Recalling the popularity of the earworm contest, here's another, inspired by what just happened: I was sitting my office proofreading when a song started playing from my daughter's room, a song I feel some guilt about liking so damn much because I can't abide the singer. I told Tafv as much.
"Tell me about it," she said, and recalled how when she and the boy she went to Cuba with last fall -- a boy who runs a very on-the-tip record label -- were driving in upstate New York, they had no music (they were in my mom's car) and so had to rely on the radio. And the one song they kept looking for was the one that was playing from her room.
"Finally, we stop at a gas station, and Derek goes inside, and the song comes on the radio," said Tafv. "I turned it up and got out the car and started shouting, 'SOS! SOS!' so that he'd get back to the car."
So, despite themselves, everybody just likes this song?
"Yeah," she said, looking sheepish and turning it way up.
That song is below. So, what's yours? Go ahead, admit it. Best of the worst gets acknowledgment and linkage and, if it's really a doozy (but no cheating!) a bag of coffee beans.
I can't explain it, but I have always loved this song... I sing it every day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcP8sVjZ5qg
Posted by: Eric | April 23, 2009 at 01:48 PM
To my eternal shame...
"Mmmbop" by Hanson.
Posted by: Kevin | April 23, 2009 at 01:55 PM
I'll post my song I should hate, but love in a few. But I did have to point out that this post is just asking for this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0
Posted by: Christian Lindke | April 23, 2009 at 02:30 PM
i have SO many i don't even know where to start. i guess with my most recent one. enjoy!!
pa pa pa pokah face!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d27Hj8Gg9o
Posted by: catherine | April 23, 2009 at 04:20 PM
Oh, I thought it was just me...and several of my friends! Yeah, Chris Martin is the most irritating man on the planet. But dang, that song.
Mine might be "How to Save a Life" by The Fray. Ack.
Posted by: Jackie | April 23, 2009 at 04:46 PM
PS Tafv went to Cuba? Holy crap!
Posted by: Jackie | April 23, 2009 at 04:47 PM
I like the Numa Numa song. I mean the video is cute & all, but I really like the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmtzQCSh6xk&feature=related
Posted by: Yehudit | April 23, 2009 at 04:48 PM
I hate myself for still liking this. Of course, its only because it is a rare songwriter that can manage to work the word "moot" into his lyrics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adaYUM5wl7c
Posted by: aroyo | April 23, 2009 at 04:56 PM
I'm with Kevin, Hanson rules.
Posted by: Hillary Johnson | April 23, 2009 at 07:03 PM
I know practically nothing about Martin, but I loved that song from the first time I heard it. In fact, I picked up the album on account of that song. Was glad to discover some very fine music there in addition to this one.
Posted by: Zev | April 23, 2009 at 07:38 PM
OK Nancy, I give. Why can't you abide the singer?
Posted by: Laresa | April 23, 2009 at 08:35 PM
Here's one of my guilty pleasures (the song, not the video, which is beyond ridiculous). I'm kind of embarassed to post it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51NuWuC0q3M
Posted by: Zev | April 23, 2009 at 08:38 PM
Stairway to Heaven? Eek! I know! I know! But god, it feels good to get that off my chest....
Posted by: thefoodinista | April 23, 2009 at 09:34 PM
I was at work last Friday at the wine shack. I looked over at Robin, who was working with me, and said "I'll bet you'll never guess the embarrassing song that's stuck in my head." She goes (because she trusts me or something) "Okay, what is it?" I say "Waterloo by Abba". To which Robin replies "You bastard, now it's going to be stuck in my head!" And I heard her humming it later when she didn't know I was there. Talk about sharing the shame!
Posted by: wineguy | April 23, 2009 at 09:44 PM
There is no doubt "Mmmbop" is unadulterated joy. And I doubt there's been a more pure "boy" video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk8Yo4pzhWs
Posted by: Nancy Rommelmann | April 24, 2009 at 12:13 AM
A song by a girl (yes, GIRL -- still a literal teenager) speaking of a milieu (High School romance) of which I have no knowledge whatever. But it's on my iChoonz and I play it.
'You Belong To Me' by that little tart Taylor Swift.
Posted by: Expat Stu | April 24, 2009 at 07:01 AM
Oh, er...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVLkRWcH2zM
Posted by: Expat Stu | April 24, 2009 at 07:03 AM
Can I change mine?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEzh10_xoqw
Come on Barbie, let's go party....
Posted by: Eric | April 24, 2009 at 07:15 AM
"This Love," Maroon 5. It's such a GIRL song, but I turn it up and sing so loud when it comes on.
