# Songs you love by artists you hate **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [July 9, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963 "2024-07-09T20:34:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [July 9, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/1 "2024-07-09T20:34:04Z")
Foreigner has to be one of the boringest, most formulaic bands to ever achieve success. They put the “ass” in classic rock. I change the channel the instant one of their songs comes on the radio … … unless it’s “Urgent,” in which case I turn it up. Thomas Dolby deserves some kind of lifetime achievement award for pairing Junior Walker’s blistering sax solo with that pulsing 80s synth beat. For me it’s one of the best songs of the decade. What’s your favorite example? ---
**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:** [July 9, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/2 "2024-07-09T21:30:08Z")
I Want You Back by the Jackson 5. Though Graham Parker did it much better. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/3 "2024-07-09T23:34:53Z")
I think Taylor Swift is mind numbing drivel, but “Shake It Off” is a nice catchy tune. I’ll forgive a whole lot for a nice catchy tune. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2024, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/4 "2024-07-09T23:58:51Z")
Rock & Roll Part 2 ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/5 "2024-07-10T09:34:04Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > … unless it’s “Urgent,” in which case I turn it up. Thomas Dolby deserves some kind of lifetime achievement award for pairing Junior Walker’s blistering sax solo with that pulsing 80s synth beat. I read that Dolby played on that song but did he write it or produce it? Was he responsible for “pairing Junior Walker’s blistering sax solo with that pulsing 80s synth beat”? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/6 "2024-07-10T09:38:51Z")
Oh, I took the “hate” part differently, but I immediately thought of “Stranglehold” by Ted Nugent. That man and I would _not_ get along in person, to put it very mildly. But man, that guitar solo … ---
**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:** [July 10, 2024, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/7 "2024-07-10T13:20:21Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > > [@Akaj](#): > > > > … unless it’s “Urgent,” in which case I turn it up. Thomas Dolby deserves some kind of lifetime achievement award for pairing Junior Walker’s blistering sax solo with that pulsing 80s synth beat. > > I read that Dolby played on that song but did he write it or produce it? Was he responsible for “pairing Junior Walker’s blistering sax solo with that pulsing 80s synth beat”? You’re right! Dolby played on it, but Mutt Lange was the producer. I hold him responsible for tons of drivel, but this track has to be a career highlight. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/8 "2024-07-10T13:22:38Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Oh, I took the “hate” part differently, but I immediately thought of “Stranglehold” by Ted Nugent. > > That man and I would _not_ get along in person, to put it very mildly. But man, that guitar solo … I get it. In the course of starting my record store I’ve come into possession of some of his old albums, and the dude could _play_. Too bad he turned out to be such a flaming asshole. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/9 "2024-07-10T16:00:43Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > I think Taylor Swift is mind numbing drivel, but “Shake It Off” is a nice catchy tune. > > I’ll forgive a whole lot for a nice catchy tune. Agree. Thanks, _Sing!_ (the movie). Similarly, “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt/Gwen Stefani. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/10 "2024-07-10T16:29:21Z")
I loathe the Black Eyed Peas, but I’ve always really liked their track “Where is the Love?” I think when I first heard it, I assumed that City High had put out a second record. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/11 "2024-07-10T16:32:43Z")
I once heard Frank Sinatra’s rendition of Old Man River. Now, I don’t especially loathe (or like) Sinatra… but that oh-so-smooth voice, singing that great lamentation, just curdled my brain. It was just so very, very wrong. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2024, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/12 "2024-07-10T16:33:41Z")
As others have noted, “hate” is a strong word, unless there’s a non-musical reason (someone mentioned Gary Glitter, e.g.) But if we replace it with “dislike,” for me such acts tend to be pure pop. I don’t generally like pure pop music, but sometimes I’ll come to appreciate the crafty songwriting — a melodic hook, or a surprising chord change (rare, but it happens), or well-engineered sound production or instrument arrangements. I’m a sucker for sentimental, tear-jerker ballads, _if_ they are creatively composed.\* Example : “All Out of Love,” by Air Supply. I’d die of saccharine overload if you forced me to listen to an hour of their music…but I can dig this song, and would happily listen to it occasionally. \*Allow me to once again recommend Ricky Martin’s song “Volverás,” as I do at least once a year on these boards. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/13 "2024-07-10T16:45:34Z")
I hate UB40, especially the song they play all the time, “Red Red Wine”. But I love one of their lesser known singles, “Sing Our Own Song”. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/14 "2024-07-10T16:57:39Z")
I never liked Michael Jackson, but there are some fantastic covers of Billie Jean. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/15 "2024-07-11T11:02:26Z")
I’m not a fan of Beyonce’s music, but I remember when “Halo” came out I was surprised at how much I liked it. I later learned that Beyonce typically participates in the song-writing process, but did not write “Halo,” so that’s probably why. ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/16 "2024-07-11T11:29:45Z")
Loved 5-person Genesis, but never really cared for 3-person Genesis when they became so poppy. A couple of their songs that hewed back to their progrock roots were really quite good (“Home By the Sea”, “Tonight,Tonight, Tonight”). ---
**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:** [July 11, 2024, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/17 "2024-07-11T13:03:43Z")
I’ll add another of my own: Crosby Stills & Nash’s “Southern Cross.” I can’t stand CSN’s classic period – the “harmonies” on stuff like “Judy Blue Eyes” just sound shrill and strained to me. (Their stuff as CSNY with Neil Young is another story.) But when they reunited in the 80s, I loved “Southern Cross.” It gently builds and recedes in intensity like waves against a boat’s hull, fitting the lyrics perfectly. And the guys don’t sound like they’re trying to out-shriek each other. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/18 "2024-07-11T13:12:22Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I hate UB40, especially the song they play all the time, “Red Red Wine”. But I love one of their lesser known singles, “Sing Our Own Song”. God I hate that song. It might be in my top five hated songs. I gave the one you recommended a try, didn’t do much for me, but it was less hateable. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2024, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/19 "2024-07-11T13:13:01Z")
Sheryl Crow’s “A Change Would Do You Good” ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963/20 "2024-07-11T15:05:52Z")
That song was primarily Stills, with just Nash providing harmony. Apparently Crosby was off sulking somewhere and wasn’t a part of the recording sessions. I wonder if the song suffered in live performances when the band was back to full strength. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-love-by-artists-you-hate/1003963.md?page=2)