# Songs that make you cringe **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 1, 2022, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173 "2022-11-01T21:43:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [November 8, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/81 "2022-11-08T16:04:06Z")
Agree! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2022, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/82 "2022-11-08T17:17:00Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > His clothes are dirty, > But his hands are clean > > 🤮 🤮 Did you miss that part of the 60s where people were encouraged to make sure that the folks they were making out with washed their hands before starting such sessions? [![](https://i.postimg.cc/k4sQ9RcM/wash-your-hands.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/k4sQ9RcM/wash-your-hands.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/83 "2022-11-09T15:40:47Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > “Date Rape” by Sublime is another cringey one. Woman is picked up and sexually assaunted, takes the guy to court, he goes to jail and is “butt-raped by a large inmate.” It’s a weird song to have been a radio hit (at least in L.A., where I heard it what seemed like once a day for several years on KROQ). I don’t agree that this song is cringy. The victim is avenged, and the Bad Guy gets a taste of his own medicine. Thirty years on, we’re not supposed to laugh at Bad Guys who have happen to them what they did to others, but there you are. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/84 "2022-11-09T18:26:59Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > As does Lou Christie. Any examples? Other then “Lightning Strikes” I’ve never paid any attention to him. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/85 "2022-11-09T18:41:23Z")
Well, he made that poor Gypsy lady cry. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/86 "2022-11-09T19:51:20Z")
You don’t even have to wait, it’s right there in the beginning of the song. And the video makes it worse. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih23dt_Jyx0) ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/87 "2022-11-09T20:20:56Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Gypsy The other day I was listening to Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic,” in which the first line of the chorus is “I want to rock your gypsy soul.” In the song, of course, “gypsy” implies something like “wild and vagabond,” and it’s beautiful … but also a little cringey, since it’s no longer cool to refer to the Romani people as “Gypsies” and the word has become something of a slur. Of course, Van himself has become a little cringey these days. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/88 "2022-11-09T20:26:32Z")
Styx – Fooling Yourself It’s got such happy sounding keyboards and synthesizers fluttering all over the place, framing these cringe-o-matic lyrics: _Why must you be such an angry young man_ _When your future looks quite bright to me_ _How can there be such a sinister plan_ _That could hide such a lamb, such a caring young man_ ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/89 "2022-11-09T21:34:33Z")
_Rhapsody in the Rain_ got pulled from the radio because of lyric content, but it, like a lot of Lou Christie’s other songs, basically followed the theme of an adolescent boy whining in self-pity because he’s been dumped by a girl. Rhapsody gets an extra cringe note because it suggests he’s parked outside her house after being dumped . ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/90 "2022-11-09T21:38:29Z")
From “A.D. 1928” by Styx: > Tonight’s the night we’ll make history > As sure as dogs can fly… ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/91 "2022-11-09T22:42:43Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > The other day I was listening to Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic,” in which the first line of the chorus is “I want to rock your gypsy soul.” In the song, of course, “gypsy” implies something like “wild and vagabond,” and it’s beautiful … but also a little cringey, since it’s no longer cool to refer to the Romani people as “Gypsies” and the word has become something of a slur. If you want to rid the world of Gypsy songs, you have a big job ahead of you. Here’s just a couple more: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yovIyTnUr5I/hqdefault.jpg "The Ink Spots - The Gypsy 1946") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yovIyTnUr5I) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3Wd4tlX5t-Q/hqdefault.jpg "The Impressions - Gypsy Woman (1961)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wd4tlX5t-Q) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/92 "2022-11-09T22:46:59Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > Of course, Van himself has become a little cringey these days. Give the man a break, he’s 77. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/93 "2022-11-09T22:48:53Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > You don’t even have to wait, it’s right there in the beginning of the song. And the video makes it worse Oof! Super cringe! And even without the horrible lyrics and the horrible video, you are still left with the garbage pile of a song. Nothing redeeming to be found at all. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/94 "2022-11-09T22:49:27Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > If you want to rid the world of Gypsy songs, you have a big job ahead of you. Not to mention: [http://www.gipsykings.com/](http://www.gipsykings.com/) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/95 "2022-11-09T22:53:42Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > > [@Akaj](#): > > > > The other day I was listening to Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic,” in which the first line of the chorus is “I want to rock your gypsy soul.” In the song, of course, “gypsy” implies something like “wild and vagabond,” and it’s beautiful … but also a little cringey, since it’s no longer cool to refer to the Romani people as “Gypsies” and the word has become something of a slur. > > If you want to rid the world of Gypsy songs, you have a big job ahead of you. Here’s just a couple more: Well, here are just two more from Van Morrison’s catalog. (Caravan is my favorite Van Morrison song) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gkkW4ynas08/maxresdefault.jpg "Gypsy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkkW4ynas08) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/t_YGC_vA0Og/maxresdefault.jpg "Caravan (2013 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_YGC_vA0Og) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/96 "2022-11-10T00:40:20Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > > [@Peanuthead](#): > > > > Gypsy > > The other day I was listening to Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic,” in which the first line of the chorus is “I want to rock your gypsy soul.” In the song, of course, “gypsy” implies something like “wild and vagabond,” and it’s beautiful … but also a little cringey, since it’s no longer cool to refer to the Romani people as “Gypsies” and the word has become something of a slur. > > Of course, Van himself has become a little cringey these days. Stop it right now! You are not taking that song away from me. Besides it’s much more cringey when he rhymes insight and granite in _Tupelo Honey._ ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/97 "2022-11-10T01:44:53Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I had a client who used to open all their big meetings with it, and it was all I could do to not roll my eyes and make barfy faces. Would they play the whole song? That would be torturous. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/98 "2022-11-10T02:04:52Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > The actual song title is “God Bless the USA.” But agreed that it’s 100% cringeworthy. It’s even worse now that it’s the official theme of the alt-right. One of the few songs that the original artist will even let them use. ---
**Author:** ![TheTooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/919ad9/32.png) [@TheTooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTooth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2022, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/99 "2022-11-10T02:49:05Z")
All told, I think a business meeting that opened with Wango Tango would be more fun. ---
**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:** [November 10, 2022, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173/100 "2022-11-10T03:02:38Z")
> [@Chad\_Sudan](#): > > And when you hear Eric Clapton confess to shooting the sheriff, please do not call 911. Of course not. The deputy was right there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-make-you-cringe/974173.md?page=6)