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Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs
When funnyman Dave Barry asked readers about their least favorite tunes, he thought he was penning just another installment of his weekly syndicated humor column. But the witty writer was flabbergasted by the response when over 10,000 readers voted. "I have never written a column that got a bigger response than the one announcing the Bad Song Survey," Barry wrote. Based on the results of the survey, Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs is a compilation of some of the worst songs ever written. Dave Barry fans will relish his quirky take. Music buffs, too will appreciate this humorous stroll through the world's worst lyrics. The only thing wrong with this book is that readers will find themselves unable to stop mentally singing the greatest hits of Gary Puckett.
94 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1997
284 people are currently reading
760 people want to read
About the author
Dave Barry
152 books2,236 followersDave Barry is a humor writer. For 25 years he was a syndicated columnist whose work appeared in more than 500 newspapers in the United States and abroad. In 1988 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Many people are still trying to figure out how this happened.
Dave has also written many books, virtually none of which contain useful information. Two of his books were used as the basis for the CBS TV sitcom "Dave's World," in which Harry Anderson played a much taller version of Dave.
Dave plays lead guitar in a literary rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose other members include Stephen King, Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson and Mitch Albom. They are not musically skilled, but they are extremely loud. Dave has also made many TV appearances, including one on the David Letterman show where he proved that it is possible to set fire to a pair of men's underpants with a Barbie doll.
In his spare time, Dave is a candidate for president of the United States. If elected, his highest priority will be to seek the death penalty for whoever is responsible for making Americans install low-flow toilets.
Dave lives in Miami, Florida, with his wife, Michelle, a sportswriter. He has a son, Rob, and a daughter, Sophie, neither of whom thinks he's funny.
Dave has also written many books, virtually none of which contain useful information. Two of his books were used as the basis for the CBS TV sitcom "Dave's World," in which Harry Anderson played a much taller version of Dave.
Dave plays lead guitar in a literary rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose other members include Stephen King, Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson and Mitch Albom. They are not musically skilled, but they are extremely loud. Dave has also made many TV appearances, including one on the David Letterman show where he proved that it is possible to set fire to a pair of men's underpants with a Barbie doll.
In his spare time, Dave is a candidate for president of the United States. If elected, his highest priority will be to seek the death penalty for whoever is responsible for making Americans install low-flow toilets.
Dave lives in Miami, Florida, with his wife, Michelle, a sportswriter. He has a son, Rob, and a daughter, Sophie, neither of whom thinks he's funny.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
May 7, 2019
It all started one fine day back in the 1990's, when Florida-based columnist Dave Barry made a flippant remark about the insipidity of Neil Diamond ballads. His faithful readers deluged Barry with mail, some supportive, others suggesting strongly that there were MUCH worse radio hits than the likes of "You Are the Words, I Am the Tune" or "Longfellow Serenade."
With a commendable bent toward direct democracy, Barry asked his readers to send in their nominations for worst-song-ever. Here's the top of the worst of Barry's survey, according to Wikipedia:
"MacArthur Park" as sung by Richard Harris (written by Jimmy Webb)
"Yummy Yummy Yummy (I Got Love In My Tummy)" performed by Ohio Express
"(You're) Having My Baby" by Paul Anka
"Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro
"Timothy" by The Buoys (written by Rupert Holmes)
"Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus
Barry was on to something, and in 1997 published Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs, full of songs like the above, those not-so-lovable losers with a high "How could we have listened to THAT?" quotient. Three years later the paperback version appeared.
The first thing this reviewer notices is that most of these songs were way old even by Nineties standards -- in fact, the only post-1980 tune to have made the ultimate hate list is Billy Ray Cyrus's version of "Achy Breaky Heart" from 1991. Nonetheless, the legendary Barry humor makes this book well worth reading, including many incisive and witty lines from his own readers. For added fun, Barry assigned some tunes to special chapters: in the chapter "Weenie Rock," for example, Barry discusses those "sensitive" hits that drove so many of us up the wall: "Feelings," not to mention lots of Barry Manilow and John Denver; with special swipes at Mac Davis, Bobby Goldsboro (and in fact, practically any singer named Bobby).
