Then there's Chuck Berry's "My Ding A Ling". I can't believe one of the founding fathers of rock n' roll's sole #1 single is this piece of junk that came from the same man who gave us "Sweet Little Sixteen", "Roll Over Beethoven", and "School Days"? I bet this is one of the songs that The Rolling Stones DIDN'T cover.
What makes My Ding A Ling especially horrible is that it was apparently a live performance and l remember playing the 45 and it sounded like a live audience was "calling back" lyrics to Chuck Berry.
Yeah, "You Light Up My Life" was massively overplayed back in the day, so much so that I probably don't need to ever hear it again. Though I don't hate it. I did buy the deluxe CD of the album a few years back, because I noted there were a lot of covers of 1960s songs -- "Baby I'm Yours," "He's A Rebel," "Please Mr. Postman," and a handful of others. I like a lot of 1960s pop music and was curious what these sounded like -- I would describe them as "competent" -- the circa 1977 production doesn't really do them any favors.
I second Adam.'s nomination of "Afternoon Delight." Yeccch!
"Monster Mash" certainly belongs on the list of "Greatest Songs Of All Time."
Yeah, "You Light Up My Life" was massively overplayed back in the day, so much so that I probably don't need to ever hear it again. Though I don't hate it. I did buy the deluxe CD of the album a few years back, because I noted there were a lot of covers of 1960s songs -- "Baby I'm Yours," "He's A Rebel," "Please Mr. Postman," and a handful of others. I like a lot of 1960s pop music and was curious what these sounded like -- I would describe them as "competent" -- the circa 1977 production doesn't really do them any favors.
I second Adam.'s nomination of "Afternoon Delight." Yeccch!
"Monster Mash" certainly belongs on the list of "Greatest Songs Of All Time."
I like Monster Mash. I bought the 45 when it was re-released in 1973. Although I was aware that it had been originally released in 1962, I (and my friends) were too young to know that "Monster Mash" was a take on the 1962 dance craze the Mashed Potato.
The UK Charts has a database and archival section which I find pretty handy when looking up chart placings and release dates mainly for 80s stuff, Thor...
Alas, the parameters for this topic are too wide (I think impossibly wide parameters are a filmmusicnow thing, in addition to quoting entire, long posts -- again, I say this with love, Konstantinos!). If it had asked specifically for UK #1 hits in the year 1986 or something, it would be easier (but still a lot of work) to go through that database and look at whatever hits you a) remember in the first place, b) of those hits, which were good, mediocre or bad, and then c) listing the "bad" ones.
As it stands, however, with every single national chart in the world eligible (not only US and UK ones), and no month, year, decade or period at all denoted, it becomes an impossiblly overwhelming task for me.
As it stands, however, with every single national chart in the world eligible (not only US and UK ones), and no month, year, decade or period at all denoted, it becomes an impossiblly overwhelming task for me.
Yeah, let alone that I hardly remember those songs I can't stand. :-)
As it stands, however, with every single national chart in the world eligible (not only US and UK ones), and no month, year, decade or period at all denoted, it becomes an impossiblly overwhelming task for me.
Yeah, let alone that I hardly remember those songs I can't stand. :-)
Exactly, I know there were one in the 80's or 90's that continuously played but I can't remember what song it was.
I know this is subjective, but my vote goes to "Seasons in the Sun," so syrup-y you can practically pour it on pancakes (though "Honey" and "Sugar Sugar" are pretty close behind). At least "Alone Again" (Naturally) includes a pretty sophisticated chord progression (so I can appreciate it as music).
I'm curious to know how do people from the UK feel about Benny Hill's "Ernie, The Fastest Milkman in the West?" If I'm not mistaken it went to # 1 (there) in 1971.
Though I didn't include it, it certainly ranks in the Top 10 as one the Worst Singles To Reach #1. Though The Starland Vocal Band had a lesser followup with "Hail! Hail! Rock N' Roll!" as least it was better than that sickening and sweet "Afternoon Delight".
I'm not sure why but i've always detested Lionel Richie's song from "White Nights," "Say You, Say Me," probably because I have no idea what the connection is between the song and dancers in Leningrad.
Too many to mention, way too many. My conservative estimate is taht I can live without 90% of the pop music made so far with 70% of that consisting of the output after the 80s.
I'm not sure why but i've always detested Lionel Richie's song from "White Nights," "Say You, Say Me," probably because I have no idea what the connection is between the song and dancers in Leningrad.
Same here! I remember at the time it was on the radio (1985) a friend of mine complained that "Say You Say Me" starts out as a slow ballad but then partway through inexplicably lapses into a dance song.
Though I didn't include it, it certainly ranks in the Top 10 as one the Worst Singles To Reach #1. Though The Starland Vocal Band had a lesser followup with "Hail! Hail! Rock N' Roll!" as least it was better than that sickening and sweet "Afternoon Delight".
I didn't really hate this song, but after it hit big, it was just over done. I remember seeing SVB perform at Carowinds theme park back in '76, when this song was almost constantly on FM radio. After they sang this one, the crowd started filtering back into the park to ride the rides.
"I Write the Songs" - sorry Bruce, you wrote some great songs, but this wasn't one of them.
In retrospect, this is not as annoying as it was when originally released. It was a cover version of which better versions existed before - similar to "No Tengo Dinero" which already was a huge hit before that cover arrived. The list of annoying cover versions is endless, though.
In a thread like this the following should not remain unmentioned - although it was more of a local "hit":
The story behind it is at least as crazy as the song itself: a German woman was on a talk show because she was having a problem with her neighbours about her wire-mesh fence (don't asked me about the details). "Comedian" Stefan Raab was "inspired" by her odd pronunciation of the word "wire-mesh fence" and built a song around it. Stupid enough to reach #1 in the German and Austrian charts.
Then there's Meco's "Star Wars Medley" and Meco Monarado had the audacity to say that John Williams' main theme couldn't make it as a single. It made the Top 10, and how many Oscars has Williams won, Mr. Monardo? The "Star Wars Medley" was just a single for its time, but today it comes off as kind of hokey, and difficult to believe it made #1.
Then there's Meco's "Star Wars Medley" and Meco Monarado had the audacity to say that John Williams' main theme couldn't make it as a single. It made the Top 10, and how many Oscars has Williams won, Mr. Monardo? The "Star Wars Medley" was just a single for its time, but today it comes off as kind of hokey, and difficult to believe it made #1.
Agreed. And if you don't like the 3-and-a-half minute radio edit, try the 15-minute LP version.
It's hard to believe, but a 12" single edit of Meco's Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band went to No. 6 on the Billboard "National Disco Action" chart in 1977. I can't imagine actually dancing to this.
