Top 5 worst pop hits

As judged by how fast one lunges to change the station in the car.

1.     MacArthur’s Park, Richard Harris (we are speechless)

2.     Dust in the Wind, Kansas (though, we have to admit, it has grown on us of late; pretty heavy song, dudes)

3.     Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen (sorry all you Wayne and Garth lovers; we love Queen otherwise, as you will see)

4.     Philadelphia Freedom, Elton John (yes, yes, it’s about Billie Jean King, who we love, but this song is just dreadful)

5.     Tonight’s the Night, Rod Stewart (we hope you have never played this for seduction purposes)

 

  Honorable mention: We Built This City on Rock and Roll, Jefferson Crapship; every bubble gum song from those dark 70’s days

 

Let’s be blunt: These songs suck. And there are many more, but this is likely a highly personal list, highly dependent on your likes and dislikes.

 

Anachronistically, this list also depends on that quaint thing known as the car radio. Who still listens? Well, we do, and while it often sucks, being at the mercy of commercials and a diminishing spectrum, we still find that the serendipity of coming across either an oldie we haven’t heard in years or discovering someone new is worth it all. Take a break from the same ol’ iPod menu you’ve made and push those buttons in the car. It’s 95% crap and 5% discovery … and it’s worth it. (We wouldn’t have found the incredible Chuck Prophet without WFUV, and we are forever grateful. Ditto the old-guys-take-the-day moments associated with hearing Robert Plant and Alison Krause on XM way before their Grammies.)

 

As for those Brits, Rod and Elton, you made some GREAT songs, but you almost made the sucky list twice, with If You Think I’m Sexy and Candle in the Wind, respectively, but we love you otherwise.

Comments

[Carl Lennertz]

My friend Gary says what about Little Green Apples? Agreed! Awful!