Women get a chapter all their own in "Songs Women Really Hate," when the insulting lyrics of "Wives and Lovers," "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife" and other pre-feminist tripe have their due. Inspired, Barry also includes "Songs People Hear Wrong," which sophisticated GR readers will recognize as "Mondegreens," as in Bruce Springsteen's:
"Blinded by the Light! -- ___?____?____?____?_ ."
But perhaps the funniest chapter of all comes when Barry slices and dices songs which may not have been huge hits but somehow got buried in the national cranium anyway: One- or two-hit wonders like "I've Never Been to Me," "I'm Too Sexy," "Don't Worry, Be Happy" (written and performed by another Bobby, note) and their ilk remind me that Barry urges caution when picking up this book: some tunes are hard to eradicate from consciousness. They come, they go, they make no (apparent) lasting impression until reactivated years later, when, like the sleeper cell in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, they leave a radioactive residue of regret. (I for one am struggling to get "Achy Breaky Heart" out of my mind, now that the author brought it up, and I never even line-danced.)
DAVE BARRY'S BOOK OF BAD SONGS is now quite old, at this point kind of a nostalgia upon a nostalgia. However, it still really is THAT funny and anyone who is up for Sweatin' Out the Oldies through their long-term memory banks is likely to enjoy it very much. Most used paperbacks are cheap and not hard to find. It is only reluctantly that I gave this big hit of wit a mere four stars simply because of its age. (Note that the book came out over a decade before Justin Bieber started placing hits regularly on BILLBOARD, reducing the art of songwriting to little more than a click-track and the word "Baby.")
Photo: "Achy Breaky Heart": An invaluable resource for line dancers who have trouble counting to two:
UPDATED AVAILABILITY OF BOOK as of January 2019:
Used in Paperback and Hardcover;
New in Paperback, Kindle, Audible (read by Mike Dodge).
With a commendable bent toward direct democracy, Barry asked his readers to send in their nominations for worst-song-ever. Here's the top of the worst of Barry's survey, according to Wikipedia:
"MacArthur Park" as sung by Richard Harris (written by Jimmy Webb)
"Yummy Yummy Yummy (I Got Love In My Tummy)" performed by Ohio Express
"(You're) Having My Baby" by Paul Anka
"Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro
"Timothy" by The Buoys (written by Rupert Holmes)
"Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus
Barry was on to something, and in 1997 published Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs, full of songs like the above, those not-so-lovable losers with a high "How could we have listened to THAT?" quotient. Three years later the paperback version appeared.
The first thing this reviewer notices is that most of these songs were way old even by Nineties standards -- in fact, the only post-1980 tune to have made the ultimate hate list is Billy Ray Cyrus's version of "Achy Breaky Heart" from 1991. Nonetheless, the legendary Barry humor makes this book well worth reading, including many incisive and witty lines from his own readers. For added fun, Barry assigned some tunes to special chapters: in the chapter "Weenie Rock," for example, Barry discusses those "sensitive" hits that drove so many of us up the wall: "Feelings," not to mention lots of Barry Manilow and John Denver; with special swipes at Mac Davis, Bobby Goldsboro (and in fact, practically any singer named Bobby).
Women get a chapter all their own in "Songs Women Really Hate," when the insulting lyrics of "Wives and Lovers," "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife" and other pre-feminist tripe have their due. Inspired, Barry also includes "Songs People Hear Wrong," which sophisticated GR readers will recognize as "Mondegreens," as in Bruce Springsteen's:
"Blinded by the Light! -- ___?____?____?____?_ ."
But perhaps the funniest chapter of all comes when Barry slices and dices songs which may not have been huge hits but somehow got buried in the national cranium anyway: One- or two-hit wonders like "I've Never Been to Me," "I'm Too Sexy," "Don't Worry, Be Happy" (written and performed by another Bobby, note) and their ilk remind me that Barry urges caution when picking up this book: some tunes are hard to eradicate from consciousness. They come, they go, they make no (apparent) lasting impression until reactivated years later, when, like the sleeper cell in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, they leave a radioactive residue of regret. (I for one am struggling to get "Achy Breaky Heart" out of my mind, now that the author brought it up, and I never even line-danced.)
