# Musicians Whose Weakest Works Get the Most Airplay **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 19, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777 "2010-08-19T19:23:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/61 "2010-08-20T20:57:54Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > There are a few artists who have written a lot of great songs, but the songs that get the most airplay are inferior works, far less powerful than most of their work. (Clearly this is a matter of opinion, but I bet it will be fairly easy to come to a consensus in many cases.) Which isn’t your topic. You asked for the worst. Most answers seem to be answering the question: Which is the worst single? Including your exmple: > [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I’ll start by nominating the song that inspired the topic: “Have you ever seen the rain?” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. The lugubrious exercise in kvetching in a low, moany, whiny voice is orders of magnitude worse than anything else CCR has done, especially worse than their other hits. It can’t compare to the driving urgency of “Born on A Bayou” or the hypnotic thrill of Suzy Q or the infectious joy of “Looking Out My Back Door.” HYEStR is their worst? > [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I think Tom Petty is a great performer who has put out a variety of songs. He has a lot that havce gotten airplay, but the worst one he had that was popular was Freefallin’ > > _It’s a three cord, three cord song. A three cord, three cord song_ The number of chords is relevant? > [@gaffa](#): > > I’m a huge fan of Todd Rundgren. Between his solo works and the bands he has lead, he’d written hundreds of songs and several dozen albums, ranging from pop and rock, to blues, Philly soul, prog rock, techno, show tunes and even bossa-nova and rap. > > So why, in the name of all that is holy, is [the stupidest thing he ever penned](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZclddLcOYYA) his most popular? Why is it played on commercials and sporting events? A better choice. Song is catchy though. > [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Jimi Hendrix > > The man did things with a guitar that nobody else even dreamed of, but the only thing you ever hear on the radio is _Hey Joe_ and _Fire_. It’s been pointed out that it’s arguable that these are the best known. But the worst? > [@Mixolydian](#): > > Off the top o’ my head… > > Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl > J. Geils - Freeze Frame > Grateful Dead - Truckin’ / Casey Jones > The Band - The Weight/Up On Cripple Creek > Canned Heat - Goin’ Up The Country Ditto. [quote=“Alessan, post:24, topic:550777”] Billy Joel. > [@Gagundathar](#): > > How about Starship’s _We Built This City_? > According to a Blender poll back in 2004, this gem was ranked as the “single worst single ever constructed.” There’s a good pick. > [@Rilchiam](#): > > Warren Zevon. I believe **Werewolves of London** is the **only** song of his that ever gets played on the radio. You may not like his other songs, but they are at least more complex and well-crafted than WoL. But is it his worst? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/62 "2010-08-21T01:10:35Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > But is it [Werewolves] his [Zevon’s] worst? The thread title said “weakest”. And yes, I would say WoL is pretty weak compared to “Desperadoes Under the Eaves” or “Searching For A Heart” or a lot of his other stuff. Another factor in this and others’ choices is that the most radio-friendly song might be okay for what it is, but not representative of the artist’s total work. Like “The One I Love” for R.E.M. That’s not really typical of their style. (And it’s also a lament, not a love song as many mistakenly think.) And hardcore fans (of anyone, not just the examples in this thread) tend to get irritated when those not in the know think that everything by their favorite band/artist is similar to that one song that gets on the radio. I know I get irritated when I mention Warren and people instantly start mocking the piano intro to WoL. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/63 "2010-08-21T01:11:05Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I think Tom Petty is a great performer who has put out a variety of songs. He has a lot that havce gotten airplay, but the worst one he had that was popular was Freefallin’ > > _It’s a three cord, three cord song. A three cord, three cord song_ “This Song is Just Three Chords Long…” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/64 "2010-08-21T01:58:31Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Warren Zevon. I believe **Werewolves of London** is the **only** song of his that ever gets played on the radio. You may not like his other songs, but they are at least more complex and well-crafted than WoL. Great call. WZ has _dozens_ of songs superior to Werewolves. I would add: **Elton John** - Yeah, he had tons of hits over the years, but I always thought his best tunes were the deeper cuts (Ballad of a Well-Known Gun, Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters, Someone Saved My Life Tonight, Take Me To the Pilot, Border Song…) **Elvis Costello** - The Hits were few (Veronica, What’s So Funny…, Every Day I Write the Book), but the little-knowns kick ass (way too many to start naming). I was going to add **Neil Young** , but I do love all his big hits (exception: Heart of Gold). He does, though, have oodles and oodles of hidden gems in his catalog (Tonight’s the Night, Tell Me Why, Harvest, Thrasher, Powderfinger) ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/65 "2010-08-21T02:11:25Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > > [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > > > There are a few artists who have written a lot of great songs, but the songs that get the most airplay are inferior works, far less powerful than most of their work. (Clearly this is a matter of opinion, but I bet it will be fairly easy to come to a consensus in many cases.) > > Which isn’t your topic. You asked for the worst. Most answers seem to be answering the question: Which is the worst single? Including your exmple: Given that it is an in my humble opinion topic by nature, one man’s worst could be another’s best, or at least not so worst. I’ll grant you that the cloying “Hello It’s Me” might beat out “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” in worstnessness. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/66 "2010-08-21T02:16:23Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > > [@Superhal](#): > > > > Wow, you guys still listen to the radio for music? > > > > I can’t imagine a bigger waste of time. My car has a 6 CD changer so I can listen to my favorite songs at any time. At home, I have custom playlists. I have the radio off about 95% of the time. Actually, I don’t even listen to music anymore. If I do, it’s the music video, not only the song. > > > > I think the last time I actually tried to listen to the radio was maybe 1998 or before Napster. I used to listen to music stations to hear what the kids were listening to and to keep my music tastes up to date. > > So you only listen to music you already own, that’s clear. How do you find new music to like? And in fact you say you don’t even listen to music, so why are you in this thread? To contribute, my information was from the last time I did listen to the radio for music, which was in the 90’s. > [@asian\_riff](#): > > > [@Superhal](#): > > > > Wow, you guys still listen to the radio for music? > > > > I can’t imagine a bigger waste of time. My car has a 6 CD changer so I can listen to my favorite songs at any time. > > You still listen to CDs? Burned CD’s. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/67 "2010-08-21T02:22:28Z")
REM-Shiny Happy People. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/68 "2010-08-21T03:25:13Z")
