# Artists who hate their biggest hit **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874 "2009-07-31T15:33:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/81 "2009-08-02T14:55:13Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Moderator interjection on personal insults: > **Cisco** : Personal insults are NOT permitted in this forum, as you well know. You may discuss what **Claire** SAYS, but not make comments/assumptions about her as a person. Please do not do this again. _What?_ Please explain to me how that is an insult because I literally don’t get it. I am 100% confident that you misinterpreted what I said, but I can’t figure out how you read it as a personal insult. Please explain. ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/82 "2009-08-02T16:23:22Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > _What?_ Please explain to me how that is an insult because I literally don’t get it. I am 100% confident that you misinterpreted what I said, but I can’t figure out how you read it as a personal insult. Please explain. I can’t speak for **CK** , but my guess is that anyone who would put significant stock into “cultural literacy” would take that suggestion - that there were a lot of “culturally important” things that they are “completely oblivious” to - as a personal insult. And to be On-Topic: Jethro Tull hated playing “Living in the Past” ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/83 "2009-08-02T16:44:29Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > I can’t speak for **CK** , but my guess is that anyone who would put significant stock into “cultural literacy” would take that suggestion - that there were a lot of “culturally important” things that they are “completely oblivious” to - as a personal insult. It was a statement of fact used to show that Claire’s original declaration was ridiculous. Nobody can know every culturally important tidbit. If I tell you that there are a thousand different things you don’t know about the construction of space shuttle Discovery, that’s not an insult, it’s just a statement of fact. Even if you’re a space shuttle Discovery enthusiast, that statement is still probably true. It’s just too complex for 99.9999% of people to know everything about it. Culture is too complex for 100% of people to know everything about it. If anything, Claire’s original statement was far more of an insult than my reply. Because it made no sense, it has no value (that I can see) other than as an insult. ---
**Author:** ![De\_La\_Rue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/84 "2009-08-02T17:07:21Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I think that was for a different reason than you’re thinking of. He got sick of white guys coming up to him and saying nigger. I’m pretty sure he still liked the bit as he was talking about making a movie out of it until he effectively blacklisted himself. Well, his departure from the show was fueled by a number of things–dealings with executives, unease at perceptions of race in the show–but during standup performances, he did berate audience members repeating the catchphrase and stated how annoying it was to be with his kids in public and hear people yelling it to him. So I’d say he got tired of the one sketch and element of it that became famous to the point of nausea. Then again, as you note, at about the same time Chappelle was involved in a comedic Rick James biopic. Presumably he was willing to do more James material, but maybe now he wants to avoid anything James-related. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/85 "2009-08-02T18:24:27Z")
> [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > I agree with them. 1000% > > **correction:** … who is now best-remembered _by cultural illiterates_ as that one role. > > AND, Alec didn’t hate Obi-Wan because of his legacy, he hated the role and the movie all on their own merits. Harrison Ford was also known to have said to George Lucas about some dialog: “George, you can write this stuff, but ya sure can’t say it.” To add on, to hear Carrie Fisher talk, _Star Wars_ ruined her life. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/86 "2009-08-02T18:54:19Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > To add on, to hear Carrie Fisher talk, _Star Wars_ ruined her life. Doing coke lines while trying to learn your character’s lines will do that to you. It’s great the way Carrie Fisher has turned her life around. But being a gigantic movie star does not _make_ you turn to drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/87 "2009-08-03T00:27:29Z")
I often wonder what Chuck Berry thought about _My Ding-A-Ling_? Considering his influence on the music world it;s a bit sad that that was his only #1 hit ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/88 "2009-08-03T03:43:41Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > And to be On-Topic: > > Jethro Tull hated playing “Living in the Past” Also heard that Ian hated the song “Teacher” which IMHO is one of his best. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/89 "2009-08-03T08:00:26Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I often wonder what Chuck Berry thought about _My Ding-A-Ling_? Considering his influence on the music world it;s a bit sad that that was his only #1 hit He liked it. “My alma mater, I must play my alma mater.” ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/90 "2009-08-03T09:42:14Z")
