"Guilty pleasure" songs and singers

[Disneyphile]

Inspired by the last episode of DWTS.

Come on, you know you have them, we all do. It can be Vanilla Ice, Michael Bolton or Rush. Heck, even that auto-tune guy. (Hide your kids, hide your wives...) What are your favorite guilty pleasure singers and songs?

[Lazario]

I didn't think I would be able to cite this as guilty when I was buying it, but I actually mentioned on the "Last CD You Bought" thread last year (probably in the spring), that I was buying the soundtrack to Suburban Commando. Which I bought for just one song. This one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZos8wfIyv0

If I didn't feel guilty about doing that before the disc arrived, I certainly did afterward. The CD's only 30-37 minutes long anyway.

[Disney's Divinity]

How is Michael Bolton a guilty pleasure.

I always think of guilty pleasures as people I'm embarassed to admit I listen to. Katy Perry is the only one that comes to mind for that category.

[dvdjunkie]

My guilty pleasure can be found in my six-pack in my CD player in the car. I always have one Barry Manilow album mixed in with my Metallica, Queen, Mudvayne, Godsmack and System of a Down. So I would say that Barry Manilow is my guilty pleasure.

[Lazario]

How is Michael Bolton a guilty pleasure.

Because his music is uniformly lame. And throughout the 90's, his hair was more a topic of conversation than one single song he ever was involved in the recording / performing of.

[PrincePhillipFan]

My guilty pleasure is probably the defintion of "camp" right here:

[Goliath]

Most of these are nostalgic childhood favorites, but not all of them...

Aha- Take On Me
Alcazar- Crying at the Discotheque
Alizee- Moi Lolita
Avril Levigne- Sk8er Boi
B*Witched- C'est La Vie
B*Witched- Rollercoaster
Bangles- Walk Like an Egyptian
Barry Manilow- Mandy
Blue ft. Elton John- Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word
Corrs- Breathless
Corrs- Irresistible
Culture Club- Kharma Chameleon
Dixie Chicks- Not Ready To Make Nice
Eifel 65- I'm Blue
Eve ft. Gwen Stefani- Let Me Blow Ya Mind
Fat Joe ft. Ashanti- What's Luv
Fool's Garden- Lemon Tree
Gary Jules- Mad World
Glenn Medeiros- Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You
Gloria Estefan- Can't Stay Away From You
Hall & Oats- Maneater
Inner Circle- Sweat (A la lal la la long)
Jackie Wilson- Reet Petite
Jennifer Lopez ft. Ja Rule- I'm Real
Joshua Kadison- Jessie Paints a Picture
Katie Melua- Nine Million Bicycles
Katrina and the Waves- Walking On Sunshine
Kelis- Trick Me
Kevin Little- Turn Me On
La Roux- Bulletproof
Lily Allen- Fuck You
Lily Allen- It's Not Fair
Maroon 5- This Love
Meja- All About the Money
Meredith Brooks- I'm a Bitch
Mousse T. ft. Tom Jones- Sex Bomb
Mr. President- Coco Jambo
Mya ft. Pras Michael- Ghetto Superstar (That Is What You Are)
Neil Diamond- Love On the Rocks
Nelly- Ride With Me
Nena- 99 Luftballoons
Pointer Sisters- I'm So Excited
Pussycat Dolls- I Don't Need a Man
R. Kelly- Gotham City
R. Kelly- The World's Greatest
Scatman John- Scatman
Shakira- Whenever, Wherever
Sniff 'N The Tears- Drivers' Seat
Soulsister- The Way To Your Heart
Spice Girls- 2 Become 1
Spice Girls- Stop
Spice Girls- Wannabe
Stacey Orrico- Stuck
TQ- Westside
Ultimate Kaos- Casanova
Womack & Womack- Teardrops

And a lot of Dutch songs luckily few people on this forum would know.

[Wonderlicious]

To be honest, I'd love to say that I'm that guy who knows and loves all the cool bands, but alas, I am not that guy. Even if I were, I'd have this list as my undoing...

Artists (plus favourite song from each)
Alphabeat ("Fascination")
Amy Winehouse ("Tears Dry on their Own")
Duffy ("Warwick Avenue")
Earth, Wind and Fire ("September")
Falco ("Vienna Calling")
Katy Perry ("Firework")
The Ting Tings ("Great DJ")

General Songs
"All For You" (Janet Jackson)
"Bad Day" (Daniel Powter)
"C'est la vie" (B*Witched)
"Ease on Down the Road" (from THE WIZ)
"Ella, elle l'a" (France Gall)
"Flashdance (What a Feeling)" (Irene Cara)
"Gold" (Spandau Ballet)
"Grace Kelly" (MIKA)
"I Believe I Can Fly" (R-Kelly)
"I Need You Tonight" (INXS)
"In the Dark of the Night" (from ANASTASIA)
"It Wasn't Me" (Shaggy)
"I Want Candy" (Bow Wow)
"L'effet papillon" (Bénabar)
"Marry You" (Bruno Mars)
"Misfit" (Curiosity Killed the Cat)
"Pop Goes Bach" (Cavendish Pops Orchestra)
"Rule the World" (Take That)
"Run" (Leona Lewis)
"Teenage Dirtbag" (Wheatus)
"The Safety Dance" (Men Without Hats)
"There Must Be an Angel" (Eurythmics)
"Welcome to the Black Parade" (My Chemical Romance)

Oh, and one last thing...


