C&L's Late Night Music Club With 'Til Tuesday
By Logan Murphy Wednesday Jul 01, 2009 7:16pmThis tune has always been one of my favorite top 40 songs. This live video from 1985 was shot during the band's first show in NYC and really showcases singer Aimee Mann's amazing voice. Her sound and look was truly unique and refreshing.
What's your favorite Top 40 song? What's the worst Top 40 song ever? This song gets my vote for the worst.
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Some pretty good music was coming out during that time.
With James and Michael gone it's all on him now.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4v4aa_princ...
(I'm a soul and funk guy if it isn't obvious)
Best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvDoDaCYrEY
Waterloo Sunset is simply one of the greatest songs ever written, ever, period. I put it right up there with Cole Porter's work.
Worst: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKw8j7GLSdw
Horrible songs. With a farting synth that induces explosive diarrhoea and seizures.
"What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" by Jimmy Ruffin -1966 Favorite....
Worst? "They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Ha!" by Jerry Samuels....
I'll bet nobody even remembers that STUPID song....
i found it on a webcast of the Dr Demento show and i still have it saved somewhere on this computer. when my son was 9 he could sing the whole thing. it DID get a little old.
I think for some reason that song has a facination for kids. When I was in grade school I remember people would sing it all the time.
..we have a winner, ding, ding, ding!
A Best or Worst Top 40 song - well, top 40 is usually the worst music ever. But Abbybwood's picks are right on!
AAArgh!!! Total dreck to me!
To each his/her own, I guess...
If it's total dreck Top 40 you want, a quick trip back to the '70's will satisfy that craving:
"Torn Between Two Lovers"
"Afternoon Delight"
"Sometimes When We Touch"
"You Light Up My Life"
"Feelings"
"Muskrat Love"
That's just off the top of my head, and without even having to dip my toe in the disco cesspool. Good times. Good times.
I love that song from my high school days. Just about the coolest song of the 80s new wave craze came out early on in '79.
Cars by Gary Numan
The worst one I can think of is U Can't Touch This.
Hell yeah - I remember it. I had the 45. The flip side was the same song BACKWARDS. Awesome.
I like way too much stuff. From about that time though I really liked this song The The -- This is the day
It's harder than fuck to look up the the on teh internets, especially on the google. Because 'The' is not a necessary word in the search.
So many tunes from which to choose. I really like The The, miss_kitty.
"Infect Me With Your Love"....right??
I've only heard two or three The The ditties and am not sure of the names of the songs. Got a link?
Love "This is the Day" and a number of their other ones (I keep coming back to their album Dusk). Here's a live version of "Infected". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcikUj1WJz8
...to the funny farm, where life is wonderful ALL the time....
Best Top-40? Can't narrow it down to any few, but Voices Carry is on the list, as is Billie Jean (I'd have included that one regardless of MJ dying recently or not - I don't dance, but that one at least gets my butt wiggling in the chair, much to the chagrin of anybody sitting behind me)
Worst? Don't Worry, Be Happy (not really a horrid song, just WAY overplayed); Curses to the soul who made me take that link to "We Built This City"!; Achy Breaky Heart.....gak.
...I paid for a certain portion of my college education back the the 1970's by being a DJ in some small-market (and I mean reaaally small) radio stations in Central Idaho. The very first day we played Three Dog Night's "Joy To The World", the phone started ringing off the table. It was the most requested song for weeks. To this day, my first and most visceral response to the phrase "Jeremiah was a bullfrog" makes me want to put a couple of rounds through the nearest radio if only as a gesture of self-defense...
LDN
Smile
I first saw Lily Allen on SNL and I fell in love with her instantly. She's a bit too wicked for me though, even if I find her adorable.
Peter Gabriel, In Your Eyes
Worst.
Kajagoogoo.
The Plimsouls - A Million Miles Away
I'd love to find Zero Hour, but not on the innertubes yet
LOVE the Plimsouls.
I saw them a couple of times in the very early 80's. I cannot understand why they were not more popular.
Her solo stuff is great, too.
I'm a big fan of the Jefferson Starship/Jefferson Airplane. They are one of the best bands to come out of the 1960s.
I do agree, however, that "We Built This City" was not their finest hour. "White Rabbit","No Way Out" and the following gem are some of their best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sElLJlt14s&fe...
Sorry didn't mean to shout but I think its really a mistake to conflate the Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship. They had some of the same members but the guys who made the really great music behind the Airplane: Cassady and Jorma (sp?) on bass and guitar were gone from the Starship and it made all the difference. I loved the airplane but couldn't stand the Starship. They were so pop and mainstream and boring while the airplane was so innovative. And I agree "Bult this City" is one of the worst if not the worst. Especially because its one of those songs that get stuck in my head even though I hate it. Oh no! Its there now!! Ahhhhhh!!!!
in regular rotation when it came out. I'm sure they'd like to forget that...
