what's the worst song you ever heard?3

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 07:26 PM

For Harold Shipman;
Hey ho, hey ho, it's off to work I go,
With me stethoscope and me bag of dope,
Hey ho, hey ho, hey ho.........

And that's just the chorus: can't possibly post the rest

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: oldhippie
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 08:51 PM

fumblefingers, you really think "Transfusion" is worse than say "Angel Baby" or "First Name Initial" , "Alley Oop", or many other similar songs?

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Songster Bob
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 09:16 PM

Off-subject somewhat, but someone up there a ways mentioned Radio Luxembourg, and it brought back a memory of a tape I heard many's the year ago, of a program called, "Land of a thousand [sound of breaking glass]." It was from some Scandinavian country, Sweden, I think, and it was the Goon show on steroids (which they didn't have then, but what the hey?).

Can anyone point me to a source of info on this phenomenon? Thanks.

Now, back to the subject. I have heard many bad songs, over the years, most of them not popular enough to be recorded, thank God (the tendency of people to sing their own songs at open stages is not a new one).

That said, "I Like Ike" was pretty bad, even for its genre. In fact, most political songs -- campaign songs -- are terrible. Luckily, politicians eschew them these days.

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: fumblefingers
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 12:37 AM

Old Hippie

Yes, "Transfusion" is my pick for the worst. But I was mainly thinking of the 50s. "Teen Angel", "Tell Laura I Love Her" and similar syrupy 60s songs make me grab for the volume knob as well.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Severn
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 01:29 AM

"Transfusion" was a better song than Nervous Norvous' other hit "Ape Call" (My oldest sister had 45's of both), for what that's worth. However I've heard a lot worse. Think of it as anticipating both Dave Edmunds' "Crawling From The Wreckage" and Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Lose Your Lover" by quite a few years.

"I Like Ike" was probably the worst of a sorry lot since the days of Herbert Hoover's campaign song "If he's Good Enough For Lindy, He's Good Enough For Me" which said nothing much about its candidate or his politics other than the fact he had Charles Lindbergh's endorsement.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Mr Happy
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 08:43 AM

'.........someone left the cake out in the rain!'


http://www.geocities.com/bjaes.geo/lyrics/mcarthur.htm

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 12:22 PM

Guesty, Blue, that is "Close the Coalhouse door" and it is a really great song, adn teh recording by teh Elliott Family is truly excellent.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Midchuck
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 01:54 PM

My wife favors "Towser Jenkins" (on the one album Jim Ringer did for the Patons, 'way back) as the worst. But I rather enjoy it.

Great minds don't always think alike.

Peter.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 07:49 PM

Three words: "Donk-a-shayne, daahling, donk-a-shayne...."

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Blue
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 08:49 AM

When and if i ever hear a decent version, i'll let you know. Maybe it was me youth that was the fault.
P.S. I love McArthur Park, Jimmy Webb is a pretty amazing if slightly strange guy

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 12:55 PM

Do any of the elder statespersons aboard remember that old chart-buster, Mrs. Miller? Virtually every song she ever "performed?" would qualify, hands-down!

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: frogprince
Date: 01 Jul 08 - 01:34 PM

Hadn't thought of Mrs. Miller in most of a lifetime. She was one of the living proofs of one great truth:

    Songs don't kill people; people kill songs.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 11:10 AM

"Please Come To Boston"

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 12:10 PM

Songs don't exist in a vacuum. They can be bad because they're all wrong for the time and place.

A couple years ago I was standing on a sidewalk of hot, white concrete, watching our luggage while my husband got the car. I was forced to listen to some guy belt out

tum tum tum tum ti tum aftTER the lovin'

over and over. Every time he got to the 'TER' he blasted it out, grining the 'r' nearly to death. Like there was a danger he would be mistaken for an upper-class twit, and he wanted to make that wouldn't happen.

Standing on the hot, white concrete, I was in no mood for the picture he brought to my mind - a big naked guy sitting on the edge of a bed with his floppy #^&^^& half upright and a glistening drop of *%^$#@ on the tip of it.

One final thing - belting has two parts. Part one is belting out a syllable. Part two is stopping. A lot of people, like this guy, have not figured out stopping, which is the harder part. He belted out 'TER' and then his control failed each time, producing a sick swoop. This effect was played again and again, as repetitiously as a cuckoo clock going 'cuckoo.' (No doubt a sound engineer had simply recorded the same bit over and over.)

