Some songs are so iconic that they are remembered for years after their release.
On the other hand, there are also some truly bad songs that make you want to plug your ears.
To prove our point, we’ve compiled a list of the worst songs of all time for you to listen to and mull why they exist in the first place.
1. “We Built This City” by Starship
We’re pretty sure “We Built This City” by Starship is probably the most detested track on this list.
Not only has the song been disowned by the band’s co-lead singer, Grace Slick, but it also topped the worst songs lists of Blender magazine and Rolling Stone.
GQ and The A.V Club also deemed the track the worst song ever made.
2. “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus
“Achy Breaky Heart” is still a cult classic and the singer’s first song to top the US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) chart.
The hit song is also commonly listed in the compilations of horrible songs throughout articles and Youtube videos.
Despite the hate, the song is considered the most awesomely bad song ever because of Cyrus’ cool-guy vibe in the video.
3. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin
If you think you’ve heard some appalling lyrics, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin will give you a run for your money.
Blender magazine even said the song would likely push you into complete despair.
The song’s concept of being happy even in the worst situations is considered by some to be ignorant when you consider some of the tragedies people experience.
4. “Barbie Girl” by Aqua
“Barbie Girl” by Aqua is one of the most catchy and unforgettable songs out there.
But it’s also the most annoying song ever made.
A reader poll for Rolling Stone’s “Worst Songs of the Nineties” list ranked the song no.1.
5. “Yummy” by Justin Bieber
People were confused when Justin Bieber released “Yummy,” with half of the song just being the word “Yummy.”
From Bieber fans to neutral listeners and critics, everyone deemed “Yummy” as the worst song released by the singer.
Rolling Stone even called the song’s Grammy nomination “the least deserving.”
6. “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt
“You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt is another worst song of all time that will have your ears bleeding.
A writer for Spike said the song was probably the worst in the history of mankind.
With the popular track featured on many of the worst songs lists, Blunt even publicly apologized for the record.
7. “Rockstar” by Nickelback
“Rockstar” by Nickelback is hilarious but will also leave you confused.
The song makes no sense and was called the most terrible song of all time by Buzzfeed.
The song is about someone who wants to be a rockstar and expresses their hopes and dreams.
8. “(You’re) Having My Baby” by Paul Anka
CNN users voted this as the no.1 worst song.
The song sheds light on pregnancy from a father’s point of view.
Listeners and critics believed the song to be highly condescending regarding the whole experience.
9. “Who Let the Dogs Out?” by Baha Men
“Who Let the Dogs Out?” doesn’t, initially, seem like such a bad song.
But once you hear the chorus playing everywhere around you, it becomes intolerable.
The song topped the Spinner’s list of “Top 20 Worst Songs Ever.”
10. “We Are The World” by USA For Africa
“We Are The World” was originally written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.
When it was remade in 2010, listeners were unhappy with the use of auto-tune in the song.
They were also disappointed by the singers and recording studio chosen for the remake.
11. “Baby” by Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris
“Baby” by Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris is the singer’s most well-known song.
Some love it; others think it’s cringeworthy.
The song’s video was YouTube’s most disliked video until it was dethroned in 2018 by “YouTube Rewind 2018”.
12. “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice
“Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice is a terrible song deemed an insult to hip hop.
The song has no originality and became a hit only because of its commercial appeal.
Spinner called it, “the second-worst track in history.”
13. “Friday” by Rebecca Black
This song was trolled for being highly auto-tuned but it quickly became an internet sensation for its memes.
You can find parodies of the song all over the internet ridiculing its lyrics.
14. “One Week” by Barenaked Ladies
“One Week” by Barenaked Ladies is a song about a man who has murdered his girlfriend.
In the song, he is sitting by her corpse, coming up with a story to tell the police.
The song has been called out for its terrible music and for how shockingly evil it is.
15. “It’s Everyday Bro” by Jake Paul
“It’s Everyday Bro” by Jake Paul was a diss track aimed at the singer’s former girlfriend.
It was called out for mocking God through the lyrics, “I just dropped some new merch and it’s selling like a god church.”
16. “Disco Duck” by Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots
This song took a shot at the disco craze of the time.
It mocked the dance, comparing it to chicken dancing.
The song is widely considered the stupidest song ever made.
17. “Chinese Food” by Alison Gold
“Chinese Food” by Alison Gold is a horrible song centered around the singer’s love for Chinese food.
The song was written by Patrice Wilson, the same artist who wrote “Friday” by Rebecca Black.
Like his former song, this one also has been heavily trolled for its ridiculous lyrics.
18. “My Humps” by The Black Eyed Peas
Rolling Stone readers called “My Humps” by The Black Eyed Peas the most annoying song of all time.
The track was negatively critiqued for its degrading sexual theme.
Despite the negative feedback, the song is considered one of the band’s biggest hits.
19. “Heartbeat” by Don Johnson
The song “Heartbeat” was part of Don Johnson’s debut studio album of the same name.
Boston.com called it the worst song ever, hinting that the singer was better off sticking to his acting career.
20. “Rude” by Magic!
Time.com called “Rude” by Magic! one of the worst songs of 2014.
The song is about a narcissistic guy asking his girlfriend’s father for her hand in marriage.
Once he’s rejected, the guy continues to sing about how the father’s permission doesn’t matter anyway.
Worst Songs of All Time – Final Thoughts
After going through our list of the most ridiculous songs of all time, we recommend that you binge-listen to some good tunes.
Cleansing your ears with some good songs will reinstate your faith in music.
But don’t be surprised if you find some of these catchy yet terrible songs playing in your head in the following weeks.
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