Worst 100 Singles Of 2003 So Far

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

1. Blur - "Out Of Time"

(childish? me?)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:19 (twenty-two years ago)

2. Flaming Lips - "Fight Test"

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:19 (twenty-two years ago)

3. The Thrills - "Big Sur"

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:20 (twenty-two years ago)

disappointed to see you starting this thread Tom - tsk tsk!

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:20 (twenty-two years ago)

4. Madonna - "American Life"

I know James but it was either that or work.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:22 (twenty-two years ago)

5. "Big Yellow Taxi" Counting Crows

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually there's not been that many bad singles this year, maybe 100 is ambitious!

Oh wait

6. One True Voice - "(Shakespeare's Way With) Words"

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:23 (twenty-two years ago)

7. Sugababes - "Shape" (fine on the album, horrible when it ambushes you)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:24 (twenty-two years ago)

8. "Girl All The Bad Guys Want" Bowling for Soup (how exactly does growing a moustache make you hard?)

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:24 (twenty-two years ago)

8. Metallica - "St. Anger"

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:25 (twenty-two years ago)

9. that Evanescence song

― chad (chad), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:25 (twenty-two years ago)

metallica - st anger

(doh)

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:25 (twenty-two years ago)

is "Sing for the Moment" this year?

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not a fan of that Evanescence song, but alot of songs deserve to rank above it

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:26 (twenty-two years ago)

10. Ashanti - "Rock Wit U"

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:27 (twenty-two years ago)

is air force ones this year?

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:27 (twenty-two years ago)

11. "Business" Eminem

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:28 (twenty-two years ago)

yes I think so James, I don't really hate it though. (Eminem this is not Evanessence)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:28 (twenty-two years ago)

12. “Come Into The Darkness” Clearlake

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:29 (twenty-two years ago)

13. “Madame Helga” The Stereophonics

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:29 (twenty-two years ago)

14. “Help Me Breathe” Munkster

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:30 (twenty-two years ago)

15. “Karaoke Soul” Tom McRae

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:30 (twenty-two years ago)

16. “Flesh and Bone” Mankato (They're going to be big, you know...)

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:30 (twenty-two years ago)

16. Goldfrapp - Train

try as I might, Black Cherry still sounds ugly and desperate....

― russ t, Friday, 18 July 2003 08:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't like "Air Force Ones" nearly as much once I realized it was about shoes and not Air Force One, but then I thought about it and realized I liked even more than I did to begin with becuz it's about shoes

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:31 (twenty-two years ago)

17. "MoBsCeNe" mArIlYn MaNsOn

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:31 (twenty-two years ago)

18. "txt msg" Vic Twenty

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:31 (twenty-two years ago)

19. "Gold In Them Hills" Ron Sexsmith ft Chris Martin

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:32 (twenty-two years ago)

20. "So Far Away" - Staind

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:32 (twenty-two years ago)

(Congratulations Russ for being the first person to post a track I think is grebt!)

(And now Dom too!)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:32 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a honour, Tom.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:33 (twenty-two years ago)

21. blur - "crazy beat" (i dont hate out of time though)

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:33 (twenty-two years ago)

22. "Busta Rhymes Does Some Singing, Is Rubbish" Mariah Carey

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:33 (twenty-two years ago)

23. "Cry" Kym Marsh

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:34 (twenty-two years ago)

24. "All Over" Lisa Maffia

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:34 (twenty-two years ago)

25. "You Said No" Busted

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:34 (twenty-two years ago)

26. Richard X vs Liberty X - "Being Nobody"

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Whoa. For a moment I thought this was the "Top 100 Singles" thread and I had entered an alternate universe. Fun!

Well anyways the Ashanti song isn't really contemptible...the beat is nice the song is just totally lazy and insipid. The Goldfrapp single was OK I thought, as a lark. The Metallica single is to earlier Metallica singles what "You Got Me Rockin'" is to earlier Rolling Stones singles. The Evanescence song is good. In my opinion.

27. Uncle Kracker, "Drift Away"

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:35 (twenty-two years ago)

28. I assume the Vines released a single this year.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:35 (twenty-two years ago)

29. Likewise Biffy Clyro

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Dom you're only allowed singles you can name. Otherwise

30. Some trip-hop shite Passantino likes by DJ Format or one of that lot.

is entirely permissible!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Please don't say I like trip-hop, or I'll cry.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:38 (twenty-two years ago)

31. The one with the beat that goes tsch-tsch-tsch and that woman singing, oh you must know it, come on it's really annoying.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:40 (twenty-two years ago)

ahem.

28. 3 Doors Down, that single pandering to wartime sentiment whatever it's called, you know "love me when I'm gone" or whatever

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:42 (twenty-two years ago)

31. Big Brovaz-"Favorite things"

― Michael B, Friday, 18 July 2003 08:43 (twenty-two years ago)

2. Flaming Lips - "Fight Test"

WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!

― Evan (Evan), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:50 (twenty-two years ago)

eh on second thought that 3 doors down single isn't *that* bad it's just hard to take in the present circumstances.

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:52 (twenty-two years ago)

32.Busta Rhymes & Mariah Carey - I know what you want
33.Jennifer Lopez - All I Have
34.Alicia Keys - Girlfriend
35.Lasgo - Pray
36.Sylver - Living My Life
37.Sylver - Why Worry
38.DJ Boozywoozy - One More Try

and the undisputed winner:

39.DJ Galaga - It's On You (this is unbelievably bad)

― Siegbran (eofor), Friday, 18 July 2003 08:59 (twenty-two years ago)

#33 is one of the worst hit singles since ever.

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:01 (twenty-two years ago)

32. Christina Aguilera: 'Beautiful' - in that completely soulless house remix

33. Señor Coconut's cover of 'Smoke on The Water'

34. Has Robbie released anything this year? He's becoming more and more of an embarassment to himself anyway...

― Jay K (Jay K), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:02 (twenty-two years ago)

OK, so that's 40-42, then!

― Jay K (Jay K), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:02 (twenty-two years ago)

43) Jason Nevins - Heaven

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:16 (twenty-two years ago)

44. R. Kelly - "Ignition" (remix)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:41 (twenty-two years ago)

is it worth listing all the stuff like Fast Food Roxors 'Fast Food Song', D-Side 'Invisible', Gareth gates 'Spirit In The Sky' (this is still the biggest selling single of the year - but yeh it was for charity so that must be why) and ATC 'Fly On The Wings Of Love'? i guess that would be boring

Good Charlotte 'Boys & Girls' then

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:46 (twenty-two years ago)

other than the superb Goldfrapp (shame on you Russ), Blur's 'Out Of Time' is probably the song i dislike the least on this thread

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:47 (twenty-two years ago)

46. Kelly Osbourne 'Shut Up' or 'Come Dig Me Out' if that was also a single (can't remember)

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:49 (twenty-two years ago)

47. Amanda Perez - "Angel"

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:49 (twenty-two years ago)

47. Daniel Bedingfield 'I Can't Read You'
48. Daniel Bedingfield 'Never Gonna Leave Your Side'
49. Daniel Bedingfield 'If You're Not The One' (was that this year?)

