# What's the worst song ever that reached #1? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 6, 2020, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170 "2020-04-06T04:28:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/1 "2020-04-06T04:28:27Z")
Just as the thread title suggests, what is the worst song of all time that hit #1 on a Billboard chart or its equivalent in your country? You’re not allowed to say “Macarthur Park,” the disco version of which did reach #1 and the original bv Richad Harris was #1 in Canada, but it’s too easy a choice. I’m going with “In the Year 2525,” with “We Built This City” a close runnerup. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/2 "2020-04-06T04:40:33Z")
Damn you. I was gonna nominate “in the year 2525” OK… “Solid as a Rock” was pretty fucking awful and I think it was #1 on some charts for some godawful reason. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/3 "2020-04-06T04:46:52Z")
That’s easy: “Disco Duck”, with a side of “Ringo” by Lorne Greene. ---
**Author:** ![mako88sb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@mako88sb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mako88sb)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/4 "2020-04-06T04:48:06Z")
Fly Robin Fly by the German disco group Silver Convention. Reached number 1 in the USA back in 1975. First #1 song for a German group in the USA ever. When my daughter asked why I hated disco so much, I found a YouTube video of this for her to watch. She understood perfectly afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/5 "2020-04-06T04:54:03Z")
[Seasons in the Sun](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-tPcc1ftj8E) by Terry Jacks. Submitted [del]for your approval[/del] because apparently I have a deep-seated subconscious hatred for all of you. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/6 "2020-04-06T05:01:31Z")
Meco’s disco version of the Star Wars theme. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/7 "2020-04-06T05:02:50Z")
“Convoy” by C. W. McCall. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lqYTX7parRw/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHUBoAC4AOKAgwIABABGHIgRCg4MA8=&rs=AOn4CLCVVIN1NkYeQmYjTf_7XexrmsjIgg "CONVOY 01 CW McCall - Convoy ORIGINAL VERSION") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqYTX7parRw) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/8 "2020-04-06T05:04:14Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Meco’s disco version of the Star Wars theme. I actually _love_ Meco’s Star Wars, though the single edit is vastly inferior to [the 15-minute version on the LP.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ3kV3Icm28) ---
**Author:** ![blue\_infinity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_infinity/32/2817_2.png) [@blue\_infinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blue_infinity)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/9 "2020-04-06T05:14:20Z")
Despacito. Oh, and “In the Year 2525” rocks. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/10 "2020-04-06T05:20:42Z")
Daniel Powter “Bad Day” ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/11 "2020-04-06T05:25:06Z")
Some others. “Boogie Oogie Oogie” by A Taste of Honey “Last Kiss” by Pearl Jam “When I’m With You” by Sheriff ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/12 "2020-04-06T05:26:16Z")
“Stars on 45” I liked it at the time, but I was eleven, that’s my excuse ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/13 "2020-04-06T05:28:39Z")
Obviously, it’s “[Don’t You Want Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPudE8nDog0)” by the Human League. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/14 "2020-04-06T05:29:40Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > “Last Kiss” by Pearl Jam “Last Kiss” was only #1 in Australia and Iceland. On the Hot 100, it peaked at #2. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/15 "2020-04-06T05:35:37Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > [Seasons in the Sun](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-tPcc1ftj8E) by Terry Jacks. This. And if you think that’s bad, it gets worse! Have you ever listened to the [flip side](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_pX1-IxRBY) of that single? Jebus Cripes. - “Put the bone in, she begged him, once more!” \*(it’s not what you think, perv.😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/16 "2020-04-06T05:36:13Z")
You said “a” Billboard chart, so: Rock charts: “Something In Your Mouth”, Nickelback. Which is even worse than you’d expect from Nickelback singing something called “Something In Your Mouth”. Country charts: Oh God where do you start? Half the songs are basically MAGA hats set to music. The absolute bottom of the barrell is either “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue” by Toby Keith or “Fly Over States” by Jason Aldean. Tough guy posturing by a guy who’d run to Canada the second they brought back the draft, and another by a guy who probably would be bored out of his skull within ten seconds of living in a small town. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/17 "2020-04-06T06:26:32Z")
I have to disagree with the OP. _In the Year 2525_ is indeed crap, but the lyrics are so dementedly both bizarre and lame at the same time that it gives it a certain surreal appeal. _We Built This City_ is the nadir of the wreckage that Jefferson Airplane became, but at least has Grack Slick. The #1 hit I loathe the most is _Honey_, by Bobby Goldsboro, which is such a revolting combination of maudlin, saccharine, and inanity I have to turn it the second I hear it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/18 "2020-04-06T06:40:52Z")
Ache-y Breaky Heart…Billy Ray Cyrus. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/19 "2020-04-06T06:47:26Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Ache-y Breaky Heart…Billy Ray Cyrus. [It only made #4 on the Hot 100](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achy_Breaky_Heart#Weekly_charts). Billy Ray didn’t have a #1 until he guested on “Old Town Road” last year. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170/20 "2020-04-06T06:52:57Z")
Definitely Honey. In an odd coincidence I just reread Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs earlier today. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-song-ever-that-reached-1/851170.md?page=2)