# What is the most annoying popular song of all-time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2020, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045 "2020-08-14T02:04:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/41 "2020-08-14T18:12:36Z")
Actually, wait, now that I think about it a bit more, “irrational hatred” may be a bit harsh. A far, far worse song is “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)”, though that probably registers on the “rational hatred” scale. God damn do I hate that song. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/42 "2020-08-14T18:15:52Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I thought it should be used in a bank commercial. > > “How can I get you a loan?” [Things intentionally misheard.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intentionally-misheard/916929/) ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/43 "2020-08-14T18:16:35Z")
‘Have you ever really loved a woman?’ by Bryan Adams gets my vote. I hated it the first time I heard it; that was before it was overplayed for years. Just thinking of it makes me unhappy. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/44 "2020-08-14T18:19:45Z")
> [@Apodder](#): > > Unpopular opinion: Anything by U2 or the Stones. This is quickly veering off from the OP to “songs I hate”, which isn’t necessarily the same. Per this response, I would not say everything in U2s or the Stones catalog would be considered “popular”. I hate The Eagles “Hotel California”, but I would not submit it for “most annoying”. For most annoying I nominate The B-52’s “Love Shack” ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/45 "2020-08-14T18:22:33Z")
[Ring My Bell](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URAqnM1PP5E) by Anita Ward was #1 for a while, and even as a youngster I wanted to gouge out my eardrums when she got to the chorus. ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/46 "2020-08-14T18:29:30Z")
Yes!! “Love Shack” is the one. Followed by “How Bizarre”. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/47 "2020-08-14T18:39:43Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > Uptown Funk. > > Terrible song, I don’t know why it was popular. The video is pure comedy gold tho’. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OPf0YbXqDm0/maxresdefault.jpg "Mark Ronson - Uptown Funk (Official Video) ft. Bruno Mars") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPf0YbXqDm0) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/48 "2020-08-14T18:51:26Z")
I nominate “Silent Running” by Mike + The Mechanics - for the weird juxtaposition between the lyrics warning of apocalyptic doom perpetuated by a tyrannical government and the bland syrupy pop arrangement. Also calling your band Mike **+** the Mechanics is annoying. The video was bizarre too. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/49 "2020-08-14T19:54:08Z")
Two choices for me. _Wildfire_, or, _A Horse With No Name_ If I have just one choice it’s the former. Both the girl and the pony sound as if they come from the shallow end of the gene pool. ---
**Author:** ![Grey4791](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grey4791/32/4042_2.png) [@Grey4791](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey4791)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/50 "2020-08-14T22:30:09Z")
If I never hear “Red,Red Wine” by UB40 ever again, I will be extremely pleased! It is one of those songs that I hear on the radio and quickly change it. I will listen to an ad, a weather update, a song I like, and then when I go back to the previous station, they are still extolling the pros and cons of alcohol in that tropical island staccato! How can that song keep going and going like an Energizer Bunny! Same with that “Macarena” travesty! I would rather listen to a purple dinosaur singing about love than to ever listen to those 2 pieces of “art” ever again! …reek! ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/51 "2020-08-14T22:38:05Z")
> [@](#): > > No, you’re thinking of “Romeo In Black Jeans”, by Sean Penn’s less-talented brother. > [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > That was popular? I assume you mean Chris Penn, and I had no idea he ever put out a song. Sounds like a really bad idea. You’re thinking of Michael Penn, brother to both Christopher and Sean. He’s a favorite of mine…I have all his discs. The song title is actually “No Myth.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/IxkJHX7ukKE/maxresdefault.jpg "Michael Penn - No Myth") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxkJHX7ukKE) I think Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” is much, much, MUCH worse. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/52 "2020-08-14T23:45:27Z")
No hate for Muskrat Love? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/53 "2020-08-14T23:53:12Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Opus - Live Is Life It sounds like they are singing “life is life”. What is “live is life” supposed to mean? “Live” as in a live performance? Anyway, the cartwheel onto stage was legendary. I’m not really sure if the whole performance isn’t ironic? But then, maybe the entire 1980s was ironic. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/54 "2020-08-15T00:05:16Z")
“Overplayed (in its day)” is often the key. I’ve heard songs that used to make me turn the radio off, but have not heard for decades, and found that they were at least OK. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/55 "2020-08-15T00:31:55Z")
Here’s my unpopular opinion: I cannot _ **stand** _ Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts.” I hated it by the second time the chorus came around. I like Lizzo the person but that song makes me want to punch babies and kick puppies. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/56 "2020-08-15T00:45:15Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > It sounds like they are singing “life is life”. What is “live is life” supposed to mean? “Live” as in a live performance? Yes, It’s supposed to mean “live” music equals “life”. Have I mentioned the bad school English yet, besides all the other atrocities in the song? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/57 "2020-08-15T00:45:57Z")
I nominate _Brand New Key_ by Melanie. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/58 "2020-08-15T00:54:10Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Anyway, the cartwheel onto stage was legendary. I’m not really sure if the whole performance isn’t ironic? But then, maybe the entire 1980s was ironic. I don’t think the song itself was meant ironically, maybe only the video. The song was a massive hit in Austria and Germany, and at least the crowds they drew afterwards didn’t chant along ironically. It’s one of those dreadful party songs that gets played on every party of dull people. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/59 "2020-08-15T01:01:22Z")
Speaking of German/Euro hits, I seem to remember “Faster Harder Scooter” or whatever the actual title was, by Scooter being an amazing obnoxious song in like ‘98/‘99 or thereabouts. ---
**Author:** ![LegendsofClear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@LegendsofClear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegendsofClear)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/60 "2020-08-15T01:09:21Z")
All the single ladies is extremely repetitive and annoying almost by design or something And That song how to save a life or whatever, it just doesn’t get anymore sappy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045.md?page=4)