Famous Songs That Everyone Knows But Most People Couldn't Name the Artist Behind

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figure someone else would probably start this thread if I didn't.

"Macarena"
"It Takes Two"
"Funky Town"
"The Power"
"Who Let the Dogs Out?"
"Get Ready for This"

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 19:54 (twenty years ago)

"Happy Birthday"

― ana (ana), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:00 (twenty years ago)

"Horse With No Name"

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:04 (twenty years ago)

Future's so bright / I gotta wear shades.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

Stuck In The Middle With You

― Doobie Keebler (Charles McCain), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:07 (twenty years ago)

I mean, pretty much every one-hit wonder ever.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:09 (twenty years ago)

"Oh Yeah"

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

that's not really true. Sir Mix-a-Lot, Gerardo, Nena, etc. are all about as famous as their big hits.

Though yeah, it does tend to be the case.

x-post

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:11 (twenty years ago)

Tubthumping

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:11 (twenty years ago)

Chumbawamba is remembered by virtue of their riduculous name, I think.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)

not by people who didn't watch mtv

― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:14 (twenty years ago)

likewise, and u.s.-wise, "Song 2"

― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

"Rock'n'Roll, pt. 2"

― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

Gerardo, Nena

Nobody knows these guys. Honestly, I've had to tell people who sings both of those songs multiple times.

Also, many people don't know who sings "Tubthumping" and also don't know that the song is CALLED "Tubthumping". True story.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

"na na na hey hey hey (kiss him goodbye)"

― miccio (miccio), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

Gerardo, really? That surprises me. Nena was probably a poor example.

"Rock and Roll, Pt. 2" is a great one.

re: Chumbawamba--I dunno, I'm reminded of that Family Guy episode with the Chumbawmabas. Not that everyone watches FG, but I think it's a reference that just about everyone who watches the show would get.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:17 (twenty years ago)

"na na na hey hey hey (kiss him goodbye)"

we could probably have a whole thread devoted to sports anthems no one either knows the name of or artist behind.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:17 (twenty years ago)

see also: Whatever that song is that starts off sounding sort of like "Eye of the Tiger" but develops into a song that is not "Eye of the Tiger"

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:17 (twenty years ago)

Most power ballads, although people usually will hit the band name eventually... "Is this Journey? REO Speedwagon? Foreigner?..."

"Rico Suave", if you didn't know, is commonly assumed to have been sung by the famous hispanic singer Rico Suave.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

That song from GOB's magic show that goes "THE FINAL COUNTDOOOOOWN"

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:19 (twenty years ago)

"Rico Suave", if you didn't know, is commonly assumed to have been sung by the famous hispanic singer Rico Suave.

yeah, that's fair enough.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

Also in the one-hit wonder category, "Afternoon Delight."

And it might not be famous anymore, but "Short Dick Man."

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:30 (twenty years ago)

"Coconut" by Harry Nilsson

― darin (darin), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:31 (twenty years ago)

really? That was Harry Nilsson?

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:32 (twenty years ago)

Also in the one-hit wonder category, "Afternoon Delight."

"Starland Vocal Band????!!? They suck!!!"

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:32 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, funny thing - I bet a lot people don't associate Nilsson with his hits since he approached each song with a different voice. I mean "Without You", "Jump Into The Fire", "Coconut", and "Everybody's Talking" all sound like different singers to me. Maybe that hurt him in the long run since he didn't leave an identifiable signature on each song.

x-post

― darin (darin), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:38 (twenty years ago)

"Land of 1,000 Dances"

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:38 (twenty years ago)

"Ride Captain Ride" by Blues Image
"Dancing In The Moonlight" by King Harvest
"Green-Eyed Lady" by Sugarloaf

― Ken L (Ken L), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

def. good call on "Dancing in the Moonlight"--no idea who that song was.

very on point.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:40 (twenty years ago)

What about one hit wonders where everyone knows the singer, but for no apparent reason? Like, who DOESN'T know that "The Lady in Red" is by Chris de Burgh?

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:42 (twenty years ago)

> def. good call on "Dancing in the Moonlight"--no idea who that song was.

Agreed -- for years I thought that was the same band that did "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)."

Also, I have no idea who did "The Electric Slide."

