't.)

Like I said above, I'm a huge Neil Young fan. As with any opinion, it's hard for me to say exactly why. I guess the real reason I like him is because his songs create strong emotions in me. I certainly allow for other people not liking him. There are a number of critically acclaimed, widely liked bands that I simply can't stand to listen to, even when their genre and influence is much like other bands that I love. Places like last.fm and Amazon will recommend bands based on what I listen to, and while I have found some good stuff that way, there are a lot of recommendations that they give that I know I don't like. For example, I can't stand The Rolling Stones, yet they're invariably recommended by such recommendation engines. I can't say why I don't like them, their music just doesn't connect with me in any way, in fact it annoys me. Springsteen is another that comes to mind.* I guess that's why they say there is no accounting for taste.

*Except for We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions which I love, and a select few other songs, particularly Born in the USA.

rockosmodurnlif

Sep 1, 2007, 10:28 AM

Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne makes me wanna kill myself. Seriously, it was overplayed before the first time it was ever played.

I really like that song. In fact I enjoy the whole album. It's one of my favorite songs and albums of the year so far. I also didn't like it at first but by the third time I heard it I was humming along to it.

IJ Reilly

Sep 1, 2007, 01:12 PM

I wasn't a Springsteen fan when I first heard him in the '70s. At that time "Born to Run" was on every radio all day long, it seemed. It was a case of instant Boss overdose. Took me a little while to get past that. Over the years I've really grown to admire Springsteen. He never once succumbed to the temptation to do what others expected of him -- which is why he's still going strong, and why you can find something to appreciate in a recording like the Seegar Sessions, even if you never were a fan before. Springsteen is in it for the long haul. Every few years you can count on him to try something you never thought was in him, and maybe he didn't either.

Osarkon

Sep 2, 2007, 05:28 PM

2. If Everyone Cared by Nickelback. I don't know why Chad has to take a loud sharp breath after seemingly every line, it's all I can pay attention to. I've actually ruined this song for several people b pointing that out :D

Thanks, I hadn't noticed that until you went and said :p
Whats that one with that woman wishing she was a punk rocker with flowers in her hair?

Well it really annoys me, firstly the lyrics and singing are BAD. Secondly punk rockers dont go round putting flowers in their hair- imagine travis barker with a flower in his mowhawk.

I'd forgotten about that song. It is reeeally bad. It played all last summer when I was working, I heard it so much I wrote my own, twisted version of it in my head. It made it slightly more tolerable.

Tom B.

Sep 2, 2007, 08:47 PM

I'd forgotten about that song. It is reeeally bad. It played all last summer when I was working, I heard it so much I wrote my own, twisted version of it in my head. It made it slightly more tolerable.

You can't just say that without singing typing it to us! :D

Osarkon

Sep 3, 2007, 07:20 AM

You can't just say that without singing typing it to us! :D

Well it's not family friendly, so I can't really post it ;)

pdxflint

Sep 3, 2007, 07:40 PM

Most of you should consider yourselves lucky - where I live there is a radio station that plays old, mediocre schlock... Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Middler <sp?>, that song from Titanic by Celine Dion, old Neil Diamond, BJ Thomas (Brown Eyed Woman... yikes...) Also, I just can't stand Billy Joel (Piano Man, etc...), mid-life Doobies featuring Michael McDonald - God, that get's me running for the "off" switch. and finally, anything by that guy who won American Idol a year or so ago. Thankfully, it looks like he's done. And for the more hard-edged stuff, I can't stand anything that sounds like Lamb of God, sorry death metalheads. Oh, and gimme Neil Young in my permanent playlist, just not everyday. I grew up, and old ;) with that dude.