# Singers/bands that make you want to shove hot rusty screwdrivers into your ears **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 1, 2020, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897 "2020-07-01T03:43:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/1 "2020-07-01T03:43:54Z")
Was driving around today, and a Fall Out Boy song came on. I immediately wanted to murder my ears, but I could neither change the channel (I promised my son we could listen to that Sirius station while we were driving around today) nor stab sharp objects into the sides of my head (being behind the wheel of a fast-moving vehicle). I don’t know what it is but the the singer of Fall Out Boy just has this affectation that makes me stabby. Their douchey songs and song titles don’t help (Thnks fr th Mmrs, Uma Thurman, Sugar We’re Goin’ Down, This Ain’t a Scene It’s an Arms Race) Anyone else have a singer or band that does this to you? ETA: This is a judgement-free zone! ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/2 "2020-07-01T03:45:31Z")
Rush. Geddy Lee. Ugh, painful. Never could stand that voice for 1 second. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/3 "2020-07-01T05:32:08Z")
Back in the Eldritch Days, we had Tiny Tim. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/4 "2020-07-01T06:21:45Z")
Anything by Black Eyed Peas, especially “My Humps”. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/5 "2020-07-01T12:47:19Z")
Natalie Merchant. I’ve never been able to pin down exactly what it is about her voice that makes me stabby, but ugh I can’t stand listening to her. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/6 "2020-07-01T13:06:58Z")
Yes, she does this weird thing with her voice that makes it sound like English is not her first language. Which wouldn’t be so bad if English _wasn’t_ her native language but it being an affectation, it just irritates me. She sounds like she’s trying too hard to be . . quirky or sexy or . . something. Stevie Nicks sounds like a braying ass. I loved Fleetwood Mack as much as anyone back in the day but her voice was not one of the reasons. Cher. I _loved_ Cher. The outfits (thank you Mr. Bob Mackie),her exotic looks and the skits on the Sonny and Cher show. But my least favorite part was when she’d sing. Heck, I even had on of her albums, so enamored of her was I. But…the woman cannot sing. “If ahh could turn back Tiiiooowm” ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/7 "2020-07-01T13:11:46Z")
The guy that sings for Canned Heat. “Going Up The Country,” makes me want to drive full-tilt-boogie into a bridge abutment. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/8 "2020-07-01T13:15:41Z")
Warren Zevon Normally I would turn it off when his music was on the air but once I was so sick with the flu I did not bother to get up and change the station. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/9 "2020-07-01T13:16:06Z")
Van Morrison and Bruce Springsteen. Sorry! 🤷‍♀️ ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/10 "2020-07-01T13:20:21Z")
Also, I had to look her up, but the lady who sings in this Downy commercial. [https://www.tvadvertmusic.com/downy-infusions-calm-commercial-hush-baby/](https://www.tvadvertmusic.com/downy-infusions-calm-commercial-hush-baby/) Apparently her name is Lxandra. That voice makes me lunge for the remote! ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/11 "2020-07-01T13:21:42Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Van Morrison and Bruce Springsteen. Sorry! 🤷‍♀️ I always think of these two as artists people love _in spite_ of their less than stellar voices. They make great music (imo) but really cannot sing. I’d add the late, great Tom Petty to that list. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/12 "2020-07-01T13:21:58Z")
Gary Puckett and the Union Gap - not so much the sound as the content. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/13 "2020-07-01T13:28:34Z")
I always wonder if Bob Dylan told anyone he wanted to be a singer when he grew up, and what they said. And I _like_ Bob Dylan! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/14 "2020-07-01T13:47:03Z")
Anthony Kiedis of the red hot chili peppers. He can’t find musical notes, so he slides his way into them… Once you hear it, it cannot be unheard. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2020, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/15 "2020-07-01T13:52:15Z")
Dave Matthews: moaning mushmouth whose songs all sound exactly the same to me. ---
**Author:** ![its\_the\_daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@its\_the\_daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/its_the_daddy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/16 "2020-07-01T14:35:14Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I always wonder if Bob Dylan told anyone he wanted to be a singer when he grew up, and what they said. And I _like_ Bob Dylan! Remember Bob Monkhouse: [They all laughed when I said I wanted to be a comedian. Well, they’re not laughing now.](https://www.azquotes.com/quote/710233) Yes! I can post! And quote! And edit? ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/17 "2020-07-01T15:10:48Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > The guy that sings for Canned Heat. “Going Up The Country,” makes me want to drive full-tilt-boogie into a bridge abutment. Is that [this guy](https://twinsdaily.com/uploads/1c4b259d9138a9d62ac7903798978f13.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/18 "2020-07-01T15:38:10Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > > > Van Morrison and Bruce Springsteen. Sorry! 🤷‍♀️ > > I always think of these two as artists people love _in spite_ of their less than stellar voices. They make great music (imo) but really cannot sing. I’d add the late, great Tom Petty to that list. Interesting, I can imagine an argument for not liking Van Morrison because his singing style is kind of overwrought, and that maybe he overdoes it a bit with the vocal inflections, but I’ve never heard it said he can’t sing. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/19 "2020-07-01T15:41:19Z")
Crosby Stills & Nash. Whenever they do that harmonizing of their singing in raised crescendos, I see red. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897/20 "2020-07-01T15:49:03Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Also, I had to look her up, but the lady who sings in this Downy commercial. > [Downy Infusions Calm Commercial Song – Hush Hush Baby – TV Advert Music](https://www.tvadvertmusic.com/downy-infusions-calm-commercial-hush-baby/) > Apparently her name is Lxandra. That voice makes me lunge for the remote! OMG, yes!!! I posted about that godawful sound in the “Commercials you hate” thread. Now I see she is Finnish, which explains it, but it is no less irritating. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-bands-that-make-you-want-to-shove-hot-rusty-screwdrivers-into-your-ears/913897.md?page=2)