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

Those Were The Days
Volare

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:45 (twenty years ago)

Also, I have no idea who did "The Electric Slide."

shit I used to know that.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:46 (twenty years ago)

"Rock Me Amadeus"

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:49 (twenty years ago)

Love Is Blue
Puff The Magic Dragon
The Bird Dance
Seasons In The Sun
In The Year 2525
Star Wars Theme (either version)
Aquarius

Plus numerous Andrew Lloyd Webber songs

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:51 (twenty years ago)

I'm actually not even sure I know the name of the artist. Is it Falco?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:51 (twenty years ago)

it's Falco, yeah.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:53 (twenty years ago)

I think a lot more people have heard of John Williams than you think< Geir (aka there a lot of nerdy Star Wars fans.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:54 (twenty years ago)

"Mahna Mahna"

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 20:59 (twenty years ago)

"Spirit In the Sky"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)

"My name is Prince"

― A / F#m / Bm / D (Lynskey), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 22:22 (twenty years ago)

"Imagine"

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 22:24 (twenty years ago)

"crimson and clover"

― jermaine (jnoble), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 22:37 (twenty years ago)

The spring from "The Four Seasons"

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 22:38 (twenty years ago)

"Steppin' Out". If only because all I remembered of the song for years was the melody and only recently managed to figure out who sang it.

― Deric W. Haircare (Deric W. Haircare), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 22:41 (twenty years ago)

Sadly, I could name the artist of each song in the original post, and most of the artists in the subsequent posts.

Does that mean I'm dying?

If so, why?

― shueytexas, Tuesday, 5 April 2005 23:05 (twenty years ago)

"Be Thankful for What You've Got."

"You Don't Miss Your Water."

"Tipitina."

― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Tuesday, 5 April 2005 23:31 (twenty years ago)

Sadly, I could name the artist of each song in the original post, and most of the artists in the subsequent posts.
Does that mean I'm dying?

No. It means that, like most ILM posters, you are a music nerd ;)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 09:34 (twenty years ago)

i always thought Rico Suave was actually credited to Rico Suave

― Sven Basted (blueski), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 09:46 (twenty years ago)

i don't know who sang 'Build Me Up Buttercup'

― Sven Basted (blueski), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 09:48 (twenty years ago)

"Sweet Soul Music"

― Richard C (avoid80), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 09:49 (twenty years ago)

I'm actually not even sure I know the name of the artist. Is it Falco?
-- Alex in SF (clobberthesauru...) (webmail), April 5th, 2005 7:51 AM. (Alex in SF) (later) (link)
it's Falco, yeah.

-- The Good Dr. Bill (fadeout9...) (webmail), April 5th, 2005 7:53 AM. (The Good Dr. Bill) (later) (link)

The weirdest thing about this is that I know the name of the song, the artist and what he looked like but I have never heard Rock Me Amadeus in my life.

― Kate's evil twin (papa november), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 10:29 (twenty years ago)

Lust For Life (Thanks, cruise ship guys)

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 10:38 (twenty years ago)

I'm on the Mexican Radio

― Baaderonixxxorzh (Fabfunk), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 11:17 (twenty years ago)

"Spirit In the Sky"

This should win because most people couldn't name the artist behind TWO different hit versions of the song (Norman Greenbaum, Dr. and the Medics).

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 11:29 (twenty years ago)

Wall of voodoo?

xpost

― Kate, plain and tall. (papa november), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 11:29 (twenty years ago)

"the lion sleeps tonight"

― AaronK (AaronK), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 12:01 (twenty years ago)

i don't know who sang 'Build Me Up Buttercup'

Oh that's really good.

Why would anyone know "Mexican Radio" but not know that it was by Wall of Voodoo? It's not like the song's terribly ubiquitous anymore.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 12:13 (twenty years ago)

Hmm, in California you can still hear it pretty often on the radio.

― Baaderonixxxorzh (Fabfunk), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 12:15 (twenty years ago)

Be Thankful for What You've Got."
"You Don't Miss Your Water."

"Tipitina."

Yup. I had to think a while about these and I think I got it right, but I always get the artists on the first two confused and have trouble with which old New Orleans piano guy did the last one.

― Ken L (Ken L), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 12:25 (twenty years ago)

"Rescue Me," if only because most people mistakenly think it's Aretha.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 12:53 (twenty years ago)

"Hobo Humpin Slobo Babe" ?

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 12:56 (twenty years ago)

How about "We Shall Overcome"? ;)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 13:01 (twenty years ago)

"99 Red Balloons"

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 13:18 (twenty years ago)

"Der Kommissar"

"Crimson & Clover" -- People might be able to remember Joan Jett for the cover more than Tommy James.

John Cafferty and the BEAVER BROWN BAND are not only a one hit wonder band with "On the Darkside", but many probably think Eddie and the Cruisers, a fictional band recorded the song.

