We’ve all had it happen. You have some friends over, programmed Pandora to your favorite group. And then that one song—that song—the one that is so cheesy it almost makes you ashamed for the group, comes on. And you spend the rest of the night apologizing to your friends, trying to convince them this band really is good, that one song was just an anomaly.
This has occurred more often than I can count. I admit, I spend an inordinate amount of time debating with friends whether the Stones or Bowie version of “Let’s Spend the Night Together Was Better” (it’s the Bowie). And I have some unique choices of brilliant artists (Neil Diamond). And more than one girlfriend has compared me unfavorably to Rob Fleming, the main character from Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity (John Cusack’s character if you’ve only seen the movie). Oh, and I make a lot of comments like that one in parentheses.
But I’m sure I’m not alone, so I thought I would do the world a service by compiling a list of the ten most embarrassing songs to pop up on Pandora, so you can prepare, try and disapprove as soon as they come up. Or so you can mock your friends when they play these songs for you.
A few clarifications. These are cheesy songs by otherwise great bands, not cheesy songs by cheesy artists. And the artist has to be good, just not ok. Led Zeppelin counts, Billy Joel doesn’t.
So check them out, see if you agree. I’ve included a link to each song, if you’ve somehow never heard them.
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17 Comments
This is such a stupid article. They’re not embarrassing at all, they’re just ‘Twists’ on what you come to expect from those artists. They might be ‘Letdowns’, but embarrassing they are not.
Billy Joel doesn’t count?
You just negated your entire premise.
This list is meaningless.
Are you an idiot? Good Riddance is one of their best songs.
Good Riddance is a beautiful song, if this song is to be included in a countdown, it should be in the top 20 of the 90′s, along with Longview and Walking Contradiction, and Good Riddance would be in the top 5
i hate that green day is on this list. Good Riddance is a wonderful song and is not embarassing.
are you crazy man?? beverly hills, good riddance, hitsville uk..these are some of the best songs of these bands!
This list is stupid. If you said “10 most unexpected” or “10 most out-of-character” songs that might make some sense. “Art of Almost” is EXACTLY what Wilco is about – craft, musicianship, and creativity.
Oh, dear. Calling the Clash album “SandAnista” once is a typo. Doing it twice is…well, embarrassing.
Ha ha! You sure pissed ‘em off dude. Listen to ‘em snivel and whine. Like who cares anyway. Some might say all these groups you mention are just crap anyway. Not me though. I feel your choices are perfect. Tenks.
Are you stupid? You basically said Good Riddance belongs up there because you cant play it at a party. The lyrics arent nonsensical they go great together if you only found one line of lyrics out of the entire song that made sense then you dont know anything about “embarrassing” music, or anything about Green Day.
It cracks me up to think that anyone would enjoy reading this pointless blog. I’ve Just finished perusing the damage. First of all you mention BIG names with embarassing songs; who the f#ck are ‘Satelite Rides’ & ‘Yardbirds’ is a fairly hefty stretch…??? Most of the songs in the list are great (& are great at parties, age depending of course). ‘All My Love’ by Led Zep, are you kidding me?? It’s a f#cken beautiful composition. You could have possibly used aerobic workout track ‘Carouselambra’ or country bumpkinesque ‘Hot Dog’ (both from In Through the Outdoor) to make your point. And speaking of RHCP… their music is what makes them them. All their hit singles are very distinguishable & ‘Dani California’ is a prime example of that… very catchy riff, powerful chorus & an awe-inspiring outro with John Frusciante soloing/shredding like a man possessed.
As a fellow music aficionado (like yourself no doubt), I’m bitterly disappointed & majorly offended by such trite opinions.
Think of 10 veritable lemons by 10 profoundly influential bands and I might reconsider your status as Human, Mister insipid article guy.
A point-blank 0/10 for now.
Maybe my definition of embarrassing is completely different to yours but… what about “Barbie Girl” by Aqua? Or the “Fast Food Song”, with all the actions? There are many songs that are a lot more embarrassing (especially if you know the actions!)
“Good Riddance” is actually a well-written song. Most of its lyrics were in metaphors, which is a good thing, considering it’s an acoustic ballad.
The only thing embarrassing about it, at least in my opinion, is that it’s too overplayed in so many traditional events.
Songs that should be included on this list are Psy’s “Gangnam Style”… Justin Bieber’s “Baby”… Aqua’s “Barbie Girl”… and Hanson’s “Mmmbop”.
This is so stupid…
U just did it like u r d only 1 who understands music..
Where is ‘the grt’ JB’s song ‘baby’ ..
i agree w/ a lot of the list but “Good Riddance” is a damn good song even if it’s not traditional Green Day. I like what you said about “Beverly Hills” being tossed into the wasteland of early 21st century music though. I went to a Weezer show a couple years ago and this kid totally went NUTS, lovin it when they played Beverly Hills and responded “what the hell is this when they played “Say It Ain’t So” Took everything I had not to slap some sense into him. Yea, and Ruby Tuesday and All of My Love both suck pretty hard too. If those were the only songs you ever heard by each band you would never come anywhere near the true ethos of either
Great list. I love reading all the butthurt comments too. I have no idea why, in 2012/13 people are still fawning over Green Day or Weezer. By 1998 Green Day officially became “music for my insipid preppy little sister to live by”; And Weezer has always just been acceptable emo music for 90′s nostalgia geeks. I emphatically agree with your take on the route RHCP took too. Now when I have the radio on I can tell it’s a slow, whiny Anthony Kiedis ballad by the first few notes and flip that switch faster than a fat girl eats a McDonald’s sandwich.