# 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:** 6
**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 21, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/101 "2003-11-21T06:05:08Z")
**Ellis Dee** : my post had a differnt tone than I intended. :smack: I agree that 500 Miles is a good song. ---
**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 21, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/102 "2003-11-21T14:00:00Z")
Ooh…just remembered another TMBG cover that I loved: _Istanbul (Not Constantinople)_. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/103 "2003-11-21T18:13:17Z")
Richard Harris’s rendition of MacArthur Park ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/104 "2003-11-21T20:49:47Z")
“This Beat Goes On/Switchin to Glide” by The Kings. “Sausalito Summernight” by Diesel “All You Zombies” by The Hooters Scumpup: > [@](#): > > “The Bertha Butt Boogie” by Joe Tex That one’s in heavy rotation in my desktop mp3 player, along with “Chick-a-Boom” by Daddy Dewdrop ---
**Author:** ![nisosbar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@nisosbar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nisosbar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/105 "2003-11-22T21:22:11Z")
**Break My Stride** and **Heartache, Heartache** by Kathy Lee Gifford, because it makes me laugh… ---
**Author:** ![nisosbar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@nisosbar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nisosbar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/106 "2003-11-22T21:23:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sqweels \* > **"This Beat Goes On/Switchin to Glide" by The Kings. > “Sausalito Summernight” by Diesel** Did we go to high school together??? (you forgot Knock on Wood) ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/77aa72/32.png) [@Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_On_My_Sleeve)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/107 "2003-11-25T02:43:03Z")
Elvis singing “In the Ghetto”–it makes me cry. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/77aa72/32.png) [@Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_On_My_Sleeve)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/108 "2003-11-25T02:46:47Z")
Oh, I forgot “Put Another Log on the Fire”. I don’t know who did that. And of course, “She Blinded Me with Science”–that one’s on my MP3s I listen to when I exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/77aa72/32.png) [@Heart\_On\_My\_Sleeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_On_My_Sleeve)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/109 "2003-11-25T02:49:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tangent \* > \*\*The ultimate geek song, **One Night in Bangkok** , is one of my favorite songs ever! \*\* I **LOVED** this song!! Haven’t heard it in eons! ---
**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 26, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/110 "2003-11-26T13:31:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cityboy916 \* > **Ellis Dee** : my post had a differnt tone than I intended. :smack: I agree that 500 Miles is a good song. No worries. I was in a bad mood when I posted my snarky response. Apologies all around. I also vote for _One Night in Bangkok_. ---
**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 26, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/111 "2003-11-26T14:06:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Heart On My Sleeve \* > \*\*Oh, I forgot “Put Another Log on the Fire”. I don’t know who did that. And of course, “She Blinded Me with Science”–that one’s on my MP3s I listen to when I exercise. \*\* Hehe…I know people whose ears begin to smoke when they hear this [song](http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/p/putanotherlogonthefire.html). It was written by Shel Silverstein (no big surprise there, for anyone who’s familiar with more than his kids’ stuff :D) and recorded by Tompall Glaser in 1975. ---
**Author:** ![Miercoles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Miercoles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miercoles)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/112 "2003-11-26T15:48:48Z")
Why hasn’t anybody said “Mr. Roboto,” by Styx yet? Also, “I Ran” by the Flock of Seagulls and anything by Spinal Tap. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/113 "2003-11-26T19:06:27Z")
**Big Country - In a Big Country** In my book, you get bonus uncool points for naming a song after the group. Or, worse, when the song, group and album are all the same name, as was the case with “ **Tin Machine** ,” a short-lived David Bowie group: “Tin machine, tin machine, take me anywhere Somewhere without alcohol Or goons with muddy hair.” Others: **Juice Newton - Queen of Hearts** - The song so uncool that Peggy Hill sang along to it on an episode of _King of the Hill_ **Adam Sandler - Lonesome Kicker** - Embarrassing because I really like the song for its musical qualities in addition to the humorous lyrics. The chorus sounds like it could be an old Springsteen song. **Angie Aparo - Spaceship** - Pure pop dreck, and nonsensical to boot, but I love it. **Black 47 - Funky Ceili** - Also, **James Connolly** and nearly every other song they did. These guys always struck me as a group that tried really hard to be cool, but the geekiness always bubbled up to the surface. I love them anyway. **Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town** - Damn you, Claritin. **Fleetwood Mac - Little Lies** - “Oh, no, no, you can’t disguise (_No, you can’t disguise. No you can’t disguise._)” **Kenny Rogers - The Gambler** - I’ve tried convincing people that this is the coolest song ever written, but they usually just slowly back away from me without saying anything. I’m not sure how to interpret that. **Alabama - Louisiana Saturday Night** - I can’t help it. I love this song: “Awaitin in the front yard, Sittin’ on a log, A single shot rifle and a one-eyed dog. Yonder come my kin folk in the moon light, Louisiana Saturday night.” ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/114 "2003-11-26T20:21:51Z")
Geeky uncool music. Are none of you filk fans? If every there was geeky uncoolnes distilled down into musical form, filk is it. I love it. Ok, maybe not enough mainstream appeal to be truly shunned I suppose but it gets my nod. This is a link to the lyrics from Tom Smith’s “Crystal Gayle Killed Frank Herbert”… Bathe in it’s geeky goodness… [http://www.tomsmithonline.com/lyrics/crystalgayle.htm](http://www.tomsmithonline.com/lyrics/crystalgayle.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Gamaliel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gamaliel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gamaliel)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/115 "2003-11-26T20:43:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by neutron star \* > \*\* > > In my book, you get bonus uncool points for naming a song after the group. Or, worse, when the song, group and album are all the same name, as was the case with “ **Tin Machine** ,” a short-lived David Bowie group: > \*\* Or another eponymous trifecta - “Bad Company” by Bad Company from the album…“Bad Company”. “Oh I was born 6-gun in my hand Behind a gun I’ll make my final stand That’s why they call me… Bad company” ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/116 "2003-11-26T21:43:35Z")
What about “Black Sabbath” by Black Sabbath from their album _Black Sabbath_? I love that song. SO melodramatic. I had a friend in high school who used to do a hilarious interpretive dance to it. ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/117 "2003-11-27T01:32:22Z")
Mitch Miller. BTW, they still sell those? ---
**Author:** ![ECJones29](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@ECJones29](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ECJones29)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/118 "2003-11-27T02:25:33Z")
Millennium—Robbie Williams _Everybody Wang Chung Tonight_—Wang Chung _Diggin’ Your Scene_—Blow Monkeys _Let Me Show You The Way To Go_—The Jacksons _Him_—Rupert Holmes _Timothy_—The Buoys _Stop Loving Me, Stop Loving You_—Daryl Hall _Yah Mo Be There_—James Ingram and Michael McDonald _Body Language_—Queen _(Don’t talk! Don’t talk! Don’t talk! D-o-n-'t TALK!)_ _Slide_—Slave _Total Eclipse of the Heart_—Bonnie Tyler ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/119 "2003-11-27T02:31:06Z")
oh I loved chick a boom. (dont ya jess love it) Judy In Disguise!(with glasses) Dizzy(Tommy Roe) Julie Julie Julie (Bobby Sherman) Indiana Wants Me Talk Dirty To Me(Poison) Ice Ice Baby ---
**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 27, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853/120 "2003-11-27T04:37:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ECJones29 \* > \*\*_Total Eclipse of the Heart_—Bonnie Tyler \*\* I like Nikki French’s cover of that one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-bad-geeky-uncool-songs-you-absolutely-love/213853.md?page=7)