Does anyone really know who actually sung "Sugar Sugar" by the Archies or some of those other studio created songs for fictional bands? I'm sure the info is out there somewhere.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 13:48 (twenty years ago)

Who sang "Sugar Sugar"? Easy, the same guy who sang "Tracy" by the Cuff Links.

― Ken L (Ken L), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 13:53 (twenty years ago)

I doubt too many people remember "Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe," much less who sang it.

I don't see why "99 Red Balloons" should be so disassociated from Nena. It's not like the song has a life of its own.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 13:54 (twenty years ago)

More oldies hits I knew for years before I knew who made them:
"Sky High" by Jigsaw
"Nice To Be With You" by Gallery

― Ken L (Ken L), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 14:02 (twenty years ago)

I always thought "I'm a Believer" was by The Beatles.

― What we want? Sex with T.V. stars! What you want? Ian Riese-Moraine! (Eastern Ma, Wednesday, 6 April 2005 14:02 (twenty years ago)

I'll bet California Dreaming and Whiter Shade of Pale. Everyone knows these, but I never remember who did them. (Maybe because I wasn't around in the 60s.)

― phil jones (interstar), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

"clouds across the moon"

― nathalie doing a soft foot shuffle (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

More oldies:

"(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet" by The Reflections

and, now that I reflect on it, there is this one I never knew the artist behind or the title of and still forget

"Reflections of My Life" by Marmalade

― Ken L (Ken L), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

Ken - You should check out more Marmalade tracks. Surprisingly diverse set of influences, and "My Little One" is more poignant than "Reflections," which I think would've been a #1 if Badfinger had sung it.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 15:21 (twenty years ago)

"Afternoon Delight"
"Baby Come Back"

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 15:45 (twenty years ago)

Maybe it's just me, but I had no idea who did "Bang the Drum All Day" until pretty recently.

― mr. drew (mr. drew), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 15:58 (twenty years ago)

That one threw me for a little while. Laugh if you will, but for about five minutes I thought it was War. Sort of a companion piece to "Why Can't We Friends?"

― Ken L (Ken L), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 16:04 (twenty years ago)

"Electric Slide" completely PWNS this thread! For one, it's called "Electric BOOGIE" and it's by Marcia Griffiths and no one on Earth would ever in their right mind think to look in the reggae section to find this record. For the record, this was the most frequent request at the record store I worked at because absolutely no one knows anything about this song other than the dance they do at weddings. Oh, and the record is out of print and it seems to not exist on any "Ultimate Party Songs" type compilations. Actually, it's pretty easy to find "Electric Boogie" on vinyl but it's impossible to find on CD. It's weird how many wedding DJs visited my store.

― Mike O. (Mike Ouderkirk), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 16:25 (twenty years ago)

"More More More"

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 16:31 (twenty years ago)

"Whoomp! (There It Is)"

― Yngwie AlmsteenMay (sgertz), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 17:56 (twenty years ago)

Atlantic Ocean - Waterfall

(who is Gerardo?)

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 18:23 (twenty years ago)

yeah, "Electric Slide" is probably this question's #1 answer.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 18:52 (twenty years ago)

Seasons In The Sun

Easy as pie if your Canadian. Same could be said for 'Summer In The City' and 'Auld Lang Syne'.

'Der Kommisar' much like 'Spirit In The Sky' has two answers. Poor Falco though, he's been slighted twice in this thread.

"It Takes Two"

Don't they say their name in the song, how could you not know it's Rob Base and DJ Easy Rock?

"The Power"

Also a song done by two groups.

(who is Gerardo?)
He did the ~~Rico Sauve~~ Taco Grande song.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:05 (twenty years ago)

EEEEEEEEEEEER, 'Hot Child in the City', not 'Summer In The City'.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:13 (twenty years ago)

"electric slide" DEFINITELY wins

― j blount (papa la bas), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:15 (twenty years ago)

'Na Na Hey Hey'
I'm wondering if 'Popcorn' would fit in despite the bands grebt name.
'Yummy Yummy Yummy' is another I have trouble remembering.

In the same boat as Lipps Inc, 'Ring My Bell' is another band people might have problems remembering.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:18 (twenty years ago)

all the 'jock jams' type songs

― chris andrews (fraew), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)

"Wooly Booly"

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:45 (twenty years ago)

surfin' bird

― chris andrews (fraew), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:48 (twenty years ago)

even 'louie louie' itself...

