Songs that you hate...

There is always a danger with any survey that you wonder how they come up with the results. So many varients and with anything that is based on music, films or books...its going to be so personal. It depends on whether the public is questioned or it is the opinion of a staff writer at a magazine or published because there is little happening so its just to fill a few pages.

I have not the chance to look if the list was longer because I am sure some other gems must be included.

Are these judged on how you react if you hear them played on radio? That you have them in your record collection?(but would not admit it)Its the memories that they bring back? Or that you like to belt one of them out if there is a karioke or talent show taking place?

Here's the list:
1. ELO - Livin' Thing
2. Boston - More Than A Feeling
3. S Club 7 - Don't Stop Movin'
4. 10cc - I'm Not In Love
5. Gary Glitter - Rock'n'Roll Part 2
6. Foreigner - Cold As Ice
7. Billy Idol - Rebel Yell
8. Status Quo - Whatever You Want
9. Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street
10. Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive
Source: Q Magazine

One record that I am surprised not to see included is one I have to admit that I cannot stand, Chris De Burgh's Lady In Red but the difference is...I don't secretly like it...I hate it!

Don't get me wrong, I sometimes dislike songs that I am told that I should like or are deemed as classics by music experts(how do you become an expert?)that tell you its great or by the sales figures. Look at some of the songs that made it to Number One and some that did not top the chart. I know its personal but some really great songs that you think reached the top slot probably failed and some that did are really awful.

By admitting the following I can expect some of you stepping back in amazement and shock...but here goes...

I hate Imagine by John Lennon.

There I have said it!

I dislike Memories from Cats.

The same with the title song from Phantom Of The Opera.

How about Seasons In The Sun By Terry Jacks?

Or Honey and Summer The First Time by Bobby Goldsboro'?

Or You're Having My Baby by Paul Anka?

You know the trouble is once you start such a list you could go on and on...Really it cannot be done...you'll have your own favourites to nominate for your list of the worst songs.

And having had a few days to think about this and come back to it...I have missed one song out that I am surprised was not first on my list above the examples...

You're Beautiful by James Blunt.

A cheesy song that might fall into a list of songs that I may secretly enjoy and may be as bad as any in a survey like this would be Laughter In The Rain by Neil Sedaka.

You have also have to decide if a song is bad because it was issued deliberately knowing it really is or written as a genuine song but then gains the reputation of being rubbish.

I love music and have a broad church...I can go across many genres and across the decades(centuries even)but I won't be told what to like, if I like it, that's good enough for me. I am still discovering pieces that are new to me. And somewhere in the back of my mind I am sure that I have some pieces of music that I love and that you will hate just as much or you could ask of me why on earth do you like that? I am not saying that I could give you a reason.

Some tunes can come on the radio and I do not feel the urge to switch it off they can play in the background even if I am not keen on them. But those mentioned above could have me reaching for the off button.

And then there are the annoying pieces of music that really are as bad as mentioned in the list that started this entry and yet you whistle or sing along with them though you know that you probably shouldn't or it gets into your head and it takes ages to get it back out.

And here's one of those songs...The Laughing Policeman by Charles Penrose. ;-)

If you get the chance to read up about him and how the song came about its quite interesting. You'll notice that I did not go for the obvious such as The Birdie Song by The Tweets but I remember having a single with tree tracks on it(issued on a European lable by EMI)by what I assume was a group of session muscians who went under the name Cash And Carry and I believe their record was the original.

Can I also admit that I quite enjoy hearing instrumentals of popular songs but very few outlets exist for hearing anything other than music that is sung. Sky's Music Choice had a great channel playing Henry Mancini, Peter Nero, Ray Coniff, Percy Faith, Sergio Mendes and vocalists like Sinatra, Bennett, Damone, Fitzgerald etc but not always the same songs that Radio 2 would play and Radio 2 tends to stick to a playlist that you can hear most places unless you get to the evening specialist programmes and documentaries. They tend to tell you of great artists who played their part in music history but then do not play them on the station.

What was good about that channel was that they gave such a wide range of this type of music so I am hopeful that when I go broadband I can find such a station to fill my needs.