Favourite song on the "Most Irritating Songs" thread?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

...assuming you've got the time/patience to scan through the entire thing. Lotsa songs I like there (Briania mentioned several, thanks) but I really gotta speak up for "I Know What Boys Like", an unforgettable exercise in sustained suspense and frustration from that nagging one-chord riff down. The way Kathy Valentine stretches out those final reassurances ("I will/Let you") past the breaking point, only to add that devastating punchline ("Sucker! Ha ha haha"), and then walks it home on a chorus of "Nyah nyah-nyah nyah nyah!" An amazing record, and my favourite song on the "most irritating" thread. What's yours?

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't checked that thread yet, but you're absolutely right: that's a fantastic song.

― Sanjay McDougal (jaymc), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 16:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes. And so is/was Alanis Morissette: 'You Oughta Know'

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 16:43 (twenty-one years ago)

"Devastating punchline"? Please. If anything, the overall snottyness of the whole song makes it clear that "I will let you" is merely setting up a strawman. Actually, now that I think of it, I'd probably like the song if it weren't for the whole "I will let you"/"Sucker!" bit.

As for my favorite, I haven't checked the thread today, but probably "Margaritaville." Tequila-laden regret. The last line of each chorus: "It's nobodys fault" sliding into "Hell, it could be my fault" sliding into "It's my own damn fault." And the band reminding him of what a good time he should be (and everyone else is) having.

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 16:56 (twenty-one years ago)

it's tied between Crimson and Clover and We Built This City(i'm the only one that likes this one, i fear)

― derrick (derrick), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 17:09 (twenty-one years ago)

"Crimson and Clover" is on that list? OMGWTF. I mean, come on, that tremolo wah fuzz sound alone is sheer bliss . . . .

― Drew Daniel (Drew Daniel), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I like "Oh Yeah," by Yello, but I can understand why some people might not.

― Nemo (JND), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

4 way reprieve:

Wonderful Christmastime(Paul McC)
Who will Save your Soul(Jewel)
Holding Back the Years(Simply Red)
Last Night(Strokes)

― tremendoid, Wednesday, 24 November 2004 20:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Most Irritating Song Ever Recorded...your votes, please!

As noted, I must have a high tolerance for things others find irritating. I can understand most of them, though -- over-catchy, over-played, cutesy, stupid or whatever. Out of many all-time favorites on the list, though, I've got to be a Beatles dork and mention "Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite." As a kid, the construction and sound of this song mystified me and made me suspect what it must be like to be under an altered psychic state. And the words of it, along with the guy's voice, were a delicious, eery enigma. Wasn't a single or big radio hit, so I've never gotten tired of hearing it.

― briania (briania), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I hear you, briania. For me, there are many things I liked as I kid that I renounced as a teenager but am now able enjoy again in my advanced age. I was leaning towards re-enjoying seventies AM radio hits right before the Replacements made it cool to do so, if only in an ironic manner. In that light, my Favorite Song That Is Someone Else's Most Irritating is

Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)

― Ken L (Ken L), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Specials - "A Message To You Rudy"

Whoever voted for that has got the word "WRONG" running through them like a stick of rock.

― Ben Dot (1977), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)

"Brandy" is the pure, distilled sound of AM radio gold. When I hear it, I always imagine the guys playing it back in the studio and being clobbered with the absolute certainty that - *cha-ching* - they'd just recorded a huge hit record.

― briania (briania), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost
Dem not stand a chance before Judge Roughneck!

― Ken L (Ken L), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 21:08 (twenty-one years ago)

"From Me To You". Instant classic, and not at all irritating, just perfect pop.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Several people suggest the B-52s, which is just crazy. Safety Dance and Two Princes are great too. I won't even discuss the Sonic Youth songs nominated. And what is everyone's problem with Phil Collins' music? Just because your parents liked it doesn't mean you have to dislike it. Anyway, I'd say...Rock Lobster is my favourite mentioned.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 21:29 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah I got love for Phil's smash hits, it was formative music for me, end of story I guess. Of the albums I inherited from my wife's collection his greatest hits package is among the least objectionable(at least it was before the 30th spin that first year but that's a topic for another, deliciously sexist discussion)

― tremendoid, Thursday, 25 November 2004 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

The Ketchup song (especially the spanglish vesion) has pretty good lyrics and I like the music too, so that's my favourite.

― daavid (daavid), Thursday, 25 November 2004 21:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Somebody nominated "Fairytale of New York", which, unless they were talking about the Ronan Keating/bird out of Clannad version, is totally and utterly about as far from irritating as it gets.

Also "Move Your Feet", "We Built This City", Christ, loads of them. Mind you, I even have a sneaking lack of hatred for "Kokomo", so maybe I'm not qualified to comment.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 25 November 2004 21:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Another for The Waitresses, please...

― Ian Moraine (Eastern Mantra), Friday, 26 November 2004 14:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I like so many songs in that thread that I stopped reading very soon; I reckon I don't know what "irritating" means in that thread.

