"We Built This City" voted as the worst single ever

News.Com.AU | April 21, 2004 | Patrick O'Neil

[yankeedame]

Dotty ditties with cringe factor

By Patrick O'Neil
April 21, 2004

LOVE or hate them you can't get these stinkers out of your head.

Blender magazine Blender Magazine has rated We Built This City as the worst single ever constructed in its list "The 50 Worst Songs Ever".

The magazine said the Starship song earned the accolade because it inspired "the most virulent feelings of outrage".

To make the list, each pungent ditty had to be a hit.

Entry was based on unintentionally poor songwriting.

Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder's maudlin duet Ebony and Ivory also featured, as did R.E.M's Shiny, Happy People and John Mayer's Your Body is a Wonderland.

But the inclusion most likely to spark calls of blasphemy is the listing of the Simon and Garfunkel ballad The Sounds of Silence.

"It's the poetry meaningfulness that got our goat," said Blender editor Craig Marks. "With self-important lyrics like, 'Hear my words that I might teach you', it's almost a parody of pretentious '60s folk rock."

Few outside the boot-scooting fraternity would contest the listing of the Billy Ray Cyrus atrocity Achy Breaky Heart at No. 2.

Fallen star Vanilla Ice made it in with perennial dance-floor filler Ice Ice Baby, as did good-times theme song Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin.

Eddie Murphy's ill-advised foray into music, with the 1985 tragedy Party All the Time, was evidence actors other than J-Lo should not sing. It ranked No. 8.

Herald Sun

[Colonel_Flagg]

Uh-oh .. I'm in trouble now. I am forced to counter with "Queen of the Night", from the "Bodyguard" soundtrack, Whitney Houston.

Sweating now ... ;)

[Auntbee]

Okay you guys. You've gone too far. Celine Dion?? EEEWWWW!

[MotleyGirl70]

This has to be at the top of the list somewhere.

Sunglasses at Night by Cory Hart

...cause you got it made with the guy in shades oh no. I said: I wear my sunglasses at night. I wear my sunglasses at night I wear my sunglasses at night. I'll say it to you now: I wear my sunglasses at night

...I wear my sunglasses at night I wear my sunglasses at night. I cry to you: I wear my sunglasses at night. I wear my sunglasses at night

[TheBigB]

I can't believe you're busting out songs I love! Next thing you know, you'll be bringing up "Missing You" by John Waite or "Gold" by Spandau Ballet. :)

[Colonel_Flagg]

Hey, I'm innocent! He put up Celine Dion :)

(is this where I suggest "The Power Of Lurrrrve"?)

[Colonel_Flagg]

Serious one-shot. And I think you're right. :)

[TheBigB]

Corey Hart actaully hit the Top 10 again with "Never Surrender." I should know. I have both of the 45s. :^)

[Colonel_Flagg]

Well, I guess my Corey Hart quotient is a little low. I freely admit it.

Doesn't seem to have hurt me much in later life, though :)

[TheBigB]

Aaaand I go in for the kill with the piece de resistance (French, meaning "piece of resistance")

[Freedom4US]

"Little dittie, 'bout Jack and Diaa-ane.. Two 'Merkun kidz doon the bess they can..

John Cougar Melonhead.

[South40]

That's probably one of Ritter's favorites also.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Yaaaaaah! My eyes! :)

You leave me no choice. Flashdance, Irene Cara.

He says, cringing ..

[StrictTime]

I hate it when that Tripod thingy happens...OK, here:

StrictTime's nomination for worst hit single EVER:

[Colonel_Flagg]

Oooh. Now there's one I hadn't thought of. The list of bad Mellowcrap songs is nearly endless. :)

My nomination: "I sing six words and say 'Small Town'."

[Auntbee]

Don't know if this has been mentioned: "Take A Letter Maria"

[Colonel_Flagg]

I think not. Wouldn't want that one to escape. :)

[TheBigB]

I LOVE THAT SONG! WHO SINGS IT??

I've heard it a couple of times on the oldies station here and I've been humming it for days. :)

[the OlLine Rebel]

Wow, I didn't even think of that!

But you're right - between being incredibly slow, stupid and asinine w/its BS socialistic view, and also so overly loved by every1 (except us), I'd say it's most overrated song and perhaps worst ever....

Imagine there's no "Imagine".....it's wonderful if you try....

[AgentEcho]

Has anyone mentioned Morris Albert "Feelings" ?

[miloklancy]

"Owner of A Lonely Heart" is by no means and let me repeat by no means indicative of the bulk of Yes' catalog. The 1970's albums by Yes like "Fragile" and "Close To Edge" are absolute classics though and bear no resemblance with the 80's line-up of Yes' foray into pop music ala "Owner Of A Lonely Heart". Also "Sussudio" is a Phil Collins tune, not Genesis and again is not at all like the old Genesis when Peter Gabriel fronted the band and Collins was behind the drum kit where he belonged.