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought about Gareth Gates but then someone else said something and I forgot. The other ones you mentioned aren't great Stevem but they're OK! And "Shut Up" was last year but it's better than anything you've ever liked! (probably)

And a Bedingfield hata too - stevem you have mysterious ears :(

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:55 (twenty-two years ago)

(Haha did anyone see Bedingfield on Ch4's Popbeach on Sunday? He was so bad I felt embarrassed for him.)

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:56 (twenty-two years ago)

hey at least i have ears (hardy har)

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:57 (twenty-two years ago)

oh dear i like quite a lot of these songs so far. anyway

50. longview - further
51. feeder - just the way i'm feeling

― pete b. (pete b.), Friday, 18 July 2003 09:59 (twenty-two years ago)

52. Cheeky Girls 'Allo We Arr Dur Easy Targetts' aka 'Cheeky Holiday'

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 10:01 (twenty-two years ago)

one for you Tom

53. Richard Ashcroft 'Buy It In Bottles'

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 10:02 (twenty-two years ago)

The latest Bedingfield single is a bit feeble but I still believe in him man.

Thankyou stevem.

PS CHECK THE MEANING!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 10:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Bedingfield is just SO naff. He looks like he should be working in B&Q or something.... or a Saturday boy in Woolworths. Funniest moment on TOTP for years was the poor lad attempting to dance to his 'God, it's really poo, this', you know, his big...err...'hit'.

Goldfrapp - didn't bother with them in Glastonbury, really hate the album.... but! The new video for Strict Machine (another very awful single I reckon) is amazing, and they were pretty fantastic on Graham Norton the other week. Alison Goldfrapp - mad as a fucking hatter, but quickly turning into Kylie for the grown ups it seems.....

― russ t, Friday, 18 July 2003 10:23 (twenty-two years ago)

54. Jet 'Dirtysweet EP'

None more twelfth-rate

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Friday, 18 July 2003 10:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom are you drunk at work?

― Cozen (Cozen), Friday, 18 July 2003 10:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Et tu Cozen? :(

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 10:36 (twenty-two years ago)

55. that new linkin park song is also pretty bad.

― Jay K (Jay K), Friday, 18 July 2003 10:40 (twenty-two years ago)

"PS CHECK THE MEANING!"

56. Fast Food Rockers
57. Xtina, "Fighter"
58. Javine, whatever it's called

Jay K are you on crack at work?

― Cozen (Cozen), Friday, 18 July 2003 10:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Tico I have checked the meaning, and it is good.

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:06 (twenty-two years ago)

dam i missed Goldfrapp on G Norton, agree that the 'Strict Machine' video is great - she's like Little Red Riding Hood in The Matrix surrounded by big bad agent wolves, but the track is great too - really got the Donna Summer/Kate Bush technoglam vibe locked down.

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Is Gareth Gates really the UK's best selling single of the year so far? Further proof that all under-15s should be banned from record shops....

Goldfrapp on G Norton - I only caught half the song, but it was probably the best live act I've seen on that show - a real spectacle. But then, I still think Goldfrapp are one of the best live acts I've seen in many a year. Not sure how Black Cherry will sound live, though, but I'll find out August 25th when they support Massive Attack at that open air Bristol gig.
What's happened with Goldfrapp and America? Aren't they finally breaking there?

― russ t, Friday, 18 July 2003 11:13 (twenty-two years ago)

The GG single was the Comic Relief one which always sells enormously. Isabel told me that the video was quite good, I wouldn't have minded the song except I'd got bored of it the second time it was out, further proof that anyone over 25 should be banned from listening to the radio I fear.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:24 (twenty-two years ago)

got bored of it the second time it was out

you mean Dr & The Meds? i can't remember if i liked or hated that when i was a kid - i think the latter.

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:29 (twenty-two years ago)

59. Kraftwerk - Tour De France 2003.

― Mil, Friday, 18 July 2003 11:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah me too, though I saw a clip of them whooping it up at some hippie festival and it all looked quite jovial so I don't hate them any more.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:40 (twenty-two years ago)

60. David Sneddon "Don't Let Go"
61. Blazin' Squad "We Just Be Dreamin'"
62. Jennifer "Jenny From the Dock" Ellison with her horrific Transvision Vamp cover. and has anybody seen the video? they've digitally stretched her by about 20%

― j0e (j0e), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Ive not actually heard the Ellison record but I have a soft spot for it because it got Andrew Mueller so exerted in the Guardian.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Cozen: I only do crack for saturday night. I'm one of these weekend junkies that everybody talks about...

oh, and:
60. Dave Gahan: Dirty Sticky Floor

― Jay K (Jay K), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:50 (twenty-two years ago)

63. Did "Jenny From The Block" come out this year? Because that song is THE FUCKING APOCALYPSE OF SHIT.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:50 (twenty-two years ago)

No, last year, Dan, you might remember it from my top 20 tracks of 2002 article!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:51 (twenty-two years ago)

nope - but "I'm Glad (I look like Tina Turner in my video)" did so that can be #64

― j0e (j0e), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm so tempted by 'Misfit' and 'Crazy in Love' but not until the lower reaches (#200-250) start showing up.

― Cozen (Cozen), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Next Cheeky Girls single - "Cheeky In Love"?

― j0e (j0e), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:53 (twenty-two years ago)

65. "21 Questions" - 50 Cent

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:54 (twenty-two years ago)

how can anyone hate the fast food rockers?!

''26. Richard X vs Liberty X - "Being Nobody"''

YOU CRAZY?

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:54 (twenty-two years ago)

66. Skin - Trashed (now, THIS really is the worst single 2003)
67. Ben Harper – With My Own Two Hands
68. Craig David feat. Sting – Rise And Fall
69. Thicke - When I Get You Alone
71. Eminem – Sing For The Moment
72. IIO – At The End
73. Melanie C – Here It Comes Again

― Mind Taker, Friday, 18 July 2003 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

74. Godsmack. The particular song is irrelevant.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Objectively it may not be the worst Julio but it isn't good and it's the worst single I spent money on this year.

(Actually no it isn't but it would be churlish to blame anyone but me for Vanguard feat Queen - Flash)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

75. Ginuwine - "In Those Jeans". It was really liberating when I realized that I just hated him, period.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:57 (twenty-two years ago)

uh, somehow missed no 70 on my list so here goes, and I know it won't help my ILM credentials but...

