# Really bad, geeky, uncool songs you absolutely love **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 18, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853 "2003-11-18T04:43:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/81 "2003-11-19T19:37:16Z")
Actually, **vunderbob** , I think Rolf Harris recorded TMKD several different times, as well. So you may have a different version than the original original and still have Rolf Harris. Personally, I love Harris’s version of _Stairway to Heaven_, also courtesy of Dr. Demento. I need to go look for that album online…I liked the B-52 impersonation version, too…and the Gilligan’s Island version. ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/82 "2003-11-19T20:14:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ms Boods \* > \*\*PS – Isn’t the theme from the Disney Electric Light Parade Handel’s _Water Music_? At least I recall the parade barges on > the water was… \*\* It’s (basically) “Baroque Hoedown” by Jean-Jaques Perrey, who also wrote the tune that was used for the theme to “Joker’s Wild”. Perrey & Raymond Scott\* are my two favorite instrumental geeky music performers. How about “The Sorcerer’s Journey” from the Eagles-- major geek points if you know why. 😛 - If you watch(ed) Looney Tunes - you’ve heard his music - “Powerhouse”, “Dinner Music for a Group of Hungry Cannibals”… etc. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/83 "2003-11-19T20:47:55Z")
Politzania – thanks! I checked with my DisneyWorld crazed schoolchum, and the electric light parade that goes across the lagoon (?) at night plays/played the Hornpipe from Water Music (at least it was up until the early 90s, last time she was there)-- I didn’t realise there was a land-based electric light parade, too… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/84 "2003-11-19T21:06:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ms Boods \* > \*\*Politzania – thanks! I checked with my DisneyWorld crazed schoolchum, and the electric light parade that goes across the lagoon (?) at night plays/played the Hornpipe from Water Music (at least it was up until the early 90s, last time she was there)-- I didn’t realise there was a land-based electric light parade, too… \*\* Understanding that the last time I was in Florida was 1985, when we were there an Electric Light Parade went down Main Street after dusk. I couldn’t remember what music was played if you hung me up and tortured me, though. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Angel\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_Heart)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/85 "2003-11-19T21:20:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ellis Dee \* > \*\*Peaches by that presidents band. \*\* You too?! I thought I was the only one who remembered them! In general, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I have _6_ 80s compilation CDs (along with two disco)! OK, songs I’m embarrassed to I admit I love: “Whip It”–by Devo “Midnite Maniac”–by Krokus “Don’t Let Go”–by Isaac Hayes “Foolish Heart”–by Journey “I Can’t Go For That” and “Kiss is on My List”–by Hall and Oates “The Look of Love” by ABC “Save it for Later” by the English Beat ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/86 "2003-11-19T21:33:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\*Me too! That’s my song! I love it! Love it love it love it! I have karaoke fantasies about it. Neil Diamond’s da bomb, yo! \*\* I don’t know about you, **Green Bean** , but I felt somewhat better when I learned that it was about fortified wine. Did I read that here? ::racks brain:: Must’ve. ---
**Author:** ![Vevila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@Vevila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vevila)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/87 "2003-11-19T21:46:12Z")
Anyone remember this one? I still own the album… Pac-Man Fever by Buckner and Garcia. ---
**Author:** ![six-o3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@six-o3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/six-o3)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/88 "2003-11-20T00:33:32Z")
I’m not sure how any of you consider these songs geeky, although I must admit, I certainly haven’t heard of them all. Here is my contribution to the thread. Geeky songs? What about songs that talk about your favorite UNIX port? OpenBSD! My all-time favorite is to put other computer geeks in my car and put on the songs. Some of them just turn their head and say, “Is this about OpenBSD?”. Of course, I say yeah, it’s awesome, and secure by default! Now that’s geeky! Hear the songs, read the lyrics. I specifically like “Systemagic” [http://www.openbsd.org/lyrics.html](http://www.openbsd.org/lyrics.html) Note that there are 5 songs there! ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/89 "2003-11-20T01:15:45Z")
ah Freak Out! I write the Songs Dizzy The Israelites (anyone know who sang it? I do I just want to know if You know) I was Made for Lovin You Stumblin In by Suzi Quatro ---
**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:** [November 20, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/90 "2003-11-20T02:56:09Z")
You people aren’t READY for uncool! You can’t HANDLE uncool! Everybody knows the apotheosis of uncool was the Grinning American type groups that spewed out the ultimate in bland, mindless patriotic pap – musical Republicans, in short. I have my limits. I don’t like any of them. But one of the groups I DO like has an unfortunate tendency to gravitate that way. I am referring of course to The Manhattan Transfer a jazz vocal group that’s done some nifty stuff like “Offbeat of the Avenues,” and “Ten Minutes 'Til The Savages Come.” In fact, they get a Special Geekiness Award for Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone. And they’ve done some nice covers of old standards like “Boy From New York City.” But on all of their albums are songs of great lameosity, as if they somehow coveted a sport on the old Lawrence Welk show (a fortress of Uncoolitude) where they lard on the sugar and become so sweet and cloying that they just about make your skin crawl – Grinning American style. Frex such songs as “Morse Code of Love.” Don’t even ask, each and every song like this is a scar on my psyche, because I REALLY LIKE some of their stuff. THIS people, is uncoolitude. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/91 "2003-11-20T05:31:12Z")
