Worst 100 Singles Of 2003 So Far

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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)

Skipping 174 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

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)

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