70. !!! - Me And Guiliani Down By The Schoolyard (A True Story)

(no, I don't "get" LCD Soundsystem either)

― Mind Taker, Friday, 18 July 2003 11:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I love the way that the Fast Food Rockerss keep talking about how they're ABSOLUTELY NOT promoting fast food. No, not at all.

Maybe they should have a b-side that goes:

Some wheatgrass juice, some wheatgrass juice, a Linda McCartney and some wheatgrass juice, raw carrots, raw carrots, a Linda McCartney and some wheatgrass juice

― j0e (j0e), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:58 (twenty-two years ago)

76. Ashley something-or-other - "Wimmin"

Was LCD's "Give It Up" this year? That was awful. They seem to oscillate between making fabulous and laughable tracks.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:59 (twenty-two years ago)

75. Justin Timberlake "Rock Your Body"

< hides >

― j0e (j0e), Friday, 18 July 2003 11:59 (twenty-two years ago)

That's JT's best single, though! (Well, except for the new one. NOTE TO JT: You sound about 8,000,000 times better when you don't use your sinuses to sing.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:00 (twenty-two years ago)

77) InMe - Crushed Like Fruit

This is the winner, by the way. I honestly do not believe a single person on the board will have anything nice to say about it.

I could probably fill out this list on my own, but pump it up to 80 with:

78) Jennifer Lopez - I'm Glad
79) Audio Bullys - The Things
80) B2K - Girlfriend

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:02 (twenty-two years ago)

justin is rub full stop.

― j0e (j0e), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh god. I just remembered that I dreamt that I was in that Stereophonics "Maybe Tomorrow" video last night. So I'd like to add that to the list

― j0e (j0e), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Agreed, but "Rock Your Body" is tolerable and the new one I heard the other day on the radio is genuinely great, embarassing banter towards the end aside.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, someone already did I'm Glad - switch for All I Have, then.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Someone already did "All I Have"!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:05 (twenty-two years ago)

3 people have mentioned "I'm Glad" now - thats not the one with LL Cool J is it, because that one was quite good.

OH LORD WAIT there is one single I hate more than all others, it's the really jaunty housey one with the horns on and it has the word "licketysplit" on it which always makes me think of Solex whose records I also dislike and wish I didn't even know about but even aside from that it's rotten, maybe it's called "It Just Won't Do", who did it? Anyone? That's number zero there that is.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:05 (twenty-two years ago)

That'd be Tim Deluxe, and it was 2002. Cos it was being blared out of the stereo of Cunt Next Door from about October onwards...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh frig - switch for... did that bloody Irv Gotti And Ja Rule And Ashanti And VK And Several Thousand Others And His Dog thing come out this year?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:10 (twenty-two years ago)

"All I Have" is the one with LL and people keep mentioning it because it's really, really horrible.

"I'm Glad" is the completely unmemorable one with the "Flashdance" video featuring J.Lo dancing in her panties during the audition scene.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:12 (twenty-two years ago)

also:

81) Room 5 - Make Luv
82) Jemini - Cry Baby
83) Turin Brakes - Average Man
84) Turin Brakes - Pain Killer
85) Athlete - Westside

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:14 (twenty-two years ago)

86) Robbie Williams "Come Undone"

― j0e (j0e), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:22 (twenty-two years ago)

has anyone mentioned TATU? Surely two of the worst singles of the year.

― russ t, Friday, 18 July 2003 12:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Jenny From the Dock

PLEASE tell me she's gonna do this as a song!

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:40 (twenty-two years ago)

87) Transplants - Diamonds & Guns
88) Shania Twain - Forever & For Always
89) Madonna - Haaaaaaaaaallywood
90) Ronan Keating - The Long Goodbye

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:40 (twenty-two years ago)

While sorting out the archive last night I found that NYLPM was writing about T.A.T.U. back in August '02! I was so proud!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I think any single you can imagine being covered well by a Klone Records artist should be disqualified, too.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:42 (twenty-two years ago)

ilm in hating r&b shockah.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"Use other words please."

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:55 (twenty-two years ago)

use other straw dogs pls.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 18 July 2003 12:56 (twenty-two years ago)

What is the percentage of R&B tracks on this thread? I reckon no more than 5%! But still a reason for Sterling to be snootily jaded!

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Friday, 18 July 2003 13:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks to whoever reminded me of that Ashley Hamilton thing. Did he bone a Sugababe recently? Or am I thinking of someone else? Is there life on Mars etc?

Which brings me to...

91. Hot Action Cop - 'Fever For The Flava'

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Friday, 18 July 2003 13:04 (twenty-two years ago)

its just that people picked some of the BEST ones!

(runs away crying)

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 18 July 2003 13:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan Perry in hating r&b that really is shit despite what others say non-shockah.

There is enough good stuff out there (Beyonce, Lumidee, Thalia, Mya, Wayne Wonder, the latter JT singles) that I don't need to waste time with mediocre production pets (Ginuwine, Ashanti) or overhyped artists who consistently fail to live up to their potential (R. Kelly).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 13:05 (twenty-two years ago)

*sings* "go Dan, get busy..."

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan Perry OTM. "All I Have" is dreadful, "I'm Glad" actually has a nice backing track but as usual Jennifer Lopez's vocal is naff.

All of Ashanti's songs sound like codas stretched out to single length.

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 18 July 2003 14:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Sterling if you look at the "Top..." list you'll see there is plenty of R&B there as well. It's just that there are better and worse examples of the genre.

Or does ubiquity make something good?

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 18 July 2003 14:31 (twenty-two years ago)

92. Vivian Green - Emotional Rollercoaster*
93. Young Gunz - Can't Stop, Won't Stop

*R&B has been amazing this year and would probably make up the majority of my top singles list, but this song is fucking awful and I can never reach for the dial fast enough when it comes on

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 18 July 2003 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

The Jet EP has to be the worst fifteen minutes of recorded music of all-time. I'm not exaggerating. This shit is so offensive. So weak.

94. Jewel - Intuition
95. Bone Crusher and some others - Never Scared Remix

― Sam Bloch, Friday, 18 July 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

why do i like that Jewel song as much as i do? it can't just be because i fancy the pants off her - i've never cared for any of her previous materiak...

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Wait, has no one mentioned Where Is The Love? That's number fucking one.

― Samuel, Friday, 18 July 2003 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

That Vivian Green song is great, though!

why do i like that Jewel song as much as i do? it can't just be because i fancy the pants off her - i've never cared for any of her previous materiak...

