Are there any famous songs whose appeal you just don't "get"?

Question

Because I really don't understand the big hype around "Bohemian RHapsody" at all. It's kind of interesting the first time I heard it, and the parts that actually sound like rock are pretty cool and catchy, but as far as being one of the best rock songs ever, I'll pass. I'm not putting anyone or thing down, but this song really doesn't appeal to me. Same with "Kashmir" "Free Bird" "A Day In The Life" or anything by Metallica. Again, this isn't meant as an insult, I like some songs by Led Zeppelin that aren't the one mentioned, and I like most of the Beatles stuff a lot, but I'm asking if any of you ever feel like you must be missing something like I do when so many people rave about a certain song or band or album etc.

P.S.
If you put anything that I like as an answer... I WILL find you!

>.>

While I don't like some Beatles stuff and I feel some of it was a little over-ambitious, a lot of their material was really good. Their rockier bits like "Taxman" and "Revolution" are great and their straight forward pop "In My Life" and etc. was good too, I just don't get the fuss around the one I mention among others.

If I could make a my own Led Zeppelin compilation of about 15 or so songs that would be enough for me, but the big deal about "Kashmir" especially eludes me.

I agree that KISS aren't that impressive, and I can't remember what any of the other answers sadi so sorry if I didn't respond.

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

Oh, Black Sabbath was the other one mentioned. I actually like a good few of their songs. Paranoid would be a fantastic album if you took out the 12 minute solos they have in every song. I love the parts of "War Pigs" that have singing and the little guitar fills, but it really doesn't need to be 7 minutes long or however long it is, "Paranoid" I think is great and borders on proto-punk, although I doubt many Sabbath fans would be pleased to hear that. But that's my problem with them, good songs with neat guitar sounds and good vocals, but terrible mind numbing solos if that's not what you're into. And that's not what I'm into.

To Rckets: I really feel like people are going to think I'm just trying to offend people now, but holy crap how did I forget about "Hotel California" and "Another Brick In The Wall"?! Both of those were songs I used to have to pretend I liked because I didn't know anyone who didn't, but they might as well be lullabys to me. Goo picks.

I just wanted to add that if the thumbs down gang gets to you, I haven't given anyone a thumbs down, it's a question on opinion and all opions are welcome.

That's too bad Darth, I like "Lola" a lot, not their best but still very good. But I have quite a few songs on my playlist involving transexuals though, I always though "Lola" was funny though.

And it's also too bad about punk, if you hadn't guessed that's kind of my thing.


And to everyone else, no need to defend these songs, what I'm saying is it doesn't appeal to me, the sound of these songs does nothing for me, personally. I'm not saying that they're bad songs, they are just not my taste.

And whoever said it was right on the long songs, any song that goes over 3:30 better have a damn good reason and be able to hold my attention that long.


Oh, and it completely vexes me that "Rock The Casbah" and "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" are the Clashes best known songs. Any song off the first three albums, or singles or EPs from that period, is better than those two.

You don't like the Who?!?! I admit they definitely lost the plot somewhere, but the a few early albums and the singles are downright fantastic! The whole rock opera thing was pretentious and Who's Next was boring, but before that you have a lot of goo rock 'n' roll. Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy is a great compilation if you ever decide to give it another try. But I guess if it hasn't worked for you yet, it won't.

Answer 1

I think we might be on the exact same wavelength on this one.

Bohemian Rhapsody would most assuredly be in my top ten list of songs whose appeal is more mysterious than the Kennedy assassination. The fact that it had a second wind from Wayne's World was really annoying because I had to live through it the first time. Let me think of some other songs.

Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
Grateful Dead - their entire catalog
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird or Sweet Home Alabama
Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall
The Eagles - Hotel California
Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

Dan C - Don't worry, my friend. I'll take the heat off you as I'm used to being a lightning rod. I know EXACTLY who's behind the nonsense.

Answer 2

Aerosmith's Dude Looks Like A Lady
The Kink's Lola
Can't really get into songs about transvestites I guess
just...uggh
Lynyrd Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama
Massive radio overplay....I want to pull out My hair everytime I hear it.
Journey's Open Arms Faithfully and Don't Stop Believing
Spectacularly massive saccharine OD anyone?
Led Zeppelin's Black Dog
Way too banal...and overplayed
Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love
The middle section irks Me to no end
The Eagles Heartache Tonight
UBER annoying
Bad Company's Rock And Roll Fantasy
Super pedestrian

All the bands listed are amongst some of My very favorites but everybody fires a blank sooner or later.

