Guilty Pleasures: Songs You're Ashamed Of Having On Your MP3 Player

[Mrsjumbo]

I don't mind Taylor Swift- I certainly think she is talented. But that "Shake It Up" song...it really seems to me like she phoned it in & wrote it in 5 minutes. It reminds me of a jingle for tv, like a shampoo commercial.

It does seem the popular thing now is to put a little rap ditty in the middle of a song. So many popular songs seem to have that.

[cpcathy]

Taylor Swift completely irritates me because I don't feel she's growing as an artist--correct me if I'm wrong, but all her songs seem to be about her exes and now about her haters. OK, "Shake it Off" is catchy, but it's shallow. She's going to have to start writing more meaningful stuff or her followers will go follow someone else.

[Mrsjumbo]

I think when she made the decision to go "pop" vs country, maybe she felt pop is not supposed to have depth?

[Tabbyclaw]

It's an obnoxiously passive-aggressive song. "Some people seem to think I'm vapid and shallow and obsessed with my disastrous love life. But I'm not one to complain. In fact, I'm so not bothered by those people that I'm going to write an entire song about how not bothered I am. I'm fine. Really."

 

There is some weird part of me that desperately wants to like her as a person. I don't have any idea why; I don't like her at all as an artist, not even a guilty pleasure. I just really want to find some proof somewhere that she has hidden depths of intelligence and/or warmth. Maybe because she seems to lack depth so aggressively that I just really want there to be something more to her.

Edited October 3, 2014 by Tabbyclaw

[DeLurker]

 

But that "Shake It Up" song...it really seems to me like she phoned it in & wrote it in 5 minutes. It reminds me of a jingle for tv, like a shampoo commercial.

Hadn't thought of that, but I wonder how long it will be before we do hear it on a commercial?  If I am not mistaken Happy is already used for a Fiat commercial, but I am thoroughly befuddled why they have Pharrell music in a commercial with P Diddy (you'll always be Puffy to me).

 

 

maybe she felt pop is not supposed to have depth

I don't think she's lost any depth with the transition. 

 

Actually, as a person who doesn't listen to country per se (I love Hank Williams and Patsy Cline plus a few other songs since, but that about sums it up), I never thought of her as a country artist.  She's always had so much cross over with pop.

[topanga]

Okay, I'll admit it. I like Iggy Azalea. I know that she's accused of gentrifying and possibly hi-jacking Southern hip-hop, and I know that one of the biggest reasons she's so popular is that she's a pretty young blonde. Oh, and she says it's okay to use the n-word as long as it ends with an '-a' and not an '-er'. But what can I say? I like Fancy. I like Black Widow.  They make me dance. (I haven't seen her video with J.Lo, so I can't comment on that one).

[PrincessEnnui]

Topanga, I am definitely judging that. >=)

 

I always considered One Way Or Another a guilty pleasure...

 

 

Then I found out it was by Blondie. Please excuse my ignorance. X)

[Tabbyclaw]

Got Love - Tove Lo

 

I...have no idea how to describe this song. It's not a song I like even though people are telling me I shouldn't. It's not even one of my "love it in spite of itself" songs. I hate this song. I hate everything about it, from its bland beat to the barely-there instrumentation to the bored-sounding singer to the stupid, stupid lyrics. And yet I can't stop listening to it. It's like the musical equivalent of tapping a pen on the table or jiggling your leg while sitting still: obnoxious, but still somehow nice to have going on in the background.

 

And more along the lines of my usual "love it in spite of myself," the new song from Fall Out Boy. It's not grabbing me by the throat the way The Phoenix does (which, I admit, owes some of its hold over me to the awesome Fullmetal Alchemist fanvid where I first heard it), but holy crap have I been putting the video on repeat and grooving tonight:

 

 

I'm starting to think Fall Out Boy is my official "GAH, WHY IS THIS AWESOME WHEN IT TOTALLY SHOULDN'T BE" band.

Edited October 14, 2014 by Tabbyclaw

[DeLurker]

We need that thread!

[DiamondDoll]

For me, at lot of the early 00's WWE themes. Limp Bizkit did an amazing Dead Man mix of Rollin' for the Undertaker I still listen to pretty regularly. Also Shane McMahon's entrance theme Here Comes The Money is stupidly catchy. I really shouldn't like them as much as I do.

[Jeebus Cripes]

I'm starting to think Fall Out Boy is my official "GAH, WHY IS THIS AWESOME WHEN IT TOTALLY SHOULDN'T BE" band.

 

I struggled with my liking Fall Out Boy for years, and now I'm finally at the point where I feel zero shame about it. They are awesome.

[Rick Kitchen]

I struggled with my liking Fall Out Boy for years, and now I'm finally at the point where I feel zero shame about it. They are awesome.

 

I feel that way about Panic! At the Disco

[JayKay]

It's not grabbing me by the throat the way The Phoenix does (which, I admit, owes some of its hold over me to the awesome Fullmetal Alchemist fanvid where I first heard it)

Haha I first heard that song on a Hannibal video and now it's on my phone, too. I'm convinced it could sell anything as badass. Imagine making a sandwich to that song.

