# Songs you like that are widely reviled by others **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 10, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825 "2022-03-10T14:16:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/161 "2022-03-21T04:44:23Z")
How have we gotten this far without a mention of Aqua’s catchy “Barbie Girl”? I also listen to Rebecca Black’s “Friday” without shame. Don’t even get me started on the Insane Clown Posse. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/162 "2022-03-21T04:50:16Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > How have we gotten this far without a mention of Aqua’s catchy “Barbie Girl”? Not only is it catchy and fun, it also inspired one of my favourite court decisions: [Mattel, Inc. v. MCA Records, Inc. - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattel,_Inc._v._MCA_Records,_Inc). “The parties are advised to chill.” ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/163 "2022-03-21T11:25:12Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Agreed. I also like his “Calypso,” which some people think is cheesy. He signed the royalties over to the Cousteau Society. Cousteau’s son said when it first came out and they’d get royalty checks he’d take them to the bank and the teller’s eyes would about bulge out. I’m a big John Denver fan and am not ashamed to say I saw him in concert. Also The Captain and Tennille. Twice. I like Adam Ant’s **Goody Two Shoes**. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/164 "2022-03-21T11:40:13Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > Seriously? ‘One Night in Bangkok’?? We get it. You hate musicals. You’re so deep and all the girls say they can ‘fix you’. Grow up. It’s a goofy song even in the context of _Chess_ and an odd choice of single (the UK charts went for “I Know Him So Well” instead, which is a little more understandable). But still a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/165 "2022-03-21T12:01:26Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > Seriously? ‘One Night in Bangkok’?? We get it. You hate musicals. You’re so deep and all the girls say they can ‘fix you’. It’s a rap song. By a white guy. About _chess_. If anyone is allowed to have opinions about _anything_, this definitely qualifies. Personally I kind of like it, but I would be the _last_ person to put someone down for not liking it. > [@](#): > > Grow up. Rough estimate, but anyone who even _heard_ this song has been out of their hipster phase for at lest 35 years. I’d go with a different putdown here. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/166 "2022-03-21T18:47:49Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > It’s a goofy song even in the context of _Chess_ and an odd choice of single (the UK charts went for “I Know Him So Well” instead, which is a little more understandable). But still a lot of fun. Chess was re-mounted for a U.K. tour in 2010 and I saw the final show in Cardiff. That production has an associated soundtrack. Didn’t really love the newer version of “One Night in Bangkok.” The original sounds very much of its new wave time, but the 2010 edition was a bit too disco-fied for my tastes. On another trip to the U.K. I caught Mel C. from the Spice Girls in concert. Kind of a lark, I hadn’t been able to score Amy MacDonald tickets for that night. But I was unironically blown away: Mel put on a fantastic show and there was a lot of love from the crowd. Emma Bunton joined her onstage at one point and they did a duet of “I Know Him So Well.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hYyzPPxo0Pk/maxresdefault.jpg "Melanie C feat. Emma Bunton - I Know Him So Well (Live at Shepherds Bush Empire)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYyzPPxo0Pk) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/167 "2022-03-21T18:55:49Z")
Dang. They don’t start singing until a minute and a half into the clip. _So_ much mugging. Ick. O.k. song but nothing special. I like _One Night in Bangkok_ better. More interesting. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/168 "2022-03-21T20:16:33Z")
Got to say, I’ve seen almost all of the songs in this thread on “Worst Pop Songs” lists. But _One Night in Bangkok_ has never been on those lists. I’ve also never seen John Denver mentioned… people saying "What about _Calypso?"_ are just saying they like the song, NOT that it’s “widely reviled”. . Apparently, I’ve got more snobbery, or maybe taste, for this thread. I _do_ “widely revile” almost all of the songs that you all love… (Secretly, I hope. Singing “Muskrat Love” on a first date might not be a good move). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/169 "2022-03-22T16:49:01Z")
I think it was Chevy Chase who joked on _SNL_’s Weekend Update that, when the C&T performed “Muskrat Love” at a White House state dinner for the Queen, the British would be justified in declaring war on us again. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/170 "2022-03-22T19:59:26Z")