Was there anything in the book '1984' about Big Brother making people listen to music they didn't want to hear?

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Severn
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 12:33 PM

leenia,

In the movie "1-2-3" with James Cagney, Horst Bucholtz as an East German prisoner was tortured by repeated playings of "Itsy-Bitsy Teeny-Weeny Yellw Polka-Dot Bikini" in an attempt to make him talk. Is that what you had in mind?

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 10:06 AM

When the U.S. Army had Manuel Noriega of Panama surrounded in his Presidential compound they brought in concert P.A. systems and blasted Heavy Metal music at him in an attempt to make him surrender.
I think Country music would have been more effective. He might have become suicidal.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 12:52 PM

Anything in rap and most of hip-hop. I don't know how many share this view, but I don't see either category as music, per se. They have words and rhythm, but no melodic line and no discernable musical form. I don't personally care for either category at all, but I can respect those who are fans. I simply think they ought to be taken out of the field of music and placed into a category called "word play" or "performance art."

I also don't find much to like about disco music. As one musician friend labelled it, "Rhythm and blues for people who have neither."

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 02:10 PM

Yes, Severn and Neil D. I agree.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Joe_F
Date: 27 Jul 08 - 09:23 PM

In _1984_ music is not used for torture, altho there is mention of a Hate Song, an anthem (Oceania, 'Tis for Thee), and sentimental love songs written by machinery for the proles.

In the real world, however, I have read that subsequent developments in popular music, which Orwell was spared, were used by the FBI & BATF to deprive the inhabitants of that commune in Waco of their sleep & sanity, and subsequently by the U.S. Army for the same purpose in prisons in Iraq (I had not heard about Noriega). I am gratified to know that three agencies of my government agree with me about what recent popular music is good for, but I do wonder about one delicate legal point. Does such a use count as a public performance? And if so, were the copyright owners duly paid?

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Genie
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 03:17 AM

I'm prob'ly gonna get skewered for this, but IMO "Give Yourself To Love" is by far the worst song Kate Wolf ever wrote -- at least in terms of the chorus. Kate was an incredible lyricist, displaying vivid and distinctive, memorable imagery in nearly every song she wrote. But the chorus of GYTL is, IMO, on a par with "Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream" and The Beatles' "So This Is Christmas" when it comes to Hallmark-card level trite lyrics.

You must give yourself to love
If love is what you're after.
Open up your heart to the tears and laughter
And give yourself to love,
Give yourself to love.

It's far, far from the worst song I've ever heard. (I think Paul Anka's "Having My Baby" and Cool & The Gang's "Joanna" have that 'honor' sewn up.) But it stands out in my mind, muchas "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" does, precisely because it's done way too often -- instead of many much better songs.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Amber
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 05:01 AM

Well, I just HATE 'Stand by Your Man'!

It is gruesome! Both words and tune.

Amber

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: eddie1
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 06:06 AM

Someone chose a Ken Dodd song as their worst. There was a time when I would have agreed until someone explained that the spelling was wrong. It's actually;

A Penis, a Penis
The greatest gift that I possess
I thank the lord that I've been blessed
With more than my share of a Penis.

Now it all makes sense.

Eddie

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Ambrt
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 07:44 AM

Oh I like tha. I will never hear that song again (if I ever do) without hearing that!

Amber

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 05:59 PM

Don't anyone tell Mr Happy! I shudder to think what that'll sound like to the tune of "Ellen Vannin".

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Peace
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 06:00 PM

"Horse With No Name"

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 09 Aug 08 - 06:06 PM

'Young banker' is always one that makes me shudder but for sheer awfulness the first track on 'And Did Those Feet' 'Best of 1997 - 2007' - which I had the misfortune to review, takes some beating - anyone who reads Tykes News in Yorkshire can look forward to squirming to the first verse in said review

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Chorusgirl
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 08:23 AM

Sex Bomb - Sex Bomb. Tom Jones. YUK. Less of a sex bomb I've yet to see.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: olddude
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 09:49 AM

Pretty much any song that I have written myself

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: The Sandman
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 09:52 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0zAr1t6nTE

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Peace
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 09:52 AM

I vehemently disagree with olddude.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Patsy Warren
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 03:57 AM

Grandma we love you (r-e-t-c-h!)

