The worst song in history

Music is subjective. What you like, your sister or brother or even fiancé may not like. That’s why Five Star Entertainment offers such a shocking array of the best wedding reception music around. We have music for everyone, regardless of age or musical tastes. It’s kind of fun, though, to take a look at the worst song in history.

Could It Be Magic?

You can get into a fun argument over what is the worst song in history. In a 2004 poll sponsored by Diesel, a cover version of Barry Manilow’s hit 1975 song, “Could It Be Magic?” was the ‘winner.’ The group covering the song is called Take That, and they recorded this version in 1992:

“Thank God that ‘Could It Be Magic?’ has finally been recognized as the worst song in the world. It is the kind of track that makes you wake up screaming,” exclaimed their Digital Director, Anthony Thornton.

Some folks might want to include Manilow’s schmaltzy original version in the mix. His performance pretentiously begins with Frédéric Chopin‘s Prelude in C, a piece performed at funerals, and segues into a love song with mushy lyrics like these:

“Spirits move me, every time I’m near you

Whirling like a cyclone in my mind

You’re my life line, angel of my lifetime

Answer to all answers I can find.”

Take a listen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R24VjQ0IVkg

What in the world was he thinking injecting Chopin into such overwrought silliness?

MacArthur Park

Any competition for worst song in history has to include Jimmy Webb’s 1968 masterpiece in ludicrousness, “MacArthur Park.” Miami Herald humorist Dave Barry polled his readers on their worst song, and they resoundingly trashed Webb’s efforts in silliness.

Just listen to the way that the great English actor, Richard Harris, delivers a hyper-dramatic presentation of these corny lyrics:

MacArthur’s Park is melting in the dark

All the sweet, green icing flowing down

Someone left the cake out in the rain

I don’t think that I can take it

‘Cause it took so long to bake it

And I’ll never have that recipe again

Oh, no.

This is so bad that it’s good. It’s hard not to listen!

Achy Breaky Heart

Billy Ray Cyrus debut single, “Achy Breaky Heart,” made a number of lists for worst song in history. The Independent on Saturday put it #1, and so did the Sydney Morning Herald reader poll. Sadly, it slipped to #2 on the Blender’s 50 Worst Songs Ever.

What do you think?

As is often the case with bad songs, it’s the lyrics that drag it down:

But don’t tell my heart

My achy breaky heart

I just don’t think he’d understand

And if you tell my heart

My achy breaky heart

He might blow up and kill this man.

Just the Way You Are

Sometimes, though, a much criticized song can be rehabilitated with a fresh take on it. “Just the Way You Are” was Billy Joel’s first top ten single. Apparently, Billy wasn’t a big fan of the song and almost cut it from the album, “The Stranger.” This doting love song was a big hit, though it was a little too slick for its own good.

Frank Sinatra gave it the big band treatment with great effect:

Jazz crooner, José James gave it the R & B treatment, which certainly reduces the mushiness of the song:

As we said at the outset, music is subjective. Each of these ‘worst song in history’ were still popular, many of them huge hits.

As you plan your Fayetteville wedding celebration, remember that Five Star Entertainment will play only the BEST music in history, because it’s the music you love. You’ll love our client online planning tools to make everything so easy. Start planning your dream today. Don’t forget, we love questions! Call today with yours: 1-910-323-2409.