― chris andrews (fraew), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 19:48 (twenty years ago)

Don't they say their name in the song, how could you not know it's Rob Base and DJ Easy Rock?

Because I'd venture that 85% of the people that know the song don't remember a thing about besides the chorus.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 21:41 (twenty years ago)

'Band of Gold'
'Little Boxes'

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 21:46 (twenty years ago)

"Band of Gold" is a great call.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 21:47 (twenty years ago)

"Tipitina."

Yup. I had to think a while about these and I think I got it right, but I always get the artists on the first two confused and have trouble with which old New Orleans piano guy did the last one.

Unless I'm sorely mistaken, its Professor Longhair, whose nickname was Tipitina, who made it famous, but the name of the actual songwriter escapes me...

― Big Loud Mountain Ape (Big Loud Mountain Ape), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 21:48 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, it was Professor Longhair, but I was getting mental interference from the name Archibald.

― Ken L (Ken L), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 21:50 (twenty years ago)

Walk Away Renee
Summer In The City
In The Summertime
She's Not There
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)

Something In The Air
For What It's Worth

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 21:56 (twenty years ago)

In America at least, 'How Soon Is Now'.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 21:59 (twenty years ago)

Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel
Use It Up And Wear It Out
Going Back To My Roots
Yes Sir I Can Boogie
Uptown Top Rankin

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 22:02 (twenty years ago)

Ring My Bell
Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree
Wonderful Life

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 22:06 (twenty years ago)

"How Soon Is Now" is a good call. So is "Band of Gold," but I'm not quite sure why--I just re-discovered it a couple of months ago, and I recognized it instantly.

"For What it's Worth," also good.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 22:30 (twenty years ago)

Loads of songs in adverts and films fit the bill for this.

Random example "I Can See Clearly Now"

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 22:54 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I was trying to think of advert ones, though I guess a lot of them would be very country-specific.

I Can See Clearly Now is a very good one - I had to look up who it was by. I'm sure I knew the song before then, but that old Nescafe ad with the rain and the car with the cigarette lighter kettle is really stuck in my head.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:01 (twenty years ago)

"Da Da Da, I Don't Love You, You Don't Love Me, Aha Aha Aha"

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:38 (twenty years ago)

also on the "Electric Slide" tip, "Cotton Eyed Joe".

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:39 (twenty years ago)

Do The Hustle

― Kim (Kim), Thursday, 7 April 2005 00:53 (twenty years ago)

The classic example by a decidedly non-one-hit-wonder: We Will Rock You.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 7 April 2005 01:06 (twenty years ago)

Hurting, you really think people don't know the artist on that one? I think there are probably more Queen fan pages out there on the web than for any other artist.

― Ken L (Ken L), Thursday, 7 April 2005 01:10 (twenty years ago)

I gotta disagree with that one--unless you're counting people that only know the drum-clapping intro and haven't heard the rest of the sing, I find it very hard to believe that people don't know who does "We Will Rock You".

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 7 April 2005 01:11 (twenty years ago)

"Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty.

― mike a, Thursday, 7 April 2005 01:49 (twenty years ago)

I stand by it -- the song gets played at major league baseball games for crying out loud. Sure, there are a lot of people who know it's Queen, but my guess is there are a LOT more who don't.

Speaking of baseball, Green Onions is another good one.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 7 April 2005 01:56 (twenty years ago)

but Queen were like, one of the biggest bands in the world for a looooooong time!

― chris andrews (fraew), Thursday, 7 April 2005 02:01 (twenty years ago)

Right, but today lots of people know the song who aren't old enough to remember when Queen were one of the biggest bands in the world.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 7 April 2005 02:02 (twenty years ago)

I'd be willing to bet money that the majority of people who know the song today don't know who it's by.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 7 April 2005 02:03 (twenty years ago)

no fucking way

― chris andrews (fraew), Thursday, 7 April 2005 02:28 (twenty years ago)

"Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty.

This week, everything in my life just keeps coming back to this song.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 7 April 2005 02:53 (twenty years ago)

xpost

Way dude, way.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 7 April 2005 03:00 (twenty years ago)

"The Final Countdown" is by Europe.

"Red Red Wine"

― Jessie the Monster (scarymonsterrr), Thursday, 7 April 2005 03:02 (twenty years ago)

I think Rupert Holmes' "The Pina Colada Song" owns this thread.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Thursday, 7 April 2005 03:49 (twenty years ago)

no way, "electric slide"

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 7 April 2005 03:51 (twenty years ago)

I think the fact that I don't even know what that song is disqualifies it.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Thursday, 7 April 2005 03:54 (twenty years ago)

I stand by it -- the song gets played at major league baseball games for crying out loud. Sure, there are a lot of people who know it's Queen, but my guess is there are a LOT more who don't.

