Tuesday, September 20, 2011: TWOfer Tuesday - The "Worst Songs Of The 90's" Edition

Recently, Rolling Stone released the results of a reader poll listing the choices for Worst Song Of The 90's. Here's the Top (Bottom?) 10:

1. Agua, "Barbie Girl"

2. Los Del Rio, "Macarena"

3. Billy Ray Cyrus, "Achy Breaky Heart"

4. Vanilla Ice, "Ice Ice Baby"

5. Chumbawamba, "Tubthumping"

6. Hanson, "MMMBop"

7. Celine Dion, "My Heart Will Go On"

8. Baha Men, "Who Let The Dogs Out?"

9. Right Said Fred, "I'm Too Sexy"

10. 4 Non Blondes, "What's Up?"

Now, please understand, I don't have a problem with most of this list.

More than happy that Barbie Girl is at the top, what a horrible, awful song. And, for the most part, these are pretty obvious choices. Unless you've had a frontal lobotomy, you too will agree that if we never hear the Macarena again it will be too soon. Ditto for Achy Breaky Heart, I'm Too Sexy and Who Let The Dogs Out.

I understand some people do, in fact, like "What's Up" by 4 Non Blonds, but every time I listen to it I throw up a little in my mouth. Just an agonizingly repulsive song.

MMMBop by Hanson, while certainly overplayed in the 90's, still manages to be a cut above the usual sugar-pop snaps. In fact, I would call MMMBop more infused with sunshine than sugar, My day is brighter for having heard it, and that makes all the difference.



So, we come to Tubthumping by Chumbawamba. Again, I sort of understand why this is on the list, but, in this instance, everyone who voted for this song is dead wrong.

Chumbawamba, which by the way is the absolute greatest anarchist, syndicalist, socialist, pacifist, communist, mutlicultural, anti-racist, anti-war and feminist band (insert Jeremy Clarkson voice here) In The World, hasn't released a bad song here by any stretch of the imagination.

This songs is actually an anthem and an ode, a declaration to the world around you that no matter how many obstacles life throws you, you are going get back up and do it again and again.

Its a big flying finger in the face of not only adversity, but mediocrity. And it's also a great drinking song to boot.

Worst songs of the 90's? Pish posh. Best songs to start out a week with, if you ask me.  Because, even though I get knocked down, I'll get back up again.  Believe.

So, about that list. Take out Tubthumping and MMMBop, and put in "How Bizarre" by OMC and MMM MMM MMM MMM (or whatever the hell it's called) by Crash Test Dummies and I'll grade it 100%.