I think Marty Balin was their best songwriter.
Oh well...to each his own.
Safety Dance, Men w/o Hats
Best,
U2, Bullet in the Blue Sky.
=(
I guess I'm not the only one who finds it annoying.
This song did annoy the **** out of me
Me too.
The Jam - Start
but they never had many (any?) top 40 hits in the US did they? Other great Jam songs: Smithers-Jones, Going Underground, Eaton Rifles
A Town Called Malice
The Cardigans Lovefool is in my top 5 to 40 songs. prince is in there. so is MJ (dammit anyway), The Clash, Warren Zevon (dammit anyway again)
also, Nina Persson looks like she walked out of one of my family portraits. (my family is norwegian/swedish)
to narrow it down. As soon as I try to narrow it down,even within pop, I think of a better one. On the other hand the worst is easy for me. Every time I hear this POS I get a visceral urge to smash the radio or at least change the channel to anything else, even country. My nominee is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANtMdzOFIVQ
Whats best and worst is stupid
progressive?
class. Music theory? Duh . . . .
and a worst (Beethoven) maybe not a worst, but he so totally does not like Beethoven and his fMRI proves it (See chapter 5, only til the 7th online). So it's kind of factish-there is a best and a worst, and what's more It's All Relative to a bunch of different training.
I saw that clip on the Daily Show. I like both. I like the subtlety of Bach and the intensity of Beethoven.
As for the best and worst of pop music, it's the same. We like what we like and hate what we hate. When we listen to music we like, it releases endorphins. That's why we like it. It makes us feel good. This "what is best and worst" is meaningless with this in mind.
I agree if you are talking Beethoven vs. Bach or Beatles vs. Stones its all pretty much subjective. But I also think its possible to divide music into good and bad. Some of it is simple, derivative (doesn't do anything new), easy to play, etc. and some of it is not. So I think its fair to say that ANYONE who has a good understanding of music would say that Jimi Hendrix was great rock and that the Monkees were not. That doesn't mean you can't still like the Monkees over Hendrix if you want to.
an annoying rhythm. You can puke to it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfm-17pu6SQ
The Smiths, How Soon is Now.
Worst,
Prince, Purple Rain.
no Purple Rain.
Purple Rain as worst? Are you INSANE? Seriously, what could possibly lead you to this conclusion other than severe mental illness or massive ear trauma where you can't actually tell what a good song is? Purple Rain is a BRILLIANT song (not just because I like to play it live once in a while despite my overwhelming whiteness and lack of soul). Sheeeeeeeeesh...
Best Super Bowl Half Time Show EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That song sucks large long elephant shlongs
Great voice, and I loved the vocals she did on a Rush tune back then.
I second, third, whatever we're up to by now for We Built This City as the worst. It's subversively catchy, but woefully insipid.
Hey -- Dream Theater's new LP charted in the top 10. Did hell freeze over? I'm not sure if it would be way cool or a sign of the apocalypse if the"single" made the top 40: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYYEcIf0QP8
The worst song ever recorded has to be MacArthur Park by Richard Harris, or anyone else who also sang it. I won't even link to it, because it is so bad.
On the other hand, Wierd Al's "Jurassic Park" almost makes the song singable. "Oh, no-o-o-o-o..."
Jimmy Webb KILLS!!!11!!!11!111!!11!1
Wichita Lineman
The Highwayman w/Paddy McAloon
Dude wrote Up, Up and Away! I'm tellin' ya, though you probably won't agree with me, that MacArthur Park is a perfect song, awaiting the perfect treatment.
Lowell George's cover of "Himmler's Ring" is one of my all-time favorite tunes!
I was blown away when I heard Michael Stipe (REM) sing Galveston, live, in a radio interview. As a small child I never realized it was a protest song . . . and so heartwrenchingly sad.
Stipe also sings Witchita Lineman.
Jimmy Webb, great songwriter.
Glen Campbell sings "These Days" a song written by Jackson Browne that is just so poignant and fitting for him to sing at this stage of his life.
What LP/CD? Will have to check out.
I remember seeing him live at a company picnic for Monrovia Nursery in Azusa, CA some 15+ years ago.
ur just not one for great lyrics. Try listening to "Closing Time" by Leonard Cohen or better yet, watch him do it during his famous 'round the world" tour in Ireland. "she's a hundred but she's wearing something tight". This guy is great!
skills, but Jimmy Webb's just fine in my book too.
English Beat, Mirror in the Bathroom.
Worst,
Eddie Grant, Electric Avenue.
I used to dislike "Electric Avenue" when it was played so much upon release, but now I love it...you didn't hear too many protest songs in the top 40 at that point that were that uncompromising.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcikUj1WJz8
Make no mistake mistake, I love this song, but....
