James Lileks: Worst Rock Song Ever? Give This a Spin

The Minneapolis/St Paul Star Tribune ^ | April 25, 2004 | James Lileks

[-YYZ-]

"Now wait a minnit! Mexican Radio is genius! What is wrong with you people?"

I don't know about genius, but it's a fun little novelty song.

To which let me add "The future's so bright (I got to wear shades)" by Timbuk3. Kinda silly, but at one time it reflected my outlook pretty well. Nostalgia seems to make objective judgements about music pretty much impossible.

I study nuclear science, I love my classes
I got a crazy teacher, he wears dark glasses
Things are going great, and they're only getting better

I'm doin' all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright I gotta wear shades

I got a job waiting for my graduation
50 thou' and year will buy a lot of beer
Things are going great, and they're only getting better

I'm doin' all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright I gotta wear shades

Well I'm heavenly blessed and worldly wise
I'm a peeping tom techie with x-ray eyes
Things are going great, and they're only getting better

I'm doin' all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright I gotta wear shades

I study nuclear science, I love my classes
I got a crazy teacher, he wears dark glasses
Things are going great, and they're only getting better

I'm doin' all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright I gotta wear shades
I gotta wear shades...

[bk1000]

Can anyone listen to "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow" without absolutley losing their lunch anymore???"

Arghhhh! You beat me to it.

[bk1000]

"Does that Merlot stuff come in 12 packs"

I seen it in a big 2 quart box. Dunno, sounds kind of metrosexual to me.

[dfwgator]

You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille 400 children and a crop in the field

I thought it went:

You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille
You b----, you s---, you w----!
4 hungry children
and a crop in the field
You b----, you s---, you w----!

[bk1000]

'Alone Again (Naturally) -- Gilbert o'Sullivan"

OK, you asked for it...How about "I can dance" , by Leo Sayer

[eleni121]

Gotta be one of the worst - and a lie to boot!

(IF YOU'RE GOING TO) SAN FRANCISCO


If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hand
If you're going to San Francisco
You will meet some gentle people then

ad nauseum
sung by Scott McKenzie, 1967

[-YYZ-]

"Bryan Adams? LOL"

Here's something I've often wondered about Bryan Adams and his song "The summer of '69": how old was he in '69, anyway? Well, a quick search reveals that he was born in '59, making him a bit older than me, but not old enough to have experienced the things he sings about in that song, at least not in '69. Purely calculated for commercial appeal to boomers is my guess.

[cyborg]

I wonder what Bryan Adams is doing these days.

[Barlowmaker]

"Playground in My Mind" by Clint Holmes

My Name is Michael
I've got a Nickel
I've got a Nickel Shiny and New
I'm gonna Buy Me
All Kinds of Candy
That's What I'm gonna do!

[MJM59]

The Wall - Pink Floyd. I never understood their so called musical genius

[-YYZ-]

"I wonder what Bryan Adams is doing these days."

I'd have to say I don't, I really don't. He had a few good tunes early on, of which I might even include "'69", but then he turned into a syrupy ballad singer "Everything I do", and I hate that crap.

[babaloo999]

LOL. That's the one I remember. It's a lot more fun with the audience participation.

[TheBigB]

'Cause Little Willy, Willy won't...go home...

[TheBigB]

[John] Denver's voice annoyed me sooooo much.

When I was a kid, I thought "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" was the coolest song ever. I still like it. :)

[6323cd]

You're absolutely right. That one is going to be the only scratchy record on the jukebox in Hell.

[TheBigB]

I live upstars from you...yes I think you've seen me before...

Just wanted to ruin your Monday. ;-)

[CobaltBlue]

The guitar solo on "Oh, Well" does go on too long, but it's not annoying, just self-indulgent. IMO.

[Tribune7]

I don't know that song but it sounds really, really bad.

[Tribune7]

I like that song too. I always took it as a real middle-finger waved at anti-Reagan lefties.

[CobaltBlue]

"flowers in your hair"
"gentle people there"

It rhymes. Not that it really matters . . . . still a dumb song. But it gets a pass because it does have historical value. There were plenty of nice hippies, and plenty of not-nice hippies.

It was a nice contrast to Nancy Sinatra, and that ilk, I thought.

But then, I like this:

I'm just mad about Saffron
Saffron's mad about me
I'm just mad about Saffron
She's just mad about me

{Refrain}

They call me mellow yellow
Quite rightly
They call me mellow yellow
Quite rightly
They call me mellow yellow

I'm just mad about Fourteen
Fourteen's mad about me
I'm just mad about Fourteen
She's just mad about me

{Refrain}

Born high forever to fly
Wind velocity nil
Born high forever to fly
If you want your cup I will fill

{Refrain}

So mellow, he's so yellow

Electrical banana
Is gonna be a sudden craze
Electrical banana
Is bound to be the very next phase

They call it mellow yellow
Quite rightly
They call me mellow yellow
Quite rightly
They call me mellow yellow

Saffron - yeah
I'm just mad about her
I'm just mad about Saffron
She's just mad about me

{Refrain}

Oh so yellow, oh so mellow

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/clipserve/B00000ICNY001001/0/103-9914959-2984660