Perhaps because the new song sounds nothing like her previous material? (Also, she seems to have either switched vocal coaches or has started working with one and is much stronger vocally than she used to be.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 14:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Last time I DJed "Where Is The Love" was the only tune which had people coming up and asking what it was (in a positive sense!)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

who's this 'Where Is The Love?' by?

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

That song has some nice production touches and the tune is amiable enough, and I suppose it's nice to hear an actual anti-war sentiment in a hit song, but otherwise it's really the pits, overbearing and arrogant in an off-putting way ("sometimes I feel like the weight of the world's on my shoulders..." mm-hm), and dear God the chorus cloys.

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 18 July 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan: Jewel uses fewer of her annoying mannerisms on that new single (doesn't make it any good) but she still sounds self-conscious and constricted everywhere except her middle range. (She affects a little growl on either end as if to signify soulfulness because she's actual singing instead of whimpering.)

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 18 July 2003 14:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Black-Eyed Peas feat Justin Timberlake. It's got a lovely tune and it's marvellously blithe and summery, the lyrics are hit and miss I'll grant you.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Friday, 18 July 2003 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

RE "Where Is The Love": The chorus is really the only problematic portion of that song; I felt a lot more kindly towards it after I saw the video.

RE "Intuition": I would normally agree but she blew my wife away during the most recent Divas thing on VH-1 whereas before my wife really, really, really, REALLY hated her, to the point where she would throw things if Jewel came on TV/the radio. I'd also argue that the strengthened middle-range is precisely what makes the vocals on this single stand out so much from her previous ones.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

It is a little too insistently summery for my tastes.

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 18 July 2003 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually on second thought it's mostly in the low range that Jewel is insufferable. Her stretches to the high notes can actually be kind of appealing.

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 18 July 2003 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

in the chorus right after she says 'intuishhhhawn' the next bit sounds a lot like 'i am gettin so hot i wanna take my clothes off'

just wishful thinking i guess

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

dammit we need to combine 'Intuition', 'Hot In Herre' and Duran Duran's 'Rio' to create the best song ever

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 18 July 2003 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

mon·o·ma·ni·a
n.

1. Pathological obsession with one idea or subject.
2. Intent concentration on or exaggerated enthusiasm for a single subject or idea.

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 18 July 2003 15:11 (twenty-two years ago)

The Black Eyed Peas song has the most obvious production - the actual lyrics are weak as fucking hell ("I'M SICK OF CHILDREN HURTIN EACH OTHER" and shit like that) - and the chorus is so cloying I feel like punching Justin Timberlake ... but then I remember how awesome he is.

To summarize:

Bad lyrics.
Bad, stupid, annoying 'theme.'
Bad production in the chorus.
Bad flow, except for Taboo. His voice is awesome.
Bad beats in the verse.
Sounds like a zillion other songs I've ever heard.

Where Is The Love?: 2/10

Now Let's Get Retarded, that's just awesome.

― Samuel, Friday, 18 July 2003 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I really really really really fucking hate "Where is the Love"

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 18 July 2003 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

i contend that 'can't stop won't stop' is the best single of the year by a ridiculous distance and you, al, are a chump

― Chip Morningstar (bob), Friday, 18 July 2003 17:54 (twenty-two years ago)

96. Avril Lavigne - Losing Grip

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Friday, 18 July 2003 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Four slots left -

96) Foo Fighters - Times Like These
97) Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop
98) Joe Budden - Pump It Up

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 18 July 2003 18:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Obv those should be 97 98 & 99...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 18 July 2003 18:08 (twenty-two years ago)

BUDDEN AND LAVIGNE WITH ANOTHER 2 CLASSICS WHAT IS WRONG WITH U PPL

― Chip Morningstar (bob), Friday, 18 July 2003 18:08 (twenty-two years ago)

fucking english

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 18 July 2003 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

they won't understand / they can't understand!

― James Blount (James Blount), Friday, 18 July 2003 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Is it Joe Budden's fault I had another really, really awful one that I've completely forgotten but will immediately launch into my head once someone posts #100?

Yes.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 18 July 2003 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah blount learn what an air force one is before lecturing the uk on hiphop, kay?

― Chip Morningstar (bob), Friday, 18 July 2003 18:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Right.

I'm pleased to say I've only heard/of about 40% of this list. I'm quite happy under this pebble.

Anyone mentioning Blur or Goldfrapp on this list is totally fucking mental. OK, "Crazy Beat" is pretty lame-o-rama by Blurry standards, but there's no fuckin' *way* it's worse than Madonna's "Hollyoaks" song.

Much as I love the FLips, I must sadly concur that "Fight Test" was a bloody daft choice of single (vindicated slightly by a decent video, however).

Worst song of the year? Counting Crows is way too obvious. Jennifer Ellison's "Baby I Don't Care"? Ditto.

100. Dido - "White Flag"

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Friday, 18 July 2003 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

"I'm Glad" is worse than "All I Have." There, I said it. I don't usually care about lyrics, but that chorus is terrible.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 18 July 2003 19:04 (twenty-two years ago)

B-b-but "I'm Glad" has a celeste!

― amateurist (amateurist), Friday, 18 July 2003 19:22 (twenty-two years ago)

It does? I have absolutely no recollection of the damn song.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 18 July 2003 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Dammit, will somebody PLEASE tell me just what the fuck is wrong with "Fight Test"??? Because that song just OWNS me.

― Evan (Evan), Friday, 18 July 2003 21:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Honorable mention: Cold, "Stupid Girl"

― Nick Mirov (nick), Friday, 18 July 2003 21:46 (twenty-two years ago)

ok to put the matter to rest 1nce and for all: 'all i have' is good. 'i'm glad' is the true bad j-lo single (the only one of hers i hate more is 'let's get loud'). i was gonna defend 'can't stop won't stop' but chip is an ilm fiend these days and got there first! but listen to him, he's right about avril (losing grip is her best song except maybe for sk8er boy) and budden. i havent heard the bonecrusher rmx but there's just no way it belongs here!

ok so that leaves at least new 3 slots! i propose all 3 delta goodrem singles, esp the last one 'innocent eyes': blurgh.

― minna (minna), Saturday, 19 July 2003 00:50 (twenty-two years ago)

'i'm glad' ain't nothing special as a single, but the video is incredible, genius, incredible, super fantastique.

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 19 July 2003 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

nick the cold song is fantastic u r nutz

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Saturday, 19 July 2003 01:23 (twenty-two years ago)

James your penis must have an extraordinary aesthetic sensitivity.

― amateurist (amateurist), Saturday, 19 July 2003 03:16 (twenty-two years ago)

it's pomo no diggity no doubt

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 19 July 2003 03:24 (twenty-two years ago)

hey, did anyone put nick cannon f/ b2k - "feelin' freaky"? christ that song is bad. the best is when r. kelly just shows up in the video.

