# Immensely popular things that really are good **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885 "2013-04-16T22:31:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/81 "2013-04-29T04:59:02Z")
Ha. While the Harry Potter and Apple products is spot on, here’s mine - e-readers, in particular the Kindle. E-ink screens are incredible, and the form factor is better than books. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/82 "2013-04-29T06:50:52Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > One Direction Much criticism of One Direction is I find by people who’ve obviously never actually listened to One Direction or bothered to find out anything about them. (And I admit that was me for a bit) AND THERE IS SO MUCH OF IT! “They’re just a slapped together boy band!” And so was the Monkees, in hindsight we love them. “They don’t even play instruments!” They do. Niall plays guitar, Louis plays piano and I think someone plays the clarinet or something not-rocking, but these are not things you can showcase as a “boy band” really. (Niall is currently playing guitar on the current tour.) “They don’t write their own songs!” They actually do. (Monkees again, anyone?) Though they collaborate heavily with a lot of people. (And they flat out just do an Ed Sheeran song no questions asked.) “Auto-tuned crap!” Some songs they use that because that’s “the sound” now much like reverb and jangly tambourines were in the 60s, but they don’t use it because they need it anymore than Cher does. Check out their acoustic performance on Letterman: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ll3Zz9wD7E](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ll3Zz9wD7E) ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/83 "2013-04-29T07:15:30Z")
The [Neon Genesis Evangelion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_Genesis_Evangelion) franchise has grossed well over $1 billion. I think it’s actually quite good, plot holes notwithstanding. The first Matrix movie was also good and immensely popular. ETA: Tolkein franchise!!! ---
**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:** [April 29, 2013, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/84 "2013-04-29T09:04:08Z")
Oh wow, this thread is bad. I sort of expected it to be bad, but it definitely exceeded that. I think if you took a list of all things that are broadly popular, and took a random sample of them, it would give similar results as this thread. Then what is the point? I think that one way to meaningfully answer the question is with things that are both massively popular in the general population, and massively popular with the critics. That would make The Beatles a good answer. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/85 "2013-04-29T10:08:18Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > Ha. While the Harry Potter and Apple products is spot on, here’s mine - e-readers, in particular the Kindle. E-ink screens are incredible, and the form factor is better than books. Agh, I hate sleep deprivation. I meant “While the Harry potter and Apple products _comment(quoted below)_ is spot on…” > [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](#): > > Fifty Shades of Grey. > > What? Harry Potter and Apple products have been mentioned, so… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/86 "2013-04-29T13:11:29Z")
Many of Stephen King’s wrks. When he does it right, nobody does it better. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/87 "2013-04-29T15:17:08Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > If Celine Dion would sing a good song, maybe I’d remember it. I’m not a Celine Dion fan particularly, but I do like Jim Steinman, and her version of “It’s All Coming Back To Me” is really good. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/88 "2013-04-29T17:13:15Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > Oh wow, this thread is bad. I sort of expected it to be bad, but it definitely exceeded that. > > I think if you took a list of all things that are broadly popular, and took a random sample of them, it would give similar results as this thread. Then what is the point? > > I think that one way to meaningfully answer the question is with things that are both massively popular in the general population, and massively popular with the critics. That would make The Beatles a good answer. I don’t agree. Extremely popular things are often either bland or cater to the lowest common denominator. I thought exceptions to that were interesting enough to discuss and thus started the thread. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/89 "2013-04-29T19:14:26Z")
> [@MrSquishy](#): > > I think the thread might have been better titled “ **Immensely popular things that _you think_ really are good** ”. That might have avoided some arguments. > > Is there anybody (who likes burgers) who doesn’t like In-N-Out Burger? I love your optimism and good attitude…delusion aside 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/90 "2013-04-29T19:16:16Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Many of Stephen King’s wrks. When he does it right, nobody does it better. I’ll agree with this one. A lot of people like to disparage him, but if your aim is to be entertained by a book, that’s what he does. And he does it very well. Also, I’m not sure what the term for it is, but he’s one of the best alive at putting you right in the story (in my opinion). ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/91 "2013-04-29T19:44:19Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > Much criticism of One Direction is I find by people who’ve obviously never actually listened to One Direction or bothered to find out anything about them. (And I admit that was me for a bit) AND THERE IS SO MUCH OF IT! > > “They’re just a slapped together boy band!” > And so was the Monkees, in hindsight we love them. > > “They don’t even play instruments!” > They do. Niall plays guitar, Louis plays piano and I think someone plays the clarinet or something not-rocking, but these are not things you can showcase as a “boy band” really. (Niall is currently playing guitar on the current tour.) > > “They don’t write their own songs!” > They actually do. (Monkees again, anyone?) Though they collaborate heavily with a lot of people. (And they flat out just do an Ed Sheeran song no questions asked.) > > “Auto-tuned crap!” > Some songs they use that because that’s “the sound” now much like reverb and jangly tambourines were in the 60s, but they don’t use it because they need it anymore than Cher does. Check out their acoustic performance on Letterman: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ll3Zz9wD7E](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ll3Zz9wD7E) Well, since Cher herself has said she DOES need it, I am not sure you are making the point you want. And the Monkeys get love for their kitschy representation of the era - the nostalgia, they aren’t considered “good”. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/92 "2013-04-29T20:41:54Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’ll agree with this one. A lot of people like to disparage him, but if your aim is to be entertained by a book, that’s what he does. And he does it very well. Also, I’m not sure what the term for it is, but he’s one of the best alive at putting you right in the story (in my opinion). He’s a page-turner, that’s for sure. Even as I read his stuff, I know it’s not all that well-written, but I can’t put it down, because I need to see what happens next. I’d put JK Rowling in the same category, personally. She builds a very engrossing world. ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/93 "2013-04-29T20:45:58Z")
Nobody mentioned Chips ? Not even **Munch**. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/94 "2013-05-01T03:14:15Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Well, since Cher herself has said she DOES need it, I am not sure you are making the point you want. > > And the Monkeys get love for their kitschy representation of the era - the nostalgia, they aren’t considered “good”. It’s “Monkees” and I recently saw them live and they are very very good. You may have to have the whole catalogue laid out in front of you to see it but they were and are very very good. This board has a whole inflexible snottiness about it you confuse with taste that makes it so hard for me to keep coming back. I do enjoy me some Justin Bieber but yes he does need to pull his pants up. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/95 "2013-05-01T06:15:11Z")
I’ll go along with The Beatles and In N Out burgers. As for current pop music artists, I think Jay-Z and Kanye would definitely qualify. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885/96 "2013-05-03T00:45:21Z")
> [@](#): > > This board has a whole inflexible snottiness about it you confuse with taste that makes it so hard for me to keep coming back. I do enjoy me some Justin Bieber but yes he does need to pull his pants up. You know I really don’t think that believing that one direction is just yet another boy band and the Monkees were a goofy kitschy group takes any level of snottiness. It’s actually a pretty common opinion. I think you are being a little touchy and if I was your boyfriend I’d probably let you go. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immensely-popular-things-that-really-are-good/655885.md?page=4)