DAVE BARRY'S BOOK OF BAD SONGS is now quite old, at this point kind of a nostalgia upon a nostalgia. However, it still really is THAT funny and anyone who is up for Sweatin' Out the Oldies through their long-term memory banks is likely to enjoy it very much. Most used paperbacks are cheap and not hard to find. It is only reluctantly that I gave this big hit of wit a mere four stars simply because of its age. (Note that the book came out over a decade before Justin Bieber started placing hits regularly on BILLBOARD, reducing the art of songwriting to little more than a click-track and the word "Baby.")
Photo: "Achy Breaky Heart": An invaluable resource for line dancers who have trouble counting to two:
UPDATED AVAILABILITY OF BOOK as of January 2019:
Used in Paperback and Hardcover;
New in Paperback, Kindle, Audible (read by Mike Dodge).
June 29, 2020
After reading/listening to several "serious" books in the last couple of months, I needed a good laugh, so... back to my favorite humorist, Dave Barry! DAVE BARRY'S BOOK OF BAD SONGS encompasses a survey readers of his syndicated humor column responded to when he initially complained about a particular Neil Diamond song. The responses regarding the worst songs ever were so overwhelming that he decided to write a book to share the results. This book is a very quick read (112 pages or 90 minutes, you choose) but well worth the lighthearted humor! Barry warns the reader that some of these songs may get stuck in your brain, and he also makes it very clear that songs are subjective (I feel the same way about books)! Several songs were listed under specific categories (btw, I LOVE "Weenie Songs"). Thankfully, I never heard of some of the songs mentioned, but I was horrified by the number of songs promoting and/or condoning domestic violence! OMG!
Mike Dodge narrated this audiobook in a way that I would picture Dave Barry reading it.
If you need a good laugh, I highly recommend ANYTHING written by Dave Barry, especially for you Baby Boomers!
Mike Dodge narrated this audiobook in a way that I would picture Dave Barry reading it.
If you need a good laugh, I highly recommend ANYTHING written by Dave Barry, especially for you Baby Boomers!
March 15, 2019
Earworms galore! Humorous look at some of the songs we love to hate.
January 31, 2019
When Dave Barry asked the many readers of his column what their most hated song was, the response was so overwhelming and so clever that he decided to turn it into this book. So glad he did.
We all like "so bad they're good" lists but this is a "so bad they're bad" compilation of 60/70/80s songs which drive people to distraction. I was sorry to find one of my favorite dance songs, My Sharona on the list but you can bet that anyone who reads this book will be puzzled as to why songs that they. love are listed.
The all-time winner on his survey is "McArthur Park" sung(?) by Richard Harris....everyone agreed (including me) that it was horrid and the words idiotic. "Muskrat Love" and "Do That To Me One More Time", both by The Captain and Tenneile; anything by Barry Manilow or Neil Diamond; Paul Anka's (who the author suspects might also be Neil Sedaka) "You're Having My Baby" and the list goes on.
This is a very short book and can be read in less than an hour but it contains very funny observations about why some songs are "bad". And don't be surprised if one of those that you totally detest jumps out of your memory banks and ruins your day by repeating over and over and over and over again in your head.
We all like "so bad they're good" lists but this is a "so bad they're bad" compilation of 60/70/80s songs which drive people to distraction. I was sorry to find one of my favorite dance songs, My Sharona on the list but you can bet that anyone who reads this book will be puzzled as to why songs that they. love are listed.
The all-time winner on his survey is "McArthur Park" sung(?) by Richard Harris....everyone agreed (including me) that it was horrid and the words idiotic. "Muskrat Love" and "Do That To Me One More Time", both by The Captain and Tenneile; anything by Barry Manilow or Neil Diamond; Paul Anka's (who the author suspects might also be Neil Sedaka) "You're Having My Baby" and the list goes on.