― samuel, Saturday, 19 July 2003 03:45 (twenty-two years ago)

freaky is another fantastic song! that's f'sho on my best list along with can't stop won't stop unless i decide to be clever-clever and go all diwali or sumthin. anyway "rock wit u" is the first ashanti single i've really really dug instead of actively disliked or just sorta tolerated for the production value. and ginuwine has a great voice which hits all the right buttons with sharp emoting and sweet bits and growly "i need you so much" ones and the lyrics to "in those jeans" are pure genius!

I wrote two pages of lyrics inspired by can't stop won't stop, whose production is like the first track on the lil kim album but more subtle and insistent in its "echo of the ghost of oldskool" pop and crackle.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Saturday, 19 July 2003 04:09 (twenty-two years ago)

what's wrong with "Fight Test" is that it's by the Flaming Lips.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Saturday, 19 July 2003 04:20 (twenty-two years ago)

what's wrong with that comment is everything that's wrong with ILx

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 19 July 2003 05:38 (twenty-two years ago)

not everything

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 19 July 2003 05:44 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, yr right. plenty, though

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 19 July 2003 06:37 (twenty-two years ago)

haha - it's like Candyman!

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 19 July 2003 06:43 (twenty-two years ago)

On behalf of those of my fellow countrymen with ears I would like to apologise for the Joe Budden hate.

Justyn do not listen to Matos it is within you that the flame of ILX burns truest.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Saturday, 19 July 2003 07:56 (twenty-two years ago)

yes kneejerkiness rules

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 19 July 2003 07:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Aaah, the sound of one kneejerking.

― Cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:07 (twenty-two years ago)

It does actually. ILM works best when it involves randomly applied splenetic love or hate AND clever talk, I think.

Also this is a thread where people list the 100 worst singles = it is a wallowing pit for ILM's basest impulses, let it all out people!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:17 (twenty-two years ago)

you mean like the sarcasm that led to my initial comment?

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm lost now.

Anyway I'm mostly defending it cos I loathe the Flaming Lips too.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:31 (twenty-two years ago)

********too obvious to make the list***********

p diddy, nelly, etcetera -shake ya tailfeather
korn -did my time
powerman 5000 -free
sugar ray -mr. bartender (it's so easy)
the ataris -boys of summer
kid rock, nickelback -saturday night's alright
trapt -headstrong
linkin park -somewhere i belong
rooney -blueside
lillix -it's about time
fountains of wayne -stacy's mom
michelle branch -are you happy now
good charlotte -the young and the hopeless
kelly clarkson -miss independent
jason mraz -the remedy
jessica simpson -sweetest sin
nick lachey -shut up
every single by sean paul

― reo fordecor, Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Jessica Simpson's "Sweetest Sin" is a remarkable if somewhat disturbing single. I keep meaning to write it up properly but it's hard to find the words.

Why don't you like Sean Paul?

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:36 (twenty-two years ago)

why do you like sean paul?

and can you at least agree with me on stacy's mom??????

― reo fordecor, Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:39 (twenty-two years ago)

that busta rhymes feat mariah carey single has some of the most terrible bits in a song i've heard this year (they involve mariah, funnily enough) but i still like the backing track.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I think he's a very charismatic vocalist; I think there's a kind of posh twang in his tone which makes him immediately distinctive; I love the way he shoehorns girls' names into "Get Busy"; I think "Get Busy" is the best Diwali track even counting Lumidee and Wayne Wonder; I think he's quite a handsome fellow; he has the knack of chatting fast without a non-patois-speaker losing the thread OR the sense of otherness which isn't essential for good dancehall but explains his crossover status; his guest spot on Blu Cantrell's "Breathe" is masterfully callous and makes for the best duet in ages.

I haven't heard "Stacy's Mom" but given who it's by I doubt I'd find too much to argue with you about!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:44 (twenty-two years ago)

hey, you're sicko who's against the flaming lips.

but then again, you hit w/ back ups for goldfrapp and sexsmith.

wow, you're really wavy.....

― reo fordecor, Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:46 (twenty-two years ago)

That backup was for Marilyn Manson not Ron Sexsmith, which probably makes a lot more sense. Curse xposting.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:47 (twenty-two years ago)

And he pronounces his name 'Sean-a Paul'.

― Cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:48 (twenty-two years ago)

oh well,

differing tastes are to be expected, but damn,

mobscene is downright embarassing.

― reo, Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think it's great really but his singles these days never seem to fall below a certain level of amusingly hooky glamminess.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Saturday, 19 July 2003 08:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I've remembered two others now, both worthy of dislodging Budden -

Delta Goodrem - Born To Try
S Club - Say Goodbye

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 19 July 2003 09:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Speedway - Genie In A Bottle

watered down cover of a bootleg of two great singles, surely impossible to like if you've heard the three previous elements

― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 19 July 2003 10:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom that summary of Sean Paul's goodness is so on-point I feel like kissing you. (sorry Minna but he's right!)

And speaking of Minna:

"ok so that leaves at least new 3 slots! i propose all 3 delta goodrem singles, esp the last one 'innocent eyes': blurgh"

B-b-but... she dresses *and* dances like Kate Bush in the video clip for "Innocent Eyes" - which means I will forgive much!!!

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 19 July 2003 10:51 (twenty-two years ago)

'Breathe' is growing on me, didn't feel anything from it on first few listens - but its catchy (curiously both Sean and Blu look blurred, saturated and more 'Latino' in the video)

― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 19 July 2003 11:09 (twenty-two years ago)

and can you at least agree with me on stacy's mom??????

NO.

And the Powerman 5000 song is awesome as well.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Saturday, 19 July 2003 13:11 (twenty-two years ago)

someone should add electric 6's 'gaybar'.
not me, i don't want to atract all the ilx hataz at once...

― joan vich (joan vich), Saturday, 19 July 2003 13:22 (twenty-two years ago)

haha tim do you remember when you were 15 and the kids at school call you a fool cos you took the chance to dream?
i cursed myself for actually being up yet forgetting to watch video hits this morning! i do feel like i'm missing important elements by neglecting this. i mean, kate bush! who wouldve thunk it.

as for sean paul... well may i call attention to supercat as featured in the new 112 single who is a lot like sean paul (my mp3 is miscredited to s.p.) but with the relentless sean paulness removed and a way cooler name! however he may not be as handsome as sp, again a case of needing to watch more videos.