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Larry Saidman
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 02:04 PM

Musically: It's a toss-up between What's New Pussycat and Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.

Lyrically: I have to agree with those who chose "Honey".

On the other hand, I think MacArthur Park like many of Jimmy Webb songs is fascinating. And Seasons in the Sun is a great song--but not the Terry Jacks butchery of the original translation (listen to it by Tom Rapp (Pearls Before Swine), Kingston Trio, or Bud Dashiell).

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Jayto
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 02:36 PM

I was waiting to see one of mine listed haha. I DISAGREE with olddude as well. 100% totally disagree with you my friend.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Midchuck
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 02:50 PM

Surfin' Bird?

D-I-V-O-R-C-E?

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Patsy Warren
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 07:32 AM

I have a list of them old and recent:-

Any Old Iron.
My Old Man.
Time to get Ready for Love (what chauvenistic crap).
Roses are Red my love, Violets are Blue (infact any drippy ballad.)
10/4 Rubber Ducky (England's answer to Convoy).
D I V O R C E.
Old Shep.
He's My Japanese Boy.
Baby Sitting Boogie.
Shut Up a Ya Face.
Ernie.
The Smurf Song.
I'm Going Overboard with a Capital O.
Anything by Sonia.
Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep.
Anything that Tony Blackburn reckoned to be great.
But do you love me Daddy (Jim Reeves) retch!!
Any song where pop lyrics have been put to classical music
Motor Biking (singer was a part time Womble).
Chop Chop Chop(Sweet).
They swam and they swam right over the Dam.
Welcome Home.
Your the One that I Want (Hilda Baker's version).
Altogether in a Floral Dance (Terry Wogan).
Captain Beaky and his Band (Keith Michell).
I'm a Tiger (Lulu).
Billy Don't Be a Hero.
I've been to Paradise but I've never been to me (had two crying infants then and I just wanted to grab singer by the throat).
Motown doing Christmas songs (including Michael Jackson just on this occasion).
The dopey song from Pete's Dragon, I love you too.
Gypsies Tramps and Thieves (Cher).
Patches I'm Depending on you Son (depressing or what?).
Bridgit the Midget and the equally bad They call him the Streak both by Ray Stevens.
Any manufactured pink clubby pop pap.
Jive Bunny.

Time to Get Ready for Love is the ultimate worst song I have ever heard.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: beeliner
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 04:55 PM

I see probably a couple of dozen above that are among my favorites.

"Transfusion" was absolutely brilliant, especially the tag line:

"Barnyard drivers are found in two classes: lane-crowding hogs and speeding jackasses."

When I first heard Peggy Lee sing "Is That All There Is?", I thought to myself, "Is that all there is to this song?" I guess that would be my candidate for the worst.

But give me a day and I'll think of a few more.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,I'm not here, right?
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 04:10 AM

Anything by Chinn and Chapman (The Sweet, Mud, Suzi Quatro, New World, Middle of the road). "We thought we knew her name/But she turned out just the same." What??
Most of Noel Gallagher's output - tunes are ok but lyrics are just a load of clichés collected together: songwriting by numbers.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Lash LaRue
Date: 07 Aug 10 - 09:48 PM

(God Didn't Make) Little Green Apples
(Bongo, Bongo, Bongo) I Don't Want to Leave the Congo (Danny Kaye and the Andrews Sisters)
Wiggle, Wiggle (Dylan)
Don't Think, Feel (Neil Diamond)
Fandango (Abba)
Sunny
Convoy
Waylon, Willie and Me (David Allen Coe)
Bohemian Rhapsody

Lash LaRue

PS: I'm rather fond of As Time Goes By . . .

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: Genie
Date: 08 Aug 10 - 12:29 AM

Well, if we're not restricted to "known" songs, I'd have to nominate a song written and performed by a local Portland (OR) band called "The Pipsqueaks" back in the mid '80s.   These guys rode with me from Portland to the Bay Area in my car (riders found via the ride board at Portland State, long before the days of Craigslist), and, aside from their pretty much shafting me in terms of fair compensation for the ride and a couple of them drinking themselves sick in my backseat w/o my knowledge and then puking all over the side of my car, they quickly burned through the batteries in my portable radio by playing a tape of their own 'compositions', one of which was a rock song with everything about it forgettable except for the "hook" line: "She left me to suck another man's dick."

