Worst Songs of 2008 [Archive]

G. Wen

12-03-2008, 10:20 PM

It's that time of the year again, where we discuss the noise that assulted our ears in 2008. In your opinion, what were the worst songs this year?

For me, this is the year of mediocrity. I didn't hear a lot of bad songs, but I did hear many mediocore songs that got overplayed to death. That "Take Me Away" song is one of them. There's also this one song with a girl mumbling in falsetto, but I have no idea who sang it, what it's called, or even what she's saying. I think one of the lines is "to see L.A.", but I could be wrong.

Michael24

12-03-2008, 11:05 PM

Off the top of my head, Kimya Dawson's "So Nice So Smart" from the Juno soundtrack. I was so sick of hearing that whenever I went to the movie theater earlier this year. Terrible.

Mr. Wednesday

12-03-2008, 11:12 PM

Yahhh! by Soulja Boy. Hearing a guy yelling "YAH! TRICK YAH!" is definitely not a pleasing sound.

G. Wen

12-03-2008, 11:15 PM

Yahhh! by Soulja Boy. Hearing a guy yelling "YAH! TRICK YAH!" is definitely not a pleasing sound.
He's still around?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? I didn't think he could last more than a year...

Shawn Hopkins

12-03-2008, 11:15 PM

Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl." It sounds bad and is at its heart gay negative. And it was so overplayed for a while this year that you couldn't get away from it.

Michael24

12-03-2008, 11:32 PM

Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl." It sounds bad and is at its heart gay negative. And it was so overplayed for a while this year that you couldn't get away from it.

I've actually never even heard it, though from all the talk I've seen of it online, that seems like a good thing. :D

sdp

12-03-2008, 11:38 PM

It'd take a lot less time to write the good songs of 08. :p

edit: actually looking back, this year was decent though I think i'm counting some late 07 releases not sure.

G. Wen

12-03-2008, 11:47 PM

I've actually never even heard it, though from all the talk I've seen of it online, that seems like a good thing. :D
Mediocore music wise, stupid lyric wise, and a cheap gimmick on Katy Perry's part.

All Star Blitz

12-03-2008, 11:47 PM

I haven't heard anything new this year that wasn't country. Probably my least favorite country song this year has been "Don't You Know You're Beautiful" by Kellie Pickler. I think this quote from a review put it best:

But as the song progresses–after a chorus consisting of “Don’t you know you’re beautiful” sung over and over–we learn that the homecoming queen is beautiful as well. Who would have ever imagined a homecoming queen being beautiful? Then it somehow deviates from the message and gives advice to that little homecoming queen to keep her innocence. How that relates to beauty, who knows, but hey, don’t you know you’re beautiful.
So, what exactly is the point of the song? To tell every girl that she’s beautiful? If every girl is beautiful, then how meaningful is it to tell someone that they are beautiful? “Hey, look at you, you’re beautiful… just like everyone else.”
If we don’t extrapolate the message, the song is pointless, and if we do extrapolate the message, it’s meaningless.

I think that Kellie Pickler is bland and overrated as a whole, never mind that she did the excellent "I Wonder" and a couple other good songs. She's all boobs, no brains. That, and this is one of the most feminine songs this year, and as a guy, I just can't identify with one iota of it.

Baltofan

12-04-2008, 01:41 AM

O julissi by Ishtar, Belgiums song to Eurovision Song Contest 2008.

Lazerboy5000

12-04-2008, 08:29 AM

Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl." It sounds bad and is at its heart gay negative. And it was so overplayed for a while this year that you couldn't get away from it.
I actually hate Hot 'N Cold more.

And for the record, I think Souja Boy came out last year.... but please don't remind me. I've been able to live the last few months without hearing that song, and I don't plan on listening to it again. :eek:

SirLemming

12-04-2008, 08:34 AM

There hasn't been a whole lot of new music of interest to me this year... either positively or negatively. For the most part, now that I have a job I have to drive an hour to and an hour back each day, I've been catching up on a lot of CDs that I've been interested in over the years but didn't have the money for. Without CDs, the trips would be pretty boring, and potentially dangerous (gotta stay awake).

But I do listen to the radio as well... still, almost nothing over the past year has stayed with me as either a really good new song or a really bad new song. It's more like just a mish-mash of songs that could be new or could just be old songs I'm not familiar with, I can't quite tell.

However, the one thing that has made an impact this year is Katy Perry. And no, it's not a good impact. I feel like there must be some good in her somewhere, but the singles she's released this year are overproduced, cynical attempts at projecting some sort of rebellious attitude without really trying. Cries for attention, perhaps. And anyone who makes a song called "Ur So Gay" cannot be forgiven.

