A big me-too on the Carpenters. Karen’s voice was amazing and unique and although their pop could be sappy at times, those recordings are very special. “Merry Christmas Darling” always kills me, even still.
Along the same lines (almost) are the Corrs, Ireland’s version of the Carpenters. Andrea Corr’s voice has a similar tonal quality (almost) and it’s a brother and three sisters. They started out playing terrific Irish traditional but their worldwide success came doing pop and like the Carpenters, theirs gets sappy too sometimes. But I defy anyone to watch the Best of the Corrs dvd and not fall in love with them, their music (and Andrea). Another great guilty pleasure.
Considering the current attitude of most people, probably 90% or more of my music collection could be classified as “guilty pleasure”.
But even I am slightly ashamed of my burning love for Judas Priest. Yeah, the lyrics are terrible and the guitar work is cliched, but I could listen to Rob Halford all day.
For me it is Smoke City, the guys that did Underwater Love, that song used for the Levi’s jeans TV advert. I don’t usually go for that kind of sort-of-dance pop, but well, they are my guilty pleasure. Mostly because of the vocalist; I wonder what she did after the group dropped off the edge of the world.
Barry Manilow , John Denver , the whole genre of country music…
…ans Shaun Cassidy’s Greatest hits . And the Partridge Family . And the Osmond Brothers . I don’t listen o them OFTEN , but it’s reliving a bit of my childhood . :o
I just love the homogenized white do-wop of the late 50’s. It just get’s its fishhook fingers in my brain, and I feel this little wave of euphoria. It’s like aural cocaine, except it hasn’t cost me a house or a marriage yet.
<Ahem> I’ve said too much.
Dude, that song totally swings. It doesn’t rock, but it swings. Be shamed no more. Now, the Ghostbuster’s thing…
<looks suspiciously at the location> Hm, I dont remember moving to Calgary or posting this…
But I agree, the saturday night fever soundtrack album is my guilty pleasure…it was a very romantic and happy time in my life so any time i get really stressed out i throw on the first side and chill.
I like one record by Donny Osmond: “Hey Girl”. It’s a great song, performed even better than the original version. Can’t stand anything else by him or his brothers.
I also like “It’s One Of Those Nights” by The Partridge Family, not only because it takes me back to a time and a place and a girl.
ELO. Especially the album “Time,” which is an orchestral-disco-rock concept album about a man from 1981 who is accidentally (I think … the lyrics are rather confusing) transported through time by future scientists to the year 2095. It’s awesome. It makes my wife cringe.
Also, something I only played for her once, because she looked at me like I had said I enjoyed choking puppies or going to KKK rallies:
Though the songs are done by disabled (mentally and otherwise) people (which is what creeped my wife out) they aren’t exploitative, and are frighteningly catchy and engaging. I love the songs. Some of them are quite wistful and haunting.
Also, I listen to Ashlee Simpson’s album constantly, but I don’t consider that to be a guilty pleasure. Even though I should.
Nothing to be guilty about there. As long as you don’t try to convince anyone that 3rd Stage was a great album. And as long as you don’t recognize the existence of subsequent albums released by a totally lame band of the same name.
Heard a *Loverboy *tune on the radio today. Almost had to park the car so’s I could rock out properly.
I admit to liking him ! I have to say I LOVE most of his music ! I wish he was still making music . Garth ! Come back ! You have at least TWO fans still alive !
Thought of another one today - Duran Duran. We saw them live last year, I believe it was, and it was an excellent show. Their latest album, “Astronaut”, is surprisingly good, but I still love their old stuff; “Rio”, “Union of the Snake”, “Wild Boys”, etc. “Come Undone” is one of my all-time favourite songs.
Dashboard Confessional. We call it Sad Bastard Music. To listen to it properly, it requires lemon drops (the best are from Cracker Barrel). My college roommates and I drown our sorrows in it, particularly when we were plagued with men troubles, although I still listen to it … just don’t tell laurelann. She’ll be disappointed in me.
So many guilty pleasures, so little time. The Carpenters and the Corrs actually have an element of musical justification, but here’s one that’s totally devoid of any redeeming aspect.
Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
Everything else she’s ever done makes my skin crawl, but I still have a soft spot for this theme from Titanic. When this was first out, I used to surf the car radio looking for a station playing this, half for me and half to torture my kids who probably still have emotional scars.
Neil Diamond is another great guilty pleasure, but get ready for him to regain respectability this fall when his Rick Rubin project is released.
