# People Who Became Famous BECAUSE The Music Was SO **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 26, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283 "2019-08-26T21:59:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/21 "2019-08-27T12:45:37Z")
Paul Shane was one of the stars of a popular and long-running UK sitcom Hi-de-Hi. After the show ceased production, he tried to launch a second career as a singer. [His first (and last) performance is infamous.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrgC1fhLig4) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/22 "2019-08-27T13:20:59Z")
> [@Sterling\_Archer](#): > > Rebecca Black is the definitive answer. Haha, yeah fuck that 14 year old girl for wanting to make a cool music video with her friends! What a loser! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/23 "2019-08-27T13:50:55Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Haha, yeah fuck that 14 year old girl for wanting to make a cool music video with her friends! What a loser! Back when I was a kid, we would do stuff like that, and then NOT post it in a place accessible to the entire world. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/24 "2019-08-27T13:57:01Z")
> [@LC\_Strawhouse](#): > > Wiki has a page all about this: [Outsider music - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outsider_music) > > Also, “Congress Woman Parker”. Plus, lots of non-musical celebrities who put out a silly music recording (Bruce Willis, etc.) There are at least four editions of the **golden Throats** records/CDs. We own the first three. Many of the entries are either hilariously bad or misguided (notably Shatner and Nimoy’s entries, although Sebastian Cabot reciting Bob Dylan’s _ouvre_ as if it’s written poetry is pretty surreal), but there are a few that aren’t all that bad (Muhammed Ali, back when he was Cassius Clay, doing _Stand by Me_ is pretty good; Jim Nabors is underappreciated as a singer – his “You ar the Sunshine of my Life” is very good). then there are the WTF moments, like Jack Webb – Yes! Humorless Joe Friday from _Dragnet_! – reciting “Try a Little Tenderness” , or Andy Griffith singing a version of “House of the Rising Sun” with the lyrics almost completely changed (because Sheriff Andy would _never_ sing about a bordello). > **[Golden Throats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Throats)** > > Golden Throats is Rhino Records' series of humorous compilations of critically lambasted cover versions of songs, performed mostly either by celebrities known for something other than musical talent or musicians not known for the genre from which the song they are covering comes. > For example, William Shatner sings (or, more precisely, does a dramatic reading of the lyrics to) "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," Leonard Nimoy sings "If I Had a Hammer," and Muhammad Ali sings "Stand by Me." Other e... ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/25 "2019-08-27T14:00:06Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Back when I was a kid, we would do stuff like that, and then NOT post it in a place accessible to the entire world. It is incredibly disappointing to me that you think that makes a difference. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/26 "2019-08-27T14:01:14Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > William Shatner’s rendition of _Mr. Tambourine Man_ is quite unforgettable. Thanks for reminding me. Tom Paxton is a reasonably good self-taught singer and guitar player, but there is a good reason his songs are so recorded by other people. And then there’s Kinky Friedman. Nobody could image Kinky Friedman, but he does exist. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2019, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/27 "2019-08-27T14:02:25Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > [The Shaggs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shaggs). Should have been in the 2nd post, if not the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/28 "2019-08-27T14:03:27Z")
[John Ashcroft](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woLQI8X2R6Y). ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/29 "2019-08-27T14:43:20Z")
I suppose it’s arguable how “famous” they really were, although they did have a brief window of popularity during the British invasion. But I’ve always wondered what was the ratio of audience members who actually enjoyed Freddie and the Dreamers, versus those who just came to stare in dumbfounded horror at the [goofy dance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUqjuAUus5Y) they did during every performance. Seriously, scour YouTube and try to find a clip where they _don’t_ do it. It can’t be done! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/30 "2019-08-27T14:49:53Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Haha, yeah fuck that 14 year old girl for wanting to make a cool music video with her friends! What a loser! > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > It is incredibly disappointing to me that you think that makes a difference. Of course, **Ascenray** said nothing of the kind, and distorting the post in this way is ridiculous. Regardless of the intent of Rebecca Black, the video is famous because it was so bad, and so is an answer to the OP. How does the fact that she was 14 make the video better? ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/31 "2019-08-27T15:08:01Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I feel like Edith Bunker deserves a mention. Blrrrfff! I managed to protect the keyboard from a spray of coffee when I laughed. Everything else, not so much. Yeah Edith’s singing voice was even worse than Lucy Ricardo’s voice. