Unspecified but Paper Lace referenced the Civil War for their “Top of the Pops” performance.
“What’s Up” by Four Non Blondes. As long as I can hit it with a fire ax and not just a hammer.
Not to mention “our house is a very very very very very fine house.” (possibly too many very’s in there, but you get the idea.)
My candidate: “Almost cut my hair.” Amazingly enough, from the same album.
“I Want A Hero” (Bonnie Tyler) deserves a whopping hit by a rocket-powered mallet from the Acme Co.
It was playing in all its overwrought glory at Lowe’s yesterday afternoon as I was buying bags of Black Kow composted manure. Before I could get out of there the chorus must’ve repeated about 128 times:
I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong and he’s gotta be fast
Imagine the poor drunken slob who picks her up at a bar and is treated to that spiel.
He’ll be fast alright…heading in the opposite direction.
The song’s actual title is “The 59th Street Bridge Song.”
Thankfully, Hy-Vee has given up the “Our House” commercials, at least for now. It’s a Midwestern grocery store chain. And what’s with “Our House”, anyway? Did it go to public domain status?
I’m also glad that I don’t hear Wilson Phillips’ “Hold On” every time I walk into a store. Until a few years ago, that seemed a staple of piped-in music. I get that it’s inspirational, but c’mon, we’ve heard it millions of times.
Might it have been “The Night Chicago Died”? When I was in college, almost 30 years ago, a local music critic said he realized he was an adult when he heard it and didn’t think it was really that bad of a song.
All versions of Last Kiss, especially the Pearl Jam version. As an honorable mention, I would like to add Loving You by Minnie Rippyton or whatever that last name is. I DJ’d a wedding reception, the bride wanted that song. I told her it would cost her $100. She thought I was joking. That song was not played that day.
Super curious for an elaboration. Not a Mahler scholar (I’d holler), but familiar with his 4th, 8th (Symphony of a Thousand), and 9th (that fourth movement just curbstomps me, more so with each listen).
aaaaawwwwww 
I must have a hippie soft spot for those cads. Sure, freaking twee, especially “…House”, but I shake down with it ok. They do probably my favourtie harmonizing. (unlike Extreme’s “More Than Words”, which makes me break out the ole M1A1 Bazooka)
No idea what all the fuss is about with “Our House” when really “Come On Eileen” is the pukelode we should be homing in on…
Excellent call. Reminds me of Des’ree’s “You Gotta Be”, which I’ve often amended the lyrics to “You gotta black, you gotta be hung, you gotta be ri–i-ii-i-i-ich…”
As for Bonnie - is anything of hers salvageable?
I’ll go with Eddie Money’s version, making me want to write him a long, thoughtful letter requesting that he doesn’t plan on any re-vamping of his career.
(“She was sh-sh-sh-SHAKIN!” was kinda vomitose too; the video makes him look, well, like a complete and utter doofus. )
Is that a polka version of the “Anvil Chorus”?
Thanks! That was a very sprightly read!
A good kind of mallet, then.
Durned curious now, and will listen to the, hmmm, maybe the Micheal Tilson Thomas link.
ETA: That link didn’t work, so went with the Budapest Festival Orchestra one instead.
Pure by Lightning Seeds would be my nominee. It was one of my mom’s favorite songs so I was subjected to it frequently. My dad didn’t care for it either and her decision to play the song on the stereo has caused more than one argument. My disdain for it is probably more personal since I don’t know that the song is actually bad.
It gets worse. In Brel’s original (French) version, there’s another verse to “Antoine,” who had cheated with the wife.
Someone had too much free time on their hands and I’m glad they did!
My brothers and I thought that show was the best thing ever back in the day but looking back it’s one of the campiest things that ever made it on mainstream tv.
MacArthur Park - nothing is more grating to my ears. How it achieved any airplay at all must be credited to payola.
“Rockin’ Robin” could use a good rude fire extinguisher.
I would be happy to see “Exes and Ohs” get the cartoon sledgehammer treatment.
Really had to zombie this, after hearing this today while getting groceries:
Not having a good day. Just now on TV was reminded of this:
