I nominate every song on Sgt. Pepper.

Finally someone who agrees with me. Jim Morrison was just a junkie with an attitude problem. Real rockers like Jimi Hendrix, Joplin, and even Bowie, had more upstairs than morrison. He was and will forever be a no talent ass clown. A teenager who road his friends to fame and ruined himself on a cross of pop consumerism. I despise morrison.

Great stuff Robert. i second (or third) the Morrisson diss. What a pretentious knob.Poetry???? "There's a killer on the road / his brain is squirming like a toad" is one of the most hilarious lyrics i've ever heard.

And kudos on The Fall, although i don't agree. but still, nice to see them get a slap.

or, "get a slapaaaaaahhh"

This list is a great playlist by itself, even it's mostly fetish music.

I found it interesting how rare it is to find anyone who disses the Beatles or Rolling Stones publically. It's like Rock & Roll blasphemy or something.

I can't agree with "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. It's too brilliant. Everything else, I can understand - especially "Hey Ya" by Outkast.

I disagree with everyone but me - thanks Robbert!

Someone should have made a video putting bleak footage of pre-1989 East Berlin against the song "Imagine." That's the kind of utopia Lennon is describing.

RE Morrison: to be dead 35 years and STILL be misunderstood by otherwise sentient, even intelligent, human beings is a shame of sepulchral solemnity

How did "Stairway to Heaven" not make this list?

Ha! Sir Olsen, do i detect an admiration for our fuzzy-eyed friend??

my idea for a superhero frontman - Jim Morrissey. the mental images conjured by such a hybrid are staggering.

I gotta agree wholeheartedly with the Bruce Springsteen remarks. I never ever got his early "rock" stuff that peeps rave on about.

Now "Nebraska", thats a different story, and the song, "The River".

Pretty good list. I had my fill of most of these songs years ago, but the radio stations keep playing them anyway!Here's a few more that bug the crap out of me (even though I do like other songs by these bands):
You Shook Me - AC/DC
American Woman - The Guess Who (I was just starting to get this out of my system and Lenny Kravitz covers it!!)
Smoke on The Water - Deep Purple
Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan (guess I had to be there? He's got much better stuff)
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin (I know, but they have a ton of better songs)
Like A Prayer - Madonna

When I began reading the list, I noticed a trend after the third song. They were all long. And I miss this about songs. Nowadays bands don't know what to do after three minutes except play more of the same chords or scream like a vulture.

If you can rock that guitar, don't stop the rockin'.

And in regards to the drum play on "Pour Some Sugar On Me", what do you expect? The drummer has one freakin' arm!

I am such a sucker for these group-contribution articles. I can't believe nobody picked the same song. Excellent list, I totally agree with Light My Fire, Freebird, and Def Leppard. "Wonderwall," however, was turned into a totally different song by Ryan Adams. Noel /Liam actually perform it like that now, from what I hear.

I think that "Stairway to Heaven" is brilliant. It only bothers us because we have heard it 58 bazillion times. If I heard it for the first time ever today it would win me over by the word "hedgerow"

"Stairway to Heaven" would've been my selection, but it's not digitally available so it's not allowed for the list (in order to make a playlist.)

In fact, my top 4 most overrated songs are all not digitally available, which prolly says something.

I would say the "overplayed" element contributes to all these choices, except mine of course.

Duker, I think Morrison was a crappy person and a dopey pretentious poet, but one of the great frontmen, lyricists and lead singers in rock history

Robert, I have taken the liberty of adding a second, explanatory, paragraph to my section, which should help defend my antipathy

Cool... Man you REALLY hate the song.
Poor Freddy. I am glad he'll never read that...

Eric, I'll give you great frontman, but the rest of it can blow me. Have there ever been a set of lyrics as dopey as those to "The Soft Parade"?

When all else fails, we can whip the horse's eyes
And make them sleep, and cry...

For years, a buddy and I used to recite these words to each other whenever we needed a quick and easy laugh.

Led Zep should be included, if for no other reason than most of their early hits (including parts of Stairway) were ripped off so they don't fully deserve all their acclaim. Then there are the superstars whose position is way over-valued - Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Fripp, David Byrne, Lou Reed, maybe even the Sex Pistols and White Stripes. (You got U2, right on.) Of course, there's overrated with the critics and overrated with the public, often those lists are very different. Nice to see no Iron Butterfly songs there, ha ha.

Who did Led Zep rip off "Stairway" from?

'Twas some English cult figure folkie(s)
Rodney. Im gonna call a friend and get
back here with the correct answer in a
short while.

Thanks to www.Earvolution.com this list is showing up on Google News

I hope all of you who were invited and did not contribute will contribute next time!

I would argue that "American Pie" was overplayed the first time I heard it.

You know, there's not a single song on this list that I hate. I would listen to this playlist and not get annoyed... as long as I hit 'skip' on "American Pie" after a couple minutes.

Synopsis of Robert's musical verdict on the most overrated songs:

American Pie -- too long
Light My Fire -- pyre
Free Bird -- Florence Henderson and Jim Nabors
Hey Ya -- cumma
Pour Some Sugar on Me -- makes no sense
Wonderwall -- not Lennon and McCartney
Memory -- you don't get it
Bohemian Rhapsody -- you hate it
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For -- didn't work for you
Totally Wired -- annoying claptrap
Born To Run -- xylophone
Chewing Gum -- you don't get it
Imagine -- not a fitting Lennon tribute

Thanks for the penetrating analysis!

It's currently the top News Result for the word Bloggers on Google News

Omni,

That was a great Cliff Notes version, but my only pick was "Hey Ya!"

Robert,

Sincere apologies. I thought that was your commentary appended to the votes.

The Google link is here

Or just search for "Bloggers" on Google News

This list is really good and I think a case can be made for the inclusion of all of them. I would defend 'Wonderwall' most strenuously of all those mentioned.

First - big ups to Amanda on the Ryan Adams reference. His version is stunning and takes a lot of the sap from the song and makes it more plaintive. That is one reason I would defend the song. Oasis may have done a very big and overblown version of it (which I adore) and it would be easy to dismiss as overly sappy. The song is good enough to withstand an alternate interpretation. In fact, it not only withstands it but became a great song a second time.

Second... I think there are a lot of songs much sappier and perhaps even more prominent.

Third... I have totally drank the Gallagher Kool-Aid and really cannot be objective on this (although I still think 'Standing on the Shoulder of Giants' is mostly a shit album).

The list is good and the post is well-reasoned and a good read.

>Who did Led Zep rip off "Stairway" from?

Spirit.

"I despise "Bohemian Rhopsody" with a fervor that makes want to crush something, anything British.

Yow EO, THAT is a funny line. Oh so true, and anyone who "sings along" with this tune should be shot, at once.

"Stairway to Heaven" takes the acoustic opening guitar line from "Taurus" by Spirit, who toured with Led Zeppelin on their first US tour.

"Taurus" came out three years prior, and Led Zeppelin was paired with Spirit on their first US tour, which also predates "Stairway to Heaven."

