# Top Ten Guilty Musical Pleasures **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932 "2006-02-24T16:29:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/21 "2006-02-24T20:04:34Z")
American Idol. I know it’s TV, but it’s still my guilty musical pleasure. I’m much too _slim dunlap_ to be watching this show, but I can’t resist it. I think my CD collection is pretty much “wuss free”, though. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/22 "2006-02-24T20:09:52Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > I have about 10 Nena albums on my iPod right now. Including about 5 different versions of 99 Luftballons alone 😃 The version off of _20 Jahre das Jubiläums Album_ kicks some major ass. They really made it fresh and fun (for such abyssmal lyrics). My guilty pleasures: \*\*Nightmares on Wax \*\* (Total stoner music, but I don’t smoke. Go figure). \*\*Tom Green’s \*\* song “I Like Hooters”. Yes, I’m a gay male who rocks out to that song. **Aztec Camera** ’s album “Love”. In comparison, it makes even the Swiss look ignorant of what _cheesy_ means. **Hootie and the Blowfish**. Darius Rucker has an awesome voice. Sorry. I’ve made peace with it. **Matchbox 20**. Sigh, they made great music that reminded me of the local band Limited Warranty that I listened to in Junior High. In my sheet music collection, I have two **Debbie Gibson** books, two **Spice Girls** books, a whole lotta Abba. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/23 "2006-02-24T20:12:43Z")
All of the Hayseed Dixie bluegrass versions of rock songs. Especially Ace of Spades by Motorhead. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/24 "2006-02-24T20:20:26Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Probably my single guiltiest song, the “quick - turn off iTunes before somebody hears that” song – Donovan, **Atlantis**. I just ordered the remastered/expanded CDs of _Barabajagal_, _Hurdy Gurdy Man_, _Sunshine Superman_, **and** _Mellow Yellow_. Donovan fest at my place! I’m with **RealityChuck** in that I never feel “guilty” about any of the music that I love. **Some** people might look askance at my Lemon Pipers addiction, but I insist that they’re groovy. ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/25 "2006-02-24T20:24:04Z")
> [@HelloKitty](#): > > OK, I’ll play: > > One of my favorite Prince CD’s is the **Batman** soundtrack, from the first Michael Keaton Batman movie. > > I own the Milli Vanilli CD > > There are some pretty good songs that are not #1 hits on the **Michael Jackson: HIStory** greatest hits album. > > Backstreet Boys and Rick Springfield are in regular rotation on my mp3 player > > Also I am fond of Abba in small doses Halelujah! Yes! That’s what I’m talking about! Abba and the Backstreet Boys! You know you love Fernanado! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/26 "2006-02-24T20:25:54Z")
If Gwen Stefani had good singing to go with her backing music, and if Avril Lavigne had good music to go behind her singing, they’d be guilty pleasures of mine. Thankfully they don’t or I’d have to listen to their really really sucky lyrics. I like the acoustic stuff Matchbox did a couple years ago. Same goes for Incubus’ acoustic stuff, but neither of those are guilty pleasures of mine. My guilty pleasure is a song by Juliana Theory. I don’t mind songs that are hardcore punk (despite perhaps being melodic), or songs that are totally – but unabashedly – wimpy, despite having punk influences, but I really really hate music that tries to be both at the same time and fails miserably – like most stuff by Juliana Theory :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/27 "2006-02-24T20:33:17Z")
I enjoy Bread and also Peter Frampton’s, “Oh won’t you…show me the way.” Don’t tell anyone. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/28 "2006-02-24T20:39:35Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > I just ordered the remastered/expanded CDs of _Barabajagal_, _Hurdy Gurdy Man_, _Sunshine Superman_, **and** _Mellow Yellow_. Donovan fest at my place! > > I’m with **RealityChuck** in that I never feel “guilty” about any of the music that I love. **Some** people might look askance at my Lemon Pipers addiction, but I insist that they’re groovy. And, of course, they are. Thank you for those who caught on the the shame with tonge planted firmly in cheek. Thank you and Thank you. This was fun – and I hope more people play! Expano, I’m no spring chicken having come into this world nearly 50 years ago. I know that there is no true cool, but I love to celebrate the offbeat, the “oh, that’s not cool” world of Mohammed Rafi’s 60’s pop insanity. The whole point is to celebrate what you love, regardless of what people think. I think what we’ve proven is that there is a definition of uncool, that we solidly ignore. Keep it up! All God’s children got rhythm! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/29 "2006-02-24T20:57:38Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > I just ordered the remastered/expanded CDs of _Barabajagal_, _Hurdy Gurdy Man_, _Sunshine Superman_, **and** _Mellow Yellow_. Donovan fest at my place! Ah, but Hurdy Gurdy Man \*is \* cool. It’s basically a Led Zeppelin song without Robert Plant. The others…not so much (but they’re on my playlist, too). ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/30 "2006-02-24T21:00:18Z")