You can do it resigned,
you can do it angry ( or this),
or you can do it (in the worst way) like you are on Qualudes.
I haven't heard anyone mention Gorilla Biscuits in a long time.
Worst.
Eddie Murphy. Party All The Time.
One of my all time favorites, as is everything Walter from GB has done (Quicksand, Rival Schools, Walking Concert.) Faithful progressive too.
Different definition.;)
Meanwhile, Back in 91-92
Bruce Springsteen. Human Touch.
Mudshark, you already picked Purple Rain as the worst...make up your mind...
this is about more than one super sized sucker.
I'm sorry if I insulted your sensibilities.
Some songs by Prince were somewhat decent.
Not many. But a few. Purple Vein Sucked.
Wings: Live And Let Die
Elton John & Kiki Dee: Don't Go Breakin' My Heart
The O'Jay's: Back Stabbers
Michael Martin Murphy
Wildfire
Wang Chung.
Super Sized Suck.
Milli Vanilli. Girl You Know It's True.
Afternoon Delight
We've Only Just Begun
It starts off sappy, and returns to that state a few times, but it just punches out the choruses. Caution: Wardrobe disaster.
... and syrupy... and melodramatic... and, I love it.
Rainy Days and Mondays
Do Yo Know The Way To San Jose
Fuckin' perfect!
You guys really went off the deep end. ;p
I can't speak for Andy, but I'm pretty sure he's been off the deep end for a few days because Jon Stewart did his Dick Cheney impression the other night. You know, the penguin one.
I like sappy - and I hate sappy. There are more links to horrible songs on this thread than on the past 30 LNMC threads combined.
But, I hate to admit, I like some of these songs.
And I know some words to almost all of them.
I'm gonna need therapy now.
A true one hit wonder.
Rivaled perhaps by A Horse with No Name.
..was the beginning of the end of civilization as we know it! Whoever wrote the lyrics should be strapped to a chair and forced to listen to the song over and over and over..but Torture is illegal!
I was trying to think which of all the awful schmaltzy pop songs was the absolute worst and that's it. For me that one was the worst because it went along with the absolute worst job I ever had, working as a temp in an office doing nothing but sorting files by hand 8 hours a day and the am radio was on all day (I didn't want it but there were other people doing the same job) and that damn song kept playing over, and over, and over,...
Yeah. I hate that song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTu_J3j7ZnE&fm...
but holdsworth ain't top 40...
Best
Thieves Like Us by New Order
Worst
Convoy
Truly the Worst. Thanks for reminding me. Ugh!
I agree. That might be THE worst.
Solsbury Hill (live version) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGGhnJ3RvCk
I was a total Genesis fan until Peter Gabriel left. Had all the vinyl.
That song never gets old. Never.
.
P Funk. Tear the Roof off
Pretty damn Good Animotion. Obsession
Worst,
actually, this one really sucks.
Steve Perry, Oh Sherry.
There are millions of women around the world that would come to your door with pitchforks and brands of fire over your 'worst' selection. However, I'm not one of 'em...as I'm a bloke of course. The song stunk bad.
link
Gwen Stefani's solo work..particularly "The Sweet Escape" & "What're U Waiting For"
Anything by Billy Idol
James Blunt's "You're Beautiful"
Guns of Brixton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiQoq-wqZxg
LOL
but we're discussing pop.
Or John McLaughlin. Top 40 definitely doesn't mean best.
It's just the type of music under discussion.
Jon Stewart had Oliver Sacks on the other night. He's not a musician but a neurologist who studies how music affects our brains. I swear I could see the love of music/science on this man's face. He was almost giggly,
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/ind...
And Aimee Mann is sexy.
Best is too difficult.
Worst is easier. I'll put out two:
Thompson Twins
There was a summer when this song was on the radio on at least one channel continuously.
This song by George Harrison almost put me in a rubber room. It's hard to believe that was from the same guy who wrote "While my Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Blackbird".
Vanilla Ice. Ice Ice Baby.
mudshark, honestly, how can you put purple rain in the same category as this tripe?
Hell yes I can.
Very true. That Queen/Bowie song he sampled was pretty crap too.
The entire Coming Out Electric album by the Atomic Swindlers
Run DMC's "You be Illin"
Peter Schilling's Major Tom(Coming Home)
Tracey Ullman's They Don't Know
But worst?
Billy Don't Be a Hero, Bo Donaldson
Seasons in the Sun, Terry Jacks
This is just too easy.
IIRC, the Jacks song is a translated Jacqes Brel song, no?
It's not so awful in French.
Some music just stands out in its' sublime awfulness. Ear worms. I'd forgotten Billy Don't Be A Hero. Now the damn thing is in my head.