(the songs, that is)

And a lot of Dutch songs luckily few people on this forum would know.

Perhaps the Sinter Klaas one? I know that one from doing a Dutch class when I was doing an Erasmus semester in France a few years ago (I also did a Dutch class in the UK as well before that). As a Christmas/St Nicholas Day themed lesson, the teacher put on a song about Sinter Klaas, which she claimed was by a really popular Dutch band and was a huge hit back in the 80s or 90s.

[SmartAleck25]

This may seem awkward, but I like Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus. I think her songs are really catchy, with good tunes/melodies and lyrics. Sure, sometimes her voice is grating and the songs aren't exactly the most creative, but I still appreciate everything she did with Hannah. She herself may not be the best person, but her Hannah songs are awesome.

There, I said it. You can all mock me now.

[Goliath]

Perhaps the Sinter Klaas one? I know that one from doing a Dutch class when I was doing an Erasmus semester in France a few years ago (I also did a Dutch class in the UK as well before that). As a Christmas/St Nicholas Day themed lesson, the teacher put on a song about Sinter Klaas, which she claimed was by a really popular Dutch band and was a huge hit back in the 80s or 90s.

I think you're talking about the song 'Sinterklaas, wie kent hem niet?' (translation: 'Saint Nicholas, who doesn't know him?') by the Dutch band Het Goede Doel ('The Good Cause'). They made a song in 1982 mocking the Dutch tradition of Saint Nicholas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5nBdXq-zPg

By the way, I think Amy W(h)inehouse has been widely praised for her singing. Isn't that true? I also think Spandau Ballet's 'Gold' is classic.

[Elladorine]

Uh . . . probably 80% of my playlist?

[Lazario]

I can't tell you HOW MUCH I agree with Wonder's calling Glee's music something we should feel guilty about. I think as a culture we should be embarrassed by that music. I only WISH the people raving about that show's music could go back to the mid-90's, in the heyday of grunge, alternative, industrial, and ska music, and see what the people there would have thought if you put on one of Glee's songs. They would have torn you to shreds. Liking Glee is definitely something every parent is going to have to explain to their kids with a lot of "it was a different time!"s, a lot of cringing- like 80's fashion, if America actually lasts long enough for the next generation to look back on what was popular at this time. They'll think we were nuts. So, with that in mind, I want to make it perfectly clear that I have never been and will never be a fan of what Glee is doing. Musically. (If there really are guys kissing on that show, more power to the story writers and I hope they ditch the music and the show lasts a long time. Any story that wants to normalize gay relationships is fine with me. And even though I blasted the show a month ago for the music, and months before that, I was not aware they were willing to come out of the closet.)

[dvdjunkie]

Thank You, Lazario!!! My sentiments exactly!!

[Disney's Divinity]

This coming from people who have likely watched 1 or 2 episodes tops. Not every song is good on Glee, and, likewise, not every song’s bad either.

Anyway, I had been thinking about others, but the only other person I could come up with is Rihanna. I’m not a huge fan of her, but I listen occasionally. "Disturbia," in particular, is horrendous.

Edit: Oh, and there's that JLo song I listen to occasionally.

[Lazario]

This coming from people who have likely watched 1 or 2 episodes tops.

Yeah, Div, keep working overtime to discredit this opinion, hoping that will roadblock it and choke it off, rather than just letting it sound out into the air and drift off into the grass like the misty leftovers of a spit.

Okay, forgive that absurd attempt to be poetic. The point is- stop trying to silence all naysayers, because what I've said is valid. I don't do anything just to spite people. I have a legitimate problem with Glee. And something like your reply isn't going to erase or discredit what I've said. Glee gets off way too easy in the world of pop criticism compared to far better acts out there who at least try to come up with original music. Nothing you say is going to change that. Period.

But still, I hope getting that out of your system made you feel better and nothing would make me happier than knowing you had a great day. Do. As for Rihanna, I didn't like "Disturbia" at first either. But it's just an average pop song. The beat's good. Maybe I should add that to my list of guilty-pleasure pop music... soon as I make one. You want a Rihanna song that's in no way a guilty pleasure? :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raBqnp_ELis

I'm going to say it, this is the 2nd hit Santogold wishes she'd had. Why she went smoother after "L.E.S. Artistes" rather than rawer is why I give Rihanna the crown between the two of them.

[Disney's Divinity]

I have no problem with people disliking the show or the music, just like I have no problem disliking shows or music that I do. Plenty of people do. I do have a problem with someone who doesn’t watch it speaking as if they have, or making blanket statements about everything they’ve done when they don’t have any idea what they’re talking about.

Besides, the music has probably received less criticism than it has because…it’s a TV show! Did you expect Bon Jovi from a TV show? Really? Nobody else has been treating them like serious artists, because they‘re not. Likewise, that whole bit about "silencing" alternate opinions goes both ways.