― minna (minna), Saturday, 19 July 2003 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

a cold glammy sweat

― Chip Morningstar (bob), Saturday, 19 July 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Matos: how is my comment any more kneejerky than anything else on this thread? it's not like most of us bothered to explain WHY these are the worst singles of the year so far.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Saturday, 19 July 2003 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

*Pink - Feel Good Time
*3rd Edge - Know You Wanna
*Gareth Gates - Spirit in the Sky
*B2K - Bump, bump, bump

― jel -- (jel), Saturday, 19 July 2003 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

"I think "Get Busy" is the best Diwali track even counting Lumidee and Wayne Wonder" - woah woah woah

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 19 July 2003 17:57 (twenty-two years ago)

ie.: is not!

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 19 July 2003 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

That "Stacy's Mom" song is vile x10.

Is the Jessica Simpson song about what I think it's about?

― amateurist (amateurist), Saturday, 19 July 2003 18:32 (twenty-two years ago)

if you think it's about chocolate, yes

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 19 July 2003 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Whoever mentioned that Blur tune — that stomach-turning Crazy Beat song — I'm right there with you. That vocal hook sounds like a muppet gargling glass. The first time I heard it it was like a balpeen hammer pounding holes in my skull *.
I gave away my promo CD to some poor sap.

* I've actually liked a couple of past Blur albums.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Sunday, 20 July 2003 00:34 (twenty-two years ago)

And I have to admit, while the lyrics to Stacy's Mom are kind of stupid, I like the chorus.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Sunday, 20 July 2003 00:36 (twenty-two years ago)

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, most of y'all are really baffling me.

there is the matter of taste which can be excused, but then there is just being flat out ridiculous. i can't even begin to fathom how anyone could seriously champion bullshit such as powerman 5000.

i mean, y'all b' booin' at fight test but b' hootin'n'hollerin' at get busy. WOW, cool and original. wear your brains on collars?

and to those of you who dig the HOT stacy's mom joint, do you also drool over that everclear soccer mom jingle???????

what kind of alternate universe is this.
ilm=i love mania ??????????????????????

― reo fordecor, Sunday, 20 July 2003 01:44 (twenty-two years ago)

No. Not big on the Everclear, but I've liked FOW since their first album. Part of my power-pop jones.
Gosh, you don't like it. Don't really give a fuck.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Sunday, 20 July 2003 02:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"i contend that 'can't stop won't stop' is the best single of the year by a ridiculous distance and you, al, are a chump "

I dunno, Chip...I think I'm just offended that Roc-a-fella would release such a do-nothing minimal-sounding record as a single...I mean, they've got dozens of insane Just Blaze beats just sitting around, and they put that out? it's growing on me, i admit...but that beat just pisses me off. plus I can't stand Young Chris and wish that Peedi Crakk was getting pushed more.

― Al (sitcom), Sunday, 20 July 2003 06:11 (twenty-two years ago)

roc needs a more minimal side as just blaze and kayne go more MOR bombast. Also, the michelle branch single was on the radio right after my breakup and it sounded fantastic in that real sad way everything does at those moments. Also the guitar/beep interplay on the kelly clarkson single is grebt.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Sunday, 20 July 2003 06:22 (twenty-two years ago)

People who don't like Fountains of Wayne should be sterilised.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 20 July 2003 09:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and although it's not been released yet, "Choose A Loser" by Maria Wilson. Which is the worst single of the year bar none. And it's probably going to go top three. Joy.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 20 July 2003 09:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Most of you have not yet heard the Fast Food Rockers track, I assume? It's only been nominated once so far.

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Sunday, 20 July 2003 11:09 (twenty-two years ago)

MARIA WILSON RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 20 July 2003 11:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Jel, you're on crack. "Chooza Looza" is unbelievable in its awfulness. Still not heard Fast Food Rockers and I aim to keep it that way. Ahhh, bliss.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 20 July 2003 11:16 (twenty-two years ago)

i just heard jason mraz - the remedy on the radio again and remembered how awful it is. it can replace ashanti.

― minna (minna), Sunday, 20 July 2003 11:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Fast Food Rockers is neither good or bad Colin.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Sunday, 20 July 2003 11:37 (twenty-two years ago)

It's beyond good and evil?

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Sunday, 20 July 2003 11:40 (twenty-two years ago)

That which does not hurt your eardrums makes you stronger.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 20 July 2003 13:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh god, "Chooza Looza" has "creative" spelling as well? I mean, it was nice of the Smack the Pony team to get back together to do an Avril pisstake, but did they have to release it as a single?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 20 July 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh god, "Chooza Looza" has "creative" spelling as well?

You are sleeping...you do not *want* to believe...you are sleeping! Fuckin' too right it's got wanksta spelling - I swear it, in 20 years' time NO fucker will know how to spell anything anymore.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Sunday, 20 July 2003 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Androids 'Do It With Madonna' and Something Corporate's 'Punk Rock Princess' are real pet hates of mine - esp. the former

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 20 July 2003 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

i only heard the rest of the Fast Food Song other than the chorus this week - i was surprised it actually had verses

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 20 July 2003 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

stevem, you are so correct about the blu/sean paul video looking blurred/saturated. it's obviously to make blu (whom i love) look less mannish. i mean there is only one shot in the video where blu looks like blu!

their close dancing at the end is soo hott. you can tell they really fancy each other.

― lid, Sunday, 20 July 2003 16:18 (twenty-two years ago)

well i know it sounds dubious/cynical but i actually thought that Sean Paul/Blu video was an attempt to make them look even 'less black', but this doesnt really make much sense - Sean Paul's already nearly as pale as Ice T and Blu's complexion is pretty light as it is. i just found the haziness of the whole thing very odd - its quite surreal.

― stevem (blueski), Sunday, 20 July 2003 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the Powerman 5000 single too. At first I thought maybe I just liked the strange, carefully affected Billy Idol pose of the whole thing, but the chorus is awfully catchy. I also seem to recall assimilating a bit of P.R. beforehand about how the band was going in a 'punk' direction with the new record, which is great if that means dressing like Billy Idol and glamming up the singles. (It helps not to listen to the lyrics, mostly) (but there's a part I love in the middle where it gets ready to breakdown into a quiet bloopity-bloop thing in order to do a nu-metal build up back to the chorus, but the quiet verse starts out "wishin', and hopin'..." which always makes me think for a second that they're gonna cover Dusty Springfield)

― Adrian (Adrian Langston), Sunday, 20 July 2003 18:40 (twenty-two years ago)

It's "Foce." Air Foce Ones. This is imperative.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 20 July 2003 23:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks to selective listening and music show watching, I've maqnaged to avoid a lot of crap. However, I wanna say that Anotherside's 'This Is Your Night' (painfully anaemic disco tune, one ex-member of Honeyz and super-budget video featuring a dance off between the two girls, one backed by bargain basement bodypoppers, the other backed by horrible, burly, yuppie San Francicsco disco dancers), Zena's 'Get This Party Started' (unpleasant Neptunes/NERD-ripoff with crap lyrics and only one good bit by an ex-Mis-Teeq member who ironically quit because they 'went all garage' and thus will never reap the benefits of their 'One Night Stand' and 'Can't Get It Back' glories) and this hip hop tune called 'Guatanamo' which was supposed to be celebrated for the 'bravery' of its multi-foreign language rapping and instead came on like Len something 10-times more craptacular than the possibility of a Big Brovaz/Spooks/100 Clowns collaboration. Oh, and Big Brovaz themselves. Possibly the new Girls Aloud because it isn't 'Mars Attacks' (the opening owns me) or that one about "standing by the DJ booth pretending that they're cool" or the comedy 'Spice Up Your Life' 'homage', though I note that they (or is it Kimberley?) sing "So chill out, whoa" in the chorus with totally straight faces. And Good Charlotte, who I must thank in the most sarcastic way possible for enlightening me as to where I've been going wrong with girls. You guyz are todal poets, man.

