# Songs you don't want to admit you enjoy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [April 10, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879 "2025-04-10T23:00:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/1 "2025-04-10T23:00:01Z")
There’s a lot of reasons why this happens. Perhaps it’s the theme song to a show, an anime, or movie you don’t want to admit you watched/enjoyed. Maybe it’s so musically simple you feel it’s not worthy of respect. Or maybe it’s a song everyone else hates, but it just works for you. No judgement from me, but what songs do you find yourself singing along with or on your own, but suddenly shut up if someone else comes along? Two for me to start: “[Adventures of the Gummi Bears](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYZH7B498gE)” - What can I say, I rarely watched the cartoon as a kid, but if it was on, I’d watch just long enough for the theme song! I still don’t know why it appeals to me, but every once in a while I’ve got to listen to it! You may now heap shame upon me. 😉 “[We Built this City](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1b8AhIsSYQ)” by Starship. Okay, this one is easier to excuse. Sure, it’s relentlessly upbeat and silly, and many hate it, but I was born in the mid 70s, so I am very much a part of the MTV generation. I was a tween when this was popular, and it lives in the deep dark part of me that never grew up and can look at the Cybertruck and think it’s kinda cool (to my tween self, and only for the angulaaaaar 80’s aesthetic that loves the Landmaster and similar post apocalyptic vehicles). Your turn to confess! ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/2 "2025-04-10T23:06:29Z")
Just before I came across this post, “I Can’t Smile Without You” by Barry Manilow came on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/3 "2025-04-10T23:38:20Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > “I Can’t Smile Without You” by Barry Manilow came on the radio. “Copacabana” came to mind when I saw the thread title. There are lots of cheesy songs that I enjoy, like “The Pina Colada Song” or “Patches” (by Clarence Carter). I also like hearing “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time” during the holidays. ---
**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:** [April 10, 2025, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/4 "2025-04-10T23:42:19Z")
[“How Do You Do,”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBWhvogb3wo) by Mouth and MacNeal is an insipid song that never fails to make me smile. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/5 "2025-04-10T23:44:04Z")
I like that too! ---
**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:** [April 10, 2025, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/6 "2025-04-10T23:47:03Z")
I don’t feel guilty about loving the worst cheez of the 70s. But I’m embarrassed to say I also like Yeah! by Usher. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/7 "2025-04-10T23:56:14Z")
[“I Feel Love”](https://youtu.be/yEbaeLv-aOo?si=UNhpMtwCiqpKM-zJ) by Donna Summer. Hopefully all my friends from High School are too old to kick my ass, now. ---
**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:** [April 11, 2025, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/8 "2025-04-11T00:20:01Z")
[Sometimes when we touch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IATz8ZVTALo) is my guilty song pleasure. That and Frankie Avalon’s [The Puppet Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56CwIIHck6w). ---
**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:** [April 11, 2025, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/9 "2025-04-11T00:31:21Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > by Mouth and MacNeal is an insipid song that never fails to make me smile I like it too, but the video with everyone clapping on the 1 and 3 drives me nuts. White people, amirite? ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/10 "2025-04-11T01:09:05Z")
I’d have to go with 10CC “I’m Not In Love” ---
**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:** [April 11, 2025, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/11 "2025-04-11T01:49:46Z")
The Cowsills and their poppiest of pop productions, [We Can Fly.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw1aFsdzoXI) This particular video features a 12-year old Susan Cowsill boogy-ing way too much for that type of music. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/12 "2025-04-11T04:39:04Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Just before I came across this post, “I Can’t Smile Without You” by Barry Manilow came on the radio. I came here to say, anything by Barry Manilow. Then I saw your post. ---
**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:** [April 11, 2025, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/13 "2025-04-11T04:44:34Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I don’t feel guilty about loving the worst cheez of the 70s. But I’m embarrassed to say I also like Yeah! by Usher. Same here re 70s cheese. And there’s no shame in liking Ursher. How could you not l! In fact, I enjoy everything mentioned, so far. My shame is in the form of one Clay Aiken, singing about being invisible [so he can watch me in my room](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk0zv8r-wRw) . Top that. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/14 "2025-04-11T04:53:29Z")
_Walking on Sunshine_ And… I like any thing Merle Haggard gurgles out. I just don’t share it with many. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/15 "2025-04-11T04:57:28Z")
Another class of music, which is sadly considered cheesy for me in Colorado, is that I love me some John Denver. Happy, sad, maudlin, I’ll take it all, except “Sunshine on My Shoulders”. I don’t hate it, but I’ll skip it, the timing on it is just off for me. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/16 "2025-04-11T05:55:29Z")
I’ve never heard it before nor have I ever heard of the performers. I like it, and I’m surprised I haven’t ever heard of them or the tune. It appears to have been around my tweens early teens. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/17 "2025-04-11T07:00:34Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > There’s a lot of reasons why this happens. Perhaps it’s the theme song to a show, an anime, or movie you don’t want to admit you watched/enjoyed. Maybe it’s so musically simple you feel it’s not worthy of respect. Or maybe it’s a song everyone else hates, but it just works for you. No judgement from me, but what songs do you find yourself singing along with or on your own, but suddenly shut up if someone else comes along? > > Two for me to start: > > “[We Built this City](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1b8AhIsSYQ)” by Starship. Okay, this one is easier to excuse. Sure, it’s relentlessly upbeat and silly, and many hate it, but I was born in the mid 70s, so I am very much a part of the MTV generation. I was a tween when this was popular, and it lives in the deep dark part of me that never grew up and can look at the Cybertruck and think it’s kinda cool (to my tween self, and only for the angulaaaaar 80’s aesthetic that loves the Landmaster and similar post apocalyptic vehicles). > > Your turn to confess! I bet you had to have been ecstatic when you watched a recent episode of [“Daredevil: Born Again.”](https://youtu.be/4Bcw4aErEGU?si=19Y5ehjIPOIJCrep) ---
**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:** [April 11, 2025, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/18 "2025-04-11T07:02:10Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Walking on Sunshine Nothing to be ashamed of, that’s a perfect pop song in my book. There are at least two songs I like that are hated by almost anybody else: the aforementioned "Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes and, hold your breath, Madonna’s cover of “American Pie”. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2025, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/19 "2025-04-11T07:55:04Z")
[Alec Benjamin - Let Me Down Slowly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50VNCymT-Cs&list=RD50VNCymT-Cs&start_radio=1) It’s annoyingly maudlin and his whiny voice is grating. Yet, I find it catchy as hell. ---
**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:** [April 11, 2025, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879/20 "2025-04-11T10:01:30Z")
The Archies — Sugar, Sugar John Denver rules! So don’t forget it! It’s just a silly phase I’m going through. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-dont-want-to-admit-you-enjoy/1016879.md?page=2)