This is a very short book and can be read in less than an hour but it contains very funny observations about why some songs are "bad". And don't be surprised if one of those that you totally detest jumps out of your memory banks and ruins your day by repeating over and over and over and over again in your head.
January 2, 2021
Many of my family members are in the same age bracket as Dave Barry and get annoyed by many of the same songs. So this is a fun book to read aloud from, because a) Barry includes enough lyrics to get the awful songs stuck in your head for days and b) he can put together the most hilarious sentences:
Consider the song, "I Am, I Said," wherein Neil [Diamond], with great emotion, sings:
...Is Neil...surprisedthat the chair didn't hear him? Maybe he expected the chair to say, "Whoa, I heard THAT." My guess is that Neil was really desperate to come up with something to rhyme with "there," and he had already rejected "So I ate a pear," "Like Smokey the Bear," and "There were nits in my hair."
The book is full of such observations, sure to make you laugh if you're familiar with the song he's roasting.
My only disappointment is that Barry never wrote a sequel featuring all the bad songs from the 50s - 80s era he didn't get to in this one, not to mention all the dreadful ones that have come out since. Annoying or overplayed Christmas songs - particularly "Last Christmas" and "All I Want for Christmas is You", which have roughly 5,897 cover versions each - deserve a mention too.
Barry is my go-to author for short, hilarious books that can be read in one day. This is one of my favorites of his.
Consider the song, "I Am, I Said," wherein Neil [Diamond], with great emotion, sings:
I am, I said
To no one there
And no one heard at all
Not even the chair
...Is Neil...surprisedthat the chair didn't hear him? Maybe he expected the chair to say, "Whoa, I heard THAT." My guess is that Neil was really desperate to come up with something to rhyme with "there," and he had already rejected "So I ate a pear," "Like Smokey the Bear," and "There were nits in my hair."
The book is full of such observations, sure to make you laugh if you're familiar with the song he's roasting.
My only disappointment is that Barry never wrote a sequel featuring all the bad songs from the 50s - 80s era he didn't get to in this one, not to mention all the dreadful ones that have come out since. Annoying or overplayed Christmas songs - particularly "Last Christmas" and "All I Want for Christmas is You", which have roughly 5,897 cover versions each - deserve a mention too.
Barry is my go-to author for short, hilarious books that can be read in one day. This is one of my favorites of his.
November 30, 2020
Dave Barry asked his readers to name the worst song ever made, and he was overwhelmed with responses. The book starts with a warning and apology that in no time you'd have all these annoying, obnoxious songs stuck streaming through your head. Yep, but fortunately I actually liked a few of these so-called annoying songs. Stairway to Heaven made the list, which is just so wrong!!
Best part was trying to explain some reeeally bad lyrics and really bad rhyming schemes... laugh out loud funny.
Best part was trying to explain some reeeally bad lyrics and really bad rhyming schemes... laugh out loud funny.
October 23, 2022
Overall this book was funny, and yes, I didn't heed his warning to not read it and have been plagued with some rather annoying ear worms since reading this earlier this week, but if you are familiar with popular music from 1962-1992 this book should resonate with you.
As a young teen I loved the metaphors of the song voted worst by more people than any other song While reading this book I had only good memories of that song but when I came to defend it I put it on and all I can say is what the heck was I thinking? It really is bad!
I have to say that I was shocked that no one, including women, appears to have voted for the Police on what should have been called The Stalker Song. Surely you know it Every breath you take/every move you make/I'll be watching you/Baby can't you see/You belong to me... There is a very dark parody of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upL9t... that I pesonally couldn't finish listening to, but it seems apropos and you might be made of tougher stuff.
