Jun 27 2007 05:23 PM ET

What are the most irritating songs of all time?

Categories: Music

Blunt_lThe English are usually so polite and accommodating, but even they can take only so much; the limits of their good nature are revealed in UK paper The Sun’s poll listing the most irritating songs ever recorded. It’s not a bad list; hard to argue with their top two: "You’re Beautiful," by James Blunt (pictured), followed by Crazy Frog’s "Axel F." Then again, I still find Hanson’s "MMMBop" (No. 3) and Mika’s "Grace Kelly (No. 8) pretty adorable. And as novelty songs go, "Macarena" isn’t nearly as intolerable as "Who Let the Dogs Out"

Overall, the list leans pretty Euro; where are Fergie’s "My Humps" and "London Bridge," Gwen Stefani’s "Wind It Up," or, lest you think I’m picking on current dance divas, Bob Dylan’s "Under the Red Sky"? For my money, the most annoying track ever is Meredith Monk’s "Walking Song" (a tune I hope to hear only if I ever watch The Big Lebowski again or am sent to Abu Ghraib), followed closely by Michael Bolton’s cover of "When a Man Loves a Woman" (sorry, Mandi’s mom) and Bruce Springsteen’s "Mary Queen of Arkansas." How about you, PopWatchers?

Comments (1-30) of 145 Add your comment

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  • Galadriel

    That’s easy. The WORST and most ANNOYING song EVER: The Divinyls, “I Touch Myself”
    I get nauseous just thinking about it. Bllleeeecccchhhh!

  • Heather

    Tiny Tim – “Tiptoe Through The Tulips”

    It’s like some cracked out Disney production.

  • Sarah

    Heather, your mention of Disney reminds me of another classically annoying song, “It’s A Small World.” After getting off the ride at Disney you feel like poking your eye out. Then I find myself singing, “Duff Beer for me, Duff Beer for you, I’ll have a Duff, you have one too!” I AM THE LIZARD QUEEN! (Sorry, it’s been a long day.)

  • Heather

    Oh god, It’s A Small World is so very bad. It’s not so much that it’s chipper to the extreme, it’s that it’s chipper and *catchy*. If it weren’t so catchy, we could ignore how annoying it is.

  • Poinky

    Wasn’t this very same subject already brought up in Pop Watch within the past couple of months??

  • Stacey

    “I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You” by Savage Garden. Based on this song alone, I know I hate every Savage Garden Song before I’ve heard it.

  • Sarah

    Heather, yeah, that’s up there with “Be Our Guest”. I love Disney as much as the next guy, but some of those songs grate on the ol’ nerves sometimes!

  • smartygirl

    surely john mayer has to be near the top of the annoying heap. his creepily voyeuristic faux-sensitivity has been used by countless teen bulimics to induce vomiting.

  • DCR

    Without a doubt “I’m Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves and “All Star” Smash Mouth…God, they are like nails on a chalk board

  • Cracker

    Bobby McFarrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” tops my list. And that dreadful “Barbie Girl” song.

  • jen o.

    “My Humps” by Black Eyed Peas or “Hey Baby” by No Doubt. Shudder.

  • Auriana

    Anything by Dave Matthew’s Band, Fergie, or Gwen Stefani. “Yeah” by Usher, “You Don’t Impress Me Much” by Shania Twain, The Hamster Dance

  • JJ

    “Micky” by Toni Basil
    No offense to anyone, but “Woman” by John Lennon

  • Liz

    “You’re Beautiful” is at the top of my list for most irritating. Also “Smack That” and “Had a Bad Day” by Daniel Powter.

  • jennie

    “truly,madly,deeply” savage garden
    i agree with daniel powter’s “had a bad day”
    why is he singing so happily if he had a bad day?!

  • PJ

    “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin. The radio overplayed that song 20 years ago and I’m STILL O.D.’d.

  • Rahul

    ‘Oops, I Did It Again’
    And I agree with ‘You’re Beautiful’ -I don’t understand why they needed 4 songwriters for that

  • Nancy

    Sending out an SOS by the Police. How many times can they repeat the seem line over before you just want to punch someone.

  • sarah

    Any song by Nickelback tops my list of most irritating jams. I just can’t take that guy’s voice.
    BUT, I gotta say, James Blunt doesn’t bother me at all.

  • nathan

    Most irritating song ever is Finger Eleven’s “One Thing”, it’s not even up for discussion, it’s simply the worst damn song I’ve ever heard.

  • Fatima

    Like Poinky, I must also add that Popwatch just did this exact topic at the end of April. And it was full of injustice!

  • to Fatima

    I knew I was experiencing deja vu w/ this post, and as I recall there was the same hate for My Humps then too. And if you’re gonna pick a Gwen song, it has to be
    THE SWEET ESCAPE

  • Lori

    Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. My daughter’s favorite song, but if I hear him whine “If I just lay here” one more time, I’m going to run him over in MY car!
    Also, the Pina Colada song. Blech!

  • Brian

    Anything by Nickelback— truly horrible band

  • ZF

    Anything by Train, but most especially Drops of Jupiter. “Can you imagine your love, pride, deep fried chicken?” The most inane lyrics of all time. Others: Butterfly Kisses, Seasons in the Sun, Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless), American Pie, Chicken Noodle Soup, virtually anything played on so-called country radio stations. When I was 7 years old, a neighbor boy had a crush on me. At that age, I thought boys were icky, and whenever Silly Love Songs came on the radio, I covered my ears. Still do.

  • Leonardo DeCrappio

    Breakfast at Tiffany’s…stupid!

  • kats

    “Your Body is a Wonderland” by John Mayer. One of the worst songs. Ever.
    “Never Been to Me” Sylvia (?)
    “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” Poison ~ sorry, everyone I know loves that song and I just cannot tolerate it.
    “Lady In Red” Chris de Burgh (“Don’t Pay The Ferryman” is a great song however)
    “One Sweet Day” Mariah Carey and Boys II Men
    “Unbreak My Heart” Toni Braxton
    “Cotton-Eyed Joe”
    “Last Kiss” Pearl Jam and whoever originally recorded that horrid song

  • aron

    Any Mariah song.

  • kats

    ZF ~ I’m totally with you on “Seasons In The Sun” makes my ears bleed. Add “Wildfire” by Michael Martin Murphy (I think).

  • Turnip Truck

    There was some song in the 70s, I think it was called Run Joey Run??

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