Other than that, Sara Bareilles' "Love Song" has been drastically overplayed, but it's not a bad song, really.

By the way, this might help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_Hot_100_top_10_singles_in_2008

The New Titans

12-04-2008, 09:44 AM

Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl." It sounds bad and is at its heart gay negative. And it was so overplayed for a while this year that you couldn't get away from it.

That, "Another Way to Die" and "Are We Human or Are We Dancers?".

Lord Dalek

12-04-2008, 10:17 AM

Jack White and Alicia Keyes - "Another Way to Die" - manages to be an even worse Bond song than "Die Another Day".

Slipperman

12-04-2008, 10:54 AM

Generally all the songs put out this year (actually any year) by Beyonce and the Jonas Brothers are the musical equivalent of gargling with Drano while sticking your feet under a running lawn mower, IMO :sweat:

Tim (aka the Slipperman)

J. B. Warner

12-04-2008, 11:16 AM

Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl." It sounds bad and is at its heart gay negative. And it was so overplayed for a while this year that you couldn't get away from it.

I'll agree that it's pretty annoying. I think "Hot 'n Cold" was definitely the better of her two singles this year.

I think rap hit new lows this year, between "Lollipop" by Li'l Wayne, "Shawty Get Loose" by Li'l Mama, "Church" by T-Pain, "In the Ayer" by Flo-Rida, and "Swagga Like Us" by Jay-Z. I don't know what's stranger - that all these songs sound alike, that all their artists either have hyphens or the word "Li'l" in their names, or that I actually know their titles. (The only reason I'm aware of these songs in the first place is because one of the general managers at work listens to nothing but the newest rap, and I've absorbed this stuff inadvertently through cultural osmosis.)

hobbyfan

12-04-2008, 12:05 PM

Martianinvader

12-04-2008, 12:41 PM

You know what's interesting....as the AVGN pointed out, just about every classic hard rock band suddenly put out a new album this year.

And so far, I haven't heard any of them get any play outside of rock-specific radio itself.

Are they all niche now??

The B-52's also put out a new album, and they still own every awful piece of rap poop in the world, but nobody will ever know.

J. B. Warner

12-04-2008, 02:14 PM

You know what's interesting....as the AVGN pointed out, just about every classic hard rock band suddenly put out a new album this year.

And so far, I haven't heard any of them get any play outside of rock-specific radio itself.

Are they all niche now??

Sure seems like it. I know I wouldn't have heard of the new AC/DC album if I hadn't started listening to the local rock station. Good thing I did, too, 'cause "Rock and Roll Train" kicks ass. And of course, as I mentioned elsewhere, Queen's "C-lebrity" is one of my new favorites, even though Paul Rodgers will never truly replace Freddy Mercury.

I couldn't muster up the same level of enthusiasm for Guns 'n Roses' "Chinese Democracy", though - I know the album is a monumental event 'cause it's been in post-production hell for 14 years, but the title track sounded nothing like the Guns 'n Roses I know.

Michael24

12-04-2008, 03:32 PM

Sure seems like it. I know I wouldn't have heard of the new AC/DC album if I hadn't started listening to the local rock station. Good thing I did, too, 'cause "Rock and Roll Train" kicks ass.

If by any chance you have Sirius/XM, they have an entire 24/7 channel devoted to AC/DC for the next month or two. I never really listened to them much, but tuned in after hearing some of Black Ice when my brother bought it, and I'm really liking a lot of their stuff. "It's A Long Way To The Top" is one of my favorites. :)

Darklordavaitor

12-04-2008, 05:05 PM

I'm going with the same answer I went with last year with pretty much anything mainstream radio.

All Star Blitz

12-05-2008, 06:59 PM

Wow, I've never even heard of 99% of these artists.

Desensitized

12-05-2008, 07:11 PM

That 'I Kissed A Girl' song is terrible for all the reasons listed in this thread. Why there are people that still think this is cute or clever in any way makes no sense to me.

Guys, rock music has been shunned by mainstream radio for a while now. Just because classic rock bands release new albums, doesn't mean they'll start playing them again.

Though, I have to say, for a band I don't care much for otherwise, "Spaceman" by The Killers is a really good song.

.bg

12-05-2008, 07:19 PM

chdr

12-05-2008, 07:29 PM

Absolutely everything on top-40 radio.

Many undeserving songs were overplayed - I'm looking at you, Leon from the X-Factor. Also, speaking of that show, Leona Lewis is not as great as the critics say she is. She sings through her nose.

That reminds me just how much I hate "Bleeding Love".