Try this as an eraser:
Hooked on a Feeling, Blue Swede (avoid the David Hasselhoff version)
It always gives me "stuck song syndrome," but I don't mind if the song is right.
or I'm getting out the ABBA. LOL
Best is hard. Plenty of good.
Worst - air supply, making love out of nothing at all. epic pomposity:
Air Supply is absolutely the worst ever. (shudders)
Whatever that is
it's not really that hard.
I know what it is.
A Category
The Columbia Quartet (maybe):
Down By The Old Mill Stream
I have a fairly decent collection of classical and jazz and blues and that is mostly what I listen to. The older I get the more elegant complex music seems. I could probably think of fifty different performers in other genres that I think are more musically talented than most pop performers. Pop just happens to be the subject tonight.
I can appreciate!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hDoPCiC3RQ
Tears for Fears, Mothers Talk.
Downright Awful
Laura Branigan, Gloria.
Most of the music when I came out (yes, of the closet). I'm thinking
Celebrate, Kool and the Gang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwEMxYggoKQ&fe...
and this dreadful little number
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwEMxYggoKQ&fe...
Kelly Marie, Feels Like I'm in Love-- check out the dancers in the gold lame bodysuits and the DISCO sign
And
Pat Benatar, Hit Me with Your Best Shot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwEMxYggoKQ&fe...
But, I did like this one
Carole Pope, High School Confidential
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnCkbKuodYw&fe...
So that was my "coming out". What bad music. I didn't like it, but that's what the guys were dancing to.
Barf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnvWCrMT9TA&fe...
anyway.
How about the Magnet and Steel song. "You are a magnet and I am steel..."
It's so gag inducing I won't even look it up: you know the one.
Barf if your lucky; otherwise, induce vomiting.
Super Sized Sucker.
Several of my choices have already been taken, but for best I'm surprised no one's picked anything by The Beatles yet, and for the sheer audacity of its lyrics, Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side"
As for worst, "Seasons in the Sun" was my first pick, so I'll have to fall back on a truly horrid piece of progressive rock, "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas
I don't recall hearing it on the radio when it came out- at least not the Top 40 that a kid in his single-digit years would hear.
Yeah, it actually was a hit. The radio version had the lyrics cleaned up a bit, but I still remember being amazed at the time that it was being played on the radio at all.
I wonder how regional the airplay was on that. That's about '74 or '75, right? A little earlier? Before Lee Abrams started programming everything?
Yep, and they didn't clean up the lyrics either.
I don't think the censors figured it out.
to get me through Dust in the Wind.
Ditto.
before such was fashionable to do as a teen...
... is a really surprising omission.
But how come no Barry Manilow for worstest?
Probably because I discovered them in '73, in third grade. They weren't really Top 40 at that point, even though you'd hear their songs on Top 40 stations...just not any single song by them in heavy rotation.
Even while I was thinking they shouldn't be omitted, I couldn't think of one Beatles' song that I felt right about linking to.
Somewhere else on this thread, Annoyed Canuck linked to the Stones' Angie (Thanks AC!), but it didn't seem to fit even though I'm sure it was probably a Top 40 Hit.
ToesDoes it have to be a one-hit-wonder or a Top 40 "specialist" to qualify?Worst:
Tony Orlando & Dawn
Tie a Yellow Ribbon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzK_xznptXA
feel like a pina colada? No? Then you'd better escape: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVdhZwK7cS8
It was worse.
. . !!!!!
Not only was the song's melody ultra annoying, but the lyrics didn't really connect. Do you "like making love at midnight?" Well, frankly, yes. And at 10:30 or 2:00 or . . . "At a bar called O'Malley's"? You like Pina Coladas and you're going to an Irish bar? And then of course there's the fact that it's a supposedly romantic song about two lovers getting caught trying to arrange an illicit tryst. Aaarrrrgggghh! I also like the fact that it starts out talking about a "worn out recording of a favorite song" and that Holmes says that the song made him a lot of money but basically destroyed his career as a "serious artist."
Speaking of, others have mentioned "Don't Worry, Be Happy" as a terrible song -- and rightly so -- but don't let that sway you from the other wonderful music that Bobby McFerrin made.
As far a best goes, I was a happy, happy boy when the Cure was getting played on the radio. (And, I still love Aimee and "Voices Carry).
... just from the brief dose I heard to get the link:
Having My Baby, Paul Anka
I hate you for that.
:-P
... musically, politically, retchingly. But it's still good, cause, hey, having a baby is still a really good thing. But it's bad... so bad.
Perhaps there might be a counter ambivalence antidote.
THAT has got to be my NUMBER! hated earworm. It brings a 3 day sneer to my face -- since I first heard it. AND I KNOW ALL THE WORDS!!!!! and they go on in a mocking way in my head...
ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH!
fiver ya great bastid!
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