Can't agree about Hotel California or Sabbath but to each their own I rekon
Personally I'd rather hear two alley cats fight than a lot (not all) of Punk Rock
And if I wanna hear Industrial I'll just take a tour of a Toyota Factory
But that's just Me

Answer 3

i can answer this question easily...any popular rap song that has ever been made, i will never see the light in terms of its popularity

now i will address the songs you listed:
"bohemian rhapsody" is, imo, the greatest song ever made, almost for the same reason that you think it is overhyped...it seems senseless, but that's kind of the point, it's a song that is left to interpretation, you are supposed to determine what it means for yourself

"kashmir" to me is one of those zeppelin songs where the lyrics are pretty meaningless and empty, and i think it's the same for a lot of their songs which is why i never really became a big fan

"free bird" is classic, i think the lyrics get overlooked because the guitar solo is what made the song popular...the lyrics are very introspective and powerful imo, and the guitar solo almost takes away from it a little bit, nothing against the solo

the beatles are at times overrated in some circles by some people, but they are still the most influential band ever

"hotel california" is really a pretty empty song, it only tells a story, i think it's a good song but not great

"another brick in the wall" really can only be understood if you get the entire concept of the album it was released on, the wall...it was a rock opera, every song on the album was another piece in a story, so perhaps if you don't understand the song in isolation you should go back and listen to the entire album, and then maybe the piece will make sense to you...even in isolation, i think it's very powerful and takes a very interesting view on privatized schooling

Answer 4

Smoke On the Water ~ Deep Purple
Ok, it's a great intro, but once you've heard it a couple of times, it is just so boring. The lyrics are decidedly dull.

I agree about Bohemian Rhapsody ~ pretty much the same reasons as above.

Interesting that you should mention Kashmir. I was never really fond of this song, until I heard the 1994 live Page & Plant version, where it was given an 'east meets west' flavour. I'd still rather hear that version over the original.

Answer 5

I think you are wrong.
Queen's song is important and impressive.. I do like the way they experimented with classical music, the rhythm changes, the voices in chorus.... it was very new and so different from other rock songs. So yes, it belongs onto a top 50 greatest rock songs ever. But with art everything is subjective and a matter of personal taste... what might be great for me can be horrible for you.

Songs I don't like that are famous:

Led Zeppelin's -Dazed and confused
Black Sabbath-Paranoid ( i think Ozz's voice is dreadful)
The Beatles- Sgt. Pepper's
The Rolling Stones- Ruby Tuesday

and many more I could add....

Answer 6

I think the problem with the songs you mention is the length. Long songs do tend to get boring, and they get a lot of airplay. That's why I listen to a lot of different kinds of music. When a song comes on that has been played to death, I switch to another station. That way, when I do want to hear those songs I'm not burned out. After all, you have to admire the guitar work on those songs, even if in small doses.

Answer 7

Wow, any Phil Collins/Genesis songs. Sorry if you're a fan of Genesis but they IRK me. When I listen to "You'll Be In My Heart" all I can see is freaking Tarzan and the apes. Word to the wise for any band: Don't sell your music to Disney!

I totally agree with Darth on the Journey stuff. Commercials have RUINED "Anyway You Want It". Geesh, every time I hear that song I want to buy a car. I think any good rock song on a commercial is a bad BAD idea.
But don't feel bad for disliking songs that everybody else finds phenomenal, it happens to me all of the time.
Wow... I'm rambling, haha.

Answer 8

I don't understand all the hype about MCR. It's not even rock man. I just don't get how anyone could like emo crap or rap or pop. Gives me shivers man.

As far as not understandin the lyrics, at first, I didn't understand"
Purple haze-Jimi Hendrix
White rabbit-Jefferson airplane
Somebody to love-Jefferson airplane
Lucy in the sky with diamonds-The Beatles
Sugar Magnolia-Grateful Dead
And I still have trouble understanding Half-moon by Janis Joplin.

P.S. I love all these songs, I just dislike MCR.

Answer 9

'Dominique'- The Singing Nun
I mean, COME ON! The SINGING nun?

That, and pop, rap, and country music. That's obvious, of course.

Answer 10

Led Zeppelin's "The Lemon Song"...the lyrics are subpar...my kid neighbor raves on and on about this song...ugh.