My vote goes to a whole band. Never understood the hate for Nickelback. I like their music and and they put on a great show when seen live.
Stephen Foster.
I can understand why most of his songs’ lyrics push someone’s hot button, they make me wince too. But he could write a good melody.
Lots of folks like to hate on the Carpenters, but the song Superstar is great to sing along with.
That must have been exhausting.
No argument - the man was a genius for a musical hook, but to say the songs have aged badly would be an understatement.
On the other hand, he did give the world this…
(If that sounds familiar, it was adapted for A Million Ways To Die in the West.)
The knock I’ve heard on NB, other than their sheer cheesetastic-ness, is that all their songs sound the same:
Happy birthday, BTW!
ETA: after re-listening to that video (for more than the first 30 seconds this time) it does work really well as a mashup. Listening to that is the Nickelback song catalog equivalent of the part in ‘The Matrix’ where they instantly upload the knowledge of how to fly a helicopter into Neo’s brain 
Ha-ha, I think I remember that!
Damn straight. That was actually running through my head earlier today. Of course, it’s meant to be silly, but I really like the way they wind up the “lounge singer” part.
That was an Eva-Tone Sound Sheet. The first one of those I had was “It’s a Gas” by Alfred E. Neuman. It was an insert in a Mad Magazine. The last one I had was by Billy and The Boingers from a Bloom County compilation book. In between I also had the Archies one.
You mean Superstar, the great song… because it’s a Leon Russell song?
Beat me to it.
Excellent hooks all the way through.
Oh, Kee-riyst. There’s something off with me. I didn’t see any song in this thread that I truly dislike. There are a few where I would have changed the station, but none so bad that I would have commented, negatively, aloud to those in my presence.
Gun to my head … ‘MMMBop’ comes closest 
Always liked that song. Ron Dante and Toni Wine.
Hey, it’s OK. This is a safe space, where you can share your beliefs, thoughts and feelings without judgement.
Even if you are a weirdo 
So what exactly is wrong with Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves?
Nothing at night, when all the men would come around, and lay their money down.
I agree 100%. For me the worst songs in the catalogue are R#9 (by a mile, and technically it isn’t even a “song”); The Inner Light; Within You, Without You; Mr. Moonlight.
I’m not sure it’s “widely reviled” but I love In a Gadda Da Vida (but only once or twice in any given year).
If loving it is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.
Not a damn thing!
I give you Elton John’s “Victim of Love”. Generally considered his worst album, containing his worst songs. But I like it.
I blame Dave Barry, who bashed the song in his popular column (and later in his Book of Bad Songs).
Musically there’s nothing wrong with it; I’m a classical music guy, and I’m always intrigued when a pop song goes beyond the usual ABA structure. Barry’s rant is mostly about the lyrics—particularly the “cake out in the rain” line—although I don’t think the song is any more opaque than the beloved “American Pie.”
The only thing I don’t like about “MacArthur Park” is the line about the “strip-ed pair of pants.” I have heard (but not been able to verify) that Jimmy Webb omits that when he performs the song himself.
I admit that I find Madonna’s cover of “American Pie” quite ok, I enjoy it when it comes on the radio. I also like Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping”. it’s a fun drinking song, what’s wrong with drinking songs?