“Escape” (Pina Colada Song). I wouldn’t say I like it so much as it doesn’t repulse me, and I don’t dive for the radio controls to change the channel as fast as possible when it comes on. There’s a lot of good songs I do change the channel on toot sweet, simply because they’re from old, stale playlists on “Nostalgia” stations, and I’ve heard them hundreds, perhaps thousands of times over the years. ---
**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:** [March 22, 2022, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/171 "2022-03-22T20:06:05Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > “Escape” (Pina Colada Song). I wouldn’t say I like it so much as it doesn’t repulse me, and I don’t dive for the radio controls to change the channel as fast as possible when it comes on. Yeah, that’s another one I’ve never understood the hate for. It’s a great pop song with really funny lyrics. Is the usual hate based on moral outrage about the lyrics? Because I think they’re hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/172 "2022-03-23T02:08:28Z")
People don’t understand that she was actively looking for another lover before he was. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/173 "2022-03-23T02:56:22Z")
And this is wrong…because??? ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/174 "2022-03-23T03:46:17Z")
And I said that…where??? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/175 "2022-03-23T11:28:37Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > That’s easy. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” I like that one. I like how the bridge (middle 8) introduces new, but complementary, material, starting with a minor chord (“woo hoo — nobody knows it”) in an otherwise upbeat, major pop song. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/176 "2022-03-23T11:33:22Z")
> [@kitap](#): > > I like Adam Ant’s **Goody Two Shoes**. Great one. Fast shuffle beat, fun horns, peppy key changes…and that babe in the video was just fine for this 13-year-old-male-in-1983. (Adam himself was easy on the eyes, too). ---
**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:** [March 23, 2022, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/177 "2022-03-23T12:02:42Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > “Escape” (Pina Colada Song). That song is like an update of the O. Henry story ‘Gift of the Magi’ for the 1970s. In GOTM, because a couple are _ **both** _ so in love with each other, they ironically fail to give each other the perfect gift. In the Pina Colada Song, because a couple are _ **both** _ so bored with each other, they ironically fail to commit infidelity. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2022, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/178 "2022-03-23T14:31:38Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > (Adam himself was easy on the eyes, too). I saw him play a small club a couple years ago. He sounded good, but he was still wearing the same getup…with a gut and glasses. He looked like my grandpa dressed up as Jack Sparrow. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/179 "2022-03-23T15:41:15Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > [@ExTank](#): > > > > “Escape” (Pina Colada Song). I wouldn’t say I like it so much as it doesn’t repulse me, and I don’t dive for the radio controls to change the channel as fast as possible when it comes on. > > Yeah, that’s another one I’ve never understood the hate for. It’s a great pop song with really funny lyrics. Is the usual hate based on moral outrage about the lyrics? Because I think they’re hilarious. Agreed. I just don’t like it because I’ve heard it a gazillion times already. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825/180 "2022-03-23T22:44:07Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > And I said that…where??? Sorry, I wasn’t demanding an answer or explanation from you; my comment/question was more in the line of observational snark over double standards and such. “Escape” didn’t receive any airplay on the stations I listened to at the time, those being more dedicated to Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. Basically, geared towards younger audiences. The very few times I heard it was when Mom had control of the radio (in the morning, mostly), and I just considered it blandly innocuous Adult Pop background noise. And I don’t recollect any particular moral outrage over the subject of infidelity portrayed in the song (though I can easily imagine it; it may have been present and I, being all of 12 y/o at the time, just didn’t key into it, that being “stupid/boring adult shit”) So for me, it’s still blandly innocuous Adult Pop, but now it’s an infrequent classic oldie that I happen to catch 2-4 times a year as I’m channel surfing the car radio, that I haven’t heard hundreds, thousands of times. Give it another decade, and I might come to loathe it every bit as much anyone else, just for being overplayed/worn out. I will say this, from my adult perspective: the message I take from it is to not overlook/dismiss the good people you already have in your life; if your life with certain people is getting stale, try to reinvigorate your existing relationships before seeking new ones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-like-that-are-widely-reviled-by-others/960825.md?page=10)