Most of the songs voted bad really are bad, but I want to note that not one comment was made pointing out that some of these songs were excellent for their target audience of 12 year old girls. How can anyone forget who was gaga over the pre-voice break Donny Osmond when he sang "Puppy Love?" It was when I was still 11 that friends of mine introduced me older things like "Love in My Tummy" (played at a school dance for 12 year olds) as well as "Teen Angel" and "Leader of the Pack" and of course the teen male singers Michael Jackson, Donny Osmond and Tony DeFranco. Not sure who DeFranco is? You must be American! Or really young! He was Canadian content. If Americans had heard him, this song would have made it into this book https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3Iw2.... See how cute he was? Right up there with Michael and Donny, don't you think so? And, yes, my childhood friends liked him too.
But not all of the songs voted bad really are bad! Let's get real--John Denver may not have written all stellar songs, but none of his deserve to be on this list! There are a few others who don't belong here, either.
However, don't blame Dave Barry because--wait for it--these are based on the votes of his readers. Blame them.
As a young teen I loved the metaphors of the song voted worst by more people than any other song While reading this book I had only good memories of that song but when I came to defend it I put it on and all I can say is what the heck was I thinking? It really is bad!
I have to say that I was shocked that no one, including women, appears to have voted for the Police on what should have been called The Stalker Song. Surely you know it Every breath you take/every move you make/I'll be watching you/Baby can't you see/You belong to me... There is a very dark parody of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upL9t... that I pesonally couldn't finish listening to, but it seems apropos and you might be made of tougher stuff.
Most of the songs voted bad really are bad, but I want to note that not one comment was made pointing out that some of these songs were excellent for their target audience of 12 year old girls. How can anyone forget who was gaga over the pre-voice break Donny Osmond when he sang "Puppy Love?" It was when I was still 11 that friends of mine introduced me older things like "Love in My Tummy" (played at a school dance for 12 year olds) as well as "Teen Angel" and "Leader of the Pack" and of course the teen male singers Michael Jackson, Donny Osmond and Tony DeFranco. Not sure who DeFranco is? You must be American! Or really young! He was Canadian content. If Americans had heard him, this song would have made it into this book https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3Iw2.... See how cute he was? Right up there with Michael and Donny, don't you think so? And, yes, my childhood friends liked him too.
But not all of the songs voted bad really are bad! Let's get real--John Denver may not have written all stellar songs, but none of his deserve to be on this list! There are a few others who don't belong here, either.
However, don't blame Dave Barry because--wait for it--these are based on the votes of his readers. Blame them.
June 15, 2007
This is one of the funniest books I've ever read. As Barry says, "song badness" is apparently a topic that people care about a lot. And how can we not? In a world where Neil Diamond has made a living confessing his innermost feelings to a cruelly unresponsive chair, it is our pleasure, nay, our duty to mock.
October 19, 2011
Too too funny! My husband and I both read this book and then went back and re-read and laughed over so many of the funniest parts. It's a short book, not a huge time committment, but hysterically funny if you are familiar at all with the songs.
Some of the funniest parts are from his "bad song survey" comments, in which people commented on the songs they hated or did not understand:
"The part of 'Billie Jean' where Michael Jackson sings 'The chair is not my son' (We don't know if this is the same chair that refused to listen to Neil Diamond.)"
There's an entire chapter devoted to indistiguishable lyrics. For example, "Help Me Rhonda", where in sounds like the Beach Boy are singing, "Well since she put me down, there's been owls puking in my bed." I still have no idea what the real lyrics are! Cracked me up when I read the part about the song "Blinded By the Light" in which it really does sound like "Wrapped up like a douche, another runner in the night." It's only recently my husband told me the real words, I always thought it was something about douche!!
Some of the funniest parts are from his "bad song survey" comments, in which people commented on the songs they hated or did not understand:
"The part of 'Billie Jean' where Michael Jackson sings 'The chair is not my son' (We don't know if this is the same chair that refused to listen to Neil Diamond.)"
There's an entire chapter devoted to indistiguishable lyrics. For example, "Help Me Rhonda", where in sounds like the Beach Boy are singing, "Well since she put me down, there's been owls puking in my bed." I still have no idea what the real lyrics are! Cracked me up when I read the part about the song "Blinded By the Light" in which it really does sound like "Wrapped up like a douche, another runner in the night." It's only recently my husband told me the real words, I always thought it was something about douche!!