I think my nominee of Peaches is quite clearly geeky. And I have another one whose geekiness is self-evident. I don’t know the title or artist, but I’m sure all of you will recognize it in an instant: Well **I** would walk 500 miles And **I** would walk 500 more Just to **be** the man who walks 1000 miles and falls down at your door I remember a conversation I had with a musician friend about that song when it came out. He said, “Imagine his poor girlfriend. He tells her he wrote a love song for her, and then begins to play this pile of crap. The poor thing.” I laughed and laughed, because it is a true sentiment, but I still like it. ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/92 "2003-11-20T06:43:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ellis Dee \* > \*\*And I have another one whose geekiness is self-evident. I don’t know the title or artist, but I’m sure all of you will recognize it in an instant: > > Well **I** would walk 500 miles > And **I** would walk 500 more > Just to **be** the man who walks 1000 miles and falls down at your door\*\* It’s by the Proclaimers, and it’s called I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles). > [@](#): > > **I remember a conversation I had with a musician friend about that song when it came out** When exactly? It was released on their 1988 album Sunshine on Leith, but didn’t catch on until 1993 when it was included in the movie Benny & Joon. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/93 "2003-11-20T06:59:47Z")
1993, of course. My apologies on messing up the insignifica. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/94 "2003-11-20T10:56:53Z")
**vanilla** “My ears are alight” (aka The Isaralites) was Desmond Dekker I believe. **Politzania** HHG theme right? ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/95 "2003-11-20T13:48:27Z")
People! People! I think I can claim the crown with six words: **Enoch Light and the Brass Menagerie** Due to early and prolonged exposure to the spritely muzak produced by Mr. Light, I was in my late teens before realizing that _Touch Me_ was, in fact, by the Doors; that _Fool on the Hill_ was a Beatles song; and that _Wichita Lineman_ had lyrics. When my college roommate and I had music wars, Enoch Light always succeeded in chasing her out of the room (Psychedelic Furs had the same effect on me). Yet for some perverse reason my fondness for Enoch Light remains, although none of the albums I grew up with have been released on CD (hard to imagine why). One of them featured comely young ladies in fur and chains on the cover - rather provocative for muzak, but there it is. Other contenders - **Tom Jones, Live in Las Vegas** , and the greatest hits of **Dionne Warwick** , **Roberta Flack** , and **The Fifth Dimension** , all of which reside proudly in my CD collection. **Angel Heart** - never be ashamed of loving **Isaac Hayes** , who is and will always be a treasure. His **Live at the Sahara Tahoe** is a true classic! **vanilla** - yep, that Osmonds song is definitely “Crazy Horses”, from the album of the same name. I’d totally forgotten about that one! ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Angel\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_Heart)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/96 "2003-11-20T21:43:42Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by fessie \* **Angel Heart** - never be ashamed of loving **Isaac Hayes** , who is and will always be a treasure. His **Live at the Sahara Tahoe** is a true classic! It’s not my love of Isaac Hayes that I’m ashamed of. It’s that particular song, you know, it’s the one that goes “Aw, shucks, I wouldn’t stop for a million bucks” Two more that came to mind: “Mambo No. 5” by Lou Bega “You Drive me Crazy” by Britney Spears _hangs head in shame_ ---
**Author:** ![Selkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/97 "2003-11-20T22:08:31Z")
Um \ \ Paradise by the Dashboard Light There. I said it. ---
**Author:** ![Gamaliel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gamaliel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gamaliel)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/98 "2003-11-20T22:13:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cityboy916 \* > \*\* Oh and Muskrat Love? I like all of America’s hits _except_ Muskrat Love. It’s the track on their Greatest Hits tape that I fast-forward over! 😃 \*\* I tried to hate it but it didn’t work. ☹ It’s far from my favorite, but still… Actually, “Horse with no name” is my least favorite of their hits. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/99 "2003-11-20T22:29:20Z")
**Selkie:** I’ll defend the entire _Bat Out of Hell_ album. Great music to belt along to when nobody’s looking. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/100 "2003-11-20T22:52:49Z")
I’ll defend everybody’s music. If it makes you happy, it’s serving its purpose as music, and there’s nothing bad or geeky about that, dammit. (Or so I tell myself to justify the NSync song playing on iTunes as I type this, and the Celine Dion song which will follow.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853.md?page=6)