I'll give you all the whole story and
background on Stairway To Heaven manana
amigos.A friend of mine knows the whole
story behind this tune and he will be in
touch with me in the morning with this
scoop.So stay tuned News and Film in the
Morning. Well no film actually but...
It WAS a very obscure English group or
performer of the pseudo-folkie variety.
That much I am Positive & CERTAIN of.

It was not the group "Spirit".Although
"Spirit IS an unheralded band and are
one of the most ripped off & uncredited
bands of their time. They have had their
music "borrowed" many,many,many times by
several groups.

Led Zeppelin was listening to music all
across the board from Celtic Folk to the
Chicago Blues to Rockabilly,the psychout
sounds of such bands as "Love",The Doors
and The Jefferson Airplane,Eastern Music
Ravi Shankar et al.),Velvet Underground,
(in one of the last incarnations of The
Yardbirds, just prior to the formation
of Zeppelin they were including "Waiting
For The Man" in their sets) and so forth
like most of the other bands of the era
were doing.That "Stairway" was nicked
from the dustbin of obscurity by the Zep
should be no real surprise to anyone.

Wow. You really do learn something every day.

No doubt this progression was stolen by Mr. Page. I wonder why Spirit never sued?


Listen for yourself here if you have Rhapsody

For some reason all the links I post are breaking!

Try this one to hear "Taurus"

http://tinyurl.com/a7jsc

I give up...

Thanks, Drake. I didn't know that.

I remember now that Led Zep's theivery is well known; courtesy of Wilson & Allroy, here are some more famous lifts:

"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" - A folk song by Anne Bredon, this was originally credited as "traditional, arranged by Jimmy Page," then "words and music by Jimmy Page," and then, following legal action, "Bredon/Page/Plant."

"Black Mountain Side" - uncredited version of a traditional folk tune previously recorded by Bert Jansch.

"Bring It On Home" - the first section is an uncredited cover of the Willie Dixon tune (as performed by the imposter Sonny Boy Williamson).

"Communication Breakdown" - apparently derived from Eddie Cochran's "Nervous Breakdown."

"Custard Pie" - uncredited cover of Bukka White's "Shake 'Em On Down," with lyrics from Sleepy John Estes's "Drop Down Daddy."

"Dazed And Confused" - uncredited cover of the Jake Holmes song (see The Above Ground Sound Of Jake Holmes).

"Hats Off To (Roy) Harper" - uncredited version of Bukka White's "Shake 'Em On Down."

"How Many More Times" - Part one is an uncredited cover of the Howlin' Wolf song (available on numerous compilations). Part two is an uncredited cover of Albert King's "The Hunter."

"In My Time Of Dying" - uncredited cover of the traditional song (as heard on Bob Dylan's debut).

"The Lemon Song" - uncredited cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" - Wolf's publisher sued Zeppelin in the early 70's and settled out of court.

"Moby Dick" - written and first recorded by Sleepy John Estes under the title "The Girl I Love," and later covered by Bobby Parker.

"Nobody's Fault But Mine" - uncredited cover of the Blind Willie Johnson blues.

"Since I've Been Lovin' You" - lyrics are the same as Moby Grape's "Never," though the music isn't similar.

"White Summer" - uncredited cover of Davey Graham's "She Moved Through The Fair."

"Whole Lotta Love" - lyrics are from the Willie Dixon blues "You Need Love."

Couldn't you just as easily claim the (opening) chord progression is ripped off from "My Funny Valentine"?

Alot of U2 tunes are overrated, but I just don't think Still Haven't Found is one of them.

RE: Funny Valentine

You could claim Spirit stole from that, but the fact that the bands toured together and then they wrote "Stairway to Heaven" shortly after makes the argument. We're not pulling a random song that sounds-alike. It's actual time and place as well.

Page has acknowledged learning a few things from Spirit on their tour, of which included use of the theremin.

Randy California (Wolfe) acknowledged the lift from his instrumental, and was flattered at the time. If he were alive today, he might sue. I know his momma wants him to get credit:
http://www.jazzhouston.com/forum/messages.jsp?pKey=6&key=9474

Pour Some Sugar on MAAYYY!!! I agree entirely with that one. The Bruce Springsteen is right on although I have a special place in my heart for the glockenspiel player on that one. The instrumental bridge on Born to Run was one of the sweatiest pieces of turd in all music ending with 1 2 3 4!!!

I nominate "Nights In White Satin" by
The Moody Blues as an overrated song if
ever there was one.It's depressing,dull,
it drags forever it seems and it just
does not go anywhere.You keep expecting
something to happen but it never does.
No tempo shifts,no dynamic build up to
it or anything. It does not get worse.

I nominate "Nights In White Satin" by
The Moody Blues as an overrated song if
ever there was one.It's depressing,dull,
it drags forever it seems and it just
does not go anywhere.You keep expecting
something to happen but it never does.
No tempo shifts,no dynamic build up to
it or anything. It does not get worse.

Ah yes, I must pipe in again (as I often have to do) to defend The Doors.

The writer doesn't like anything so "unusual" as an organ or words like "pyre" in a rock song? Maybe he/she lives in a rock nunnery, but in my world it's cool and even recommended to get inventive and unusual with pop music.

Second, "Light My Fire" was written by Bobby Krieger, not Morrison.

Third, I agree with E Olsen re: Morrison. Great frontman of a band that still entertains and frustrates listeners all these years down the road... and a phenomenally awful and selfish human being.

Duke -- have to agree regarding your Riders on the Storm comment, though that's still a moody and melodic tune if I ever heard one. Morrison's lyrics/poetry are said to vacillate between the sublime to the sophomoric, and it's hard to argue with that.

Finally, and let me be subjective here:

I just fucking love the opening organ riff on "Light My Fire."

So if it's "overrated," I could give a shit.

Oh: regarding the Beatles and the Stones.

I've said before that I've never been into the Stones all that much, though I dig some of their stuff.

Which appalls to no end some rock purists out and about...

Right, E Olsen?

Breath Deep...

hahaha

All I ever wanted was for you to be pround of me, Pantagruel. (Actually I am flattered that you liked my comments, oh great music guru.) Bonus points for using the word "sweatiest" - I kept thinking it said "sweetest" though. That changes it entirely, eh?

Somebody (namely, Matthew T. Sussman) talked about people feeling that long songs were overrated. I'm squarely in that camp, I think I just get bored. Especially with Doors songs. Just finish it up already!

"Nights in White Satin" is arty, right? I mean, you got that poetry(?) at the end and all...(OK! I bought a Moody Blues Greatest Hits CD once! It was a long time ago! Happy now?)

Crap. I spelled 'proud' wrong.

You got it babe! Bruce is a "schwetty" man with a "schwetty" instrumental bridge with glockenspiel!!!
The poetry after White Satin is a masterpiece.

Ok, I know I said earlier that I liked all these songs on some level, but I somehow missed "Pour some sugar on me". Maybe I mentally blocked it out when I skimmed through (didn't notice until the comment on it.)

Of all the songs listed, that's the one that feels most out of place. I don't believe the song has ever had critical acclaim... as a matter of fact, I'd argue that instead of 'overrated' that it's rated about right...not at all.

Still not knowing the definition of overrated, I do recall that the Hysteria tour was very well hyped at the time with a world tour where Def Leppard played in the round together with their video for it, though I basque in the not-knowing-ness.
Born to Run definately ahead of it though.