Well sure, but definitely a lot more know who Queen is than knows who Gary Glitter is.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Thursday, 7 April 2005 04:42 (twenty years ago)

nti go to one wedding, club

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 7 April 2005 05:05 (twenty years ago)

Osmonds, "One Bad Apple": Does this count? Everyone knows it, but many mistake it for an actual Jackson 5 song.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 7 April 2005 06:40 (twenty years ago)

da Da Dada Dada Da Da/da Da Dada Dada Da Da/ da Da Dada Dada Da Da/da Da Dada Dada da/TEQUILA!

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 7 April 2005 10:25 (twenty years ago)

"Que Sera, Sera"
"Doo Wah Diddy"
"Besame Mucho"
"Lullaby of Birdland"

(I don't even know myself who did these...)

"Killing Me Softly With His/Her Song"
"Oye Como Va"

(These are songs where everyone knows who did the cover version [The Fugees and Santana], but not a lot of people know the original artist [Oye Como Va is by Tito Puente, but I have no idea who first sang Killing Me Softly].)

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 7 April 2005 10:41 (twenty years ago)

Roberta Flack!

― Dadrock, Meshach and Abednego (Dada), Thursday, 7 April 2005 10:49 (twenty years ago)

"Killing Me Softly" depends on generation. Most 40 year-olds will know that Roberta Flack recorded it, while they will have no idea that Fugees have made a cover version (that is, unless they became parents at such a young age that they had kids that were old enough to dig the Fugees version in 1996)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 7 April 2005 10:51 (twenty years ago)

"Money (That's What I want)" - the Flying Lizards version.

― Huey (Huey), Thursday, 7 April 2005 10:54 (twenty years ago)

"Matchstick Men & Matchstick Cats and Dogs"

― Huey (Huey), Thursday, 7 April 2005 10:55 (twenty years ago)

So it was Roberta Flack who originally sang Killing Me Softly... I suspected so, but there are so many mid-seventies versions of the song, I wasn't sure if someone else had already recorded it before (it's a Norman Gimbel - Charles Fox song, isn't it?).

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 7 April 2005 11:02 (twenty years ago)

Somebody probably did do it before but that's like saying "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" is really a Gladys Knight song

― Dadrock, Meshach and Abednego (Dada), Thursday, 7 April 2005 11:07 (twenty years ago)

"All By Myself"

― Huey (Huey), Thursday, 7 April 2005 11:35 (twenty years ago)

That was Badfinger, right?

― Huey (Huey), Thursday, 7 April 2005 11:35 (twenty years ago)

Eric something.

Eric...Carmen, maybe?

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 7 April 2005 11:36 (twenty years ago)

Eric Carmen - don't you lot know anything?!?!??

― Dadrock, Meshach and Abednego (Dada), Thursday, 7 April 2005 11:37 (twenty years ago)

These are testing times.

― Huey (Huey), Thursday, 7 April 2005 11:40 (twenty years ago)

Eric Carmen - don't you lot know anything?!?!??

Proving the point of the thread.

― Huey (Huey), Thursday, 7 April 2005 11:40 (twenty years ago)

I think I meant, "Without You" (Nilsen / 'Finger)

― Huey (Huey), Thursday, 7 April 2005 11:41 (twenty years ago)

I knew the Celine Dion version first, anyway.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 7 April 2005 11:45 (twenty years ago)

"Oh Sheila" and "Oh Sherrie".

― Deric W. Haircare (Deric W. Haircare), Saturday, 9 April 2005 02:54 (twenty years ago)

In America at least, 'How Soon Is Now'.

This is wildly inaccurate.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:02 (twenty years ago)

maybe among your generation, but in mine it's a definitive example of this phenomenon.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:11 (twenty years ago)

Then you must SCHOOL THEM!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:21 (twenty years ago)

In America at least, 'How Soon Is Now'.
This is wildly inaccurate.
-- Alex in NYC (vassife...), April 9th, 2005 9:02 PM.
maybe among your generation, but in mine it's a definitive example of this phenomenon.

-- The Good Dr. Bill (fadeout9...), April 9th, 2005 9:11 PM.