July 16, 2008
I learned that I am not the only person fascinated with terrible lyrics. Do it to my one more time. Muscrat love. I sincerely hope that if I am ever in a coma, someone will read this out loud to me because it will still make me laugh.
February 11, 2017
I laughed at some bits so hard my face hurt. :-)
November 1, 2025
3 stars.
This was kind of cute, but not the funniest thing he’s written. And very short, less than 100 pages.
This was kind of cute, but not the funniest thing he’s written. And very short, less than 100 pages.
February 24, 2023
I gave this book a try because it had so many reviews of how incredibly funny it is. It ended up not being my thing. While I am not too young I didn't know most of the songs mentioned. I am not saying that they are unknown songs as the artists were all from the top but I guess I never got into music before the 80s with exception of some incredibly loved classics. The hated songs didn't make it on my playlist. So besides me now really knowing what songs he talks about (and I decided not to listen to songs now because why would I do it to myself if they are considered bad) I was also not too crazy about the humor. Felt like something quickly written in a day. I smiled a few times but this is it. I am glad the book is short.
November 28, 2020
Absolutely hysterical, I love Dave Barry's humor and I once laughed so hard I thought I may pee my pants while reading this book.
June 9, 2025
Found in the mystery box that is Kindle Unlimited, this is a novella-sized expansion of a column (and the responses to it) Dave wrote in 1992. It's a bit dated that way--then again, so am I, ba-bump-tshhhh. Lots of 70's cheese turns up, as does fromagerie from decades before and after.
(Dave Barry is still writing, y'all! At the age of 77! His brand of self-deprecating, gently snarky humor is so omnipresent these days, but he likely deserves some credit for making it so popular we had to all adopt it.)
Some of the categories further explored are "teen death songs" and "love songs."
Random facts and observations:
• Barry’s theory is any Bobby-adjacent song is bad. Evidence: “Honey” and “Watching Scotty Grow” by Bobby Goldsboro (actually, anything by Bobby Goldsboro), “Mr. Lonely” by Bobby Vinton, “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin, and “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin (the last entry being not a bad song itself but has apparently inspired many terrible covers, including one by Olivia Newton-John.)
• This was book was written in 1997 when it was still (barely) permissible to take cheap shots at disco. I know “MacArthur Park” is a thoroughly ridiculous song, but when Donna Summer sings it, it does not matter
• I’m glad to see Charlene’s “I’ve Never Been to Me” was not forgotten here, although it probably has by now
• Some songs that turned up frequently in reader’s suggestions: “The Candy Man” by Sammy Davis Jr, “I am Woman” by Helen Reddy, “My Ding-a-Ling” by Chuck Barry, “My Sharona” by The Knack (I protest!!), “Morning Train (Nine to Five)” by Sheena Easton (I protest, again!!), “The Night Chicago Died” by Paper Lace, “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” by Chicago (Ok, some of you people have no taste), and “Disco Duck” by Rick Dees
• Novelty songs were omitted from consideration, something I had to remind myself when I clocked Ray Stevens' noticeable absence (Is Red Sovine a novelty singer though? How was he not accounted for?)
Light a candle for bad songs, they are still being made but they aren't as fun as they used to be. They tend to be more blandly terrible or just unlistenable these days. I hate every Katy Perry song except, inexplicably, "Swish Swish", a song no one else likes.
(Dave Barry is still writing, y'all! At the age of 77! His brand of self-deprecating, gently snarky humor is so omnipresent these days, but he likely deserves some credit for making it so popular we had to all adopt it.)
Some of the categories further explored are "teen death songs" and "love songs."
Random facts and observations:
• Barry’s theory is any Bobby-adjacent song is bad. Evidence: “Honey” and “Watching Scotty Grow” by Bobby Goldsboro (actually, anything by Bobby Goldsboro), “Mr. Lonely” by Bobby Vinton, “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin, and “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin (the last entry being not a bad song itself but has apparently inspired many terrible covers, including one by Olivia Newton-John.)