Posted by: Lucy | April 24, 2009 at 08:07 AM
"Gimme Gimme Gimme A Man After Midnight" Abba.
It is also a great Kareoke mainstay
Posted by: Jen O. | April 24, 2009 at 09:13 AM
Haha, I got Rick Roll'd...twice. Astley/Springfield combination.
"Sussudio" by Phil Collins. Plotz.
Posted by: Jason S. | April 24, 2009 at 09:48 AM
"Emotion" by Samantha Sang, with back-up singing by the Bee Gees.
Posted by: johnshade | April 24, 2009 at 10:19 AM
For those who don't remember Samantha Sang, here is the equally fine video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mkTg1Cyun4
Posted by: johnshade | April 24, 2009 at 10:27 AM
You all have no idea how happy you are making me -- I want nearly all these songs on my iPod!
Re: Samantha Sang video: I swear to God in 1978 I owned the identical sateen jumpsuit.
Posted by: Nancy Rommelmann | April 24, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Okay, before there was Hanson, there was Captain and Tenille:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-38oelOufDc
Posted by: Hillary Johnson | April 24, 2009 at 01:23 PM
From Wikipedia:
In July 1976, Captain & Tennille was invited by First Lady Betty Ford to perform in the East Room of the White House in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II and President Gerald Ford during the Bicentennial celebration.
********
Amazingly, this was not considered an act of war!
Posted by: johnshade | April 24, 2009 at 01:32 PM
Here's a doozy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIlHt_syoSE
Posted by: Zev | April 24, 2009 at 02:47 PM
Nancy- there is a really cool free software to rip the music off YOUTUBE to MP3 at download.com...
Posted by: Eric | April 25, 2009 at 08:04 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qVd2WkCq_E
KUNG FOO FIGHTING
Posted by: Porter L. Armando | April 25, 2009 at 11:02 AM
"Imparable" by Jessie y Joy and Tommy Torres .. and a million other sappy emotional songs in search of a friendly ear. Me.
Posted by: David | April 26, 2009 at 11:05 AM
This is a song I should hate, but I love it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpuyXdKx9Ws
"Moster" by Steppenwolf
Posted by: Mike LaRoche | April 26, 2009 at 08:12 PM
I remembered another one. Oy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiwcOaaRo1Y
Posted by: Nancy Rommelmann | April 27, 2009 at 03:13 PM
Yes, the Gibbs brothers are multiple offenders in this category. "Feel I'm goin' back to Massachusetts..."
Posted by: johnshade | April 27, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Make that "Gibb brothers". But here's another, worse one, which they aren't responsible for and of which I am deeply ashamed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5RDn5Y0D_0
Posted by: johnshade | April 27, 2009 at 07:23 PM
Well, I like "Reminiscing" and I'm not a bit ashamed of it. (Well, maybe of the line "we yelled and screamed galore." Surely they could have done a bit better than that.)
Posted by: Zev | April 27, 2009 at 07:40 PM
Meant to say: Captain and Tenille was mentioned above. Did they ever do a worse song than Muskrat Love? That one made me barf even then.
Posted by: Zev | April 27, 2009 at 07:41 PM
Well, Johnshade, I absolutely loved hearing that but especially watching it! A hundred times better than when I heard it the first time 'round.
As for "Love Will Keep Us Together": I vow - vow! -- to sing this this year at karaoke (which I have not done in ten years, but never mind) and embarrass the hell out of my husband. I, however, will be in bliss.
Posted by: Nancy Rommelmann | April 27, 2009 at 07:56 PM
What, no Karen Carpenter? Let me fix that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHfddvbKb4w
This is a favorite of mine. I love this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_am1ydf8QRA
Posted by: Zev | April 27, 2009 at 08:20 PM
Worst karaoke song: "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" by Leo Sayer.
Posted by: Mike LaRoche | April 27, 2009 at 08:26 PM
How about "Get Dancin" by Disco Tex and the
Sexolettes" - a lost 70's hit.
or "Give Me Tonight" by Shannon.
Posted by: pat i. | April 28, 2009 at 04:10 AM
Nancy, I actually had never seen either the "Emotion" or the "Reminiscing" video until looking them up to add spice to my otherwise humdrum mentions of those songs, but I have to agree that they exceed all expectations.
Posted by: johnshade | April 29, 2009 at 12:19 PM
OK here's three:
Give Me Tonight - Shannon
AEIOU - Freeze
Naughty Girls Need Love too - Samantha Fox
Posted by: pat i. | April 29, 2009 at 05:21 PM