Successful pop music is not always good pop music. Many of us know that intuitively, but it doesn't really sink in until there is a particular song we wish would go away. Here are 10 that I have chosen as the songs I think we've heard enough times already. Without further adieu...the 10 most annoying pop songs of 2005:
1. Black Eyed Peas - My Humps
This attempt at cute humor about female anatomy wrapped in a mildly catchy tune is my choice for the most annoying pop song of the year. The song seems to be aimed at someone who will snicker and giggle at the use of the terms "my hump" and "my lovely lady lumps." I count the phrase "my hump" over 30 times in the lyrics. Oh, and did I mention the milky cocoa puffs? Sigh.
2. Crazy Frog - Axel F
Crazy Frog is cute, in an ugly way, and very ingenious the first time you encounter him. However, like many novelty items in pop music, a few times is quite enough. Then it gets old, and then it gets really annoying. We were spared much of the onslaught here in the U.S., but if you know someone who watches TV in the U.K., ask them how many times they've seen the frog.
3. Jessica Simpson - These Boots Are Made for Walkin'
I did like this the first few times I heard it, and I even wrote a positive review. Unfortunately, it doesn't wear well. Then there's that video and the "Jessica washes the car" trick that hearkens back to Tawny Kitaen and the rock bimbos of 80's videos. Of course, it is forever connected to a serious movie flop as well. I think I prefer going back to the original Nancy Sinatra version of "These Boots." It refuses to get old.
4. D4L - Laffy Taffy
Hypnotic? Or annoying? The first few times it is probably the former. The next gazillion times on the radio it is clearly the latter. I suppose we will never look at the candy the same way again.
5. Carrie Underwood / Bo Bice - Inside Your Heaven
This song is such a clunker it really didn't matter who sang it, and unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of fans of Carrie and Bo have this disc sitting on their shelves and probably never listen to it. It is the bestselling single of the year. Fortunately, for Carrie, her first solo album, Some Hearts, has quality songwriting and is much, much better than this. I am hoping for the same from Bo.
6. Akon - Lonely
Remember the return of the Chipmunk voices on this remake of a dusty old Bobby Vinton record? Remember how you probably laughed the first time you heard it on the radio? Are you still as charmed now? One redemption is that the words were meaningful to a significant number of American troops in Iraq and helped ease their minds. I just wish they could have listened to Akon's admittedly beautiful voice without the Chipmunks.
7. Frankie J - More Than Words
If you want to hear how I think this record should have turned out, listen to the first few bars of Frankie J singing a capella. His smooth, romantic voice works well. Keep going Frankie! Alas, they didn't listen to me. By the time he winds his way to the end his inability to hold a single note more than a second or two seriously grates on the nerves. The incessant wavery warbling makes me reach for the radio volume dial.
8. Papa Roach - Scars
I'm still wondering why radio stations played this so many times for so long. Is it that line "I tear my heart open just to feel"? That was kind of cool the first time through, but it's not particularly original. Nothing else in the song really is either. Luckily, we get to hear the same bland words and music again and again and again...just to check and see if we changed our mind.
9. 50 Cent - Just a Lil' Bit
I know this is supposed to be sexy, and it's supposed to be clever, but it ends up sounding like a school assignment to see how many different ways the phrase "just a lil' bit" can be used. 50 does throw in some soft core porn to try to make it more interesting.
10. Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams
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There is always an example of a truly outstanding song that received so much exposure that most of us finally wanted to say "Enough already!!!" "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is just one of the many outstanding songs on the American Idiot album. However, it was very difficult to get away from it in 2005. Years from now it will most likely be great to listen to again, but, for now, let's move on.
