100 Songs That Are Total Cliches, But Still, Really *Do* Make Everything Better

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You know the ones. They're cliches, they're overplayed and overused, but when they come on the radio, no matter how miserable you are, they just grab you by the very heart and shake you to your very core because they so perfectly and ultimately express something about the nature of life itself.

1) Rock'N'Roll - Velvet Underground. "Despite all the complications, she could just dance to a rock'n'roll station, and it was alrriiiiiiiggggghhhhhhht!!!! (insert droney guitar solo)"

― Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think "Rock n' Roll" by the Velvet Underground has never come on my radio - more's the pity

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:12 (twenty-one years ago)

2. Do You Believe In Magic - Lovin' Spoonful

If I had the lyrics I'd print all of them

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:13 (twenty-one years ago)

3) Hot in Herre - Nelly

― Vic (Vic), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:16 (twenty-one years ago)

(OK, it doesn't have to come on the radio - it actually just came on the CD I was listening to. But still. You know what I mean.)

― Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:17 (twenty-one years ago)

4) You Get What You Give - New Radicals

― Michael B, Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:18 (twenty-one years ago)

5) Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus

― pete b. (pete b.), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:19 (twenty-one years ago)

6) You can get it if you really want - Jimmy Cliff

― Joe Kay (feethurt), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:20 (twenty-one years ago)

7) "Burnin' For You" by Blue Oyster Cult and so help me god
8) "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas (destroy the rest, though)

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:21 (twenty-one years ago)

9) 'Blue Monday' - I just don't get tired of hearing it, it's just SO programmed

― the neurotic awakening of s (blueski), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:23 (twenty-one years ago)

10) Sha na na na Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye, by whoever the heck that's by.

― Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:26 (twenty-one years ago)

10) Rip it Up - Orange Juice.

All right,it rarely gets played on the radio, but if it did, it would.

― Bidfurd, Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Kate- BananaRAMA! of course!

12. Love Train - O Jays

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, I was thinking about the original 60s one, but the Bananarama one is sheer class, too.

― Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:29 (twenty-one years ago)

It's by Steam or the Steam Band or sumthin' like that

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think I've ever even heard the Velvet Underground's 'Rock & Roll' at all. Kate and her crazy clichés.

13. The Beatles - 'Here Comes The Sun'
14. Fern Kinney - 'Together We Are Beautiful'

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:33 (twenty-one years ago)

14. Fern Kinney - 'Together We Are Beautiful'

Oh, I'm so glad you name-checked that.. I love that song

How about, then

15. Boney M - Sunny

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I was about to say:

15a. "Sunny" by Bobby Hebb

So, instead:

16. "Good Morning Starshine" by Oliver

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:36 (twenty-one years ago)

well...

17. Sunny - Bobby Hebb

Possibly the better version, actually, although less of a cliche.

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I always thought "Sunny" was by Georgie Fame. Shows how wrong I can be.

― Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:38 (twenty-one years ago)

18. The Temptations - 'Get Ready'
19. Supergrass - 'Alright'

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Georgie Fame - good idea!

20. Georgie Fame - Peaceful
21. Beach Boys - Good Vibrations

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:46 (twenty-one years ago)

22. The Kinks - 'Waterloo Sunset'

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:50 (twenty-one years ago)

minutemen - corona
even jackass couldn't ruin it for me...

― simon 803 (simon 803), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:51 (twenty-one years ago)

23. "The Red Flag"
24. "The Internationale"

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:57 (twenty-one years ago)

25. Pulp - "Babies"

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Thursday, 12 August 2004 09:58 (twenty-one years ago)

26. Mama Cass - Dream A Little Dream Of Me
27. Minnie Ripperton - Lovin You

― hobart paving (hobart paving), Thursday, 12 August 2004 10:05 (twenty-one years ago)

28. Simon & Garfunkel - 'The Only Living Boy In New York'

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 August 2004 10:18 (twenty-one years ago)

But Rock N Roll is still kind of ironic, right? Or maybe it's not at all, but you still can't call it a cliché. It's just the real thing.

29. U2 - With Or Without You

― strom (strom), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:16 (twenty-one years ago)

!!!

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I know.

― strom (strom), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:30 (twenty-one years ago)

30. The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin'
31. Boston - More Than a Feeling

― Roger in Mokum (Roger T), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:33 (twenty-one years ago)

only living boy is a good one

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Rock'n'roll doesn't have a hint of irony in it, that's what makes it so beautiful. It really is a hymn to the redemptive power of music, and dancing.

It's a cliche because it's true, because it's overplayed and overused. But that doesn't make it not true.

― Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:48 (twenty-one years ago)

32. Although I hate the song, "Rock & Roll Never Forgets," Bob Seger. You really believe he means it when he sings it.

― phil d., Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:20 (twenty-one years ago)

33. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye

― beanz (beanz), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

34. Queen "You're My Best Friend"

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:31 (twenty-one years ago)

(The first thing I did when I got my Wurlitzer [in the past couple days] was learn the main riff from that song.)

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:32 (twenty-one years ago)

35. She Loves You - The Beatles

― beanz (beanz), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:35 (twenty-one years ago)

36. "Common People". When/before it comes on, I feel sure that I've heard it quite enough -- but then it just whooshes me along anyway.

(Also seconded: "California Dreaming")

― OleM (OleM), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh no, my first major disagreement... Common People makes me want to shoot people. Seriously. I am *not* and I will never be common, I just refuse. I know what the track is about, and what it's trying to say, but it still makes me near homicidal.

― Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think "Rock n' Roll" by the Velvet Underground has never come on my radio - more's the pity

Actually, first time I ever heard the original was in '86 on Detroit radio! A "classic rock" station in fact. Mitch Ryder's metallic cover version still gets regular airplay on that same station.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Re: "Carry on Wayward Son", someone once wrote that steering wheels on cars must hate this song.. . "Lay your weary head to rest (wham, wham), don't you cry no more".

But it does make everything better!

― avery schreiber, Thursday, 12 August 2004 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

37. Funny, I was just thinking about this on the way into work this morning. "What About Love" by Heart is riddled with cliches, but it's still comforting that someone can sing your story.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 12 August 2004 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

38. ooh child - 5 stairsteps or nina simone
39. king of spain - galaxie 500
40. bring on the dancing horses - echo & the bunnymen

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 12 August 2004 14:07 (twenty-one years ago)

41. flyin' shoes - townes van zandt

not overplayed and overused, but still.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 12 August 2004 14:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I can probably neve post here again.
42. Don't Stop Believin'-Journey

― steve hise, Thursday, 12 August 2004 14:11 (twenty-one years ago)

it's ok. i have a soft spot in my heart for that song, too.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 12 August 2004 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Nonsense, every one of us here has praised stuff far more uncool/"unworthy" than "Don't Stop Believin'"! (Which I myself have never cared for, but nevermind...)

37. Katrina & the Waves, "Walking on Sunshine", even tho the horns always annoyed me; plus excessive use in television adverts is dulling its impact.

"More Than A Feeling" seconded, thirded, etc. "I hide in my music, forget the day."

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 12 August 2004 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

(...uh, that should actually be 43, not 37. Dumbass.)

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 12 August 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I think many on this board have in fact spoken up for "Don't Stop Believin'" in the past. I think there was even some sort of communal praise thread about it.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Thursday, 12 August 2004 16:44 (twenty-one years ago)

43. "It Must Be Love" - Madness

― Wooden (Wooden), Thursday, 12 August 2004 16:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Has anyone mentioned "Walkin' On Sunshine" by Katrina & the Waves yet?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, four posts above you.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah, sorry then.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

44. moby - we are all made of stars

― artiste, Friday, 13 August 2004 00:35 (twenty-one years ago)

45. naughty by nature - everything's gonna be alright

― ar, Friday, 13 August 2004 00:35 (twenty-one years ago)

46. supertramp - goodbye stranger

― artiste, Friday, 13 August 2004 00:39 (twenty-one years ago)

47. swv - right here (human nature remix)

― artiste, Friday, 13 August 2004 00:40 (twenty-one years ago)

48. andreas dorau - girls in love

― artiste, Friday, 13 August 2004 00:41 (twenty-one years ago)

49. Mazzy Star - "Blue Flower"

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 13 August 2004 00:42 (twenty-one years ago)

50. Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Fortunate Son"

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 13 August 2004 00:43 (twenty-one years ago)

fortunate son you get what you give and don't stop believin are the only ones i wish i had said

― artiste, Friday, 13 August 2004 00:44 (twenty-one years ago)

51. The Temptations - Just My Imagination
52. Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Friday, 13 August 2004 00:48 (twenty-one years ago)

53. The Cure - "Just Like Heaven" (or the Dino Jr. cover)

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 13 August 2004 00:56 (twenty-one years ago)

54. J. Geils Band - Sanctuary

― jim wentworth (wench), Friday, 13 August 2004 02:56 (twenty-one years ago)

55. Stevie Wonder's Live version of "Ribbon in the Sky" (on 'Natural Wonder') gets me everytime.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Friday, 13 August 2004 04:14 (twenty-one years ago)

56. George Michael - Careless Whisper

― Atnevon (Atnevon), Friday, 13 August 2004 06:21 (twenty-one years ago)

57. When Love Breaks Down - Prefab Sprout

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Friday, 13 August 2004 10:57 (twenty-one years ago)

58. "True Faith" - New Order
59. "Levi Stubbs' Tears" - Billy Bragg

― Huey (Huey), Friday, 13 August 2004 11:14 (twenty-one years ago)

60. the supremes - you can't hurry love

― artiste, Friday, 13 August 2004 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

61. The Smashing Pumpkins - "Whir" ("My honey, little girl / C'mon, let's go for a whirl!")

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Saturday, 14 August 2004 01:53 (twenty-one years ago)

62 Like a Rolling Stone
63 Debaser

― danh (danh), Saturday, 14 August 2004 02:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Silly Love Songs Paul McCartney

― orangeblazer, Sunday, 15 August 2004 07:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Different Drum - Stone Ponys
Video Killed the Radio Star - Buggles

― The Velvet Overlord (The Velvet Overlord), Sunday, 15 August 2004 07:49 (twenty-one years ago)

the supremes - you can't hurry love

YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

― Super-Masonic Black Hole (kate), Monday, 16 August 2004 06:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Jonathan Richman - The Morning Of Our Lives (Live)

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 16 August 2004 08:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Bob Marley - No Woman No Cry (minus the context of creepy frat-dude party drunken singalong)

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 16 August 2004 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Johnny Nash - "I Can See Clearly Now"

― peepee (peepee), Monday, 16 August 2004 12:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Rainbow - Since You've Been Gone

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 16 August 2004 12:57 (twenty-one years ago)

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