• This was book was written in 1997 when it was still (barely) permissible to take cheap shots at disco. I know “MacArthur Park” is a thoroughly ridiculous song, but when Donna Summer sings it, it does not matter
• I’m glad to see Charlene’s “I’ve Never Been to Me” was not forgotten here, although it probably has by now
• Some songs that turned up frequently in reader’s suggestions: “The Candy Man” by Sammy Davis Jr, “I am Woman” by Helen Reddy, “My Ding-a-Ling” by Chuck Barry, “My Sharona” by The Knack (I protest!!), “Morning Train (Nine to Five)” by Sheena Easton (I protest, again!!), “The Night Chicago Died” by Paper Lace, “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” by Chicago (Ok, some of you people have no taste), and “Disco Duck” by Rick Dees
• Novelty songs were omitted from consideration, something I had to remind myself when I clocked Ray Stevens' noticeable absence (Is Red Sovine a novelty singer though? How was he not accounted for?)
Light a candle for bad songs, they are still being made but they aren't as fun as they used to be. They tend to be more blandly terrible or just unlistenable these days. I hate every Katy Perry song except, inexplicably, "Swish Swish", a song no one else likes.
October 6, 2017
This book reads like it was written in an afternoon, and was read as quickly. The material in this book is suited for a tight 750 word shtick, which is what it started as; a column in a newspaper. It made me smile a few times, so kudos for that.
August 15, 2025
Arrrrggghhhhhh!!! The earworms!!!! I was warned - but I didn't listen. Help me!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 30, 2008
Oh My GOSH!! This book was hilarious! Really. I literally laughed until I cried. Had I read the previous journal entries prior to the book, I would have heeded Carol's warning and saved myself from having to actually leave the comfort of my bed as to not wake the other-half with my persistent giggling! (when Barry talks about "Girl Watchers" ;
Hello there female
my, my but do you look swell
Gosh! Thank You, Male! Let's have sex relations!"
yeah; that's where I lost it.)
I read this through in one evening and laughed out loud; I read passages to my other-half and together we laughed. Then, I called my mother the next day to read passages over the phone and together, we laughed hysterically!
Hello there female
my, my but do you look swell
Gosh! Thank You, Male! Let's have sex relations!"
yeah; that's where I lost it.)
I read this through in one evening and laughed out loud; I read passages to my other-half and together we laughed. Then, I called my mother the next day to read passages over the phone and together, we laughed hysterically!
September 24, 2007
I hate the song "You're Having My Baby" by Paul Anka, and apparently, I am not alone. Barry lists it as one of the most reviled songs of all time! Find out what other songs make the list here, along with misunderstood lyrics.
Speaking of mishearing lyrics, my husband misheard one of the lines from the Kiss song "Rock and Roll All Nite" Original line:
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
How my husband heard it:
I wanna rock and roll all night, and part of every day.
Naturally, as you would be a bit tired from the all nite partying!
Speaking of mishearing lyrics, my husband misheard one of the lines from the Kiss song "Rock and Roll All Nite" Original line:
I wanna rock and roll all night and party everyday
How my husband heard it:
I wanna rock and roll all night, and part of every day.
Naturally, as you would be a bit tired from the all nite partying!
September 20, 2008
Whatever you do, don't read this book while you're eating or drinking.
You'll just get choked, and then either someone will have to do the heimlich maneuver (manuever? they both look wrong) on you, or you'll end up looking dead and foolish.
This book is just that funny.
Also, you'll never be able to listen to the radio the same way again. Especially the oldies station.
And I can't listen to Gary Puckett at all any more after reading this.
You'll just get choked, and then either someone will have to do the heimlich maneuver (manuever? they both look wrong) on you, or you'll end up looking dead and foolish.
This book is just that funny.
Also, you'll never be able to listen to the radio the same way again. Especially the oldies station.
And I can't listen to Gary Puckett at all any more after reading this.
