Music

The top 10 songs that unbelievably became hits

by Ciaran Thompson

Wikipedia, yes I’m referencing Wikipedia, defines popular music as ‘a generic term for music of all ages that appeals to popular tastes.’ From “(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?,” to “21 Guns,” there always seems to be an abundance of poor music that is called popular and sometimes we can’t fathom why they exist, let alone make it onto the airwaves and subsequently the playlist of millions. Perhaps we need it to balance things out between the really good stuff or for just something to bicker about. Either way great bands and artists have at some point in their careers put out a song that miraculously becomes popular that is actually just, well, shyte. In this top 10 list, we shine a light on the poorer songs some solid bands have put out that became of one their biggest hits.

Beverly Hills – Weezer – Released on their fifth album Make Believe, Weezer’s “Beverly Hills” was the band’s most popular single until “Pork and Beans” came out three years later. That track by the way doesn’t make the list for several reasons with one being the omission of Hugh Hefner and his Playboy mansion appearing in the video. This is one of those songs when after only three seconds you realize who it is and what’s to come and immediately fast forward or turn off completely.

St. Anger – Metallica – Despite all the tough talk that comes with Metallica, a once fierce band on the popular metal circuit, this track from their eighth album shows little toughness and shooting the video in San Quentin State Prison was a sad attempt for the bad to get back the cred they once had. Personally I’d rather listen to Jethro Tull.

Just Lose It – Eminem – For Eminem’s albums after Slim Shady EP and Marshall Mathers EP, it seemed like he would pick up one of those US weekly magazines or look at other celebrity gossip forums and write songs lashing out at other people as if they had severely hurt him previously. That might not have exactly been the case, but Em’s roaring on this track which takes a stab at Michael Jackson, among others, certainly hurt our ears.

Life – Our Lady Peace – Our Lady Peace are a great Canadian band who’ve put out some really good music since their first album dropped in the ’90s, however this track off their disc Spiritual Machines, one of their best albums, was a corny feel good anthem for depressed souls. It became widely popular, but lost out to Nickleback’s “How You Remind Me” at the 2002 Juno Awards. Enough said.

21 Guns – Green Day – It’s inevitable one of Green Day’s politically motivated songs from their last two albums would make this list. It’s amazing how some of these songs, which screams of a band trying too hard to convert themselves from weed-smoking punk kids to socially conscious activists, actually became popular. We’ve tolerated some mellow Green Day songs in the past like “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life),” but this just doesn’t stick.

Viva La Vida – Coldplay – Another song you usually shut off after hearing the first couple strings and has probably been used for dance routines or other experimental projects showing a similar lack of substance. The album it’s off of was alright and is a good fourth effort by a band who have the ears of millions anticipating the release of any piece of poetry they put a beat to. The band still delivers great live performances, just not while playing this song.

Notion – Kings of Leon – The Followill clan started to amass huge popularity after their third album Because of the Times was released and before their most recent record Only By The Night came out, they sold out arena venues and had GAP stores playing their singles. Their fourth single “Notion” from the album really made us all stand back and realize that Kings of Leon are a band you can’t just throw on whenever like your other favorites. There’s only so much of that southern rock ‘n’ roll voice we can take.

Human – The Killers – When The Killers released their first album Hot Fuss in 2004, people flocked to their upbeat disco-inspired synthesized version of ‘indie rock’ and admittedly the band had some great songs. Sam’s Town came out two years later with a slower take on things and after a b-sides album, Day & Age was released with “Human” as its first single. The heavily ’80s inspired track became quite popular with the question, “are we human, or are we dancer?” At this point nobody really cares to know, but agrees that it’s for the best the band take the hiatus they’re currently on.

Juicebox – The Strokes – Apparently one of the songs that leaked before the release of their third album First Impressions of Earth, The Strokes’ track “Juicebox” hit the airwaves and might have become popular simply because it was a new Strokes song. The band achieved huge success with their modern take on garage-inspired rock music, until of course this album was released and then the critics took their jabs, rather Haymakers. After its release the song became overshadowed by the insatiable desire to scream “Why Don’t You Come Over Here!”

My Generation – Limp Bizkit – It’s difficult to summarize thoughts about an album called Chocolate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavored Water, let alone one of its most popular tracks amongst youth and early 20 somethings at the start of the last decade. The song has the same sort of style to their other hit “Nookie” where it slows down and builds for that ultimate stage dive into the crowd, or onto the bed in your parents’ house. (Side note: we kind of cheated with this song because all of the other artists on this list have truly put our great music at one point while Limp Bizkit really made wearing different coloured Yankee hats cool.)