# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/codinghorror/32/4242_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/61 "2020-08-15T01:22:47Z")
Anything by Sublime. They are an absolute travesty of a band. “What I got” is just painful to hear, like nails on a chalkboard. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/62 "2020-08-15T01:31:49Z")
I knew people who saw something in the terrible song “Barbara Streisand” that I don’t (and played it way too much). Even if meant to be a parody it doesn’t have many redeeming qualities. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/63 "2020-08-15T02:24:51Z")
Free Bird. > [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Bad lyrics. Heavy riffs. Overplayed… Yep, hits all the spots. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/64 "2020-08-15T02:33:17Z")
For me, it’s the Beastie Boys. My list would include the Beach Boys’ “Kokomo”, REO Speedwagon’s “I Can’t Fight This Feeling”, Doobie Brothers’ “Music Is The Doctor”, and I’m sure I’ll think of more before I finish reading this thread. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/65 "2020-08-15T02:35:06Z")
“The Living Years” was also majorly overplayed. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/66 "2020-08-15T02:42:37Z")
It’s odd. I’d agree with 2/3 of suggested bad songs, but there are quite a few I like, despite their flaws. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/67 "2020-08-15T07:40:55Z")
There is stuff that I hate because of circumstances. e.g. When I was in Highschool my boss bought ~4 Mariah Carey CDs to use as the background music to play between movies. I hate Mariah Carey to this day. When I was in AIT there was a jukebox that played the first song over and over unless someone paid money to play another song. Years later I learned to appreciate it, but at the time, I had heard Bon Jovi’s Bed of Roses so many times that I grew to hate it. But the song that I really hate because it is so hateable is Love Shack, by the B52’s. It doesn’t matter how you feel about gay rights. His over the top gay voice should be offensive to anybody and everybody. Just imagining this song in my head makes me want to punch something. ---
**Author:** ![BigDfromLA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@BigDfromLA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDfromLA)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/68 "2020-08-15T08:02:19Z")
Matthew Wilder was the producer of No Doubt’s album Tragic Kingdom. ---
**Author:** ![BigDfromLA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@BigDfromLA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDfromLA)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/69 "2020-08-15T08:08:40Z")
Sometimes When We Touch is a horrible song. I don’t even know who it’s by. Don’t Give Up On Us Baby by actor David Soul is similarly awful. ---
**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 15, 2020, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/70 "2020-08-15T12:16:09Z")
> [@BigDfromLA](#): > > Sometimes When We Touch is a horrible song. I don’t even know who it’s by. Don’t Give Up On Us Baby by actor David Soul is similarly awful. “Sometimes” was by Dan Hill. Yeah…nasty. When David Soul had the hit, people thought here’s a big shot actor cashing in on his name by releasing a song. Actually he was a singer all along. Wikipedia says: > [@](#): > > Soul first gained attention as the “Covered Man” appearing on _[The Merv Griffin Show](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Merv_Griffin_Show)_ in 1966 and 1967, on which he sang while wearing a mask. He explained: “My name is David Soul, and I want to be known for my music.”[[6]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wikiDavid_Soul#cite_note-6) Has anybody already mentioned: Torn Between Two Lovers, the Mary Macgregor abomination? Or the hideous Run Joey Run by David Geddes? Mr. Geddes also inflicted Blind Man in the Bleachers upon the world. Then there was Billy Don’t Be a Hero by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/71 "2020-08-15T12:59:17Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Has anybody already mentioned: Torn Between Two Lovers, the Mary Macgregor abomination? This matches it in sheer awfulness. It’s the ultimate wuss song. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/92oT9rvnr_E/hqdefault.jpg "Bread - It don't Matter to Me") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92oT9rvnr_E) ---