Tico is so OTM about 'Get Busy', esp. the best 'Diwali' use bit even if I haven't heard the Elephant Man track and Lumidee could yet change my mind. When I listened to the 'Get Busy' instrumental in HMV, I was totally mesmerised, which almost never happens with a record these days.

― Barima (Barima), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

(Also have to mention that the Anotherside video takes place in The Most Underattended Flat Party With, Like, The Lamest People In It Evah. Even if you don't get disco dancers and bodypoppers at your average flat party)

― Barima (Barima), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 18:11 (twenty-two years ago)

The interesting thing about the Lumidee track is that her singing is GODAWFUL AND FRIGHTENING and you want to rip your ears off to stop the aural assault, and then she goes "Oh oh...." and you can't help but smile and boogie.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 19:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm so glad you said that Dan, she wanders horribly off-key in the verses and the intro. You kind of wonder what it is about her that a producer noticed, unless she's singing off key here on purpose (it doesn't seem to have any purpose to it though).

But like you I'm a bit charmed by the song nonetheless.

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 19:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Is the Diwali version the original recording or a remix? You usually get that type of sound clash when a producer shoehorns a vocal line into his favorite beat with no regard to the notes involved.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 19:56 (twenty-two years ago)

the Lumidee track does very little for me.

My problem with this thread is that very few of these actually strike me as EVIL. They're usually just forgettable, really good or a bit off ("Ignition" is catchy and all but for some reason it just strikes me as too silly, even for R.).

Songs that strike me as godawful that have been mentioned:
"Times Like These," Foo Fighters
"American Life," Madonna
"St. Anger," Metallica
"Intuition," Jewel

Songs that strike me as godawful that HAVEN'T been mentioned:
"In This Diary," Ataris

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

"American Life" is brilliant on almost every level, though.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

actually, yeah, it should probably go with "Ignition" as too fascinating to qualify. It's very "Buffalo Stance"

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan: the version we're talking about is a remix. Per the All Music Guide review of the Lumidee LP: "Lumidee claimed she sounds off-key because she recorded the song to a different backing track, but her thin voice is evident throughout the album."

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 20:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Radio 1 or Kiss FM, probably the latter, claimed that 'Never Leave You' is effectively a demo track given a full release cause they liked it as it was. It's still good but that may have been a rash decision in the long run. Thanks to you guys, I've noticed the off-keyness more than ever and want her to re-record it.

Also think that B2K are awful on 'Girlfriend', though pretty harmless on 'Bump, Bump, Bump', the track my 10 year old sis actually created a personalised dance routine for (but 3 times out of 5 she was helpful when I was trying to work out my favourite singles of the year so far for myself, even if J. Lo came up way too many times for me to stand).

― Barima (Barima), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 21:03 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't see what's so bad about the Jewel track - i think the vocal hook is okay and the more subtle ones (which are more prominent on the prog-house remix) are very dreamy. The track totally lacks the urgency of say Aaliyah's stuff but its better than every J Lo track since 'Play' at least.

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Way to keep the bar high, Steve! Getting hit in the face with a cactus is better than every J Lo track since "Play".

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 21:55 (twenty-two years ago)

the remix chops the triplets from the original diwali beat -- the video cuts between them so you can tell when it drops into straight fours.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Tuesday, 22 July 2003 22:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan, be fair, 'I'm Real' made Ja Rule almost palatable, a feat he's singularly failed to achieve himself, even more so with a team behind him.

I hear some new girl group are supposed to be covering NERD's 'Things Are Getting Better' for their debut single. Amidst fears of a complete wankfest (the track is one of my top 3 on either album version), I wonder what they're gonna do with the "I'm the shit" lyrics, editing of which would leave an uncomfortable silence at the end of each bridge and probably prevented it from single selection from NERD's end. If this shit is still true, this could either be the next Girls Aloud or the next Vanilla. I probably read this in the same place I found out about that Speedway single. As I recall, that wasn't a good day either.

Just remembered my last pre-'Get Busy' mesmerising was...'Fight Test'. Seems to have worn off for good now, even though I wouldn't have put it in this thread. The song 's prob. better in the context in the album, especially because it's one of the few worthwhile things about it in the first place. It just sounds so earnest and the shit feels like "I HAVE AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE! I AM WAYNE COYNE AND I HAVE COME TO SET YOU FREE" that I can't really love it anymore. And unless Wayne is really Seraph from the Matrix, I have no idea why he wants to test fight anyone at all.

Anthony's right, tho'. Where is the truly evil shit from this year? The Zena record at least has some sorta evil intent. It's like this year's incarnation of the JC Chasez song but crap enough to make JC feel good about his solo career. Maybe a whole song of Alesha Mis-Teeq 'rapping' might do it, especially if she records an MC battle against Zane Lowe and shouts "Ha!" every third word.

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 04:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan, be fair, 'I'm Real' made Ja Rule almost palatable, a feat he's singularly failed to achieve himself, even more so with a team behind him.

The original mix of "I'm Real" was fun and summery. The remix with Ja Rule was plodding, torpid, sluggish, uninvolving and boring. (On the other hand, the remixes for "Ain't It Funny" and "Gonna Be Alright" were fine, so I was overstating somewhat.)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 11:55 (twenty-two years ago)

but lumidee's 'offkey' singing is entirely the appeal... dan perry in singing fascism shocker! amateurist in 'robot learning to love' shocker! shocker meme in enduring shocker

― Chip Morningstar (bob), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 11:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Why are you putting "off-key" in quotes? Are you contending that Lumidee is dealing in a post-tonal paradigm or something?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 12:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh go and listen to Floetry or something Dan.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 12:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Ha ha! The one Floetry song I know is inoffensively average with a horrifying video.