[quote=“Superhal, post:66, topic:550777”] > [@squeegee](#): > > Burned CD’s. Why not just throw them away? ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/69 "2010-08-21T03:29:32Z")
Some more: Squeeze -Black Coffee In Bed Metallica - Nothing Else Matters Genesis - That’s All Supertramp - The Logical Song Phil Collins - Another Day In Paradise Shawn Colvin - Sunny Came Home ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/70 "2010-08-21T04:15:37Z")
Not that they are bad songs at all, but in my opinion _“Reelin’ In The Years”_ and _“Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”_ are not Steely Dan’s best songs by a long shot. ---
**Author:** ![Kilmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@Kilmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilmore)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/71 "2010-08-21T04:16:33Z")
Deep Purple: “Smoke on the Water” ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/72 "2010-08-21T04:28:30Z")
I’m going to ask a moderator to delete this thread before a Sirius/XM programmer finds it. Because this is going to give them all sorts of ideas. (who am I kidding? These songs would only improve Sirius/XM programming). ---
**Author:** ![Tess\_Trueheart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Tess\_Trueheart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tess_Trueheart)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/73 "2010-08-21T18:13:45Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Shawn Colvin - Sunny Came Home Agreed. That whole I-just-got-divorced album is my least favorite. Sometimes I hear “Whole New You” on the radio, and it’s not my favorite, but it’s better. Also: Regina Spektor - “Fidelity” Plenty of people will disagree, but I like her for the range of emotions and stories she can display. I love the strange, yet sweet qualities of the songs from the live shows. There’s no hidden message or surprise ending or deep thought - or even something humorous - in this song, and the repeating a syllable thing is much more effective on “Eet.” ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/74 "2010-08-21T21:03:30Z")
[quote=“Evil\_Captor, post:68, topic:550777”] > [@Superhal](#): > > Why not just throw them away? The sound system in the car is awesome and I still have friends who have not listened to the genius that is [Weird Al Yankovic.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcjgJSqSRU&feature=av2n) ---
**Author:** ![Othersider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/cab0a1/32.png) [@Othersider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Othersider)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/75 "2010-08-21T21:40:46Z")
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Jane’s Addiction. “Been Caught Stealing” and “Jane Says” aren’t bad songs, but I think songs like “Stop!”, “Three Days”, “Ocean Size”, and “Mountain Song” (just to name a few of my favorites) are way more deserving of recognition. And while I didn’t think _Strays_ was a bad CD, nothing on it even remotely compares to their best work. Well, to be fair, I have heard “Stop!” a few times on the radio…but not nearly as often as it merits. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/76 "2010-08-22T00:47:09Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > So why, in the name of all that is holy, is [the stupidest thing he ever penned](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZclddLcOYYA) his most popular? Why is it played on commercials and sporting events? But is it really his most popular? I always thought that honor belonged to the perfectly respectable [“Hello It’s Me”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsezr0qiFIc). ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/77 "2010-08-22T00:49:59Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > > [@joebuck20](#): > > > > I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing by Aerosmith. > > Feel free to close this thread now. > > That rests on the assumption that anything else Aerosmith did was any good. Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/78 "2010-08-22T00:56:19Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Wow, you guys still listen to the radio for music? Hell, no! Does _anybody?_ However, you can still make inferences about what songs are ridiculously overexposed on the radio, if you ever go outside or spend time on hold. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/79 "2010-08-22T02:02:14Z")
Metallica was mentioned once already, but for only one of the four songs of theirs I ever hear played on the radio (and not the most egregiously overplayed one at that). Seems that the only time you hear them on the radio, it’s not [“Welcome Home (Sanitarium)”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eMQyX-zAhQ), it’s not [“The Four Horsemen”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4nCy5CITc8), it’s not [“Eye of the Beholder”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKRR7IakiVM), it’s not even [“One”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM8bTdBs-cw&feature=av2n) or [“Hero of the Day”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkfO8c8MlKU&feature=av2n). No, it’s always either the aforementioned [“Nothing Else Matters”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcbAibPA2yY), [“For Whom the Bell Tolls”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg92QpjRcJk), [“Fuel”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvF9PAxe5Ng&feature=av2n), or the so-overplayed-that-if-I-_never_-hear-it-again-it-_still_-won’t-ever-leave-my-head [“Enter Sandman”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QP-SIW6iKY). The song is the “Walk This Way” of the heavy metal genre. (And that certainly ain’t no compliment.) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777/80 "2010-08-22T05:18:26Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > > [@gaffa](#): > > > > So why, in the name of all that is holy, is [the stupidest thing he ever penned](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZclddLcOYYA) his most popular? Why is it played on commercials and sporting events? > > But is it really his most popular? I always thought that honor belonged to the perfectly respectable [“Hello It’s Me”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsezr0qiFIc). “Hello It’s Me” is the song that he will most likely be remembered for, but it is not played in arenas for screaming sports fans or is it used in commercials for a cruise line. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-whose-weakest-works-get-the-most-airplay/550777.md?page=5)