Well, when I first read that, I thought the same thing as Alex, but then I remembered what I heard on the radio last month. The dj had three contestants on the line and she was giving clues about an artist. The answer was Morrissey and I got it on the second clue (it was something about Johnny Marr), but the contestants still didn't get it. She got desperate for someone to win that she started listing Smiths' albums. Still no one got it. Then she said "How Soon Is Now?" and no one got that either. She belted out a frustrated yell. She couldn't take it anymore. She said, "Name sounds like 'Morrissey'," and waited for the first person to repeat the name.

― Aja (aja), Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:22 (twenty years ago)

I actually heard Love Spit Love's GODAWFUL rendition while getting my hair cut (very slowly and very, very badly) today.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:23 (twenty years ago)

That's depressing.

I wish someone would look up "Ring My Bell" and come upon the song of the same name by Union Carbide Productions.

― Ian Riese-Moraine. To Hell with you and your gradual evolution! (Eastern Mantra), Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:29 (twenty years ago)

Whoah!!!

Are you telling me I should not by any Love Spit Love? I'm curious as to what that sounds like, but a little afraid to look for it because, well I was worried I have the same reaction to it as you have. Well, sort of. I mean, have you heard any other song(s) by LSL?

But honestly, that can't be worse than TaTu's version of the same song.

(xpost)

― Aja (aja), Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:31 (twenty years ago)

I never heard TaTu's version....though I did hear Snake River Conspiracy's version....which is dire.

As much as I loved the Psychedelic Furs, Love Spit Love was a departure for fucking nowhere.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:35 (twenty years ago)

tatu's version is great

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:37 (twenty years ago)

hmm are there enough other 'that guitar riff/sound' links in the bo diddley-stones-smiths-soho chain that you could do a whole cd-r without too many song repeats?

― j blount (papa la bas), Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:40 (twenty years ago)

tatu's version is great

Yes, I'm sure they imbued it with genuine pathos.

http://muzyka.onet.pl/_i/osoby/t/tatu/d.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:42 (twenty years ago)

To Alex:

Well, I heard a rumor, well the person who said it didn't treat it like a rumor, that the Furs will be releasing a new album late this year. I kind of believe it because I've heard about three to four songs that I'll call "new" because I can't find them on anything by the Furs so far. Unless those are some of LSL's songs, but I doubt it because from what you've said, they probably aren't because they're decent songs. I think they're better acoustic though.

Well, does Richard write with a women with the first name "Mary" or something like that for LSL?

Whatever. I don't really like TåTu's version. It's kind of like them doing karaoke to the original actually. No real effort to make it their own, well, that's how I remember it. I only heard it twice about a year ago.

― Aja (aja), Saturday, 9 April 2005 03:42 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...

This pair of oldies is a source of much confusion:
"Get A Job" by The Silhouettes and
"Silhouettes" by The Rays.

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 6 May 2005 19:35 (twenty years ago)

I doubt too many people remember "Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe," much less who sang it.

Whale, produced by Tricky.

my vote goes to:

I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me By Rockwell Gordy

― Disco Nihilist (mjt), Friday, 6 May 2005 22:20 (twenty years ago)

"Dancing with the Captain" by Paul something.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 6 May 2005 22:24 (twenty years ago)

What about Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain"? In the UK at least.

― astropatty (adr), Friday, 6 May 2005 22:39 (twenty years ago)

For years I didn't know who the artist was on "Hippychick" but I have no idea whether I was alone in this.

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 6 May 2005 22:45 (twenty years ago)

"Silhouettes" is a good one; I'd never have gotten that one.

I'd venture a lot of instrumentals as well: "The Hustle," "Love Is Blue," "A Fifth of Beethoven" ...

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Friday, 6 May 2005 23:40 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

More Moonlight:
"Moonlight Feels Right" by Starbuck

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:28 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

I sometimes have a problem telling the Buckinghams from the Beau Brummels.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 15 September 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" is so good.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 15 September 2005 16:51 (twenty years ago)

Did I ever mention "Da Da Da..." in this thread? I don't think so.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 15 September 2005 16:52 (twenty years ago)

How about Primitive Radio Gods' "Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand" for a special category of famous songs that people know but couldn't name the artist OR the title?

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 15 September 2005 17:00 (twenty years ago)

Did I ever mention "Da Da Da..."
The Trio song?

"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" is so good.
If I google the Buckinghams, I get a lot of references to somebody referring to them as "goatee rock."

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 15 September 2005 17:06 (twenty years ago)

yeah, The Trio song.

SOABPBWMIMH--I doubt that many people remember this song to begin with, unfortunately.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 15 September 2005 18:09 (twenty years ago)

I bet that now (now being 2005) 97 people out of 100 would assume that SOABPBWMIMH is from Moby's "Play."