I'm ashamed of liking that new Ne-yo song, "Jealous." Wait, what?! That's not Ne-yo? It's a... Jonas Brother?! Well, I already decided that I loved it back when I thought it was somebody else, so it hardly counts. Right?

[Tabbyclaw]

Haha I first heard that song on a Hannibal video and now it's on my phone, too.

 

You wouldn't happen to have a link to that video, would you?

[JayKay]

You wouldn't happen to have a link to that video, would you?

Here ya go, I'm on my phone and I don't know how to hyperlink:

[BizBuzz]

I am not ashamed to admit that I just put this song on my play list.  I was just sitting here at my desk working, minding my own business, with Music Choice in the background tuned into the 70's channel, and on comes a song I swear I haven't heard in decades.  OMG, what a rush of emotion, I was totally in love with Donny Osmond and I was barely 9 years old.  Swoon!

 

Go Away Little Girl

 

I found a video!!!  Look at the outfits!  I feel like a kid watching this!  ::giggle::

 

[emma675]

I hate myself, but I'm totally into that new Iggy Azalea song "Beg for It" and Taylor Swift's new song "Blank Space".

 

Megan Trainor and "All About That Bass" can go jump off a cliff, though.

[DeLurker]

24/7 Christmas music has started on some of my area radio stations.  I avoid them like the plague but have not reset my station buttons yet and accidently got one today.  It was playing Wham!'s Last Christmas. 

 

I listened to all of it.  And I liked it.

[Rick Kitchen]

Last Christmas is my favorite secular Christmas song.

[BabyVegas]

Barbie Girl by Aqua. It's really good for workouts. Plus it's catchy like the plague.

[ikmccall]

Bang Bang by Jessie J, Ariana and Nikki Minaj. Perfect for the car ride to work

[Rick Kitchen]

Bang Bang is filthy.  Watch these teens discussing the lyrics:

 

[Wiendish Fitch]

The pop version of "Let Me Be Your Wings" from Thumbelina. I love this cute, cheesy song (from a mediocre animated film from 20 damn years ago) so much I had to buy the whole damn Barry Manilow album of duets from the iTunes store to get it. That's right, a whole album of Manilow songs sits in my iTunes library.

 

Sigh. Let the ridicule commence, you know I can't stop you.

[BizBuzz]

That's right, a whole album of Manilow songs sits in my iTunes library.

 

You say that like it's a bad thing. 

 

I took my 14 year old daughter to see Barry earlier this year, she loved it, but did comment on why everyone there was old.

 

::giggle::

[ikmccall]

I went to a Manilow concert about ten years ago and had a blast! Does anyone know, besides the two who went with me? Not until now.

[magicdog]

Josie & The Pussycats - the original cartoon (1970).  I found a CD collection of all the tunes from the show - love it! 

 

The Hardy Boys (1969) - their album is available on iTunes and it's actually better than some might think.  Even the theme song is fun.

Most impressive is that the live action counterparts used to record the album and play in the opening credits all had viable musical backgrounds.  One guitarist, Reed Kailing eventually joined the Grass Roots, The girl was a former Playboy bunny but was also a trained jazz vocalist.  The drummer was a popular session and touring musician for the biggest R&B/Soul acts of the day.  The others were very skilled session musicians.  "One In A Million" is one of my faves.

 

I would also include HB's The Impossibles (1966) but they never released any vinyl and none of their songs were played completely in their shorts - but I do like what I can catch onscreen!  If it ever gets released somewhere in complete versions, I'd be the first to buy a collection.

Edited November 30, 2014 by magicdog

[harrie]

I remember The Hardy Boys cartoons --and I remember the Shaun Cassidy/Parker Stevenson version, too, sad to say.  Thanks, magicdog, for the trip back! And I did not know that the band had any real credentials -- interesting stuff.

[roamyn]

Megan Trainor and "All About That Bass" can go jump off a cliff, though.

Awe. I just heard it this week for the first time, and I'm kind of addicted to it. For the record I'm a 50 yr old.

[BizBuzz]

Awe. I just heard it this week for the first time, and I'm kind of addicted to it. For the record I'm a 50 yr old.

 

It's ok, I will join you.

 

My mother (92) and my sister (65) watch The Voice, and came across this:

 

 

They couldn't wait to call me and tell me to find the video cause it was the best song ever.  ::giggle::

 

My daughter (15) introduced it to me, and she loved it, so it was an automatic win for me regardless.  Now it's her ring tone on my phone.  If you have time, go check out the Covers thread in Music, the first post, another version that rocks to high heaven, if you ask me.  HA!

[bosawks]

This is the time of year when I start playing Turkey Lurkey Time in a perpetual loop...........

 

I.Am.Not.Ashamed!

[DeLurker]

Thou doth protest too much, methinks.

[bosawks]

Thou doth protest too much, methinks.

 

Yeah, I'm a little ashamed......

[nicepebbles]

Bell Biv Devoe and Fresh Prince? Say what! No shame! I gotta get those in my play list.