What the HELL is a Knight doing in white satin anyway? And why the HELL did he write letters he wasn't going to send?? Sounds like a pansy knight to me.

Dude! That knight could get some chicks man...for real.

Expect this page to get some traffic come midnight.

Rodney W., Led Zep's "Lemon Song also
incorporates a bit of Robert Johnsons
"Traveling Riverside Blues" as well,just
for posterity. "You Need Love" was a
Muddy Waters tune from 1963 and features
a vicious solo from Earl Hooker.Who had
the solo on "You Shook Me" as well,also
a Muddy waters tune from the same time
period.

I happen to like Def Leppard and Pour Some Sugar on Me. I'm surprised it made your list, because you said your list was comprised of songs which received critical acclaim, rather than commercial success, and I thought Def Leppard was panned by the critics from the beginning.

As far as the lyrics, it makes perfect sense to me.

Mirror queen, mannequin, rhythm of love,
translates as:
'hey made-up vain/fake babe, let's screw'

do you need me to translate 'do you take sugar?'

I'm so glad to see Free Bird on the list. What is it that people see in that song? How about putting Neil Young's Rockin in the Free World on the list?

Or anything by Dave Matthews, Tom Petty or Stevie Nicks sans Mick Fleetwood.

Matthew, what happens at midnight?

I'm with you Steve S. I love the translation and I wish I had you there to translate the whole album because I NEED that. Where would you have looked to find out about the critical acclaim or lack thereof for the "Leppard" Surely the commercial success could not be acheived without some positive bullshit coming from somewhere right? What comes first the chicken or the egg?

Robert, we gonna let it all hang down, I assume.

From Rolling Stone #509, 1987

"This album sounds terrific. Every track sparkles and burns. There is no filler. That is not to say, however, that the Leppards are actually great songwriters (as opposed to consummate riff-smiths). Because here, as on Pyromania, producer Mutt Lange gets full credit as a cocomposer. He is, in fact, the sixth Leppard - the one who takes their riffs and choruses and assembles them into spectacular tracks. A veteran producer of such metal superstars as AC/DC and Foreigner, Lange is a genre master, and this LP is thick with his trademarks: the deep, meaty bass sound; the fat, relentless drums; the dazzling guitar montages; the impeccable sense of structure and separation; the preternatural clarity. Lange also brings a certain ironic wit to the record: one suspects it was he who dreamed up the whispered intro to "Excitable" - an aural pun on an old Mothers of Invention track - although no doubt the band had a hand in fashioning the rap-chant vocals that turn "Pour Some Sugar on Me" from a good-natured Aerosmith salute into a more complexly admiring tribute to Aerosmith and Run-D.M.C....This is head-banging music of a very high sonic order, executed with great élan by what remains the most exciting metal-pop band on the scene... "

- Kurt Loder

AMG rating for "Hysteria"?

5 Stars

"The strong pop hooks and "perfect"-sounding production of Hysteria may not appeal to diehard heavy metal fans, but it isn't heavy metal -- it's pop-metal, and arguably the best pop-metal ever recorded. Its blockbuster success helped pave the way for a whole new second wave of hair metal bands, while proving that the late-'80s musical climate could also be very friendly to veteran hard rock acts, a lead many would follow in the next few years. "
- Steve Huey

What did the snuffy College Music Journal (CMJ) have to say about "Hysteria"?

"After three and a half years, countless hassles and tragedies, and a million-dollar studio bill, it's finally here! And it sounds like...Def Leppard! No, there aren't many surprises here, except that the band is quite obviously stronger than ever. What's interesting about this album is the compromise they've reached between technology and rawness, Hysteria has more effects than your local video shop, but it still has a live feel. It sounds like a new standard in commercial metal: the sound is heavy and the guitars are loud, but underneath it all there lurk great pop songs. Picks: "Animal," "Love Bites" (a ballad), "Armageddon It," "Gods Of War."
- Jem Aswad

Jem Aswad? Quite the unfortunate name.

I must say that that sounds like critical acclaim. Where do we go from here? I imagine that the subjectivity has to kick in for us to decide if it is overrated...If we like the music, do we not disqualify it from the list?

Well, I guess I'll eat my hat (even though these reviews are for the album, not the song in question - so it's going to be a tasty chocolate hat.) I only remember repulsion at the time from true metal fans, and from myself... and rearview mirror reviews, which pretty much pan it. It hasn't aged well at all.

I still stand by my original statement that it sticks out from the rest... just an observation.

Victor Plenty, you made me laugh out loud (really!). Now I'm tempted to stay up just to see what happens!

You know what song I immediately thought of but couldn't pick it for fear of looking really mean? "Tears in Heaven." If it wasn't for the fact that Clapton wrote it for his dead child I would have been all over that like white on rice.

RE: Tears in Heaven

Anton Newcombe (of Brian Jonestown Massacre, and the movie Dig!) had no problem skewering that sacred cow.

His comment ("People talk about Eric Clapton. What has he ever done except throw his baby off a fuckin' ledge and write a song about it?") created quite a comment landslide on Stereogum's site a month ago.

If we were going to look for pure musical doo-doo which became super popular, how about "Louis Louis" by the Kingsmen. They were a garage band with a 1-4-5 progression and garbled lyrics and people still got off on that shit.

Agree with a lot of the choices. However, Wonderwall is an awesome song--one of the best of the 90's. Sorry but it ain't one of the most overrated songs by any stretch.

"Imagine" and "Wonderwall" should not be on list. Both songs are worth their hype.

Louie Louie takes us back to the 'define overrated' question. I think Robert had it right by saying critical acclaim of some sort is key to something being 'overrated' - someone has to 'rate' it positively in the first place, right? Could anyone even understand Louie Louie enough to judge it accurately anyway? Every time I hear this song or see mention of it all I can think of is the comic strip "Bloom County":

http://www.xs4all.nl/~tdg/trivia.html (scroll down)

>Wonderwall is an awesome song--one of >the best of the 90's

I don;t think "Wonderwall" is horrible, but one of the "best of the 90s" common man...

You are gonna have to explain why.

I always liked Oasis's "Don't Look Back In Anger" more than "Wonderwall".

This site, a radio site which asked people to vote on the top 500 tunes (American Pie #1) placed Louis Louis at 45

American Pie was justified because Drake found it annoying, lengthy, and piss-break-worthy

This blog just goes to show what "opinions" are really like @holes.

Obviously no one is from Boston... Tessie by the Dropkick Murphies is so overplayed in this town since the Sox won.

I'm by no a fan of Def Leppard, but this pretty much explains the sound of the drums, which at the time was quite an excellent deal:

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Rick-Allen-%28drummer%29

"On December 31st 1984, while driving his Corvette with his girlfriend in the UK, he slammed into a wall and his left arm was severed. Despite attempts by doctors to reattach it, infection set in, and the arm had to be reamputated. Through perseverance, the support of his band mates, and a custom drum kit, he remained with the band to enjoy continued success. December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Former Status Quo drummer Jeff Rich was an invaluable source of help and encouragement during Rick's convalescence, and after many hours of discussion they decided to try and develop Rick's famous multi-pad electronic kit. After many attempts and with much determination they came up with what was to become a revelation in drum technology. A unique foot pedal trigger system was successfully utilised and Rick was now able to play more or less as he could before, even delivering a successful and well received set at the Monsters Of Rock festival at Castle Donington in 1986."

