# What's the worst music in the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 7, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455 "2008-09-07T05:01:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/61 "2008-09-08T02:34:05Z")
> [@Interrobang](#): > > Oh, and a somewhat broader category that I haven’t seen mentioned: music that’s been aggressively sanitized for kids, sung by kids. Like [Wee Sing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eBWMxcbntY). > > The three weeks my toddler was obsessed with that CD were some of the longest three weeks I can remember. Who’d expect to get sick of stuff like “She’ll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain”? > > Note: There’s plenty of music recorded for kids that’s just fine – even pretty great. But the stuff that strives for inoffensive non-controversy? Ugh. Ohmygod, Raffi is going to spend eternity in the same hell as Kennies Rogers and G. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/62 "2008-09-08T03:05:05Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > In the '90s Russian artists Komar and Melamid created a series of paintings called “People’s Choice”. These were based on survey results from different countries about what kinds of art were most and least popular. Based on these results, Koman and Melamid created a “most wanted” and “least wanted” painting for each country (with pretty amusing results). > > They went on to do the same for music, based on the results of an Internet poll. Their “Most Wanted Song” and “Least Wanted Song” were [released on CD](http://www.diacenter.org/km/musiccd.html), and I’m sure if you try you can download them somewhere. (Looks like the “Most Wanted Song” is available as an MP3 from Amazon.) > > These two songs are _hilarious_. The survey results indicated that participants disliked (among other things) unusually long songs, rap, opera, cowboy songs, holiday music, advertising jingles, children singing, accordians, and bagpipes. So the “Most Unwanted Song” combines all of these into a 25 minute opus that features a soprano rapping in operatic style about life on the prairies, a chorus of children advising you to do your holiday shopping at Wal-Mart, and a bagpipe solo. I laughed 'til I cried. > > Interestingly, everyone I’ve played these two songs for agrees that the “Most Unwanted Song” is actually more enjoyable than the “Most Wanted Song” that was designed to appeal to the majority of the population: a rock/r&b love duet featuring electric guitar and saxophone. The CD is available through iTunes for $3.99, and based on your review I bought it. I may have to cause you some pain later. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/63 "2008-09-08T03:07:34Z")
I don’t know what it’s called, but the kind of South Asian music where the women sound like Mickey Mouse on helium. We have South Asian guys working for us and they play this stuff in the shop and it’s pretty well unbearable. Also, “bhangra” or maybe “bangrha”, not sure how it’s spelled, it’s South Asian pop/dance music and it all sounds EXACTLY the same. OTOH, it’s fun to listen to it if you watch the Punjabi TV station. About 10 minutes is enough, but it’s great while you can stand it. (I agree about country music, [except for Bluegrass], the Ratpack type music, most jazz, and the band Rush. And any music played loud unless I’m playing it.) ---
**Author:** ![rolandgunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cdc98d/32.png) [@rolandgunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rolandgunslinger)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/64 "2008-09-08T03:12:08Z")
Anything by Tokio Hotel. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/65 "2008-09-08T03:18:36Z")
Everything I’ve ever heard from a broadway musical has been complete garbage. Christian Rock, Reggaeton, almost all Country, French Rap, and R&B are all pretty awful as well. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/66 "2008-09-08T03:27:23Z")
Any song, no matter how wonderul, when sung by Bai Ling. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/67 "2008-09-08T03:30:03Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > In the '90s Russian artists Komar and Melamid created a series of paintings called “People’s Choice”. These were based on survey results from different countries about what kinds of art were most and least popular. Based on these results, Koman and Melamid created a “most wanted” and “least wanted” painting for each country (with pretty amusing results). > > They went on to do the same for music, based on the results of an Internet poll. Their “Most Wanted Song” and “Least Wanted Song” were [released on CD](http://www.diacenter.org/km/musiccd.html), and I’m sure if you try you can download them somewhere. (Looks like the “Most Wanted Song” is available as an MP3 from Amazon.) > > These two songs are _hilarious_. The survey results indicated that participants disliked (among other things) unusually long songs, rap, opera, cowboy songs, holiday music, advertising jingles, children singing, accordians, and bagpipes. So the “Most Unwanted Song” combines all of these into a 25 minute opus that features a soprano rapping in operatic style about life on the prairies, a chorus of children advising you to do your holiday shopping at Wal-Mart, and a bagpipe solo. I laughed 'til I cried. > > Interestingly, everyone I’ve played these two songs for agrees that the “Most Unwanted Song” is actually more enjoyable than the “Most Wanted Song” that was designed to appeal to the majority of the population: a rock/r&b love duet featuring electric guitar and saxophone. Thank you very much for _The Most Unwanted Song_. It may be the funniest thing I have ever heard. I would love to see it as a music video. I found an [online link to the song](http://ubu.artmob.ca/sound/komar_melamid/KomarMelamid_The-Most-UnwantedSong.mp3), for those with strong enough constitutions. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/68 "2008-09-08T03:30:28Z")
Maroon Five. Nickelback. There. The thread’s done now. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/69 "2008-09-08T03:51:25Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Thank you very much for _The Most Unwanted Song_. It may be the funniest thing I have ever heard. I would love to see it as a music video. > > I found an [online link to the song](http://ubu.artmob.ca/sound/komar_melamid/KomarMelamid_The-Most-UnwantedSong.mp3), for those with strong enough constitutions. Glad you enjoyed it, if “enjoyed” is the right word. 😉 My favorite part is probably the verse about Yom Kippur. Or the part about Wittgenstein. (Wittgenstein is actually name checked in _both_ songs.) Or the angry woman shouting “George Stephanopoulous!” There’s just so MUCH! ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/70 "2008-09-08T03:54:18Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I’ll defend British rap. Dizzee Rascal, Miss Sovereign, Wiley et al show alot more lyrical ingenuity and have a freshness of style that makes most other music being made in Britain of late a bit :o I was going to mention Dizzee Rascal as well. He’s not Tupac (or even Lil’ Wayne), but the one record I’ve listened to of his (Maths + English) was pretty good. My vote would be for the soundtrack to RENT. My sister was obsessed with it a while back when I was visiting home, and it was… painful. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/71 "2008-09-08T04:16:49Z")
