I was thinking about how people talk about bad movies, bad books (and audiobooks) and I haven’t heard many people at least with me talk about bad music. I’m not talking about songs that may have aged badly with production (here’s looking at Temporary Secretary) but just overall unlistenable music. To further twist the knife, I think bad songs from artists you know can do better is ultimately the hardest way to listen to music. Your submission (s) can be from several different artists if you can’t choose one.
I’ll go first with one of my favorite artists, David Bowie. It may be controversial to say but my favorite album is in fact Glass Spider. However I can’t listen to the song Laughing Gnome.
U2: Elvis Presley & America, The Unforgettable Fire.
I’m not the biggest fan of TUF (though it’s integral to U2’s first big shift) but I can still listen to every track except…damn, guys, this is weird. And from the band who unleashed “Discotheque” and “Lemon” upon the world, that’s saying something.
Just gonna’ say [deep breath] several artists I like tried to do songs about the fall of the NYC Twin Towers. Only one managed to not completely muck it up.
I don’t know about favorite artist/band, but I love Led Zeppelin.
If I hear the tune “Kashmir” one more time, I’ll probably soil myself. Not saying I haven’t in the past, but that’s a man’s secret.
And, yes, of course I’m going to hear it lots more times. At least once a month it’s piped over some damned PA somewhere.
Fools playing that rotten, plodding inane tune. I hate them!
////////////
/* ETA, sure, why not. I love Merle Haggard, generally, but I’m not going to listen to fricking “Okie from Muskogee” again! C’mon, it’s tired, a silly little novelty tune. A good one, but still, enough already, Hag. */
Beatles nut here, and for covers, Mr. Moonlight is excruciating, my most skipped Beatles song. And the thing is, they were recording a bangin “Leave My Kitten Alone” that they left off the album (later showing up in bootlegs and on anthology). That would have been so much better, or even do the Liverpool favorite, “Some Other Guy” - of the live recordings I’ve heard, they rocked that number. Both of those covers would have been an asset. Mr. Moonlight, I dunno, maybe John though it would be funny and quirky. But for me it’s just a drag.
As for originals, they did some throwaway filler stuff on the White Album, but setting that aside for a real, full number - I don’t like “Goodnight” - Ringo drones, and it’s one of the rare production and arrangement missteps from George Martin, it’s a draggy, syrupy slog of a song.
In general, I enjoy Billy Joel’s hits, but “We Didn’t Start The Fire” always makes me want to punch a wall. Good going, Dude. You managed to make history sound as dull as a beige room.
(Anyone remember the doubled-over riff about this song from one of the Kaiju movies? I feel bad about forgetting the specifics, because it’s one of the greats.)
[Found it! From the first Gamera movie. Red Jumpsuit Man quotes the chorus as a fire burns onscreen, and Tom drily responds, “Thank you, uh… JOEL.” ]
Weezer’s not my favorite musical group (although I do enjoy their material), but “Beverly Hills” is less of a song and more of a crime against humanity.
)