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/32 "2019-08-27T15:28:23Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Of course, **Ascenray** said nothing of the kind, and distorting the post in this way is ridiculous. Regardless of the intent of Rebecca Black, the video is famous because it was so bad, and so is an answer to the OP. Right, and saying the music was awful is NOT the same thing as saying that she was awful or wrong or a bad person for making it or for posting it. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/33 "2019-08-27T15:39:17Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Of course, **Ascenray** said nothing of the kind, and distorting the post in this way is ridiculous. Regardless of the intent of Rebecca Black, the video is famous because it was so bad, and so is an answer to the OP. > > How does the fact that she was 14 make the video better? It doesn’t make the video better. I just don’t happen to think trashing a teen girl for wanting to feel special for a day is a particularly attractive look for adults. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/34 "2019-08-27T15:41:44Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > I suppose it’s arguable how “famous” they really were, although they did have a brief window of popularity during the British invasion. But I’ve always wondered what was the ratio of audience members who actually enjoyed Freddie and the Dreamers, versus those who just came to stare in dumbfounded horror at the [goofy dance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUqjuAUus5Y) they did during every performance. > > Seriously, scour YouTube and try to find a clip where they _don’t_ do it. It can’t be done! It was a minor dance craze at the time; they were definitely popular, since they weren’t shown on American TV until they had a hit. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/35 "2019-08-27T15:43:39Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Right, and saying the music was awful is NOT the same thing as saying that she was awful or wrong or a bad person for making it or for posting it. If Sterling Archer wanted to say that the _music_ was bad, then he should have mentioned Ark Music Factory or Patrice Wilson or Clarence Jey who managed the company that produced the video and wrote the song and lyrics. And I don’t know how to read Acsenray’s post other than as saying that she was wrong to have posted it online. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/36 "2019-08-27T15:49:03Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Of course, **Ascenray** said nothing of the kind, and distorting the post in this way is ridiculous. Agreed on both points. It was merely an observation. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/37 "2019-08-27T17:37:17Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I just don’t happen to think trashing a teen girl for wanting to feel special for a day is a particularly attractive look for adults. When you’re in a hole, you should stop digging. Once again, you’re attacking **Acsenray** for something he didn’t come close to saying. _He_ didn’t trash the girl, he merely pointed out that she was famous because the video she made was bad. This is a simple factually correct statement. If you’re reading other stuff into it that isn’t in the post, that’s on you. > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > And I don’t know how to read Acsenray’s post other than as saying that she was wrong to have posted it online. You’re kidding, right? Of course it wasn’t “wrong” in the sense of her being a bad person to post it. But it was clearly a massive mistake on her part. How could anyone possibly think otherwise? Now, she can be forgiven since as a teen she was naive enough to think the video was good. And of course, she couldn’t have predicted it would have become viral. I feel sorry for her, since it wasn’t her fault, but in retrospect posting it was certainly an error, even if an innocent one. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/38 "2019-08-27T17:41:44Z")
> [@MrAtoz](#): > > I suppose it’s arguable how “famous” they really were, although they did have a brief window of popularity during the British invasion. But I’ve always wondered what was the ratio of audience members who actually enjoyed Freddie and the Dreamers, versus those who just came to stare in dumbfounded horror at the [goofy dance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUqjuAUus5Y) they did during every performance. > > Seriously, scour YouTube and try to find a clip where they _don’t_ do it. It can’t be done! We were 14 or so when the ‘British Invasion’ came along and we thought they were an absolute hoot. We were young unsophisticated kids just into puberty. Those were giddy times! (yes, we thought Freddy was goofy, but even we knew the silly dance was to make themselves stand out in a crowded field.) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/39 "2019-08-27T19:12:34Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Tom Paxton is a reasonably good self-taught singer and guitar player, but there is a good reason his songs are so recorded by other people. At first I read this as [_Bill_ Paxton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martini_Ranch) and was like “but he _doesn’t_ write his own stuff.” ---
**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 27, 2019, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283/40 "2019-08-27T19:27:49Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > [The Shaggs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shaggs). [You win](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR9d4ESlpHY). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-became-famous-because-the-music-was-so/839283.md?page=3)