Dave Morey of San Francisco’s KFOG says: “…I don’t think there’s any reason for anyone to feel truly guilty about music. As long as we have headphones, we can all get along in this world, can’t we?” But really, would you want to be caught singing along to Baltimora’s _Tarzan Boy_? Or _Disco Duck_? ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/31 "2006-02-24T21:08:15Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Dave Morey of San Francisco’s KFOG says: “…I don’t think there’s any reason for anyone to feel truly guilty about music. As long as we have headphones, we can all get along in this world, can’t we?” > > But really, would you want to be caught singing along to Baltimora’s _Tarzan Boy_? Or _Disco Duck_? Hey, joke 'em if they can’t take a F—. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/32 "2006-02-24T21:21:09Z")
There’s really no good way for me to answer the question beyond mentioning albums (yes, the vinyl kind in most cases) that I actually bought for one (in a very few cases more than one) track, simply because that song or piece caught my attention even if the artist/group didn’t do much for me. Bread’s album containing _If_ Gilbert O’Sullivan’s album containing _Alone Again, Naturally_ Michael Jackson’s _Thriller_ for _Billie Jean_ George Michael’s _Faith_ for _Kissing a Fool_ A Doobie Brothers “Best of” album for _Long Train Running_ A Perez Prado album for _Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White_ Other instances are albums my mother bought more for the songs than the performers that included Billy Vaughn, Roger Williams and even Lawrence Welk. When I was working in a record shop I “borrowed” some albums overnight and taped the tracks I liked off some I never would have bought including: Barbra Streisand Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass The Beatles Jack Jones The Kingston Trio Peter, Paul and Mary Joan Baez I had the very good fortune to have been working at a radio station when they “dumped” maybe 200 old and out-of-date albums. I picked out maybe 50 of them that I never would have paid money for but liked for one reason or another. Wound up listening to them quite a bit. A general statement I can make today is that I don’t buy music I don’t like. Why bother? ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/33 "2006-02-24T21:31:50Z")
I also like Spice Girls. My favorite that people roll their eyes at is Rainbow Connection. I like almost any version, but my favorites are Sarah McLachlan and Kermit the Frog. Alanis Morissette The Wiggles. Bif Naked… her lyrics are downright bad in some places, her music and voice aren’t really anything special, but for some reason I love it. Idina Menzel’s solo albums- I don’t think they’d sell if Idina Menzel weren’t in Rent and Wicked. They’re good enough for me to listen to repeatedly on headphones, but not good enough that I’d put it on speakers when everyone else is around. Chess (the musical). gotta love the 80s cheese. and I do. Oh, do I. I’ll second various showtunes, in and out of context. Also various hymns and christian songs. I was in choirs for years and I still like such goofy songs as “Emmanuel” “Lord I Lift your Name on High” and “Step by Step” Christmas carols. I don’t mind department stores during December. I love Christmas carols. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/34 "2006-02-24T21:34:23Z")
> [@SurrenderDorothy](#): > > Christmas carols. I don’t mind department stores during December. I love Christmas carols. Me too! I’m tired of Christmas bashers and their “I’m so sick of xmas carols…” blather. OK, some are better than others. I wouldn’t weep if I never heard “Frosty the Snowman” again. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/35 "2006-02-24T21:38:44Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Me too! I’m tired of Christmas bashers and their “I’m so sick of xmas carols…” blather. > > OK, some are better than others. I wouldn’t weep if I never heard “Frosty the Snowman” again. I look forward to many and consider them good music to boot. These four I have on my PC at work: I Believe In Father Christmas - Emerson Lake & Palmer So this is Christmas- Lennon Christmas Wrapping - Christmas Wrapping Snoopy’s Christmas - Royal Guardsman Jim ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/36 "2006-02-24T21:39:28Z")
> [@SurrenderDorothy](#): > > Chess (the musical). gotta love the 80s cheese. and I do. Oh, do I. I _just_ played \*\*One Night in Bangkok \*\* 8 times in a row 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/37 "2006-02-24T21:47:11Z")
Deep breath (you **did** ask: Guy Mitchell, Sparrow in the Treetop and Christopher Columbus make me smile. Cinderella – all of it, but especially Don’t Know What You’ve Got Till It’s Gone Dan Baird – with or without the Georgia Satellites – sing along with me – _“I love you period, do you love me question mark”_ Rodney Crowell – I know, sometimes he really strains to get lines to rhyme, but his voice is lovely, and who doesn’t sing along with Shame on the Moon and Above and Beyond? Huh? Who? ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/38 "2006-02-24T21:50:33Z")
> [@What Exit](#): > > Christmas Wrapping - Christmas Wrapping was that a typo, or did you not know this is by **The Waitresses**? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/39 "2006-02-24T21:53:08Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > was that a typo, or did you not know this is by **The Waitresses**? A **Cut and Pasto** I guess. Jim ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932/40 "2006-02-24T22:29:59Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > **Leon Russell** , who would fall into the uncool category if any of my peers had any idea who he was. Hmmm. I’d put Leon in the cool category. How many 73 year old grandfathers (or great-grandfathers) still [play bars in Texas](http://www.barking-moonbat.com/index.php/weblog/leon_russell_is_going_strong_at_73_years_old/)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-ten-guilty-musical-pleasures/345932.md?page=3)