What would you consider to be the worst song of all-time?

[Moon Dawg]

Just checked out Muskrat Love. The music is great, the lyrics are rubbish.
And America's version is a lot better than the Captain & Tennille's version!

 Both awful. And I like America. In fact, God Bless America.

[Ron]

Surprised at the lack of love for Horse With No Name.

That song is excellent, I've loved it since I first heard it!

Me too. Best thing America ever did.

 If anyone needs to hear a truly bad America song...I submit "Muskrat Love."  The Captain & Tennille version is a nightmare.

They keep playing it on the radio at work lately.  I've got to admit I like it.  It's god awful but there's something ridiculously sweet about it. 

[bluesno1fann]

Barbie Girl.

f*** the people who made this, f*** this song, and f*** Disney Boy for reminding me of a absolutely horrible song which I was perfectly happy to forget about for a long, long time...

[clinikillz]

The Crazy Frog version of Axel F is pretty horrid.

[Alex]

The entire catalogs of Tool, Alice in Chains, Metallica, Godsmack, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen...

[Jay]

How can anybody tell me that THIS is a bad song? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0FAosDi4XA 

[RangeRoverA1]

Barbie Girl.

F the people who made this, F this song, and F Disney Boy for reminding me of an absolutely horrible song which I was perfectly happy to forget about for a long, long time...

It's not a good song, yes, but you can always listen to your best-of playlist & the trash will be forgotten. Why react so strongly about being reminded of 1 cheesy kids song & let it eat you inside, so to speak? That f-word angst was totally unnecessary, least in this unbiggie deal.

[bluesno1fann]

Barbie Girl.

F the people who made this, F this song, and F Disney Boy for reminding me of an absolutely horrible song which I was perfectly happy to forget about for a long, long time...

It's not a good song, yes, but you can always listen to your best-of playlist & the trash will be forgotten. Why react so strongly about being reminded of 1 cheesy kids song & let it eat you inside, so to speak? That f-word angst was totally unnecessary, least in this unbiggie deal.

I suppose it isn't a big deal 

[Heysaboda]

With the release of the dreadfully gag inducing "Chinese Food" by Alison Gold (View here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWLhrHVySgA) a few days ago, discussions of what may be the worst song ever started yet again, with many saying this is the worst ever.
In my opinion, I'm sure I've heard worse, but I can understand the people's views. 
I have yet to decide what I personally believe to be the worst song of all-time, but I would be very interesting in seeing your opinion on the worst

Has to be:

MacArthur Park sung by Richard Harris.

(shudder)

[Myk Luhv]

As far as musical atrocities go, I'd have to say "Smart Girls" is one of the greatest awful misfires any established musician could have made. It fails as a pop song, it fails as a hip-hop song, Brian Wilson's rhymes are beyond terrible and the samples were obviously handled by someone (Landy?) who had no idea how to use them to actually make a hip-hop beat. It's funny, yeah, but in the way that schadenfreude is funny.

[RangeRoverA1]

MacArthur Park sung by Richard Harris.

(shudder)

Remove the last 3 words & we agree to agree. Incredible boredom - that's what that song is, full stop.

[JK]

MacArthur Park sung by Richard Harris.

(shudder)

Remove the last 3 words & we agree to agree. Incredible boredom - that's what that song is, full stop.

That's Jimmy Webb's finest hour!! I bought it as soon as it came out in '68. A quite extraordinary record. It prompted an equally good suite of songs by Barry Ryan called "Eloise". Written by Paul Ryan. Those were the days.

[Jason]

MacArthur Park will make more sense to you when you sing it in the shower.

[JK]

MacArthur Park will make more sense to you when you sing it in the shower.

You mean that "Someone left a cake out in the rain" will make more sense?

[Jason]

It was clearly written from a female perspective and Harris is singing it specifically from the female perspective. Imagine being Richard Harris AND being caught in the rain on top of it. THAT is why the song is a classic. Only Richard Harris could bring that kind of power to a song. I mean hey, can you imagine what the song would have been if The Association didn't reject it? It wouldn't have been a blip on the radar. The song was so bad that it needed the overproduction and Harris' theatrics in order to work!

Actually, I can't really justify why it will make more sense to you when you sing it in the shower. You gotta try it.

[bringahorseinhere?]

This IS! the worst song by far!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixtCjzeqXmE

and they keep playing it here on the radio!

arrrrrrh!!!!! 

RickB

[RangeRoverA1]

It was clearly written from a female perspective and Harris is singing it specifically from the female perspective. Imagine being Richard Harris AND being caught in the rain on top of it. THAT is why the song is a classic. Only Richard Harris could bring that kind of power to a song. I mean hey, can you imagine what the song would have been if The Association didn't reject it? It wouldn't have been a blip on the radar. The song was so bad that it needed the overproduction and Harris' theatrics in order to work!

Don't know about all this & quite frankly, not interested in one bit. You say song is a classic? I'd say it's your subjective opinion, nothing more. I'm glad Association have nothing to do with this song. Ain't they smart? And finally, quoting someone on this board, bad song is a bad song.

Nice story, john.

[mickbrown]

Surrounded by Silence by Design the Skyline

[JK]

It was clearly written from a female perspective and Harris is singing it specifically from the female perspective. Imagine being Richard Harris AND being caught in the rain on top of it. THAT is why the song is a classic. Only Richard Harris could bring that kind of power to a song. I mean hey, can you imagine what the song would have been if The Association didn't reject it? It wouldn't have been a blip on the radar. The song was so bad that it needed the overproduction and Harris' theatrics in order to work!

Don't know about all this & quite frankly, not interested in one bit. You say song is a classic? I'd say it's your subjective opinion, nothing more. I'm glad Association have nothing to do with this song. Ain't they smart? And finally, quoting someone on this board, bad song is a bad song.

Nice story, john.

If you mean mine, RRA1, there's more to it. I hope my memory serves me correctly:

I only heard "MacArthur's Park" (Harris insisted on singing the apostrophe s) once on BBC radio and they made a complete mockery of it.  The trouble began when the DJ quite early on said something to the effect of "This is boring, let's leave it going but broadcast something else instead."  Then when the other, much shorter record finished he switched back to "MP", by which time Harris had moved on to part two ("There will be another song from me").  And then he did the same thing again with a short 45, gave another quick listen to "MP", dissed it again and turned it off!! I had to go to my local record shop to hear the whole thing. I loved it and bought it on the spot.   

[Alex]

This version actually makes more sense than the original: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh4zvQfDhi0

[JK]

This version actually makes more sense than the original: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh4zvQfDhi0

Really?! I reckon there's only one way to follow that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10W2hr1n9VU

[RangeRoverA1]

Radio announced song by some band & this garbage played: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk1ALEYfi54

[undercover-m]

maybe I'm just bitter because the Sasquatch lineup is so terrible, but:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXRviuL6vMY

they're headlining, and they're so annoying. how.

(I don't think this is the worst song ever, though. No idea what that would be.)

[JK]

Radio announced song by some band & this garbage played: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk1ALEYfi54

Hahaha. I accompanied Maywood on several occasions in the late '80s, early '90s when I was in that Dutch semo-pro functions band. The last time I even managed to learn their part of the programme off by heart. It's much easier if you can play without having to stare at lots of notes. So I have good memories of that concert. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maywood_(duo)

[Emily]

I assume there are lots at terrible songs I've never heard, and I'm exempting songs that I've only heard because I'm a particular fan of the artist (no obscure BB songs for instance)
Sussudio
Call me maybe
Everything I do (I do it for you)
We built this city
Don't worry, be happy
The "ooo ooo ooo no baby please don't go" Chicago song