I hereby declare that list null and void.

Also: Was “I Eat Cannibals” by Toto Cuelo #51 or something? Ever seen the video?

How about “New York City” by Nina Hagen?

Don’t get me wrong, I agree with a fair amount of their picks, but as usual, the problems with lists are a) ranking and b) exclusions. Oh, so deserving exclusions like Possum Dixon.

Oh yeah: No “Steal My Sunshine” by Len?

And I guess the list author loves some Anne Murray.

See what a flaming train wreck this exercise is? I’ll stop now.

Other ones:
#48 - THE BEATLES “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” 1968

I don’t know why - I just really enjoy this song.

BOBBY McFERRIN - “Don’t Worry Be Happy” 1988

By the same token that this ought to be considered a bad song, “This land is your land” is far worse - while McFerrin’s bit advocates being a moron, TLIYL is out-and-out communism.

WANG CHUNG - “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” 1986

In the words of Toranga Leela, “this wangs chung.” That reference alone is worth the song’s existence.

Also of note, it seems the person putting together the list has no concept of music before the year 1984. There are some truly horrid songs from long before that, but all they could come up with is one Beatles tune?

And where was Aerosmith’s “I don’t want to miss a thing”? If any song deserves to be - especially if you’re doing lousy songs from otherwise great groups - that one does.

I don’t see why anyone could hate the mmmm-mmmm song either, unless they just didn’t get it.

BOBBY McFERRIN - “Don’t Worry Be Happy” 1988

By the same token that this ought to be considered a bad song, “This land is your land” is far worse - while McFerrin’s bit advocates being a moron,

Wait, I thought McFerrin’s song was ironic. I thought he was using real problems to poke fun at the dopey folks who say happiness is a choice.

I hated that Mr. Mister song too, mainly because so many annoying, lame people seemed to think it really meant something back then.

That Billy Joel song is a piece of rambling idiocy, or am I missing something? What fire?

If only Billy Joel and Rod Stewart had died back around 1980.

Worst Moment The drum machine. If God exists, He probably hates drum machines.

Ok, this is another one where my interpretation differed. I thought she was questioning the existence of God, or at least questioning His interest in us. Whether she is or not, the song is sacriligious to Christians, because God is supposed to be among us, not off in the distance. You know, “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name,” footprints in the sand, all that.

Bobby McFerrin
I just don’t like the sound of this song. As for its intent… eh, I like stoner bands sometimes.

This Land Is Your Land
I also have no grudge against this one, despite the communistic underpinnings. As far as communist songs go, this one is pretty light-weight. Take out the last couple verses and it’s not even there.

Rod Stewart
He was good at some point?

From a Distance
My interpretation is the same as Blender’s. It’s a more religious and less good version of Imagine, which popped into my mind as a song that I expected to see on the list, given the sneering cynicism of the commentary. It’s more gnostic than Christian in its view of God and it’s not surprising that the Christian churches wouldn’t approve.

What If God Was One Of Us
This one is kind of the opposite of From a Distrance, whereas Midler sings of a distant God whereas Osborne sings of a very engaged one. Ironically, I remember reading that the Catholic Church didn’t like this song because God “is not one of us” or somesuch.

It’s catchy, but under scrutiny, I think they tried wayyy to hard to be “poignant” and thus went the one and out route (to my knowledge). I knew a guy who did a great Crash Test Dummies impression, who nailed the whole “this song is rrrrreally depressing, because we want to sound deeeep.”

BTW, I wrote my own riff on this idea (thanks for the spark), and I managed to not mention “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes. I’m more forgiving of the song now than when it first aired, but really, try to act out the song. As in, do what the singer says she does. So suck in a huge breath and scream “what’s going on?!” from your front porch some morning. Great way to find out who is carrying concealed.

It’s from “Go.” More of an ecstasy movie.

Wait, I may have been thinking of “Groove,” which came out about the same time. But I’m pretty sure the description applies to both. They kind of run together in my head, but I think the Groove soundtrack was a lot better.

If SF raver scenes interest you, “Groove” would entertain you. It was good at the time. But it’s mainly about the music, so you can get 95 percent of the value by getting the soundtrack. The best part is a beautiful song by Alter)Ring, “Infinitely Gentle Blows,” that you may have heard in one of its 100 or so different remixes. (”Supertrance Remix,” “Extra-Super-Mega Trancey Mix,” etc. )

Nashville Confessions: 50 Songs Not Joel’s best, but a good listen from time to time. #31 - Mmm Mmm Mmm […]