# What are the most irritating songs from the 60s?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 18, 2000, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227 "2000-12-18T21:28:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/1 "2000-12-18T21:28:09Z")

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(and early '70s)  
Not worst songs, mind you. If it was worst, odds are we’d all be saying MacArthur Park. And that wouldn’t be all that interesting.

No, I mean songs that are like a fingernails on a blackboard to you. Post songs that make you cringe when you hear them, and explain why!

For example:

Me and You (and A Dog Named Boo). Gag retch choke…\>barf\<.  
The singer went to the Lena Lamont (from Singing in the Rain) School of Pronounciation.  
“Tra-velin’ an’ livin’ off th’ ‘lee-ind’”  
“got caught stealin’ from an ol’ heee-ehn”,  
“Oh how I wish we were back on the road ag-eee-n”

Also, And I never pictured “livin’ off th’ lee-ind” as robbing farmers as much as digging for roots and such.

or

San Franciscan Nights (by the Animals)

Cop’s face  
is filled with hate  
Heavens above,  
He’s on a street  
called “Love”  
When will they ever learn?

Stupid, unsubtle, lyrics, bad rhymes plus the anti-cop message just irritate me.

and another:

I don’t like “Eve of Destruction”: too depressing, but I conceed it’s well done. However, a conservative group(The Spokesmen?) did a rebuttal song called “Dawn of Correction”. And it has the unusual position of being one of a very few songs that discusses Mutually Assured Destruction. And it has the unique distinction of being the only song in favor of it. And it’s such a ham-handed, badly rhymed piece:

The western world has a common dedication  
To keep free people from Red domination  
And maybe you can’t vote, boy, but man your battle stations  
Or there’ll be no need for votin’ in future generations

So over and over again, you keep sayin’ it’s the end  
But I say you’re wrong, we’re just on the dawn of correction

There are buttons to push in two mighty nations  
But who’s crazy enough to risk annihilation?  
The buttons are there to ensure negotiation  
So don’t be afraid, boy, it’s our only salvation

or, puke-iest of all:

Signs, Five Man Electrical Band  
Dave Barry suggested that this is the epitome of smarmy hippie-ness. I agree. Plus the guy is trying desperatly to sound like Dylan. And he’s no Dylan.

And the sign said anybody caught trespassing  
will be shot on sight  
So I jumped on the fence and I yelled at the house,  
“Hey, what gives you the right  
To put up a fence to keep me out  
or to keep Mother Nature in  
If God was here he’d tell it to your face,  
man you’re some kind of sinner”.

Plus, he tries to rhyme “in” with “sinner”. Tsk

Anyone have any others to suggest?

Fenris

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**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/2 "2000-12-18T21:50:08Z")

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Anything by the Yardbirds.

I swear, those singers had _no_ sense of intonation.

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**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/3 "2000-12-18T22:22:54Z")

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I think it’s so groovy now  
That people are fin’ly gettin’ together.  
I think it’s wonderfulla how  
That people are finally gettin’ together.

Reach out in the darkness  
Reach out in the darkness  
Reach out in the darkness  
And you may find a friend!

And some friends and I have opened an exclusive circle of hell for Terry Jacks “Seasons in the Sun”

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**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/4 "2000-12-18T22:27:03Z")

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Anything by Rita Pavone. Ew.

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**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/5 "2000-12-18T22:31:21Z")

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Terry by Twinkle

One day he’ll know how hard  
I prayed for him to live  
Please wait at the gate of heaven for me  
Te-eh-ree

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**Author:** ![blank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a4c791/32.png) [@blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blank)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/6 "2000-12-18T22:43:44Z")

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**To Sir, With Love**

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**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/7 "2000-12-18T22:45:25Z")

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“S-A-T-U-R, D-A-Y, Night!  
S-A-T-U-R, D-A-Y, Night!..”

OK, we know how to spell saturday, shut up all ready you Bay City Rollers!

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**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/8 "2000-12-18T23:55:29Z")

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“Western Union”

(Oh, did I really say that?)

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**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/9 "2000-12-18T23:57:47Z")

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Red Rubber Ball by Cyrcle

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**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/10 "2000-12-19T00:33:45Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by xizor \*  
> \*\*“S-A-T-U-R, D-A-Y, Night!  
> S-A-T-U-R, D-A-Y, Night!..”
> 
> OK, we know how to spell saturday, shut up all ready you Bay City Rollers! \*\*

[Slight nit pick] Saturday Night was a '70s song [/slight nit pick]

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/11 "2000-12-19T01:08:52Z")

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[nitpick on the nitpick]  
The OP said, “(and early '70s)”.  
[/nitpick^2]

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/12 "2000-12-19T01:12:49Z")

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[nitpick^3] “Saturday Night” came out in 1975, therefore, it’s a mid-70’s hit[nitpick^3]  
“Wooly Bully” - I’d rather be disemboweled by rabid spider monkeys than listen to this attrocity.

“Watch it now” indeed!

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**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/13 "2000-12-19T01:16:22Z")

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" In the year 2525, if man is still alive…"

Keith

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**Author:** ![PharmBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@PharmBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PharmBoy)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/14 "2000-12-19T01:39:18Z")

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1. Anything by the Doors.

2. Anything by the Who.

IMHO, the two most over-rated and talentless groups in the history of music.

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**Author:** ![drpepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@drpepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drpepper)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/15 "2000-12-19T01:39:59Z")

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[annoying whine]

ONE is the loneliest number…

[/annoying whine]

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**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/16 "2000-12-19T01:44:00Z")

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Gosh, it’s hard to know where to start. I work for a newspaper but record a show for a local FM station every morning. One of the little games we play in the 40 minutes that I’m there in the morning is to walk past someone else humming or singing one of those 60’s or 70’s songs that gets stuck in your mind all day and just won’t quit.

Some of our favorites:

Surfin’Bird by the Trashmen  
Billy, Don’t Be a Hero, Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods  
(OK, that one’s about mid-70’s, but so heinous that  
it belongs on every bad song list)  
Honey, by Bobby Goldsboro  
(the epitome of the crass manufactured emotion weeper  
as opposed to a song of genuine emotional depth)  
Good Morning Starshine  
(“glibby glob glibby,” indeed!)  
The Elusive Butterfly, Bob Lind

Something Stupid, Sinatra & Sinatra

Yummy, Yummy, Yummy Ohio Express  
(the worst? bubblegum rock song of the Buddah label  
era?)  
Gosh, we could go on and on…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/17 "2000-12-19T01:54:41Z")

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_ **FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE** liiiiings!!!_

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**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/18 "2000-12-19T01:55:23Z")

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Who’s tripping down the streets of the city  
Smilin’ at everybody she sees  
Who’s reachin’ out to capture a moment  
Apparently pre-lobotomy.

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**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/19 "2000-12-19T02:09:37Z")

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“Sugar Sugar” by the Archies  
“The Ballad of the Green Berets”  
There must be something wrong with me. I like all the songs mentioned in the OP, except “Eve of Correction”

Oh, and PharmBoy, who dissed The Who:

I hope you’re visited on Christmas Eve by the ghost of Keith Moon 😛  
(but I do agree with you about The Doors :)).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\
**Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-irritating-songs-from-the-60s/46227/20 "2000-12-19T02:28:20Z")

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Sugar, Sugar is a great pop tune!

And it was sung by cartoon characters, that’s gotta be worth something.

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