So, are any of you "experts" planning on moving out of your parent's basement anytime soon? Maybe take a bath, get a job, learn some social skills? Get some sun on your pimple-ridden pizza faces? Your opinions aren't even significant enough to leave a stain on two ply. When you can do something beyond type and open a bag of Cheetos maybe, just maybe, you'll be qualified to comment on something involving the real world. Until that time, STFU.

I'm sorry but any list that starts out saying that American Pie is about Buddy Holly, that list looses all credibility, so infact American Pie is not about Buddy Holly it is only dedicated to Buddy Holly and that comes from Don McLean himself. And as a hardcore Doors fan, the only reason most people think LMF is overrated is beacuse they dont understand the lyrics and the imagery behind any of the Doors songs, and Jim Morrison did not write LMF anyways Robbie Krieger wrote LMF

It's fine that you take the time to comment on your personal prefs. That is completely valid, because you're speaking for yourself. But it's not the fault of a great song that it becomes a cliche. So it's pretty hard to agree with you on some of this stuff. A great song is still a great song. Freebird is a great song...even if I sometimes wouldn't mind if I never heard it again.

Wow. Pretty stupid article. Don't think I'll bother with blogcritics again. I was hoping for something other than a list of rants by some music critics.

Right right, as if you could really compare Springsteen, the doors or even the tired Freebird to still born garbage perpetrated by Depeche mode, the Cure, or A Perfect Circle/Tool

Hotel California anyone?

Wow
Drew Curtis either got paid
This guy is related to Drew
This article blows
Dont quit your day job
This article goes down faster than Paris Hilton

****************************
*********EpicEmpire.com*****
****************************

Though I don't agree with all of the songs on your list, I will make a point not to troll you like some of the others on this list... Though, I do think one more should be added:

"Holla Back Girl - Gwen Stefani"
This isnt the gwen punk rock chick I grew up loving... tis a shame she turned all primadonna on us.

The Fall are one of the greatest bands of all time, and I'll be goddamed if some Pavement-loving schmuck is one to insult them. Not because they're "cool" or "unique" but because they fucking rule. Pavement are BOOOOOOOOOOORING. Calling the Fall sacred indie cows and then pimping Pavement is stupid.
now, please enlighten me why crooked rain doesn't suck, or why i should listen to The Smiths

WHERE IS "ANYTHING BY COLDPLAY" OR "WHATEVER RADIOHEAD IS SINGING" OR "ALL OF PINK FLOYD" OR "ROUNDABOUT" OR "BORN IN THE USA" OR "COCAINE" OR F*CKING ALL OF MADONNA? WHERE IS "YESTERDAY" OR "JUST LIKE A WOMAN" OR FREAKING JACKSON BROWNE?!

Every song by Coldplay. Worst excuse for a band EVER. (Not to mention one of the stupidest band names ever.) A wannabe Radiohead - no more. The DiFranco Family had more talent.

Johnny T, Last I heard you were dead of
an OD in New Orleans. Glad you're back.
Dave's on the road with The Dolls and
we've been replaced by some schmucks.
Think we oughta sue 'em or haunt 'em?

MOST. WORTHLESS. LIST. EVER.

SUE'EM, JERRY! CALL SYLVAIN SYLVAIN AND WE'LL HAVE A * SHOWDOWN * ...

you can do better than that!

"if i have to drink, well, that's
cause i'm a human being..."

fan magazines?!

One thing to keep in mind regarding these songs is that they are often geared towards certain means. The intro for light my fire is a "hook" something recognizable that people who aren't music theorists can gravitate towards. Also keep in mind that music is never written for critical acclaim. Bruce Springsteen, Oasis, et al, put songs on their albums because they sound good enough and fit into slot 8 on the album. Most of all, music is not truly appreciated when it is being berated by critics, but instead when it is being overplayed on some 14 year olds cd player (or record player depending on the era) They like it, if only for a short time, and the fact that it is enjoyed in that moment in time is all an artist can ask for. Don't look for the deep meaning, or spectacular musicianship in pop songs.... if you want that, look to Mozart.

Johnny Thunders, those songs are all on lists of good music.

Light My Fire is just some words (written by Robby Krieger, not Jim Morrison) stuck on either end of giant solos from Ray and Robby. And you just can't knock Bohemian Rhapsody.

"You're gonna have to explain why Wonderwall is one of the best songs of the 90's."


Well, it is a bit hard to explain why a song is good--especially on an internet message board. Here it goes: I like the melody, the acoustic guitar's interesting strumming pattern and anchored A and E notes, Liam Gallagher's cigarrette smokey vocals, and the lyrics are pretty damn cool. What's a Wonderwall anyway? Good question indeed.

The song is a classic in Britain, voted the best of all time in a recent Radio 1 poll. On KROQ's seemingly annual coutdowns of best songs of the 90's, Wonderwall is always near the top.

You get the idea. Great song.

I LOVE THE CLASH BUT HATE "CASBAH" -- I LOVE DYLAN BUT HATE "BLOWING IN THE WIND" -- I LOVE THE STONES BUT HATE "SATISFACTION" -- I LOVE THE BEATLES...ER, JOHN LENNON...BUT HATE MOST OF "SGT PEPPERS"...I LOVE BOWIE BUT HATE "FASHION" AND "CHANGES"...I LOVE CLAPTON BUT HATE "LAYLA"...I LOVE THE DEAD BUT HATE "TRUCKIN"...I LOVE THE WHITE STRIPES BUT HATE "PRETTY GOOD LOOKING FOR A GIRL"...I LOVE BOB MARLEY BUT HATE "ONE LOVE"...I LOVE THE POGUES BUT ...WELL...I LOVE THE POGUES...

I'm quite a Lennon fan but Imagine bores me to tears. Most of the songs on the Imagine album hold my interest better, Jealous Guy probably being tops.

Brings up a good point, not sure anyone mentioned...

That commercial radio is largely responsible for creating these cliches. Bands like the Stones and The Doors and even the mighty Led Zep have more than five songs worthy of air play (in the above cases it's closer to 50).

A wonderwall is, er, something through which you look to see a nubile mod girl (starlet Jane Birkin):

You're right about: Freebird, Imagine, Memory, Pour Some Sugar On Me, and Born to Run.

You're absolutely wrong about Light My Fire, Hey Ya!, Bohemian Rhapsody, and I Stil Haven't Found What I'm Looking For.

Ah, I long for the days of long jam session songs. Rare Earth's 28 minute "Get Ready".

I disagree with a couple of the choices (Light My Fire, Bohemian Rhapsody, American Pie) because the writer probably didn't come from that time. I was a kid when they came out. They were groundbreaking songs for a lot of reasons. I get tired of Pie and can do without it. But the Doors are a unique band. Yes, they sound cheezy by today's standards, but there is something raw and primal about their stuff. They are a real rock band. Not some manufactured studio invention like the junk today. If you ask me Hey Ya should be #1. And Queen's song was so original for its time. It's still a camp classic. It;'s fun. Like Hocus Pocus by Focus, which is another song from that era I really liked.

