# The most cringeworthy moment in pop music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 11, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258 "2016-10-11T17:48:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/121 "2016-10-19T19:06:25Z")
> [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](#): > > This is the “winner”. > > Cross-dressing may not have been as accepted in 1999 as it is now but come on, it had pretty much ceased to be seen as absolutely outrageous. So, this cover already fails if it was attempting to cause a scandal. If it was trying to be all progressive then, good for him, but his posture and facial expression totally undermines the message. He just looks embarrassed. There are men who can wear a dress with aplomb. Bowie was one; Prince could have pulled it off with ease. Kevin Rowland, he mostly looks like he was just caught stealing panties off a washing line. And unfortunately, it wasn’t just an album cover gimmick, [he performed live like that. {warning: cannot be unseen}](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sgcKQUituVw/hqdefault.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/122 "2016-10-19T19:09:41Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > [This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQRUnH7Fuxo) is the nadir of a once proud career. I dunno–an Elvis album where Elvis doesn’t sing certainly ranks as one of the great rip-offs in record marketing–alongside the Pete Best solo album titled _Best of the Beatles_–but does it count as a cringeworthy moment in pop _music_? ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/123 "2016-10-19T19:27:27Z")
[QUOTE=Leo Krupe] This [Having Fun with Elvis on State] is the nadir of a once proud career [/QUOTE] > [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > I dunno–an Elvis album where Elvis doesn’t sing certainly ranks as one of the great rip-offs in record marketing–alongside the Pete Best solo album titled _Best of the Beatles_–but does it count as a cringeworthy moment in pop _music_? Also, it was my understanding Elvis hated the album and that it was pretty much all Colonel Tom’s doing. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/124 "2016-10-19T19:44:09Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Did I miss someone mentioning Celine Dion’s cover of [“You Shook Me All Night Long?”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21iW_YMLvmU) I agree, that’s just painful. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/125 "2016-10-20T18:30:25Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > He’s credited as Robby on some albums and Robbie on others. On _The Soft Parade_, the album that includes “Touch Me,” it’s spelled Robbie. Fair enough. In the spirit of irritating nitpickery I was going to point out that it’s _usually_ “Robby”, for example on his own website, as well as every one of his solo albums. But… since I have them all within arm’s reach, I decided to double check. It’s Robby on all of them, except for his very first solo LP: _ **Robbie** Kreiger and Friends_. So much for my devastating rebuttal. Bowing flamboyantly while mincing backwards, I withdraw my nitpick. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/126 "2016-10-20T18:38:43Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > There are men who can wear a dress with aplomb. Bowie was one; Prince could have pulled it off with ease. Kevin Rowland, he mostly looks like he was just caught stealing panties off a washing line. And unfortunately, it wasn’t just an album cover gimmick, [he performed live like that. {warning: cannot be unseen}](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sgcKQUituVw/hqdefault.jpg) Ack! You warned me and I big fat looked at it anyway :smack: And I thought he looked smelly in his \*overalls \*. . . ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/127 "2016-10-21T00:05:13Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Fair enough. In the spirit of irritating nitpickery I was going to point out that it’s _usually_ “Robby”, for example on his own website, as well as every one of his solo albums. But… since I have them all within arm’s reach, I decided to double check. It’s Robby on all of them, except for his very first solo LP: _ **Robbie** Kreiger and Friends_. > So much for my devastating rebuttal. > Bowing flamboyantly while mincing backwards, I withdraw my nitpick. Heh. That reminds me of the way I decided to start spelling my name “Rik” after seeing Triumph guitarist Rik Emmett’s name in print and deciding I liked it. Only to learn, 30 years later, that the spelling was actually a typo on the first Triumph album (he actually spelled it “Rick”) and he decided to just go with it. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/128 "2016-10-21T03:06:07Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Heh. That reminds me of the way I decided to start spelling my name “Rik” after seeing Triumph guitarist Rik Emmett’s name in print and deciding I liked it. Only to learn, 30 years later, that the spelling was actually a typo on the first Triumph album (he actually spelled it “Rick”) and he decided to just go with it. Do you mind my asking: would spell it _Riky_, or _Rikie_? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/129 "2016-10-21T09:57:23Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Do you mind my asking: would spell it _Riky_, or _Rikie_? The drummer of Poison goes with _Rikki Rockett_. ETA: But then again, his given name is \*Richard Ream. \* ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/130 "2016-10-21T12:46:34Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Heh. That reminds me of the way I decided to start spelling my name “Rik” after seeing Triumph guitarist Rik Emmett’s name in print and deciding I liked it. Only to learn, 30 years later, that the spelling was actually a typo on the first Triumph album (he actually spelled it “Rick”) and he decided to just go with it. Now, this is a degree of nonchalance I can get behind. “Hey, they spelled your name wrong on the new album”. “Fuck it.” ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/131 "2016-10-21T14:15:35Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Now, this is a degree of nonchalance I can get behind. > > “Hey, they spelled your name wrong on the new album”. > > “Fuck it.” Wouldn’t that be “Fuk it”? Embrace the ceaselessness! ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/132 "2016-10-21T19:04:02Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Do you mind my asking: would spell it _Riky_, or _Rikie_? [Neither](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=338598)! ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/133 "2016-10-21T19:31:28Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Now, this is a degree of nonchalance I can get behind. > > “Hey, they spelled your name wrong on the new album”. > > “Fuck it.” Same here. I think that’s hilarious. Clearly he and **Mister Rik** do not share the same devil may care attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/134 "2016-10-22T03:44:37Z")
There are numerous cringeworthy moments in [this 1950s rock n’roll song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3u-8sOl9g4). \*wonder what radio stations were “courageous” enough to give it airplay. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/135 "2016-10-22T19:39:32Z")
Ooh…when Kiss took the makeup off? ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/136 "2016-10-26T03:37:05Z")
For some reason Bryan Adams song “Summer of 69” about having a band, etc. He was nine years old at the time. Yeah, I know, poetic license, not autobiographical, etc. I ain’t buying it. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/137 "2016-10-26T04:23:15Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > For some reason Bryan Adams song “Summer of 69” about having a band, etc. He was nine years old at the time. Yeah, I know, poetic license, not autobiographical, etc. I ain’t buying it. Well the song’s cowriter Jim Vallance claims it was about his teenage years (he was 17 in 1969). Then again, Adams has claimed it has nothing to do with the year 1969 (wink wink, nudge nudge) so believe who you want. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2016, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/138 "2016-10-30T12:42:06Z")
“And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas time The greatest gift they’ll get this year is life Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?” Every line is a WTF of stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/139 "2016-10-31T16:04:26Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > “And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas time > The greatest gift they’ll get this year is life > Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow > Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?” > > Every line is a WTF of stupidity. OMG I just realized this. I sponsored a little girl in Burkina Faso (landlocked African country) and she would talk about “the rainy season”. Pretty sure there are lots of rivers there too. I won’t be able to hear this song without laughing now!! ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2016, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258/140 "2016-10-31T17:50:46Z")
Try this cringe fest: Billy Joel, Captain Jack Your sister’s gone out. She’s on a date And you just sit at home and masturbate Your phone is gonna ring soon but you just can’t wait For that call So you stand on the corner in your New English clothes And you look so polished from your hair down to your toes Ahh, but still your finger’s gonna pick your nose After all But Captain Jack will get you high tonight And take you to your special island Captain Jack will get you by tonight Just a little push and you’ll be smilin’ Oh yeah… So you decide to take a holiday You got your tape deck and your brand new Chevrolet Ah, there ain’t no place to go anyway What for? So you got everything, aw but nothing’s cool They just found your father in the swimming pool And you guess you won’t be going back to school Anymore. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-cringeworthy-moment-in-pop-music/768258.md?page=8)