November 7, 2009
This book had me rolling on the floor, laughing. Dave Barry has been one of my favorite authors of all time for a long time now, and I think this books is him at his funniest. I don't even mind him taking a jab at some of my favorite songs, such as "Never Been to Me," because he's right, despite the beautiful melody, I still can't quite figure out what the lyrics are about, either. One of my particular favorites in this book is the section about songs with lyrics that are hard to decipher--funny, funny, funny! This book was published sometime ago; shouldn't it be time he comes up with a sequel commenting on songs that have come out since?
March 7, 2017
I may have read this book more often than any other book on my Kindle. This time I was in a mildly bad mood and it made me laugh, full-on from the diaphragm, on the DLR at Westferry. At WESTFERRY. I fully believe that Dave Barry is one of the greatest American writers of the postwar period and so many sentences in this are a work of art. This whole book is a work of art. It should be shot into space on the next Voyager or Pioneer or Vanguard or We're The Best, Hi Exoplanets or whatever, assuming Domald Tromp hasn't defunded the entire science branch of America yet. VERY BIG TICK.
December 13, 2019
This book is so hilarious, I laughed until I was wheezing and gasping for air. Barry shares the hilarious results of a survey he conducted in which he asked his readers to submit their votes for the popular song they thought was the worst ever and which they hated most. Since this book only covers popular U.S. songs from the 1960s through the early 1990s, it is becoming somewhat dated; however, everyone who is familiar with the songs of those decades will find this book highly amusing.
May 30, 2019
For whatever reason I was never a great fan of Dave Barry.
But I did find this book humorous. Although I didn't always agree that they were bad songs. And, of course, I thought he left out an awful lot of bad songs.
Definitely left out a number of songs with misquoted lines. Like "there's a bathroom on the right" in CCR's Bad Moon Rising, or if Jimi Hendrix is singing "kiss this guy" rather than kiss the sky (I think).
Anyway, it was entertaining enough.
But I did find this book humorous. Although I didn't always agree that they were bad songs. And, of course, I thought he left out an awful lot of bad songs.
Definitely left out a number of songs with misquoted lines. Like "there's a bathroom on the right" in CCR's Bad Moon Rising, or if Jimi Hendrix is singing "kiss this guy" rather than kiss the sky (I think).
Anyway, it was entertaining enough.
July 21, 2023
Hilarious! Anyone who has ever been made to listen to Barry Manilow or Neil Diamond for hours on end, or questioned some of the stranger lyrics in popular songs or questioned the popularity of certain songs, or even the sanity of certain individuals who like said songs, this is for you!
September 15, 2013
So OK, this is not a great work of literature, but it made me laugh so hard that I cried, and my husband kicked me out of bed. It takes some talent to write something this funny.
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April 28, 2018This book is laugh-out-loud funny. On the negative side, Jesus' name is used in vain one time in the book and a crude word is used three times.
June 22, 2025
I really liked this book and some parts made me laugh out loud but I never heard of most of the songs that were referenced because they were before my time and obviously not good enough (since they were included in this book) to have staying power. I definitely would’ve liked the book more if the songs were familiar but it’s a testament to how witty Dave Barry is that it’s still funny even if you don’t know the songs. I didn’t want these earworms in my head so opted not to do a YouTube search.
Anyway it’s surprisingly short so it’s definitely worth a read. I would’ve read it quicker except every time I came across a song I knew, I had to sing the chorus out loud before I could move on and keep reading. I think it’s highly likely you’ll feel the same compulsion. 3.25 stars
Anyway it’s surprisingly short so it’s definitely worth a read. I would’ve read it quicker except every time I came across a song I knew, I had to sing the chorus out loud before I could move on and keep reading. I think it’s highly likely you’ll feel the same compulsion. 3.25 stars
May 30, 2022
Dave (and his readers) is mostly criticizing terrible lyrics, here. And a lot of the songs have since faded far from the public consciousness, including the apparent Worst Song of All Time (“MacArthur Park”), so perhaps, just perhaps, this book did its job.
Also, one cannot escape the thought that the internet is basically the same thing as the letters famous people get. But now everyone gets them.
Also, one cannot escape the thought that the internet is basically the same thing as the letters famous people get. But now everyone gets them.
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