I just have a hard time believing the argument that the music is “so bad” when they mostly use songs that have been huge hits over the decades and often perform some of them a helluva lot better than the originals. Lea Michele > most everybody who’s singing right now.

[Avaitor]

How could something as awesome as Rush be a guilty pleasure?

But yeah, I guess Demi Lovato is my guilty pleasure. I don't hold much respect for the other Disney Channel stars, but she has a strong voice with little autotune that the other teens wish they had. And a great ass, too.

*goes back to 2112*

[Flanger-Hanger]

This coming from people who have likely watched 1 or 2 episodes tops.

You know that's not true because DVDjunkie watches the show all the time in order to bitch about its success.

[Lazario]

WARNING: Explicit Language

I do have a problem with someone who doesn’t watch it speaking as if they have, or making blanket statements about everything they’ve done when they don’t have any idea what they’re talking about.

I think you're overestimating experience and underestimating instinct. Considering how overexposure to certain influences doesn't necessarily bring about any great wisdom one way or the other, you expect me to actually subject myself to something I equate with torture just so I can meet your "I've seen it and I like it" with "I've seen as much as you have... and I don't"? If that's how I become credible in your eyes- it's not worth it, Div. But even though I haven't seen as much of the show as you have, I've both seen and heard plenty. Now, seeing as how the issue here is the music (as I plainly stated, and highlighted, in the previous reply), I have just enough experience to know whereof I speak. Plus, I have the opinion of highly trustworthy friends who've also sat through enough of it for me to take their word for it. And then there are folks like junkie- it actually helps when this is about the only thing we can agree on, these days.

So, cut the "you don't have any idea what you're talking about" shit. I'm going to have my say. You're not going to stop me. Just a reminder. Oh yeah, I heard you say

I have no problem with people disliking the show or the music, just like I have no problem disliking shows or music that I do. Plenty of people do.

I just don't buy it.

Not now.

Besides, the music has probably received less criticism than it has because…it’s a TV show! Did you expect Bon Jovi from a TV show? Really? Nobody else has been treating them like serious artists, because they‘re not. Likewise, that whole bit about "silencing" alternate opinions goes both ways.

Oh by all means, have your say. But don't expect me to sign to an "agree to disagree" truce on the show, while allowing you to cut me off when trying to make the point that Glee is getting the red carpet treatment like it's sacred. It is, in fact, LAME. It's the frickin' teen version of Kidz Bop!

And if I really cared about silencing Glee fans... why am I here and not over trolling on the official Glee discussion thread?

I'll say again: Glee's getting off way too easy. But not in this thread. I've just up and decided I'm not going to let it. That decision has partly been fueled by you.

I just have a hard time believing the argument that the music is “so bad” when they mostly use songs that have been huge hits over the decades and often perform some of them a helluva lot better than the originals. Lea Michele > most everybody who’s singing right now.

I think you just let the answer to your own question blow right by you... Back the car up.

If this girl you singled out is so talented, let her get her own contract, record deal, whatever. If her recognition is so important, she needs to realize how most of the big names in the history of music got far enough to her to be covering their songs in the first place. And so, I'm now convinced, do you!!

I said it in another thread and I guess I have to say it again (though it sure as hell should have resonated the first time) - IT IS NOT THE JOB OF THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS WHO CREATED THE SONG TO GIVE YOUNG PERFORMERS TODAY A CAREER. And just because some record company exec dickhead can sell these Glee scumbags the rights to cover the original material, doesn't mean these imitators can just slip into a famous song like it's a glove and any hand that fits can wear it. Though the mindless praise they get from people like you will allow them to think otherwise. That's not right. And it's high time someone said so!

The creators of these songs actually worked for their careers and earned them, instead of being given an instant stage and immediate commercial outlet to imitate themselves the same legacy the original song already has in the name of something so oversold, overproduced, over-advertised, and overrated that the performer in question has nothing if you unplug her from the outlet.

I'm sorry... you're telling me, seriously (I assume without a big lip-biting, choking-to-hold-back-the-laughter, expression on your face; you're being serious?), that if these posers can match, or outdo, what you feel is the heart and soul of the original song, that erases history and can / should undermine the whole process by which the original work was created? Well, I'll give you the chance to say that's what you were suggesting but if it was, that's just the cheap kind of thing I would expect from someone who could defend what the show is doing.

I'm not trying to go Goliath on this (especially since for me this issue is WAY bigger than Glee- Glee is just one product sold by our Remake Culture), but, integrity does mean something. To the fans if not the industry. And I'm a fan too. What this show is doing is downright artistic RAPE. They fuck the song, strip it of its' own identity, and as long as they convince enough people that the public asked for it, they bask in the glory of getting away with their crime.

[Disney's Divinity]

Problem much?

Also, I didn’t mean to imply that you have to watch/listen to everything to comment, but to frame your comments to show that--no--you don’t have the authority to judge everything they’ve done.

You know that's not true because DVDjunkie watches the show all the time in order to bitch about its success.

There needs to be a Glee-hate thread, so everybody can vent there. That way the hatred won’t splurt out all over the place.