‘My Humps’
If you can make it through “My Humps” in its entirety, you know why it was voted ‘worst lyrics in dance music’ in a 2012 poll. Slate called it “veering toward evil” and “horrifically bad.” Enough said.
The cheap innuendos don’t help. Thankfully, it hasn’t aged well, and unsurprisingly, this dance track hasn’t stuck around on dance floors around the world. In fact, it faded pretty quickly.
The Police
‘De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da’
“De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” is the most annoying song by The Police. It has not only a pedestrian chorus but also a repetitive riff. Since it’s The Police, it is a great riff, but it’s too much of a good thing.
On top of that, “De do do do, de da da da is all I want to say to you,” cycles on repeat. All I want to say is, “Stop!” Yet, if one stops to hear the lyrical genius of Sting in the lines between, it’s impossible not to admire the song.
Ricky Martin
‘Livin' La Vida Loca’
The crazy and fun Latin pop dance song by former boy band heartthrob Ricky Martin was a major hit in 1999. Billboard awards and Grammy nods acclaimed the song.
Never-ending radio rotation ensured it was stuck in everyone’s head. People loved it. Certified double-platinum, “Livin’ La Vida Loca” had just enough Spanish to draw in Latino audiences and little enough to hold the attention of Americans.
The Four Seasons
‘Sherry’
Typical of 60s music, “Sherry” harks back to a special place in American culture, an era alien to the 2020s. An unimaginable place in time where frisky innuendos were forbidden and banned.
Though the bigger problem with this 60s ditty is the shrill high pitches that may cause irreversible cochlear damage.
Vanilla Ice
‘Ice Ice Baby’
Wow. This 1989 song was huge. No one even knew or cared that the bumping bass riff was a blatant rip-off of “Under Pressure” by David Bowie and Queen.
Freddie Mercury would have laughed if he could hear it; he would have thought it was his song! In the end, “Ice Ice Baby” brought new ears to Queen and annoyed a lot of people.