Fortunately, I've never heard anything anywhere near that bad on commercial radio.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: keberoxu
Date: 03 Apr 16 - 12:42 PM

"Dear Santa, Have You Had The Measles?"

I haven't heard the hit version, supposedly by a daughter of Cab Calloway.
This thing got arranged for mixed-voice chorus, and the arrangement turned up at my high school back in the day. Everybody in the chorus vetoed it except for one cheerleader -- I'm not making this up.

The plot of the song is that this little kid's house is under quarantine ( although the lyrics don't use the Q word ) and the kid is afraid that they won't let Santa Claus visit the house with Christmas presents.

And with the choral version, the final chorus pulls a Barry Manilow and jumps up one chromatic half-step, in the major mode. Whilst the chorus in the background, sings in waltz time:

[oomp] Mea-sles!
[oomp] Mea-sles!
[oomp] Mea-sles!
[oomp] Mea-sles!

I was never so proud of my high school chorus as when they refused to perform this song.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,DTM
Date: 03 Apr 16 - 01:23 PM

Though I really like Smokey Robinson, I've always loathed his song "Being With You". Does my nut in every time I hear it.

Also, as mentioned by previous posters, Honey by Bobby Goldsboro is a total pukefest.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 03 Apr 16 - 03:29 PM

Fields of Apple Pie / (Athenry)

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 16 - 04:15 PM

Probably something I can't remember or switched off to.

Many would agree that Agadoo is bad but it is catchy and can get one listening.

There is plenty that hasn't even passed my own "listening filters".

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 04 Apr 16 - 04:19 AM

Little Boxes.

Have refreshed my old thread about it.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: David C. Carter
Date: 04 Apr 16 - 07:34 AM

"Atlantis"
by Donovan,anything by him makes me cringe.

Same with David Bowie

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: keberoxu
Date: 04 Apr 16 - 11:35 AM

Little Boxes is only the worst of songs if you have had it forced down your ears too many times. Only time I ever heard it sung was in concert by Pete Seeger, where the song was enthusiastically received and then we all moved on to the next song, as one does. So thanks for the memories, Mr. Seeger, sir, and nobody else is going to spoil them for me. As for a "do you like" thread, conflict makes me squeamish, so that thread may carry on without me.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 04 Apr 16 - 12:02 PM

Disagree with your premise, keberoxu. Nothing to do with how many times I have heard it, which has been as few as possible. Nobody has 'forced it down my ears' any times that I could avoid it. I think it qualifies from my pov for the thread title because I think it is a patronising & unwarranted attack on the legitimate aspirations of ordinary people. Tom Lehrer described it as "the most sanctimonious song ever written".

Sorry if even this much conflict has made you 'squeamish'; but you chose to defend the song against my animadversions -- on what appears to me the irrelevant consideration that you once heard Pete Seeger, whom you admire, sing it. I have always been much surprised, indeed, that he ever gave it any countenance.

≈M≈

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 05 Apr 16 - 02:35 AM

Three songs by Gary Puckett & the Union Gap:
1. Young Girl
2. This Girl Is A Woman Now
3. Lady Will Power

Hate all three songs - geez, seems like he is hung up on young girls or something. Too many songs on the same theme and stupid lyrics.
Not a fan of any of his songs, but especially those three.

I am a fan of Bruce Springsteen and have a few of his albums. I especially like his "Nebraska" album and other albums...but the one song that I could not stand was "Born in the USA" Hate the vocals and lyrics.

I am also a huge John Denver fan. Have almost every album and books about him. But one song I never liked by John Denver was,
"Thank God I'm A Country Boy" (which was featured in the movie too.)
I know a lot of people love that song, gets them clapping their hands and singing along but I just could never stand that song - other then that song I love the music of John Denver and even remember where I was when I heard the terrible news about his death.

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: banjoman
Date: 05 Apr 16 - 05:23 AM

Don't really have a contender for worst song ever, but I HATE anything sung by June Tabor.
I did once write song called Fire Auto & Marine about a Dr. Suvundra and a huge Insurance scam. Thankfully the song was never played in public

Subject: RE: what's the worst song you ever heard?3
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 05 Apr 16 - 06:32 AM

Yellow River must be in there with a shout.