**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:** [August 15, 2020, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/72 "2020-08-15T13:05:29Z")
There are bad songs, and then there are ones capable of causing physical damage - to one’s health and to fragile inanimate objects. With that in mind, Minnie Riperton’s “Loving You” must be avoided or at the very least turned off before she has a chance to hit the dreadful shrieky high notes.\* \*easily several octaves higher than what was reached by a previous record holder in “Take On Me”. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/73 "2020-08-15T13:37:24Z")
Billy Ray Cyrus’ rendition of Achy Breaky Heart. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/74 "2020-08-15T14:17:43Z")
There’s more than one?!? 😲🤮 ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/75 "2020-08-15T14:24:07Z")
Yea, I thought BRC wrote it. Turns out it was a cover. 😬 ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/76 "2020-08-15T15:00:13Z")
> [@Rucksinator](#): > > But the song that I really hate because it is so hateable is Love Shack, by the B52’s. It doesn’t matter how you feel about gay rights. His over the top gay voice should be offensive to anybody and everybody. Huh. Fred Schneider’s vocals definitely aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but even despite the fact that Schneider _is_ gay, I never projected that onto his voice. He just has a quirky and distinctive sound. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/77 "2020-08-15T21:54:07Z")
> [@Rucksinator](#): > > His over the top gay voice Whaaaaa…? It’s jazzy and different. He’s kind of half-speaking, which makes sense because he’s explaining things like the Chrysler. But gay? I don’t hear that… (and calling something “over the top gay” is kind of iffy) ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/codinghorror/32/4242_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/78 "2020-08-15T21:55:03Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Has anybody already mentioned: Torn Between Two Lovers, the Mary Macgregor abomination? May I recommend this album? > **[Various Artists - 70's Party Classics Killers - Amazon.com Music](https://www.amazon.com/70s-Party-Classics-Killers/dp/B0000063EG)** > > Various Artists - 70's Party Classics Killers - Amazon.com Music | Track | Title | | --- | --- | | 1. Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando | Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree | | 2. Paper Lace | The Night Chicago Died | | 3. Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods | Billy, Don’t Be A Hero | | 4. Paul Anka With Odia Coates | (You’re) Having My Baby | | 5. Clint Holmes | Playground In My Mind | | 6. Morris Albert | Feelings | | 7. Dan Hill | Sometimes When We Touch | | 8. Sammy Davis Jr. With The Mike Curb Congregation | The Candy Man | | 9. Starland Vocal Band | Afternoon Delight | | 10. Mary MacGregor | Torn Between Two Lovers | | 11. Rupert Holmes | Escape (The Pina Colada Song) | | 12. Captain & Tennille | Muskrat Love | I even posted a review of it in 2001… still visible on the Amazon page: > It all started so innocently. I purchased this CD on a lark in mid 1998. Subsequently, I put on this CD at high volume to torture my then-coworkers. Then it became a running joke. We’d take any opportunity, any pretext at all, to put it on. It had to be played at least once every day for “good luck.” We’d force each other to listen to it. We’d have little contests to see who was man enough to listen to it over and over and still silently sit there programming away, not complaining. Sometimes we’d sing along to enhance the effect. In short: we broke people. It was like a Vietnamese prison camp in stereo. It was a joke. But then a very strange thing happened – as I listened to the CD over and over, I BEGAN TO LIKE IT. I mean really like it! I began to listen to it at home on my own time. “There’s something about this music”, I thought, as I listened to it for the 543rd time. “Maybe it’s so bad, it has actually wrapped all the way around and it’s… good again?”, I thought. I played the album for my wife. At that point I was hooked. I knew all the words to “Having my Baby”, and… I liked it! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/79 "2020-08-15T23:37:27Z")
Ha ha! That’s very funny. ---
**Author:** ![frognot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frognot/32/8752_2.png) [@frognot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frognot)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045/80 "2020-08-15T23:51:17Z")
Thanks, codinghorror, for giving me an awful flashback. (You’re) Having My Baby - Paul Anka and Odia Coates [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SFHWl-ZyRAg/hqdefault.jpg "(You're) Having My Baby - Paul Anka and Odia Coates") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFHWl-ZyRAg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-annoying-popular-song-of-all-time/918045.md?page=5)