Where's Brown Eyed Girl?

#1 most overrated in my book

"The lady in red" oh dear God in heaven , somwone please stop that song!

I think there's a lot of confusion here. (Midnight really was the witching hour).

First of all, a lot of people seem to be under the impression that the list is one person's own critique; it isn't; it was a poll. All of the comments are written by different people.

Someone mentioned opinions are like a**holes; that's true. Doesn't mean opinions can't be shared. A**holes can be too, for that matter.

Nothing is sacrosanct in this world; or at least in the blogosphere. There are no sacred cows.

The article invited people to respond to an interesting premise. You can play along, or call the participant a**holes; it's all good. It wont hurt the 13 pollees any more than our thoughts hurt John Lennon, Jim Morrison or Oasis, et. al.

Let's pose a new question at this juncture. How many of those 13 tunes would you choose among your 10 "Desert Island Discs?"

For my Lennon, I'm gonna go with "I Found Out" Unless I can take "She Said She Said".

Hey Rob,

Can't wait tell your album comes out!

Drew

I don't think that anyone takes 'Hey Ya' as a serious song. It's obviously goofy. Hence the video with the clones of Andre 3000 dressed up like steeplechasers wiggling their fingers. As for the rest of the album, it's one of my favorite concept albums. Speakerboxx, now, I think is definitely over-rated, and it wouldn't have received nearly as much play if they hadn't packaged it with Love Below.

"Zero Wing Rhapsody" by TooMuchSpareTime (a flash animation parody of "Bohemian") totally redeems that song.

the assesment of 'hey ya' is terribly misguided and only included due to the songs popularity, and not its performance. It wasnt written to be complex, thought provoking or deep, just good fun, whihc is conveyed in the lyrics. The album The Love Below, in itself, is a superlative album with minimal flaws.

This whole list should come with the disclaimer found at the end of the part about the U2 song.

I'd likely go with songs like Macarena (or whatever the hell it's called) and Who the Let the Dogs Out? for a list like this.

dust in the wind?

My oh my, such a tempest in a teacup. Very funny article, though, and pretty much spot on with every pick. Surprised to not see the Rolling Stones, whom I consider to be the most overrated band in the History of Rock 'N Roll, listed for (place any popular Stones song here.) Speaking of plagarism, the Stones make Led Zep seem like small time crooks on the intellectual-property front. They obviously followed the maxim "Imitate the Best, Plagarize the Rest," by ripping off simply everyone from dead bluesmen through Tina Turner, Ry Cooder & David Bowie to Chuck Berry and more.

This blog just goes to show what "opinions" are really like @holes.

anything by Yes. In fact, any mention of Yes in my presence is grounds for punishment. Same goes with Queensrych. I know it is a bit off topic, but I have been waiting for 10 years to get that off my chest.

Comment 108 - Chris, you beat me to it. As good of a song as "Brown Eyed Girl" is, it's nowhere near Van Morrison's best. How "Moondance" isn't more popular is outrageous.

Or "Tupelo Honey," another Van the Man song that is superior to "Brown Eyed Girl" (which happens to be my theme song).

Outkast is almost always trying to be funny, just look at the crap they wear. "Hey Ya" isn't supposed to be a serious song.

Ha ha, that was amusing. It made me think about us hairless-ape-folk (no flames please, fundie retards) and our arbitrary tastes in art. I must admit a lot a terrible songs are catchy somehow, like the Def Leppard one. Still wouldn't play it in my car... But it's Mozart's Finest compared to a lot of crap out there.

To call "gangsta rap" crap, I think, would be entire multiverses too charitable. Why? Because not only is it a barefaced rejoicing in violence for its own sake (which I find forgiveable), not only does it glorify backwards evolution and mindless barbarism, it is utterly lacking in beauty. It is the theme music for those who have embraced sociopathy and ignorance-- not because they have to, but for its own sake!

Yeah, so I realllly hate that raw-sewage-made-sound, but it's hellof popular. I'd like to round up the asses that write it into a meat processing plant and turn them all into glue!! Bleeyargh.

"Hey Ya!" is no better or worse than a lot of early Beatles' songs, a catchy little pop song in my book. The funny thing is, to me the song will always be tied to Iraq, as that is where I was the first time I heard it. It was an anomalously happy soundtrack to an otherwise miserable situation.

It'd have more credibility if...

It wasn't a list by bloggers.

I mean, seriously. Who cares what a bunch of self-important people who go "HA HA! I'm on the INTERNET!" have to say, especially regarding an industry they can't particularly do anything about?

Looks like a list by underpaid record store clerks cum wannabe 'indie hipsters' taking aim at songs that other people likely 'scored' to, in all probability with the girl they had a crush on. Cheer up, emo kids!

Then again, seeing some of the followup comments, I'm not surprised to see this being continued by 'e-gangstahs' and their ilk panning Pink Floyd, because it's before their time and doesn't have spinners on it.

Morrison didn't write Light My Fire, Krieger did.

Pink Floyd sucks, Kazami, and I'm probably older than you.

(Now Syd Barrett on the other hand? G E N I U S)

It seems like you know very little about music. I agree light my fire is completely over rated. Yet how can you say " Bands that feature a piano or keyboard prominently are generally pretty goofy to begin with ". You also make alot of bogus statements that you cannot back up. By writing this artical you have lost all credibility as a writer and should lose your job.

re. Doors --

Others have pointed out that Morrison didn't write a note or word of "Light My Fire -- so "Morgan of Evolution.com", it behooves one to know a bit about music before expounding on it like an expert.

There's not ONE SENTENCE of Morgan's 'entry' on the Doors that doesn't beg to be mocked to a bloody pulp. It's so ignorant, it's fucking embarrassing -- and "Morgan" should beg Robert Burke to delete it in order to further reduce the public humiliation that comes from having penned such insane, retarded bullshit.

(As I like to say about Blogcritics, "You have the right to an INFORMED opinion.")

Idiot.

Note: Over the last few decades, bashing the Doors has taken on the symbolic role of some sort of ritual handshake among young, brainless window-lickers with no taste in art and music -- and no sense of history. From many perspectives, the Doors were as revolutionary as any band in American rock history.

BTW: I nominate THIS ENTRY as the Most Overrated Contribution to the Music Section of BC.

PS: Comment #128 appeared while I was writing mine.

Matthew: "...You also make alot of bogus statements that you cannot back up. By writing this artical you have lost all credibility as a writer..."


YOU MEAN I'M NOT ALONE~!?

I thought a song had to be highly rated to be called overrated. Chewing Gum? A 2004 oddball pop parenthesis that recieved an average of no more than luke warm reviews and went by pretty unnoticed.

Yank that on account of not being hyped enough, and replace it with The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony. That must be the single more annoying piece of repetetive droning to be hailed as a masterpiece in the last ten years or so.

Hi all:

Well, yeah Robby Kreiger wrote Light My Fire but I still think Jimbo did a great job on the tune. It wouldn't make my "overrated" top ten.

Not with tunes like "Lady in Red" (good call, Alan) and Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" to reckon with.