I’ve heard for years that Robert Plant doesn’t care much for “Stairway to Heaven” but a google didn’t immediately turn up any interviews where he calls it “that wedding song” but did turn up a bunch of second hand accounts. I also think I remember reading somewhere that Keith Moon got sick of performing “Tommy”, but again couldn’t find a good cite. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/91 "2009-08-03T09:51:11Z")
> [@Dave\_Hartwick](#): > > I’ve heard for years that Robert Plant doesn’t care much for “Stairway to Heaven” but a google didn’t immediately turn up any interviews where he calls it “that wedding song” but did turn up a bunch of second hand accounts. I saw Page and Plant back in '97 and they did this prickish little bit where they played the first few notes of _Stairway_ and then when the crowd went wild they kind of rolled their eyes, shook their heads no, and played some awful new song. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/92 "2009-08-03T12:41:54Z")
Kurt Kobain reportedly hated “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” though he did like Weird Al’s version. I remember reading that he hoped “Drain You” would be the big hit. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/93 "2009-08-03T15:18:40Z")
> [@GoodOmens](#): > > Kurt Kobain reportedly hated “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” though he did like Weird Al’s version. I remember reading that he hoped “Drain You” would be the big hit. I recall an interview where Cobain said he thought it sounded a bit lame when he heard it the day after recording it. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/94 "2009-08-03T15:45:33Z")
I suspect Nick Cave loathes playing Curse of Milhaven. When I saw him, the crowd was constantly shouting out this request. He basically said “no, and fuck you for asking.” ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/95 "2009-08-03T15:57:51Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I think that was for a different reason than you’re thinking of. He got sick of white guys coming up to him and saying nigger. I’m pretty sure he still liked the bit as he was talking about making a movie out of it until he effectively blacklisted himself. Here’s [his stand-up bit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6iw1y-Z1r4) about dealing with “Rick James, bitch.” ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/96 "2009-08-03T16:18:35Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > I always wondered about that–how did Grace Slick, singer for Jefferson Airplane who did “Go Ask Alice,” wind up in that song?? In her memoirs, Slick admitted that she was pretty much just lining her nest egg at that point. It was the mid-80s, she was 40+, and she she felt a little awkward still working as a rock star - a career filled with and geared towards teens and early twenty-somethings. Even most of her bandmates at that point were ten years younger than her. Added to that was the fact that her co-lead singer Mickey Thomas was a shady backstabber who clearly viewed himself as the star of the band, and manipulated band members one by one to get rid of anybody who stood in his way. Apparently, there were many ‘Starship’ era songs that were supposed to be duets, with both Thomas & Slick trading off lead vocals. But during studio sessions, Thomas would simply wait for Slick to leave for the day, then record the songs without her as his own solo songs. Slick said she finally threw up her hands, decided to just fulfill her contractual obligation to RCA records, and then bolt out the door. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/97 "2009-08-03T16:33:41Z")
Barry Manilow moaned that _Copacabana_ was a trivial throwaway album filler of a song that grew to eclipse his (quite substantial) catalogue of other, better songs. Which didn’t stop him from later writing a musical based on it. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/98 "2009-08-03T17:30:03Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > Jethro Tull hated playing “Living in the Past” Ian Anderson also laments the fact that his ex-wife wrote the lyrics to “Aqualung” and therefore collects half the song’s royalties. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/99 "2009-08-03T21:25:37Z")
Twice I heard a 13 part series on Artie Shaw, titled “Will the beguine ever end?” It was a fascinating biography of Shaw, his band, his music, etc. but even from the title (as well explicitly in the program) it was clear that Shaw was at least bored by, if he didn’t actually come to hate his signature “Begin the Beguine”. As a side issue, does anyone know what a beguine is? Ah for the days that the CBC attempted such programming! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874/100 "2009-08-03T21:42:18Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > As a side issue, does anyone know what a beguine is? [The Free Dictionary](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Beguine): > [@](#): > > 1. A ballroom dance similar to the rumba, based on a dance of Martinique and St. Lucia. > 2. The music for this dance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-who-hate-their-biggest-hit/504874.md?page=6)