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Thursday, 15 September 2005 18:26 (twenty years ago)

Famous songs that no one could name?

Try any instrumental.

We've all had to deal with radio DJ's who never ID songs, but if it's a vocal you at least have a verse or a possible title to go by. With instrumentals, you got a tuff row to hoe.

True story - I once heard a deejay play a popular instrumental, and when it was over: "That was...'Hocus Pocus' by Focus, right? Oh no, excuse me, that was 'Frankenstein' by the Edgar Winter Group. I could never tell those two songs apart..."

― Rev. Hoodoo (Rev. Hoodoo), Thursday, 15 September 2005 18:39 (twenty years ago)

Green Onions!

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Thursday, 15 September 2005 20:34 (twenty years ago)

Play That Funky Music

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Thursday, 15 September 2005 20:56 (twenty years ago)

"everybody plays the fool"

― s/c (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 15 September 2005 21:39 (twenty years ago)

"All Right Now"

― I think I may need a bathroom break? (wetmink2), Thursday, 15 September 2005 21:48 (twenty years ago)

"Black Betty"

― I think I may need a bathroom break? (wetmink2), Thursday, 15 September 2005 21:52 (twenty years ago)

the theme song from Wonder Years

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Thursday, 15 September 2005 21:53 (twenty years ago)

- "Take Five" by Brubeck
- that Chuck Mangione song

― I think I may need a bathroom break? (wetmink2), Thursday, 15 September 2005 21:54 (twenty years ago)

"The Stripper" by David Rose.

― jed_ (jed), Thursday, 15 September 2005 21:57 (twenty years ago)

"Drift Away" by Dobie Gray, which I thought was a CCR song for years.

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Thursday, 15 September 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

six months pass...

Love is Blue
War (huh, good god y'all!)
Take My Breath Away
Tainted Love
Money, That's What I Want
I Will Survive
Total Eclipse of the Heart
Addicted to Love
That song at the end of Dirty Dancing..."Time of My Life"?
I'll Be There For You (Friends theme)
Eye of the Tiger (maybe)
I'm Too Sexy

Funkytown pretty much wins the thread though.

― musically (musically), Saturday, 25 March 2006 20:33 (nineteen years ago)

"Send Me An Angel" wins this thread

― Yoo Doo Nut (donut), Saturday, 25 March 2006 20:38 (nineteen years ago)

"Nowhere Girl" a close second

― Yoo Doo Nut (donut), Saturday, 25 March 2006 20:38 (nineteen years ago)

Ho, ho, ho
It's magic, you know
Never believe it's not so
It's magic, you know
Never believe, it's not so

― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Saturday, 25 March 2006 20:51 (nineteen years ago)

That's that band that Tony Blair was in.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Saturday, 25 March 2006 21:00 (nineteen years ago)

"Signs"
"Too Late To Turn Back Now"
"What I Like About You"

― Lotta Continua (Damian), Saturday, 25 March 2006 21:27 (nineteen years ago)

most national anthems

― blunt (blunt), Sunday, 26 March 2006 01:34 (nineteen years ago)

Has their been a thread on national anthems? (I suppose there has but have neither the CPU nor the inclination to search it out at this juncture).

― jimnaseum (jimnaseum), Sunday, 26 March 2006 01:37 (nineteen years ago)

― StanM (StanM), Sunday, 26 March 2006 01:42 (nineteen years ago)

Thanks.

― jimnaseum (jimnaseum), Sunday, 26 March 2006 01:48 (nineteen years ago)

np (I was too lazy to check them out though)

― StanM (StanM), Sunday, 26 March 2006 01:52 (nineteen years ago)

two months pass...

Blitzkrieg Bop

― Aditya (dan138zig), Friday, 23 June 2006 23:34 (nineteen years ago)

A lot of these show up in movie trailers all the time--esp. "Green Onions" and The Flying Lizard's "Money (That's What I Want)."

Come to think of it there's gotta be a ton of instantly-recognizable songs that you've only really ever heard in movie previews, if at all.

― max (maxreax), Saturday, 24 June 2006 00:07 (nineteen years ago)

I'll venture even Shinia Twain knows who did Blitzkrieg Bop.

War (huh, good god y'all!)

Eddie did get the shaft in the musical history of thing. Unless your talking about Bruce Springsteen cause fuck his version and soup can dick or not fuck Henry Rollins' too.

Take My Breath Away

You know, she was almost Princess Leia, instead she went on to join Berlin.