Hey, I'm happy these guys have someone in their lives that would make them want to write songs like these, but I sure don't want to listen to 'em. They're pure sappy musical drek...but I hope it got them what they were looking for :-)

I would have ranked Freebird a bit higher, but wtf. You are also missing Hotel California and Stairway to Heaven. The way I measure how a "classic rock" radio station is actually a poseur is to see if Freebird, Hotel California and Stairway to Heaven are on heavy rotation.

And yes, the three bands are magnificent! But please, you can listen to the Eagles, Led Zeppelin and Lynnrd Skinrd for frickin days without having to listen to these three songs.

"London's Burning" certainly not overrated at the moment.

First time in a long time that I've been up woken up at 4AM without it involving a baby.

There are a bazillion bad songs, but when a rock and roll legend, a rock and roll GOD, makes a truly bad song, then that's worthy of note. I know it's a terrible thing what happened to Eric Clapton's son, it's everyone's worst nightmare, but does he have to make everyone else suffer with that horrible wussy song, "Tears in Heaven?" Get a grip, man!

P.S. The remake of "Layla" sucks too, whereas the original was a masterpiece.

I eliminated my top four (Led Zep's "Stairway to Heaven," Eagles' "Hotel California," Metallica's "Enter Sandman," and - gulp - Nirvana's "Smell's Like Teen Spirit") because they weren't digitally available, thus wouldn't make a playlist.

I think there's a strong correllation between artists to think too highly of their music to have give them digital rights, and music that's overrated.

I agree with the parts of your list I am familiar with, but was particularly happy to see Wonderwall on it.

I absolutely cannot stand Oasis or the brit-punks in it. What a horrible person Noel is and so full of himself - full of crap.

That's not a xylophone in "Born To Run", it's a glockenspiel.

Sella, agree with the existential disparity between the original and all other "Layla's," especially the acoustic version that became a hit

always happy to see the wild Farksters in our midst, thanks!

Ha... what a joy to read. Everyone needs to take a deep breath. There is no right answer when it comes to an OPINION, but it certainly is fun hearing people arguing as if this is actually important.

Heard Don McLean tell the story once about his son asking, "What does 'American Pie' mean, Daddy."

He said, "It means Daddy never has to work again."

TanTheMan: when was the last time you heard Bohemain Rhapsody? When was the last time you WANTED to hear Bohemian Rhapsody? When was the last time one of your friends tried to SING Bohemian Rhapsody but couldn't because he's not a eunch? I like the song but geez it's overplayed.

God, what an idiot. Although overplayed and annoying, Hey Ya is not an Outkast song. This would be like calling Imagine an overrated Beatles' tune. Stay tuned for my Top Ten Blog Idiots. Guess who'll be number 1.

I love "Hey Ya" still, though somewhat less than when I picked it for Top 10 rock/pop songs of all time

What a joke. Jim Morrison is possibly the greatest lead singer of all time. His voice is transcendant and easily recognizable. His range and depth of voice are virtually unmatched. Who's a better lead singer? Some high pitched wuss like Mick Jagger or Axl Rose?

Some of his lines are clunkers, but he wasn't all about fitting into society's little box as far as poetry or rhyme go. I assume you idiots who decry his lyrics have never read TS eliot or some other poets who use "poetic license" (ever hear of the term) to do whatever they feel with the words they use.

"wallow in the mire" is a GREAT GREAT line. "pyre" is a great word for a song entitled "light my fire" the simpletons who denigrate this language are the same neophytes who want everything to be very simple and plain and rhyme exactly and have the same meter all the way through. It's F'in rock N roll, not a class on iambic pentameter.

Although I agree with much of the list, the idiot who chose "light my fire" incorrectly gives Jim Morrision down the road for his lyrics. Robby Kreiger wrote the lyrics and chord structure, not Mr. Mojo Rising. Wannabe rock critic.

How can you not put any of the Beatles songs on this list. One of the most overrated band in history not to mention the multitude of songs you couls have chosen

I nominate 'Nookie' by Limp Bizkit. It remains the song that launched a million bad Limp Bizkit knockoffs and put the final shovel-load on the grave of the rap-rock genre.

Sweet Home Alabama should be on this list. Not to degrade the "wonderful" and "diverse" state that is Alabama, but rather the need for every karaoke bar in every OTHER state to allow it to be played/sung/thought about. Seriously, you're proud of Alabama...that's fine. But we live in MICHIGAN, bitches!

You are nuts man. Freebird's popularity comes from the guitar solo. The song itself is just background music.

Don McLean's American Pie is a journey through the events that shook America during the late 50s and 60s.

The fact that you said that Jim Morrison was overrated throws most if any credibility out the window. The Doors were experimental and original when they first started playing. Their songs represent a type of music that had never been played before.

I notice that most of the songs on your list were songs that really were influential to the changing of music over time. You dont show any wisdom in picking the songs and it seems like they are completely random. If anything the list should be named 13 most underrated songs. I dont see one explanation that justifies any of these songs being on this list.

Maybe the trolls with their panties all in a wad should learn to read properly.

If they did they would see that:

1. This list was not created by ONE person but by 13 different individuals whose names appear after each selection.

2. This was not about "bad" songs or even "Sucessful" songs, but songs that were/are critically acclaimed, but overrated in the mind of the author.

Yeah, it seems most of these asshats have no clue as to what they're talking about.


I'm just wondering why no one mentioned Dylan's "Hurricane"? Fuck...

Oy Oy ... Though I find the Doors the most overated band EVER I find critiques like this to be maddening. In the NY Times their music critic tore Coldplay up and as I read it I thought what a waste of space. Life is hard and if Coldplay or American Pie eases someones load then hurrah. Cooler than thou critics contribute nothing to the greater good. A better idea would be to list the one song we'd choose root canal over hearing it.
Mine would be "Message To Michael" paz y luz y'all ...CB

Free bird and Imagine are two songs that just rock. John Lennon is one of the best musicians ever.

Hysteria is what it is: a highly polished, heavily produced, probably quintessential pop-metal album.

Understandably many rock fans turned their nose up at it, but it sold 8,000,000 copies for much the same reason ABBA sold so well, or why amusement parks continue to sell acres of cotton candy. It's great stupid fun and makes absolutely no nutritional claims.

No Pink Floyd? "Wish You Were Here" or "The Wall"?

Any list that attempts to discredit Jim Morrison and John Lennon, in doing so discredits itself. Some picks are agreeable, but what moron rips on "Light My Wire" - a song that best displays the sexual energy of the sixties, and "Imagine" - Lenon's vision of a perfect, peaceful world. Frickin Idiots, gah.

Pink Floyd? C'mon, only during the later years after Roger Waters folded up his tent & moved on. Todays version without Waters should be dubbed Pink Floyd "lite".

Anyone ever think about mentioning 50 cent? or "fitty-cent" or..whatever. I can't possibly understand how someone can just ramble (literally) through a broken record backdrop, and be so successfull. Great article though...

I'm not sure anyone actually "overrates" fiddy, though. Doesn't everyone know he is the suck?

