The most overrated songs in history as selected by top music sites.
Listen to these songs on Rhapsody
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"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
The most overrated songs in history as selected by top music sites.
Listen to these songs on Rhapsody
Get hundreds of great playlists at the Rhapsody Radish…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments76 - Tan The Man
I always liked Oasis's "Don't Look Back In Anger" more than "Wonderwall".
77 - Pantagruel
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
78 - MP
This blog just goes to show what "opinions" are really like @holes.
79 - aba
Obviously no one is from Boston... Tessie by the Dropkick Murphies is so overplayed in this town since the Sox won.
80 - ugh
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."
81 - prohaskas
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.
82 - hazardous69
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
83 - Free Solo Guitar MP3s
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.
84 - Keith
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.
85 - Badslaw
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
86 - kez
Hotel California anyone?
87 - EpicEmpire.com
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*****
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88 - Mitch
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.
89 - Robert
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
90 - JOHNNYTHUNDERS
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?!
91 - Mike
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.
92 - Jerry Nolan
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?
93 - Steve-O
MOST. WORTHLESS. LIST. EVER.
94 - JOHNNYTHUNDERS
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?!
95 - Brad
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.
96 - kdkdi
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.
97 - Spain's Vein
"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.
98 - JOHNNYTHUNDERS
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...
99 - Becca
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.
100 - Eric Berlin
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).
101 - theo
A wonderwall is, er, something through which you look to see a nubile mod girl (starlet Jane Birkin):
102 - Cameron
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.
103 - James Hudnall
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.
104 - Chris Bragg
Where's Brown Eyed Girl?
#1 most overrated in my book
105 - ALAN
"The lady in red" oh dear God in heaven , somwone please stop that song!
106 - uao
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".
107 - Drew
Hey Rob,
Can't wait tell your album comes out!
Drew
108 - Leoniceno
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.
109 - E. Druce
"Zero Wing Rhapsody" by TooMuchSpareTime (a flash animation parody of "Bohemian") totally redeems that song.
110 - B
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.
111 - Eric Berlin
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.
112 - jason
dust in the wind?
113 - roddio
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.
114 - Natalie Davis
Um, this is an opinion site.
115 - Lono
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.
116 - Tan The Man
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.
117 - Natalie Davis
Or "Tupelo Honey," another Van the Man song that is superior to "Brown Eyed Girl" (which happens to be my theme song).
118 - Serra
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.
119 - Seanster Monster
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.
120 - SFC Ski
"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.
121 - Kazae Kazami
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.
122 - Caimin
Morrison didn't write Light My Fire, Krieger did.
123 - JOESTRUMMERLOVER
Pink Floyd sucks, Kazami, and I'm probably older than you.
(Now Syd Barrett on the other hand? G E N I U S)
124 - Matthew
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.
125 - Shark
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.