Looking at the tags on my Shazam*, some would expect me to be embarrassed about Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry. I can't help it with them. They make catchy ass songs and they put me in a good mood most of the time. Also, Iggy Azalea. I love "Fancy"!

*I can't remember what songs or artists I should be embarrassed about that are on my electronic media.

[roamyn]

Ok Biz Buzz I don't like this Voice cover. If I had heard this one first, I would not have checked out the original.

[BizBuzz]

Ok Biz Buzz I don't like this Voice cover. If I had heard this one first, I would not have checked out the original.

 

It's not my favorite either, however, my Mom and my sister really enjoyed it.

[aurora296]

I have the soundtracks to Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell and I know ALL the lyrics by heart. Why yes I went to a Catholic school in the 70's, why do you ask? 

 Day By Day-Godspell  (better known these days from the movie Meet the Parents...Ben Stillers off the cuff prayer)

All Good Gifts-Godspell

I Don't Know How To Love Him  from JCSS beautifully sung by Yvonne Elliman

Gesthemene-from JCSS the best version is sung by Ian Gillan from Deep Purple

 

Lots of songs here, particularly from the first 2 pages are not considered guilty pleasures to me at all. Lots of great tunes. I have a new download list ready. 

Like someone upthread mentioned this one which I LOVE:

 

 

Edited December 8, 2014 by aurora296

[Rick Kitchen]

One of my favorite songs is "Could We Start Again" from JCSS:

 

 

/

 

[Shannon L.]

*peaks in*  Fireball by Pit Bull! *runs out again quickly*

[GaT]

I'm going to hold my head up high as I sing along, I downloaded Christina Aguilera's "What a Girl Wants" & "Come On Over"

[DeLurker]

Going into the Wabac Machine, I still have residual embarrassment for liking Wishing Well by Terence Trent D'Arby.  The embarrassment was probably associated with what an enormous egotistical ass he was, but no self respecting alt rocker in the mid 80s would/could/should have liked him.

 

I also liked Tarzan Boy by Baltimora.  The shame runs deep.

[Wiendish Fitch]

I'm going to hold my head up high as I sing along, I downloaded Christina Aguilera's "What a Girl Wants" & "Come On Over"

 

Mind if I hold my head up high along with you?

[AntiBeeSpray]

Going into the Wabac Machine, I still have residual embarrassment for liking Wishing Well by Terence Trent D'Arby.  The embarrassment was probably associated with what an enormous egotistical ass he was, but no self respecting alt rocker in the mid 80s would/could/should have liked him.

 

I also liked Tarzan Boy by Baltimora.  The shame runs deep.

 

Don't be ashamed of the latter! It's a catchy tune.

[WendyCR72]

From above, is it sad that I associate "Oooh Child" with Matt Dillon's debut film in 1979, Over The Edge, about a bunch of troubled teens who end up going to jail/juvenile detention for a host of crimes? Except it wasn't sang by the original artist above, but a female singer named Valerie Carter.

 

Which is odd since the movie used songs from many of the big artists of the day including Cheap Trick's "Surrender".

 

Ahem. But yeah, that is how I know of "Oooh Child", as I said.

 

ETA link to the version used in the movie with scenes from said movie...

[Shannon L.]

I never saw Over the Edge, but the same song will always make me think of Boys in the Hood.  It was shown over the scene where the father (Laurence Fishburne) and his young son were driving past the boy's friends' house and saw the both of them (pre-teens, if I recall) being escorted out of the house by the police as their mother followed, crying.  It was quite sad and powerful.  That said, I still love the song and was surprised to see it in this thread  :)

[DeLurker]

Hall & Oates - Kiss on my List and You Make My Dreams (come true)

 

Dan Hartman - I can Dream About You (reportedly originally written with Hall & Oates in mind but they passed on it).

 

Oh the schmultz of it all.

[beadgirl]

I may or may not have a playlist called "girly pop hits" that may or may not have such songs as "Baby One More Time," "Genie in a Bottle," and "Complicated."

 

Mr. Beadgirl loves to tease me about my teenage love-affair with Def Leppard, but I just counter with his love of Wham.  And yes, I do have the greatest hits of both Neil Diamond and Howard Jones ("No One is to Blame"! Certainly not me!).

[Ohwell]

I've got Todd Rundgren's greatest hits CD.  I blast "Bang the Drum All Day" in my car and bang my head on the steering wheel.  I might be crazy but I am not ashamed. 

[DeLurker]

 

And yes, I do have the greatest hits of both Neil Diamond and Howard Jones ("No One is to Blame"! Certainly not me!).

Awwww...Howie!  I love the New Song, although never understood the video with the S & M mime (which I think I recently linked to in another thread).

[GaT]

Mr. Beadgirl loves to tease me about my teenage love-affair with Def Leppard, 

Stand with your head up high, "I've got something  to say, it's better to burn out, than fade awaaaaaay!" One of the best bands ever.

[Sandman87]

Nothing wrong with Def Leppard, except for the gawdawful tweedly-tweedly-tweedly synthesizer that John "Mutt" Lange inflicted on the remastered version of "Bringin' On the Heartache."