Tainted Love

If your reffering to Soft Cell you must be joking.

Money, That's What I Want
I Will Survive
Total Eclipse of the Heart
Addicted to Love

SRSLY? Addicted To love, with its video played on MM/MTV endlessly nevermind AOR radio and people still don't know who its by?

That song at the end of Dirty Dancing..."Time of My Life"?

Hungry Eyes was more difficult song. Jennifer Warnes did (amoung other blander things) the best Leonard Cohen cover EVAH! (First We Take Manhattan).

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Saturday, 24 June 2006 01:46 (nineteen years ago)

'All By Myself'

Jamie O'Neal

― jerkface (mizzjazz), Saturday, 24 June 2006 02:05 (nineteen years ago)

"Happy Together"
but, even better, as said above, "Build me up, Buttercup"

― gooblar (gooblar), Saturday, 24 June 2006 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

"Tarzan Boy"

― Diego Valladolid (dvalladt), Saturday, 24 June 2006 15:09 (nineteen years ago)

I ALWAYS forget the name of the guy that did "Funk Dat."

But probably not everyone remembers that song.

― Whiney G. Weingarten (whineyg), Saturday, 24 June 2006 16:31 (nineteen years ago)

If your reffering to Soft Cell you must be joking.

Yeah, I'm referring to the Soft Cell version...I wouldn't expect people to know that it's a Gloria Jones cover or anything. But when I conducted a highly scientific straw poll no one I knew had any idea who sang this, except one person who thought it was Devo. So I stand by it!

SRSLY? Addicted To love, with its video played on MM/MTV endlessly nevermind AOR radio and people still don't know who its by?

Most of the songs here are that popular, or more. Hence the thread title and all.

― musically (musically), Saturday, 24 June 2006 16:37 (nineteen years ago)

One way to test this is to go on Kazaa/Limewire and see how many songs are incorrectly attributed/named--I've seen "Tainted Love," for example, attributed to Devo, the Clash, Talking Heads and A-Ha on filesharing services.

― max (maxreax), Saturday, 24 June 2006 17:28 (nineteen years ago)

"On A Ragga Tip"

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 24 June 2006 17:34 (nineteen years ago)

"Grazing in the Grass"

― novamax (novamax), Saturday, 24 June 2006 21:12 (nineteen years ago)

A lot of people think "Day After Day" (Badfinger) is a Beatles song.

When that Primitive Radio Gods song came out I thought it was by Beck for a long time.

― Maltodextrin (Maltodextrin), Saturday, 24 June 2006 22:21 (nineteen years ago)

I ALWAYS forget the name of the guy that did "Funk Dat."

It's Sagat, which I can always remember because of the Street Fighter character.

― Marmot 4-Tay: forth-coming, my child. forth-coming most righteous champion (mar, Saturday, 24 June 2006 22:32 (nineteen years ago)

Please Mr. Postman
My Boyfriend's Back

― musically (musically), Saturday, 24 June 2006 22:39 (nineteen years ago)

One way to test this is to go on Kazaa/Limewire and see how many songs are incorrectly attributed/named

This makes me think of "The Cars That Go Boom," which I would CONSTANTLY see in people's Le Tigre directories. I'm not sure that's a song that everyone knows, though.

― Doctor Casino (Doctor Casino), Sunday, 25 June 2006 05:14 (nineteen years ago)

Actually, isn't it maybe called "We Love The Cars"? Maybe this is more complicated than I thought.

― Doctor Casino (Doctor Casino), Sunday, 25 June 2006 05:15 (nineteen years ago)

Damnit! Someone said Baker Street already.

― Vampire Business (Bimble...), Sunday, 25 June 2006 05:41 (nineteen years ago)

Poor Badfinger. No credit for "Without You," either.

― pleased to mitya (mitya), Sunday, 25 June 2006 11:32 (nineteen years ago)

"Summer Holiday" (you know, the one that goes "We're all going on a summer holiday...").

"Carmina Burana".

That sunscreen song.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Sunday, 25 June 2006 13:02 (nineteen years ago)

"Apache".

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Sunday, 25 June 2006 13:02 (nineteen years ago)

"Don't Worry, Be Happy".

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Sunday, 25 June 2006 13:03 (nineteen years ago)

"Happy Together"

― chap who would dare to be a nerd, not a geek (chap), Sunday, 25 June 2006 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

(from way upthread):

WTF? "Electric Slide" is really called "Electric Boogie"????

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Sunday, 25 June 2006 22:41 (nineteen years ago)

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