Beck - "Loser": Classic or Dud?

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I loved when I first heard it as a wee tyke. Later, I still liked it, but I liked it because it was so bad. And then later still I began to think I began to like it unironically again. So what is the ILM perspective on this song?

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Wednesday, 9 April 2003 23:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Once I got over mid-period Beck, Classic. Like REM's "Stand," it's the over-the-top-big-fun-mega-dork goofiness that sucked me in rather than the pretentious piddly that I later told myself was better.

Are all Beck's best songs rap songs? Possibly!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 9 April 2003 23:24 (twenty-two years ago)

One of the only good Beck songs. Not quite classic tho.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 9 April 2003 23:25 (twenty-two years ago)

not classic. superseded by later work.

― Savin All My Love 4 u (Savin 4ll my (heart) 4u), Wednesday, 9 April 2003 23:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Classic! only because I saw him him attempt to play it at a Tulane frat bar when it came out. He made the audience sit through an endless set of material that was unfamiliar to them while they constantly yelled "Loser" like it was the 90's freebird. Then to make matters worse the sound system would blow out at least three times per song throughout the set.The audience grew increasingly agitated as time wore on to the point of near violence. Beck then did a pisstake acoustic version which put them over the edge. Chaos ensued

― SplendidMullet (iamamonkey), Wednesday, 9 April 2003 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Absolute Classic, and not just for its role as a cornerstone of 90s pop culture. I still remember where I was the first time I heard it. I can only say that of three or four other songs/albums.

― Nick Mirov (nick), Thursday, 10 April 2003 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a classic dood. No real argument.

― maria b (maria b), Thursday, 10 April 2003 00:16 (twenty-two years ago)

The ska version (by, uh, that all-star ska bands whose name I don't remember) was pretty funny.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Thursday, 10 April 2003 03:06 (twenty-two years ago)

The fatboy slim remix is high-larious.

And the song is a stone cold classic. Fuck all y'all.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Thursday, 10 April 2003 03:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Classic all the way. I'd go out of my way to not hear it these days, but it's just one of those songs that will forever be remembered fondly.

― paul cox (paul cox), Thursday, 10 April 2003 03:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Urgh, always despised this song. Yes, despised.
I never found anything remotely likeable about the song.

― Øystein Holm-Olsen (Øystein H-O), Thursday, 10 April 2003 03:55 (twenty-two years ago)

True fact: the first song I listened to stoned was "Blackhole." I still think Mellow Gold is a pretty good album with a few great songs.

― Clarke B., Thursday, 10 April 2003 04:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm saying it's a big steaming pile of skiddered pants.

― chris sallis, Thursday, 10 April 2003 08:49 (twenty-two years ago)

did somebody say "justifiable hype"?

i love this song, and like most of what beck as done, it is as good as the press hoo-ha would suggest. pity he had to get all emotional on the last album and spoil everyone's fun.

who could not be wooed by that chorus? its so infectious, its obscene. more of this, please.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 10 April 2003 08:53 (twenty-two years ago)

At the time "Loser" first became popular, I considered it a guilty pleasure. Now I consider it merely one of the best tracks on Mellow Gold, an album that has since been supplanted by Mutations and Odelay as my favorite Beck.

― mike a (mike a), Thursday, 10 April 2003 13:50 (twenty-two years ago)

As far as radio staples of the 90s goes, classic.

As far as Beck songs go, dud.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 10 April 2003 13:59 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah mellow gold is wicked
he looks like someone out of hanson on the inlay

― ambrose (ambrose), Thursday, 10 April 2003 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

bek is hott

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 10 April 2003 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

he looks like someone out of hanson on the inlay

You do know that Beck's last name is Hansen don't you? No relation though.

I hadn't listened to Mellow Gold for quite a long time, busted it out recently and wow. I love that it's in places sunny and whimsical and friendly ("Beercan" = vibe like bbq/beers on patio in summertime) and in other places dense and bottomless and stunning ("Blackhole" = vibe like Disneyland Teacup Ride in slow motion in outer space/opium den).

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 10 April 2003 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

When this came out, I was a bored American teenager living in India. When back in Florida for the summer, I had taped this song off of the radio, but since it was a countdown show, they only played like the first verse and chorus, so that was all I had. I memorized all the words to that verse and it was weird but cool when I finally heard the rest of the song. So, dud. No wait, I mean classic.

― Nick A. (Nick A.), Thursday, 10 April 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

i didnt like it at first, now i'm indifferent really, despite loving a lot of Beck's later songs

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 10 April 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

seven years pass...

This is a pretty funny song with a good drum break. I listened to Beck and Cibo Matto tonight, it was a weird time.

― i love you but i have chosen snarkness (Steve Shasta), Friday, 21 January 2011 06:48 (fourteen years ago)

i could live without ever hearing this song again.

― i love tampon spaceship (San Te), Friday, 21 January 2011 06:49 (fourteen years ago)

http://vimeo.com/12225470

― billstevejim, Friday, 21 January 2011 06:52 (fourteen years ago)

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