'We Built This City' ranks as the worst record ever

USA TODAY ^ | Mon, Apr 19, 2004 | Edna Gundersen,

[presidio9]

We Built This City is the single worst single ever constructed, according to Blender's ranking of reeking tunes.

• Kevin Spacey sorry for mugging confusion • Vince Neil sued by former prostitute • Hurdle cleared for James Brown annulment • Frat brothers avoid jail in MTV-taped killing of koi • Worst song... Ever

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The magazine's list of "The 50 Worst Songs Ever," which hits newsstands Tuesday in New York and Los Angeles and April 27 nationwide, distills the lamest popular rock-era records into one sonic landfill.

Starship's 1985 anthem, the runaway No. 1 stinker, "seems to inspire the most virulent feelings of outrage," editor Craig Marks says. "It purports to be anti-commercial but reeks of '80s corporate-rock commercialism. It's a real reflection of what practically killed rock music in the '80s."

Excerpt

[Corporate Law]

I paid a buck for that CD once. Have never played but figure someday in my old age I would want to torture myself with high school bad memories.

[John O]

Culture Club's 'Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?' deserves dishonorable mention ..

This song always had the same great affect on me. It left me screaming at the radio "YES. YES. YES. Now die you gravy sucking pig!"

[presidio9]

[John O]

"Lovin' You", by Minnie Riperton.

It was best described by Johnny Carson "A twenty piece orchestra and all you can hear is that d### bird"

[lugsoul]

If so, it is w/o Grace - which means I don't think there is a single member who was a part of any band with "Jefferson" in the name.

[Colonel_Flagg]

LOL

It's more than the bird, though. It's the whole experience. Yeeesh.

[Corporate Law]

I thought she retired years ago. I did not slow down enough to see the photo, but I assume it is probably just the dude who sang "We Built This City" and a bunch of studio musicians.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Some fun songs there...Too Shy, Don't You Want Me, Come On Eileen, and The Safety Dance. I like 'em all. Doesn't matter to me if anyone else does or not. Afraid to list your own favorites?

No, not at all. I love all sorts of music, just not the pop tripe you (and millions like you, of course) seem to prefer. Some names: Mission of Burma, the Clash, Minor Threat, Metallica (old stuff), The Meatmen (Tesco Vee, a hero), U2 up to Joshua Tree, Echo and the Bunnymen (until Ian McCullough went real soft), The Smiths, The Cure (despite effeminate vocals from both), The Cult, Black Flag, Angry Samoans, Suicidal Tendencies, The Freeze, Motorhead, Dwight Yoakum, The Buzzcocks, Uncle Tupelo, The Replacements, Ministry, The B-52s, Sisters of Mercy, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Harry Connick, Jr., Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk (best piano player ever), Dave Brubeck, Dan Tyminski, Hank Williams (Sr., not Jr.), Paul Burch & the WPA Ballclub, Mother Love Bone, Screaming Trees, Alice in Chains, Jimi Hendrix (esp. his "Band of Gypsies" with Buddy Miles), Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions . . .

Taste, of course, is subjective. It's fun to argue music because no one's right, though we each think we are.

[dfwgator]

Rundgren is without any doubt the single most underrated, underappreciated musician that has ever lived. Its not an opinion, its a fact. My friend told me.

How he kept Andy Patridge's ego in check during the recording of XTC's Skylarking is a feat unto itself. (And Skylarking is a great CD)

[KKing]

That dude was Mickey Thomas.

Awesome Gospel singer from the rural South that also lent his vocals to Elvin Bishop for the big hit...

Fooled around and fell in love.

[Bobby777]

depends upon how Timmy tasted ... 8)

oh yeah, that was a bad one, too ... it must have been in response to events of that time period ...

[TheBigB]

Ah, an "alternative" guy. To each his own, but personally, I'd much rather listen to an upbeat Journey or 38 Special tune than hear the Dead Milkmen screaming about how "Life is Sh*t" or the Smiths' pretentious "Meat is Murder." Brings to mind a bunch of nose-ringed goths sitting around frowning about how tough their life is, and thinking, "How can anyone in this faux-Disney make-believe world be happy while the rain forest is being destroyed and..." blah blah blah. But again, if you like it, listen to it. Nobody else's opinion matters on the subject.

[theDentist]

Ugh! I'd rather listen to a Kerry speech.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Ahhah, so that's current, not '80s!

Sometimes I think I've seen more mullets since the '80s than during. Almost none of our teens wore mullets; most were short, buzzed and *spiked* (to me, the definition of punk = '80s); some mite have a little longer in back but not that you'd really notice. Grits wore just plain straight long hair, at best. But not what I'd call a mullet - just hippie-like.

[Corporate Law]

"..some mite have a little longer in back but not that you'd really notice. Grits wore just plain straight long hair, at best. But not what I'd call a mullet - just hippie-like."

You nailed it exactly. I think mullets are more of a thing now than then.

"Grits" is a word I have not heard since the 80s. ;)

[speedy]

The sad problem with "Muskrat Love" is that such a lame pile of excrement was a hit twice within a few years, the first time of course by America (who also made worst song candidate "Tin Man" among many others). If anyone out there still recalls "Telephone Man" by Merri Wilson, that deserves a nod for wretchedness, too. People have forgotten how many bad ones Rupert Holmes made, too. "Pina Colada Song" was already mentioned, but he churned out other garbage such as "Answering Machine" and "Him" that most people have mercifully forgotten. Except archy, of course, who not only knows every song ever recorded, but can play them on bagpipes or balalaika or glockenspiel or tabla or any other instrument you can come up with.

[Wampus SC]

My nominee: "How Do You Do" by Mouth & McNeil

[Wampus SC]

"Seeing Cheap Trick(twice), Joan Jett(twice), Kansas, Blue Oyster Cult, all sitting on Kudzu Hill.

Damn I feel old."

Seeing John Mayall, Jimi Hendrix, Tull, The Who (3 times), Janis Joplin, Mountain, The Band, Steppenwolf

Damn, I am old. :)

[Wampus SC]

"'D.O.A.' probably was the worst 'song' ever, but it hardly rates as a song ... that was just in poor, poor taste"

No doubt about it, "DOA" has got to be the worst thing ever recorded, period. To make it worse, my local station used to sandwich it in between "Neanderthal Man" and "Gitarzan".

[Wampus SC]

I think I want to leave the planet.