[Florence Foster Jenkins.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h4f77T-LoM) ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/72 "2008-09-08T04:39:34Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Only nine posts and we have a winner! > > I have my clock-radio set on a Christian rock station. It has to be that or country & western, otherwise I will lie in bed and listen to it and not get up. > > But if there was an all-Yoko all the time station, that would be my best bet. I’d turn that sucker off before it even had a chance to pollute my brain. Many thanks for the nod, **Hilarity.** I have been waiting a long time to work that into a Dope post. In deference to those who say some of Yoko’s work is not so bad, I have to say I abandoned her at the caterwauling stage. If she’s actually done something worthwhile since then, my congratulations to her. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/73 "2008-09-08T07:06:53Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > I have my clock-radio set on a Christian rock station. It has to be that or country & western, otherwise I will lie in bed and listen to it and not get up. > > But if there was an all-Yoko all the time station, that would be my best bet. I’d turn that sucker off before it even had a chance to pollute my brain. As an actual Christian, for the most part, I salute your point. One of the best things about my old church was that it was founded by professional musicians, and so people almost never mentioned the awfulness that was the bulk of Christian music. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/74 "2008-09-08T07:11:53Z")
Pop country. If there was any musical genre that literally sounds like it was created by demons for the purposes of torturing people, this would be it. It basically just sounds like really, really mediocre rock music with a singer who happens to have a really over-the-top, unrealistic Southern or Midwestern accent. ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/75 "2008-09-08T07:36:03Z")
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7Un6yd986c&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7Un6yd986c&feature=related) I don’t really understand what goes on in that song anyway. Is she crying because she has a terminal illness? In that case, what’s the guy doing running off and leaving her to die alone? [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfm-17pu6SQ) Isn’t that kind of in the bad song hall of fame? But oddly enough, I love ABBA and Jesus Christ Superstar. Andrew Lloyd Webber is not always so bad. ---
**Author:** ![Paladud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Paladud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paladud)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/76 "2008-09-08T07:52:48Z")
Ravel’s Bolero makes me waver between going on a homicidal rampage and perforating my eardrums with a ballpoint pen. Hip-hop tends to do the same, though to a lesser extent. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/77 "2008-09-08T09:02:23Z")
Contemporary music. For example, you will certainly want to listen to the[most famous piece by John Cage](http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=HypmW4Yd7SY&feature=related) , “4’33” Those who didn’t like this particular interpretation of the piece probably will easily find another more in line with their tastes. Or maybe will want to play it themselves. If you want to listen a bit more (not difficult) of John Cage , here’s [Sonata V](http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=VYsx5Di3bso) (If you’ve never heard of John Cage, the screws are part of the instrument. That’s why they appear on the video) Just wanted to add for unaware people that John Cage is very famous. I didn’t dig up a random zozo. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/78 "2008-09-08T09:20:09Z")
I couldn’t resist adding another one by john Cage, of a different style and more importantly with different instruments : [Water walk](http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=SSulycqZH-U&NR=1) . The piece begins around 5:10 . I think it’s the real deal, but maybe it’s a parody (difficult to tell apart) I wanted to add another of his innovations, mathematical music, but couldn’t find an appropriate piece. Sorry for people who like and respect conceptual music. But anyway, they already think that I’m an ignorant boor at this point, so they won’t care about my comments. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/79 "2008-09-08T09:40:06Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Sorry for people who like and respect conceptual music. But anyway, they already think that I’m an ignorant boor at this point, so they won’t care about my comments. Like I wrote earlier, in these sorts of threads, _everything_ will eventually get mentioned, so everyone will get burned. Quality is not a one-dimensional variable. Something can be “good” or “bad” with regards to many different standards and points of view. The only objectively “worst” music is the one that is utterly worthless to _everyone_, including the person who made it. All the examples so far are based on personal preferences. And by the way, John Cage never did anything called “mathematical music”, I think you might be confusing with something else. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2008, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455/80 "2008-09-08T12:19:50Z")
> [@Interrobang](#): > > Oh, and a somewhat broader category that I haven’t seen mentioned: music that’s been aggressively sanitized for kids, sung by kids. Like [Wee Sing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eBWMxcbntY). > > The three weeks my toddler was obsessed with that CD were some of the longest three weeks I can remember. Who’d expect to get sick of stuff like “She’ll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain”? > > Note: There’s plenty of music recorded for kids that’s just fine – even pretty great. But the stuff that strives for inoffensive non-controversy? Ugh. I think you’ve come closer than anyone ever has to making me get religion. Because I’m praying my wife never sees that video. She thinks the Wee Sing CDs are just wonderful and has bought a bunch of them for our son. I think because she’s not a native English speaker she doesn’t pick up on how insipid they are. I can live with the CDs as background sound, but the day I see that on my TV is the day I either pack up my son to live in a remote mountain cabin, or start making Wild Turkey part of my well-balanced breakfast. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-music-in-the-world/462455.md?page=5)