# \_Worst\_ Rock and Roll Song **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 3, 2000, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269 "2000-06-03T05:43:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/61 "2000-06-07T00:10:29Z")
I would just like to mention at this juncture that the song “Eve of Destruction” played a central role in one episode of _The Greatest American Hero_. ---
**Author:** ![ThisYearsGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThisYearsGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisYearsGirl)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/62 "2000-06-07T01:27:08Z")
“Eve of Distruction”–is that the one that rhymes “contemplating” with “my blood’s coagulating”? If it is, it gets my vote, right behind the aforementioned “Cherry Pie.” “Losing My Religion”–I love REM. They’re one of my top five favorite bands and I’m in love with the bass player, but I hate that song so much. And I hate that video. My friend and I had this theory that whenever a music video tries to meaningful, it contains at least one of the following images–an old person, an apple, someone bleeding, and a mirror. I believe “Losing my Religion” is 3 for 4 on that one. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/63 "2000-06-07T01:29:34Z")
**rraygun** , thank you _so_ much for mentioning that song. Hmmm, this is Tuesday, can I cure it by Friday? I need to go listen to some 13th Floor Elevators now… ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/64 "2000-06-07T03:11:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > To me, the worst rock songs are the ones that are dripping in pretension. The bubble-gum crap like “Muskrat Love” may be annoying, but to get to truly awe-inspiring badness you need to have a Spinal Tapesque burned out druggie writing ‘deep’ lyrics that he thinks are great poetry. So, in that spirit I give you: > [ul] > [li]“Aqualung” - Jethro Tull[/li][li]“Conquistador” - Same guys (and don’t pronouce it, “ConKWISTador”, you moron)[/li][li]“In the Year 2525” - Zager and Evans[/li][li]“The Eve of Destruction” - Sgt. Barry Sadler“Macarthur Park” - Richard Harris[/li][li]Half the stuff by Kansas and Uriah Heep, although both groups did some good songs[/li][li]90% of the ‘Power Ballads’ done by talentless metal groups like Poison, Quiet Riot, etc.[/li][/ul] > \*\* Um, excuse me Sam. **Conquistador was by Procol Harum**. Barry Sadler did the Green Berets. **The Eve of Destruction was by Barry McGuire** And Sam, **Aqualung** , in its time, was far above the rest. Methinks _familiarity breeds contempt_. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/65 "2000-06-07T05:29:39Z")
xizor: are you crazy? That is a good song! I forgot one of mine: D.O.A. by Bloodrock. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/66 "2000-06-07T07:11:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > > But it isn’t as bad as Melanie-“I’ve Got a Brand New Pair of Roller Skates”-whats up with that? > > \*\* Melanie had two really bad songs: this one (called Brand New Key, which most musicians believe she actually should have _found_ a key to begin with before searching for a new one) and “I’ve Never Been To Me.” God, it brings back such bad 70’s flashbacks! ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/67 "2000-06-07T14:41:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*\* “Muskrat Love” from America. > > \*\* > > I thought Captain and Tennille did that one. I find it hard to believe that America would have been THAT stupid? > > Scotti > \*\* Sadly, it WAS America who inflicted that piece of tripe on the music scene. I have “History” (their greatest hits cd) at home, and it’s on there. I just wish I knew where track 7 is on the disk physically, so I could gouge it out with a knife. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/68 "2000-06-07T16:33:37Z")
I Did forget another: I Don’t Like Mondays by the Boomtown Rats. ---
**Author:** ![tiggeril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tiggeril/32/7234_2.png) [@tiggeril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiggeril)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/69 "2000-06-07T20:21:10Z")
What about Steppenwolf? “Born To Be Wild” has assaulted my ears wayyyyy too many times to be omitted from this list. Not to mention all the occasions where companions cheerfully wailed away during road trips. I have to go shower now. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/70 "2000-06-07T20:47:34Z")
Born to Run also. ---
**Author:** ![Action\_Jackson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Action\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Action_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2000, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/71 "2000-06-08T16:04:44Z")
You people have missed three worst songs in recorded history. 1. Afternoon Delight - Starland Voical Band 2. Troglodite - Don’t know don’t care it was bad 3. Your So Vain - Carly Simon For body of works there is the group Bread, and Eric Carman his stuff was he just lost the girl or he just found the girl. To me it sounds like he couldn’t stay in a relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Edwardina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Edwardina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edwardina)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2000, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/72 "2000-06-08T17:45:14Z")