― Diego Valladolid (dvalladt), Friday, 26 November 2004 15:28 (twenty-one years ago)

A big part of irritation is just unquantifiable personal taste - some things you just don't, CAN'T like, y'know? Anybody who simply hates trombones unconditionally will hate "A Message To You Rudy" even as they recognize its quality. I myself resisted great bands for a long time (Roxy Music, Pere Ubu, Talking Heads) because of an initial hatred of the singing, if not necessarily the singer. I had to learn to like them.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 26 November 2004 18:18 (twenty-one years ago)

good point. many present and former Steely Dan haters have had this problem, myself included.

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 26 November 2004 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Two Princes
The Ketchup Song (I know I should not like this)
Move Your Feet

― Leelee, Saturday, 27 November 2004 00:17 (twenty-one years ago)

some moron on that thread nominated minnie ripperton's "loving you." said moron has ears of cauliflower and a turnip for a heart.

oh yeah, that's my favorite song on that thread.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Saturday, 27 November 2004 00:23 (twenty-one years ago)

I like "Loving You" too.

― Leelee, Saturday, 27 November 2004 01:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, that's a nice song. I even like her daughter's work on SNL.

― Ken L (Ken L), Saturday, 27 November 2004 02:05 (twenty-one years ago)

The list is too long, but I can't imagine someone hating "Poop Ship Destroyer" by Ween enough to cite it. I think it's hilarious, and Ween have made much more annoying music than that innocent little (albeit scatalogical) ditty.

Minnie Ripperton's "Loving You" is a shrill dog-whistle of hate. And Mya Rudulph has never been funny.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 27 November 2004 02:15 (twenty-one years ago)

this post i will keep in mind when others confuse our tastes, mr. alex :-)

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Saturday, 27 November 2004 02:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't imagine how anyone -- sane or otherwise -- could possibly listen -- let alone enjoy listening -- to Minnie Ripperton's "Loving You" without wanting to go on a killing spree.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 27 November 2004 02:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I also noticed "Loving You", and it is way up in my list. But, of course, when some moron mentioned "From Me To You", I didn't even need to read the rest, as "From Me To You" is clearly among my Top 20 ever, and the best actual (as in actual collaborations) Lennon/McCartney song ever.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 27 November 2004 02:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Alex, I don't know if it's on the other list or not, but I'll but you don't like "Midnight At The Oasis" either. What are you going to say about that one, "a heaping camel turd of idolatry"?

― Ken L (Ken L), Saturday, 27 November 2004 03:11 (twenty-one years ago)

but I'll bet you don't like "Midnight At The Oasis" either.

You'd be correct.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 27 November 2004 03:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd have to go with

PLAY THAT FUNKY MUUUUU-SAK WHIIIEEEEEET BOYYEEEEEE!

I also like the Geggy Tah Song.

― Hurting (Hurting), Saturday, 27 November 2004 03:15 (twenty-one years ago)

You'd be correct.
I'd go for the triple and ask you one more, but something tells me not to.

― Ken L (Ken L), Saturday, 27 November 2004 03:24 (twenty-one years ago)

C'mon, go for it.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 27 November 2004 03:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Robert Flack, "Killing Me Softly"? Histrionic handkerchief howling?

― Ken L (Ken L), Saturday, 27 November 2004 03:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't hate that one, honestly. Although, how Ms.Flack could be moved by the mawkish liks of Don McLean (who supposedly inspired the song) makes me want to not like it. But, it's alright.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 27 November 2004 03:45 (twenty-one years ago)

likEs

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 27 November 2004 03:45 (twenty-one years ago)

kokomo rocks and features john stamos on steel drums

― beach bum, Saturday, 27 November 2004 04:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't imagine how anyone -- sane or otherwise -- could possibly listen -- let alone enjoy listening -- to Minnie Ripperton's "Loving You" without wanting to go on a killing spree.

except maybe for that part where ms. ripperton's singing gets momentarily (and admittedly) shrilly high, i'm kinda finding it hard to understand how anyone could actively hate this one. it's just such a smooth, natural, joyful, and sweet song. and it sounds as fresh and contemporary now as it did 30 years ago!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Saturday, 27 November 2004 06:33 (twenty-one years ago)

It's just a sickly dixie cup of tepid, vomit-scented mush that makes Karen Carpenter sound like Lemmy by comparison.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 27 November 2004 06:41 (twenty-one years ago)

ms. ripperton's singing gets momentarily (and admittedly) shrilly high,

Peta should boycott the playing of this fuckin' song, as that single note makes dogs' heads explode.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 27 November 2004 06:44 (twenty-one years ago)

we'll have to agree to disagree on this one, then.

if i hadn't already created 2 threads w/n the past 24 hours, i'd be so tempted to open up this debate to the rest of ILM by starting a "c or d: minnie ripperton, "lovin' you" thread.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Saturday, 27 November 2004 06:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Maya Rudolph is Minnie Ripperton's daughter?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Saturday, 27 November 2004 07:00 (twenty-one years ago)

You are correct, sundar.

― Ken L (Ken L), Saturday, 27 November 2004 13:26 (twenty-one years ago)

the drowners is my favorite

― Shmool McShmool (shmuel), Saturday, 27 November 2004 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.