Very few genres have artists with a shorter shelflife than rap.

the yelling of "Freebird" came from their live album... at the beginning you hear the audience yelling for it, then you hear Ronnie say "I heard it then!"

a la "Whipping Post" from the Fillmore East

"[Morrison's] range and depth of voice are virtually unmatched."

Unless you count Ian Astbury. Or TSOL. Or Glenn Danzig. Who all also suck runny shit.

Range? Jim Morrison? Fucking Sade has a deeper vocal range (five notes) than Jimmy the Burnout Poet. A worthless turd of an excuse for a singer who still sang better than he wrote. The blue bus is calling us and the snake is long...SEVEN MILES, baby! Thppth!

Jim figured out how to manipulate a crowd. Golly, imagine the intellect and talent required to learn the same carnie tricks that syphillitic tweaker Hitler and incorrigible drunk G.G. Allin could manage. A legend indeed.

And besides, if you have more than two band members and don't have a bass player you automatically suck.

("Hey Ya!" doesn't suck. Why? No fucking pretensions to art, that's why. It's a dopey, fun, catchy ass song that's not trying to be too goddamn clever, bare a soul, change the world, start a revolution, shine critic knobs or be poetry. It makes asses move without sounding exactly like every other 120bpm twelve inch. All the other songs on this list are absolutely anti-fun and so belong right where they are.)

"Pour Some Sugar on Me" is one of the worst songs of all time. The only people I know who like it are sorority girls who think if they like it then it looks like they have good taste in music.

Light My Fire is transcendant.

god, i couldn't agree more with pretty much everything you wrote on here,. did you include that song by Whitney Houston or whomever wrote it, "an iiiiii will alllwaayys lovee youuoooouuu....oooo" you know the one...

argh... that is totally overplayed as well. one building in britain (yes a whole buidling of people i mean) sued a neighbor who had just broken up with his lover because he would not stop playing the song over and over again for months. they took him to court and won and he was evicted.


sad but true story.

I would have said anything by Nirvana....

No you dih-int.

Jim Morrison didn't write the lyrics to Light My Fire, moron.

I mean sure... anyone can go back and critize songs... but can you make a song that sells like these have? If so you wouldn't be reading this.

You havent got a clue

ah yes, the old poison pill argument - I recall it so fondly as brought forth by so many Michael Jackson supporters

Was "Closing Time" by Semisonic critically acclaimed? Because that is the worst song that has ever been written, and yet, every bar still seems compelled to play it at the end of the night.

I can't believe it, but I totally agree with this list. Especially Annie, overrated garbage in the extreme.

I'd like to add my vote for Stairway to Heaven, which has a lot to answer for: now every rock band feels obliged to record a crappy ballad. Also "Hotel California" (the Eagles version, natch... the Gypsy Kings version is cool). And finally, Springsteen's "Born in the USA."

Surely there were crappy rock ballads prior to Stairway...

By the way: I love that "No Stairway" sign in the music shop in Wayne's World.

Growing up on Long Island in the 80s, every musician wannabe I knew tried to hack out Billy Joel solos on the piano...

"Pour Some Sugar on Me" is one of the worst songs of all time. The only people I know who like it are sorority girls who think if they like it then it looks like they have good taste in music.

I can think of reasons to like that song, but using it to illustrate one's superior taste would never occur to me...

That said, the echoing intro from the video is better than the cold intro from the album version

IMHO you forgot Hotel California and everything that Metallica has released since the Black Album.

your an ass.music is supposed to be fun.sometimes just playing a few chords and throwing a few silly lyrics together just to have some fun work.you cant take every song so seriously.its not like these artists were trying to cure cancer.

"Dead Skin Mask" by Slayer. No, wait a minute, that song freaking RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The chord progression for Outkast's Hey Ya is G-C-D-E, not G-D-C-E

In defense of Mr. Morrison:

You "clowns" don't have a clue what you are talking about. Morrison did not even write "Light My Fire" so there goes that right out the window there Morgan. As for being a "no talent ass clown"... please, you have to have some type of talent to be able to produce 6 multi-platinum albums in 3 years. Now, we all know that MOST bands will not go anywhere without a good lead vocalist so how could anyone say that Morrison "rode" the rest of the band. It is the rest of the band that "rode" Morrison. What happend to the Doors when Morrison died? They died. So to all you tone deaf people out there, look up the facts before you make judgements.

-It is better to remain quiet and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.

Mike - I'd contend that all four members of The Doors clicked together to make a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts.

Morrison didn't even write "Light my Fire". Robby Kreuger (the guitarist) did, and it drove morrison nuts. Morrison wrote most of their other songs and was constantly reminded that their biggest hit was written by Robby.

So, in summation, Freddy Kreuger wrote Light My Fire, not Jim Morrison?

/cue claws scraping pipes

I guess I'd have to question the basic assumption that these were critically acclaimed songs. Where is that data? And if that data is missing then the whole thing falls apart and you're just creating content out of songs everybody knows.

So wait...so you're all saying Jim wrote Light My Fire, right? Way to RTFT, pinheads. Somebody already beat you to it. Hours ago.

"Morrison wrote most of their other songs and was constantly reminded that their biggest hit was written by Robby."

A wiser composer might have taken that as a fucking HINT. Climb aboard the Crystal Shit and let's change the mood from glad to sadness. I can't boo loud enough.

That's hilarious, Joe.

Morrison wrote a good batch of The Doors' tunes, but I don't think I'd go so far as to say most. Kreuger/Krieger wrote a good many of them.

purvisxiii

Use your feelings... Let the hate flow through you!

Here's what my tv friend Mike Nelson of MST3K said about Morrison:

Even if you are a fan of Jim Morrison's poetry (and if you are, may I say, thank you for taking the time to read my book, and please know how much I understand how badly the world has hurt you as it has hurt me so many, many times. It's us against them, my friend!), you can't deny that his voice is very much like any given dad's voice singing clumsily from the shower as he soaps his beefy arms. Just stop for a moment and imagine Morrison's ham-fisted baritone shouting out his idiotic free verse "Break on through to the other side," and now imagine your own father in his tiled stall mindlessly singing the same verse. See? They're indistinguishable!

I don't agree with Nelson at all. "Break on Through" remains an exciting and fresh rock song. Its lyrics are inventive and multi-layered.

Some I agree with, others... not so much. I would like to offer up "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meatloaf. What a piece of shit song. Overly long, pointlessly theatrical. It gets in your blood like the Ebola virus and dissolves your body from the inside out. Probably my most hated song of all time.

Break on through to the other side
Yeah!
C'mon, yeah
Everybody loves my baby
Everybody loves my baby
She get
She get
She get
She get high
...
Break on through, oww!
Oh, yeah!
Made the scene
Week to week
Day to day
Hour to hour



She get high? Made the scene? Fresh! So exciting and new!
And that "oww! Oh yeah?" Groundbreaking. Revolutionary. Sheer brilliance.

I just discovered the lost Morrison song:

Snake!
Fire!
Oh yeah!
Baby!
Oedipus!
Oww, c'mon!
Yeah!


Alas! If only there were a singer around today talented enough to do such poetry justice on stage. But how many singers are courageous enough to kill a fifth and wave their ding dong around these days?

Way to pluck a random sampling from the song. Do the same to any song in rock history and it will look listless and strange on the page.

