It’s one thing for a critic to proclaim BLAH BLAH BLAH the worst song ever. It’s another when the source is a well-respected band like The Ex, a post-punk group from the Netherlands (check out 1983’s Tumult for a good starter album) that earlier this year named “the 50 most sickening songs.” Calling it “Pukebox,” The Ex wrote that these assaults to ears are likely to be heard in “gas stations and supermarkets, creating physical discomfort.” Here’s the top-20.
1 Band Aid – Do they know it’s Christmas time (1984)
2 U2 – Where the Streets Have No Name (1987)
3 John Miles – Music was my first Love (1976)
4 Wings (Paul McCartney) – Silly Love Songs (1976)
5 Meat Loaf – Paradise by the Dashboard Light (1977)
6 Queen – We Are the Champions (1977)
7 Boomtown Rats – I Don’t Like Mondays (1979)
8 Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder – Ebony and Ivory (1982)
9 USA for Africa – We are the World (1985)
10 Billy Joel – Uptown Girls (1983)
11 Robert Palmer – Addicted to Love (1986)
12 Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)
13 Culture Club – Do You Really Want to Hurt Me (1982)
14 George Michael – Careless Whisper (1984)
15 Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney – The Girl Is Mine (1982)
16 Minnie Riperton – Lovin’ You (1975)
17 Wings (Paul McCartney) – Mull of Kintyre (1977)
18 Rod Stewart – Sailing (1975)
19 OutKast – Hey Ya! (2003)
20 A-ha – Take On me (1984/1985)
The Ex describing “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time” as “vomitable,” and singling it out for the “exaggerated heartstring pulling over the top performances by all the singers and the stomach churningly, patronising lyrics,” more than makes up for Outkast’s inclusion, which, no.
That song’s still great. Read the whole thing.