Why do some people think it is mutually exclusive to recognize that she is singing in a different key from the background music and still be capable of positive feelings towards the song?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 12:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan, I agree about those other J. Lo remixes but the original 'I'm Real' has all the fun and summeriness of standing in your underwear in a downpour for an hour.

― Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:29 (twenty-two years ago)

i was instantly drawn to Lumidee's singing on 'Never Leave You', whether the offkey was intentional or not. i would probably have despised the track as little as 5 years ago.

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan's right - original mix of 'I'm Real' better - Ja Rule version = turgid schlock

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:34 (twenty-two years ago)

the original version's video goes into 'More Bounce To The Ounce' halfway thru for her annoying dance interlude, shame this doesnt happen in the song

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 13:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Re: Lumidee

Eh? "Offkey" compared to... what? Isn't the "Never Leave You" backing track just melody-free/melody-neutral riddim? Maybe I'm timbrally deaf or whatever, but from what I hear, Lumidee's voice is the sole carrier of the tune here. (And everyone I know who's heard it at first said "this is so bare'n'minimal, where's the bloody tune" so I know I'm not alone in this.)

And anyway, I'd say people who aren't trained/professional singers - ie most of the humanity - don't really care about vocal prowess. We just want something to sing along/dance to, good beats, catchy melodies, immersive production, nice moves and pretty stars... "Just about competent" vocals are enough. Anything above is a nice bonus, but not necessary.

― Mind Taker, Wednesday, 23 July 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Why has it taken everyone so long to mention...

Erasure - Come Up And See Me (Make Me Smile)

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

"Robot learning to love"?

― amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

"why was i programmed to feel pain?!"

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 19:53 (twenty-two years ago)

and tom you should really be ashamed for starting this when you knew what would come of it

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 20:04 (twenty-two years ago)

he just wanted to point out how dreary guitar pop is the worst music evah, again ;)

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I'm half crazy all for the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage. But you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two.

― amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)

"Offkey" compared to... what?

Offkey compared the bass note in the riddim and the attempted harmonizations that are overdubbed, as well as with respect to the intervals she's hitting in the melody.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan you are crazy. The Remix of "I'm Real" is so much better than the crappy original there's no competition. I mean, how can you deny "Bitch I ain't doin' this 'ere fo nuttin?"

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 24 July 2003 01:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh go and listen to Floetry or something Dan.

And stay away from Young Marble Giants.

― Andy K (Andy K), Thursday, 24 July 2003 01:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Jess it was an evil impulse and I will control myself better in future I hope. Also stevem is right.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 24 July 2003 07:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Any list that DOESN'T have Madame Helga at Number One aint worth shit.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 24 July 2003 08:02 (twenty-two years ago)

cluelessness

don't go changing tico

― Chip Morningstar (bob), Thursday, 24 July 2003 11:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Reynolds is severely jaded! but its unfair to compare this current period to the peak of the 90s with everything being so driven by pre-millennial excitement. i'm sort of inclined to agree with him (tho he didnt come right out and say it) that we're in the 'end of days' - i WOULD...but...i'm enjoying too much new music at the moment.

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 24 July 2003 11:20 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm enjoying too much new music at the moment.

okay thats a blatant lie, none of it is new.

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 24 July 2003 11:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan you are crazy. The Remix of "I'm Real" is so much better than the crappy original there's no competition. I mean, how can you deny "Bitch I ain't doin' this 'ere fo nuttin?"

Because it's set to the aural equivalent of really boring Valium.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 24 July 2003 11:39 (twenty-two years ago)

My argument for this year is exactly the same as my argument for last year - relative stasis in terms of big-thingness means an absolute glut of great material in existing genres; if your receptors are tuned to radical innovation you might have a problem - if they're focussed on pleasure you'll be having a fine time.

One of the truest criticisms of Simon R's approach is that he will suddenly get very into a genre - 'street rap' a couple years ago, dancehall a little after that, R&B, and so on - and then lose interest. That's fine, it's what we all do. But with him you get the idea that he confuses his losing interest in R&B, say, with an actual creative drop-off in R&B.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 24 July 2003 12:26 (twenty-two years ago)

hwc by liz phair
or brad paisleys celebrity

― anthony easton (anthony), Thursday, 24 July 2003 12:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh wait! Yeah, Floetry are floetic and they have flow and she has flow and you have flow and they are named floetry. I haven't heard any later singles but that first one is really bargain-basement boho rap. At least that damn Black Eyed Peas song has, like, a point.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 24 July 2003 21:12 (twenty-two years ago)

or brad paisleys celebrity

Actually, I love this song, simply as it makes me laugh and I get the point.

Headstrong by Trapt: Sounds like Korn, warmed over. (Not that I can stand Korn, either.)

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Thursday, 24 July 2003 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Anthony the "Buffalo Stance" slam hurts me in my widdle heart.

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Thursday, 24 July 2003 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

four months pass...

i don't hate delta as much anymore, so although 'born to try' can stay in the list i want to replace the others with

the offspring - hit that
jet - roll over dj
jet - are you gonna be my girl
magic dirt - plastic loveless letter (for that horrible title/chorus alone)
basement jaxx - lucky star

― minna (minna), Sunday, 21 December 2003 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Sean Paul: Get Busy.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 21 December 2003 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

that fucking Simple Plan song I just heard on the radio about being perfect.

Worst. Band. Ever.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 22 December 2003 04:20 (twenty-two years ago)

me against the music.

― sym (shmuel), Monday, 22 December 2003 04:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"Are You Gonna Be my Girl" is the worst single of the last 100 years

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Monday, 22 December 2003 05:00 (twenty-two years ago)

The ones from Hot Hot Heat.

― Aja (aja), Monday, 22 December 2003 05:15 (twenty-two years ago)

not mentioned yet, i'd assume some hard-to-argue selections..
My Private Nation - Train
The Best Of Me - The Starting Line
Here Without You - 3 Doors Down
At The Party - Northern State
I Showed Her - O-Town
Eat You Alive - Limp Bizkit
The Remedy - Jason Mraz
Frantic - Metallica
Be A Man - Macho Man Randy Savage
God Bless The USA - American Idol Finalists

and i assume some people like these, but i think they're horrible..
Shut Up - Black Eyed Peas
Fighter - Christina Aguliera
Shatterday - Vendetta Red

mOBSCENE - Marilyn Manson
I know this was mentioned already, but I really think this song is a disgrace to mankind, so I had to..

And I also wanted to say, a lot of people are writing stuff like "how can you list that song? are you crazy?" but i think i was more offended seeing songs that I hate in the "best singles" thread.

― billstevejim, Monday, 22 December 2003 08:29 (twenty-two years ago)

three months pass...

Girls Aloud - Sound of the underground

― Alice Keymer, Tuesday, 13 April 2004 02:14 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.