If you don't dig the song, fine. But that doesn't change the fact that this was hot stuff back in 1967.

And for many, it's still hot.

To call "gangsta rap" crap, I think, would be entire multiverses too charitable. Why? Because not only is it a barefaced rejoicing in violence for its own sake (which I find forgiveable), not only does it glorify backwards evolution and mindless barbarism, it is utterly lacking in beauty. It is the theme music for those who have embraced sociopathy and ignorance-- not because they have to, but for its own sake!

first of all, to the other thing this moron said: music isn't good or bad RELATIVELY. just because some music isn't as good as some other music, doesn't make it bad, so that's where your mozart comment is asinine.

two: you use big words, but are obviously soulless and ignorant. gangsta rap is ignorant, but dismissing AN ENTIRE GENRE OF MUSIC ISN'T? you schmuck. and what does SO MUCH rock music talk about? alcohol, drugs, girls...how is that much better than songs about fucking bitches? it isn't. get darker honkey.

the fall STILL shouldn't be dissed

Howz about this Morrison lyrical jewel:
"I am the Burger King,I can eat anything!

"Do the same to any song in rock history and it will look listless and strange on the page."

Lyrics look strange
When they are estranged
Phrases look ugly
When they're alone
Words seem listless
When unattached to the song

;-)

Not all "Gangsta Rap" is ignorant. And I
couldn't call all the "Gangsta" rappers
ignorant either. Some of them have their
values a bit misconstrued to be sure but
some of the music IS good. Ice T,Kool G.
Rap and DJ Polo,Scholly D. & some others
are real good.Whether you like the music
or not, it is never fair to paint with
such a wide brush.

Anyone who wrote this list should be ashamed.

Put actual OVERRATED songs in there, not classics.

jim morrison didnt write light my fire
the guitar player did .............

but yeah the song is little over rated

I think that the dork guitarist wrote the "girl we couldn't get much higher" part, whereas the asshole vocalist wrote the "wallow in the mire" bit.

Somebody sounds a little jealous that they're not in a kick ass rock band...

Is any other band as loved and reviled by reasonably intelligent people in either camp as the Doors?

My "random sampling" is half the damn song.

Great point, EO. My wife can't stand them on general grounds, and I've managed to forgive her!

But that does tell you something about them.

I can't understand why people who seem to have no problem looking past nonmusical issues for other artists, seem burdened by their resentment against Morrison for, as far as I can tell, mostly extra-musical reasons

I am just wondering who actually wrote Light My Fire...I don't think anyone has made it clear enough. Before you post, read all of the commments.

Strictly musical (and performance) reasons here. People make allowances for talented artists who are assholes. Those without are just assholes.

Your opinion is blinding you to the facts.

If Morrison wasn't talented, no one would buy Doors records in 1967 or 1981 or 2005 and certainly no one would still be talking about him.

Jay, the Doors guitarist Robby Krieger wrote "Light My Fire."

Should your fire be so lit, my thoughts on the Doors are here and here

Not sure why you picked 13, but I'd expand the list to include

1. Boston - More than a Feeling


2. War - Lowrider

people who use the word blog are assholes.

"If Morrison wasn't talented, no one would buy Doors records in 1967 or 1981 or 2005 and certainly no one would still be talking about him."

Puh-leeze. Shania Twain sold 20 million copies of one album. Hootie and the Blowfish, 16 million. Britney Spears? 14 million. Kenny G and Dixie Chicks in at 12 million.

Lots of records bought there. Good thing records sold measures talent. And I guess you own and often play each of the albums listed above by such talented performers. Right?

So, purv, are you saying that only untalented performers sell records?

Secondly, no one will be talking about the artists you mentioned thirty five years from now.

I would like to nominate "Happy Birthday."

The Doors really do have a way of bringing out the best and worst in people don't they? Usually simultaneously. I admit that I think much of Jim's poetry is silly and sophomoric college boy nonsense,while I think some of his lyrics are really well written. If not for his bluesy drunken sounding vocals and the uniqueness of the band when they had no bass player I don't think that a lot of his songs would've worked all that well. But with that jazzy,floating,surreal edge to their sound it really helped move his lyrics along nicely.Or vice versa.

absolutely there is a lot of lyrical tomfoolery in there, but more than once I have been saved by the saged advice to keep my eyes on the road and my hands upon the wheel

Margaritaville is the WORST - yet it refuses to die for whatever reason.

ughh.

For the most part these selections seem more like personal dislikes by the "experts of the blogisphere" Oh, please! Many of the selected have no relevance to rock music to begin with, how could they be over-rated.
Perhaps you could run a survey on the most overated,unnecessary blogs and bloggers. Oops that's all of them.

Light my fire,American pie and U2 yes, but Queen and Lynyrd Skynyrd, come on!!!!...You must have no taste, you probably like rap crap...and for the record Queen put out it's biggest album after that. Maybe if you were alive back than you would know something. You were probably sucking similac. I would like to know what songs from that era that you do like.

Three things:

a. Where the HELL is Stevie "Guiter" Miller on your list? This is not conceivable. I mean the fact that his moniker is "guitar" but check these lame lyrics: "Billy Mac is a detective down in Texas. You know he knows just exactly what the facts is."? It pisses me off to even type that.

b. Right on with knocking Jim Morrison. Chicks like Morrison on account of his looks, that's fine. But non-gay dudes who like Morrison? Idiots.

c. Did I mention that Stevie Miller also wrote "big ol' jet air-linah"? No. Well now I did.

YEah 171, Closing Time, most annoying "hit" ever. The only reason I've ever called a radio station EVER, was to complain about this song.

Dickard, I can accept your disdain for Steve Miller (although I admit, he is a guilty pleasure for me).

This list is a MOST OVERRATED SONGS list. I do not think most critics put Steve Miller in the Stones, Beatles, Dylan pantheon of rock. I know you do not like his songs and think he is overrated but I do not think he is popular enough to be the most overrated.

OH THANK GOD!!!

A few people hate "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Jim Morrisson as much as I do. Nirvana wasn't bad, but I can go my whole life without ever hearing that song again. Jim Morrisson? I've got a buddy who swears that his I.Q. was on the genius level (sociopathic level is more like it), and he pulls out "The Wilderness", Morrisson's poetry book and reads a few lines to me while I double over in a drunken laugh. Then I tell my friend he is a moron, and that he should go suck Oliver Stone's dick.

Yes, I understood that and struggled with it. Ultimately I came to the conclusion that the term "overrated" should evidence the divide between the performers' skill or talent versus the acclaim of one of his/her most popular songs.

In other words a performer who is a NINE in terms of skill and acclaim and has a popular song generally equated with his skill level that really should be viewed as a FOUR (e.g., divide of 5 points) should be on par with a Steve Miller (talent level SIX) whose most popular song really should be accorded a ONE (See, for example, Big Ol' Jet Airliner).

(Okay, I didn't really think this out at all but I still stand by what I said. Stevie Guiter Miller owns both the lamest rock nickname as well as the most overrated songs.)

Besides, I think the inclusion of Def Leppard and Queen on your list (not to mention the aforementioned terrible Doors) belies your contention that these guys are "pantheon level" musicians. But that's j