# Bands ruined by one song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2001, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010 "2001-11-12T23:52:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/1 "2001-11-12T23:52:39Z")
Any bands you know of who’s reputation you think is ruined because of the popularity of one song? J. Geils Band (Centerfold)-This is probably their most popular song but is hardly representative of who they were. Listen to any J. Geils live music and you can get a sense of what a great party band they were. I wish I were around in the 70’s when they brought the house down. Dire Straights (Money for Nothing)-I like this song but to many the band is thought of only because of this song. Great blues work by their catalog that goes unnoticed. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/2 "2001-11-13T00:00:35Z")
“Beth” - KISS. It is well known that the other members of the band HATE this song. I saw a behind-the-scenes video of a concert they did a few years ago where Peter was on stage (alone) singing the song, Gene, Ace, and Paul were backstage make faces at the camera. Funny stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/3 "2001-11-13T00:15:53Z")
I wasn’t a big fan, but I think “She’s a Beauty” by **The Tubes** qualifies. I think that was their only top ten hit, and my friends who were Tubes fans were all pissed off that everyone else was getting into this “new” band when “She’s a Beauty” was being overplayed on the “top 40” radio stations. At least that’s the way I remember it. Pash ---
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/4 "2001-11-13T00:19:15Z")
I don’t know about ruined, but I always liked Incubus until they recorded “I Wish You Were Here.” I don’t know if this will sink them, because there are loads of 13-year-olds who think they’re headbangers and will still buy the album. All I’m saying is this song is the kind of song that deserves to ruin a band. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/5 "2001-11-13T00:22:43Z")
Personally, I thought it was all downhill after “Love Me Do”. ---
**Author:** ![twit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twit)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/6 "2001-11-13T03:05:37Z")
Some people might say Cheap Trick once they did “The Flame”. ---
**Author:** ![Cholo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Cholo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cholo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/7 "2001-11-13T03:36:04Z")
Personally, I love the Stones but when I heard RAPPING in “Anybody Seen My Baby” I just about threw up! ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/8 "2001-11-13T04:55:49Z")
[hijack]I saw J Geils in the 70’s! One of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Check out the album “Full House” Great music.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/9 "2001-11-13T05:02:41Z")
Most of Styx’s slow songs. Apparently they reflected Dennis DeYoung’s tastes, but not the preferences of anyone else in that band. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/10 "2001-11-13T06:10:16Z")
Well there’s poor Bobby McFarrin, who will be forever linked to an idiotic tune about the mindless optimism of the Reagan years despite the fact that: A. He meant it ironically and B. he has apparently done many other wonderful things (umm…not that I would know, I only know him for that song. Poor guy.) And I can’t think Simple Minds and the Pyschedelic Furs (two fairly cool bands) are happy about being permanantly associated with John Hughes movies. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/11 "2001-11-13T14:50:32Z")
“Walking on sunshine,” Katrina and the Waves. Not like their other music. Pressure from A&R to produce another “Walking …” lead to the band breakup. Many other One Hit Wonders suffered the same fate. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Red\_Menace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/82dd89/32.png) [@The\_Red\_Menace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Red_Menace)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/12 "2001-11-13T14:55:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Oblong \* > \*\*Dire Straights (Money for Nothing)-I like this song but to many the band is thought of only because of this song. Great blues work by their catalog that goes unnoticed. \*\* I don’t know about this. I would say that a lot of people have heard “Sultans of Swing” and dig that song too. It could just be unique to my local radio station, but it seems that it’s about a 1:1 Sultans:Money ratio. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/13 "2001-11-13T15:30:55Z")
Hmmmm, the first example that comes to mind is “Invisible Touch” by Genesis. They had gone through so much and retained credibility, but when Phil went pop and they came out with this album, any prog cred went down the drain. Any takers for: “Dancin’ in the Dark” - by Bruce Springsteen? “All of My Love” - by Led Zeppelin? (not that it mattered since Bonzo died at around the same time) “You Better You Bet” - by the Who? “Emotional Rescue” - by the Rolling Stones? ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/14 "2001-11-13T16:27:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WordMan \* > **prog cred** An oxymoron surely? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/15 "2001-11-13T16:37:23Z")
“Chuck E.'s In Love” could be the poster child for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/16 "2001-11-13T16:48:20Z")
That young Vanilla Ice fella had so much talent and just oodles of character. I’m saddened by what Ice Ice Baby did to his career. It’s an American tragedy, dead gummit. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/17 "2001-11-13T17:17:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cornflakes \* > \*\*“Chuck E.'s In Love” could be the poster child for this thread. \*\* I agree, and in a similar vein, Brass In Pocket was hardly representative of The Pretenders. ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/18 "2001-11-13T17:47:27Z")
re: “All my Love”. I wouldn’t quite count that because it’s not really what you think of when you think Zeppelin. If anything, maybe Stairway to Heaven. All My Love is one of two Zep songs where Jimmy Page doesn’t get a writing credit. Also, it was so near to the end of the Band. Bob Seger-Old Time Rock and Roll (I was going to say Like a Rock but he sold that to Chevy so it’s his own fault) ---
**Author:** ![horhay\_achoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@horhay\_achoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horhay_achoa)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/19 "2001-11-13T17:55:11Z")
I cant pinpoint an Aerosmith song, but I would have to say it was on Pump or Get a Grip. Pump was really the last acceptable album they made, so maybe “janies got a gun”? anyone?.. ---
**Author:** ![dono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@dono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dono)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2001, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010/20 "2001-11-13T18:14:41Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by WordMan_ > “You Better You Bet” - by the Who? The Who was my favorite band. It was so sad to see Pete Townshend enter his dotage, and begin to churn out dreck like the one you mentioned, or, even worse, the execrable “Squeezebox”. Pathetic. Another of my favorites was the Jefferson Airplane (dating myself here, huh?). I was apprehensive when they transmogrified into J. Starship, and my worst fears were confirmed with “We Built This City”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-ruined-by-one-song/93010.md?page=2)