I’m not a fan of overtly political songs in general, but I’m somewhat willing to give them a pass if they have some nuance. But painfully earnest “make the world a better place” songs — yuck!
Michael Jackson’s ‘Man in the Mirror’ is the epitome of the genre, so much so that it actually contains the lyrics “if you want to make the world a better place.” And it is painful to sit through.
All of the hated songs I’m featuring this week are popular, as hated songs usually are. Nobody works up any vitriol over an obscure B-side.
Mariah Carey’s ‘Emotions’ was her fifth number one hit in a row (making her the only artist to ever have her first five singles reach #1). She dominated the airwaves in the early 90s the way Katy Perry has twenty years later.
Of the songs I’m featuring this week — all of which I hate — today’s selection is the one I’ve been forced to listed to the most.
That’s because the ‘Cha Cha Slide’ is the sort of obnoxious call-and-answer track that appeals to both sports arenas and children’s activity planners.
My family was eating at our favorite wings place the other day when Alanis Morissette’s ‘Ironic’ jumped out of the dining room speakers like a hyena pouncing on its prey.
Except the hyena would have had a more soothing voice.
I decided then and there that I would feature a week of songs that I dislike.
I don’t know if Fountains of Wayne have ever written a bad song.
They’ve certainly written better ones than others, and they have a tendency to put too many songs on their albums, but pound for pound and note for note I’d put Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger’s songwriting chops up there against anybody’s.
