10 Worst Hard Rock Lyrics Of The 2000s
1. Photograph - Nickelback
Worst Offender: "What the hell is on Joey's head?"
For all their faults, many of these bands had merit going for them. Regardless of their lacklustre material, Creed always had great instrumentation behind Stapp and even Limp Bizkit had the nu metal pedigree to back them up. Those guys could barely squeak by, but why in the hell did we ever let "Photograph" become a thing?
From the moment that Nickelback infiltrated the airwaves, rock fans already were conflicted about the generic songwriting and less-than-stellar vocals of Chad Kroeger, but we were not ready for this band to try selling us nostalgia. It's admirable that the band wanted to pay tribute to their hometown, but the way in which they frame the story is so loose-ended that you can barely make out what is going on.
Instead of getting to know the sentimental value behind these places, the band is so caught up in the emotional heft of the lyrics that you can't take it seriously. "What the hell is on Joey's head?" I'm not sure...and I'm too pissed off to even care anymore.
After years of road work and a pretty decent start on the rock charts with "How You Remind Me," this was the point where Nickelback went from fairly decent to one of the most reprehensible bands of the decade. Radio may have played this into the ground, but if you're looking for something to really tug at your heartstrings, best you turn the dial real fast.