Number 1: “Young Girl, Get Out of My Mind.” In a just world, whoever sang that song is dead. The topic is questionable, and the song itself is deadly. In the same vein, “Seventeen” by Winger, “Cherry Pie” by Warrant, and any other song with a “joy of porking underage girls” theme. “Electric Avenue” Anything by Jose Feliciano Anything by Barry Manilow Anything by Leslie Gore And I agree, “Benny and the Jets” is an annoying song. I think most of Elton’s work is either cloying or depressing. Billy Joel is right in there with Elton. Most of his stuff just rubs me the wrong way: “Only the Good Die Young” and “Piano Man” I know I’m going down for that. I don’t know why people love that song, but they do. Hork! ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/73 "2000-06-10T13:07:11Z")
Conquistador was by Procul Harum. ---
**Author:** ![sorrel554](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@sorrel554](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sorrel554)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2000, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/74 "2000-06-10T23:03:32Z")
Of the ones so far mentioned, I have to concur with “Islands in the Stream.” Wretched. That Pearl Jam version of “Last Kiss” (is that the title?) was heinous. It was played so often in the last six months that I got where I could recognize the first few notes, so that I could instantaneously change the station. (I felt like I was on Name That Tune.) The original of that song was also offensive, but to intentionally drag something like that from the grave and remake it… :rolleyes: I read and laughed hysterically at Dave Barry’s book, and I see that “MacArthur Park” is also getting shredded in this thread. I have never heard this song. My dad used to listen to the “oldies” stations 24/7, but I don’t recall it at all. I feel like I’m missing out not knowing what this song is like, since it has been acclaimed the worst of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Sherman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Sherman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherman)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2000, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/75 "2000-06-11T04:00:01Z")
1950s - Any Pat Boone R&B cover 1960s - a lot of bad songs but the worst is “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” greeting from Camp Hiawatha. 1970s - nearly all disco songs but the worst is “Disco Duck” by Rick Dees 1980s - most hair band ballads but the worst is “Wanted Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi 1990s - I think hands down it has to be “MMMBop” by Hanson 2000s - Anything by these assembly line boy dance groups especially NSync ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2000, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/76 "2000-06-11T05:57:53Z")
By you people’s standards I obviously have bad taste in music. I actually like _In the Year 2525_, although I do recognize the lack of quality that is quite apparent in it. I can’t believe that _Tom Sawyer_ got a mention without any response from Coldfire. Personally, my nod goes to those whiney arrogant Brits known as Oasis, and that one song of theirs that they periodically change the lyrics to and rerelease under a different title. Why the fuck are they compared to the Beatles? Even if they managed to successfully sound like the Beatles, they’d still be second-rate hacks with uninspired whiney songs. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2000, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/77 "2000-06-11T08:38:17Z")
“Billy, Don’t Be A Hero”…oh, what the hell, Billy…go ahead and get shot…otherwise, listen to what you have to come home to… ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2000, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/78 "2000-06-12T11:04:35Z")
Two Little Boys - Rolf Harris I Surrender - Whitesnake(or was it Rainbow?) the lyrics are not exactly the epitome of the rock n roll lifestyle, probably better siuted to the Corrs, or the Nolan sisters ---
**Author:** ![Edwardina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Edwardina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edwardina)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2000, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/79 "2000-06-12T16:20:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > But you are certainly on track with Phil ‘megaweeny’ Collins. His greatest crime was a duet with a falsetto has-been called ‘She’s an easy lover’. At least I assume that’s the title. worst lyrics ever! > \*\* Hey, I like _some_ Phil Collins, at least “I Can Feel It Coming In The Air Tonight.” Admittedly, that’s the only one I can think of right now . . . I wish I had thought of Pearl Jam’s “Last Kiss” Ugh! Gruesome. ---
**Author:** ![SoSueMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SoSueMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoSueMe)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2000, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269/80 "2000-06-12T16:23:06Z")
I like the Monkees. It’s Sting who’s impossible to listen to. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/_worst_-rock-and-roll-song/21269.md?page=5)