And that "you've got me begging you for mercy" song by Duffy is one of the worst songs I have ever had the displeasure to hear.

stargirl

12-05-2008, 07:30 PM

There's also this one song with a girl mumbling in falsetto, but I have no idea who sang it, what it's called, or even what she's saying. I think one of the lines is "to see L.A.", but I could be wrong.

You mean "American Boy" by Estelle? I love that song! It's a solid reminder that disco never dies. :D

NewcomerDC

12-05-2008, 07:32 PM

And that "you've got me begging you for mercy" song by Duffy is one of the worst songs I have ever had the displeasure to hear.
Hearing this song played on TNT adds to the pain.

NewcomerDC

12-05-2008, 07:33 PM

You mean "American Boy" by Estelle? I love that song! It's a solid reminder that disco never dies. :D
I like the song as well but it IS getting overplayed at D.C.'s Hot 99.5...along with everything else popular on mainstream radio.

Darklordavaitor

12-05-2008, 07:35 PM

Guys, rock music has been shunned by mainstream radio for a while now. Just because classic rock bands release new albums, doesn't mean they'll start playing them again.

This is true. On my local #1 "hit" station, the closest to hard rock artists that they'll put on are Green Day and Nickelback. Just because your's isn't playing AC/DC's new album doesn't mean that it isn't popular.

Now my local #1 modern rock station, on the other hand, plays "Rock and Roll Train" quite a bit, and I believe that Black Ice has also made double platinum by now. Don't think Queen or Joruney's new releases are quite as successful, but considering how nearly 95% of all rock artists that started playing in the 80's or earlier are labeled as only "classic" bands and our modern America doesn't seem keen on celebrating their new releases, I have to say bravo to AC/DC for remaining relevant even if their peak is gone.

And I called it when I heard it was coming out this year, and I gloat now with the fact that Chinese Democracy is the most overhyped new album ever. GNR may still get a lot of play on my local stations, but I don't think more than 5 copies have been bought from my local Best Buy. I quite liked their "classic lineup" albums, but I have no interest in Democracy, mainly since I find GNR useless without Slash or the other 4/5 of their "classic lineup", and I still don't think anyone really does.

Lazerboy5000

12-05-2008, 07:56 PM

How about we check the top 10 songs on iTunes right now....

1. "Circus" - Britney Spears
2. "Single Ladies" - Beyonce
3. "Beautiful" - Akon
4. "Just Dance" - Lady GaGa
5. "Love Lockdown" - Kanye West
6. "Love Story" - Taylor Swift
7. "If I were a Boy" - Beyonce
8. "Heartless" - Kanye West
9. "Live Your Life" - T.I.
10. "You Found Me" - The Fray

So let's see here... 1) I didn't even know Britney Spears is still around. 2) I've never heard of Lady GaGa or T.I. and 3) The Fray is the only band on there that I can put up with.

GuardianKid13

12-05-2008, 08:14 PM

I actually enjoyed Heartless and Just Dance..

Desensitized

12-05-2008, 08:36 PM

This is true. On my local #1 "hit" station, the closest to hard rock artists that they'll put on are Green Day and Nickelback. Just because your's isn't playing AC/DC's new album doesn't mean that it isn't popular.Wow, your station plays Green Day??

I haven't heard mine play Green Day since 1998 or so with Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)...

In fact, I think Nickleback is the only rock band I ever hear on the radio.

... I hate mainstream radio.

The Wolverine

12-05-2008, 08:44 PM

Wow, your station plays Green Day??

I haven't heard mine play Green Day since 1998 or so with Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)...

In fact, I think Nickleback is the only rock band I ever hear on the radio.

... I hate mainstream radio.

Heh, mine plays Green Day too... about 15 times a day, mainly "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" or "Holiday". I'm surprised "Holiday" is played so much though, considering this IS Arizona.

Lazerboy5000

12-05-2008, 09:09 PM

Well, I listen to an Alternitive station and they play a lot a good stuff... classic Green Day, Nivrana, Coldplay... they got away from Nickelback, and just in time, becuase they've turned into a pop band.

Azrael24

12-05-2008, 09:46 PM

You mean "American Boy" by Estelle? I love that song! It's a solid reminder that disco never dies. :D
i love this song too!

i hated everything by taylor swift *gag*

Darklordavaitor

12-05-2008, 10:02 PM

Wow, your station plays Green Day??

I haven't heard mine play Green Day since 1998 or so with Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)...

Yep, but yeah, mostly "Good Riddance", "Welcome to Paradise", and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" on my "hit" station. My modern rock station plays some of their stuff, too, but mainly pre-American Idiot stuff.

Actually, when I think about it, I really don't hear much emo on the radio. Not even MCR.