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nyadrn
Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
October 11, 2017

What Songs Would You Retire?

  • October 11, 2017
  • 170 replies
  • 49343 views

Should "American Pie" be put out to pasture? Has John Lennon's "Imagine" been imagined one too many times? What songs would you retire?

 

If I hear that song one more time!
I was at a restaurant recently when "Cats In The Cradle," a mid-'70s song by Harry Chapin, came on. It's the one about a dad too busy for his son, and ends with the son growing up to be too busy for his dad. Anyway, the thought hit me, "Do I really ever have to hear this song again?" It's a well-crafted tune, but please: can't we just retire it?!

And so a show is born. On this edition of All Songs Considered, "Hallelujah! The Songs We Should Retire."

 

http://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/10/10/556692186/hallelujah-the-songs-we-should-retire?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=2037

    170 replies

    nyadrn
    nyadrnAuthor
    Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
    October 11, 2017

    @nyadrn wrote:

    Should "American Pie" be put out to pasture? Has John Lennon's "Imagine" been imagined one too many times? What songs would you retire?

     

    If I hear that song one more time!
    I was at a restaurant recently when "Cats In The Cradle," a mid-'70s song by Harry Chapin, came on. It's the one about a dad too busy for his son, and ends with the son growing up to be too busy for his dad. Anyway, the thought hit me, "Do I really ever have to hear this song again?" It's a well-crafted tune, but please: can't we just retire it?!

    >>

     

    OK. I enjoy NPR but this is kind of a dumb topic imho.  Maybe they should just ask what songs are over played but isn't that the whole idea of songs.  Unless of course you mean like in commercials.  But anyway, what's your take?

     

     

    Life's a Journey, not a Destination" Aerosmith
    SarahGH
    Contributor ⭐⭐⭐
    October 11, 2017

    This reminds me of the scene in "Sex and The City", where Miranda is upset that Carrie is going to Paris to be with her Russian artist boyfriend, giving Carrie all the reasons she "shouldn't" go. Carrie says, "Just say it, you don't like him!" Miranda responds, "Fine, I don't like him!" And Carrie ends the conversation with, "Then don't you go to Paris with him."

     

    If people don't like "old" songs of any era, then they can just not listen to them, and avoid stations that tend to play songs of that era/genre! They don't need to "retire" songs they personally don't like, or think are passe, because the rest of us might like them! God knows, My car & home radios are tuned to classical music stations, which almost by definition play "old" music .. and that's exactly why some of us listen to them .. specifically!

     

    I happen to like hearing some of those meaningful songs of past years once in a while, and sometimes I wonder why we don't hear more of them .. because they not only have meaningful lyrics, but remind us of important times in our lives. Would I want to hear any song very frequently .. NO .. and that includes new & popular ones.

    <font color="#000FF">Registered on Online Community since 2007! </font>
    PattyDiane
    Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
    October 11, 2017

    The only song that comes to mind for me is "The Battle of New Orleans".  When I was in high school I got a part time job at a Woolworths store that was just opening in our neighborhood.  It was at the height of this song's popularity and they had it blasting all over the store.  I think that must have been the only record in the department.  To this day I want to throw something at the sound of it.  Luckily that doesn't happen often these days.

    retiredtraveler
    Contributor ⭐⭐⭐
    October 11, 2017

    Everything by Barry Manilow Smiley Frustrated

    "...Why is everyone a victim? Take personal responsibility for your life..."
    Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
    October 11, 2017

    "Human  Behavior"  by  Bjork  only  because  it  is  the  worst  song  I  ever  heard.  Lousy  vocals  along  with  a  lousy  rhythm  and  melody.

    nyadrn
    nyadrnAuthor
    Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
    October 11, 2017

    @ls1873 wrote:

    "Human  Behavior"  by  Bjork  only  because  it  is  the  worst  song  I  ever  heard.  Lousy  vocals  along  with  a  lousy  rhythm  and  melody.


    Wow this is a great topic !  You all are making me laugh. 😀

     

    Life's a Journey, not a Destination" Aerosmith
    Contributor ⭐⭐
    November 21, 2017

    Could do without Que Sera Sera (or whatever) - do not hear much anymore (thankfully!) but when a big hit..oh, boy..!

    Contributor ⭐
    November 21, 2017

    Anything by Adele!  Way overplayed!

    Contributor ⭐
    November 21, 2017

         I was leaving my girlfriends house before going off to the military and "My Baby does the Hanky-Panky was playing on the radio. If I hear this song again, it will be one time too many. John

    Contributor ⭐
    November 21, 2017

    Right---and what subsequently made it much worse was when the drill sergeant made you sing that cadence song with the line "Ain't no use in goin' home, Jody's got your girl an' gone."

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    November 21, 2017

    "(You're) Having My Baby" - an oldie that Paul Anka should NEVER have recorded. Can't dump this one fast enough.

    MaVolta
    Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
    November 21, 2017

    @ed28849526 wrote:

    "(You're) Having My Baby" - an oldie that Paul Anka should NEVER have recorded. Can't dump this one fast enough.


    That's maybe the worst song ever! And I nominate this one as a close second - 

     

    If I Were A Carpenter (and you were a lady, would you marry me anyway, would you have my baby) - Bobby Darin

     

     

     

    “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” - Jimi Hendrix
    Contributor ⭐⭐
    November 22, 2017

    At least in the song he suggest getting married first. 

    Contributor ⭐
    November 21, 2017

    Who let the dogs out!!! 

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    November 21, 2017

    woof

    Contributor ⭐
    November 21, 2017

    'Abracadabra' by Steve Miller Band....An insipid tune from an incredible musician. ''I wanna' reach out and grab ya'...."  UGH!

    nyadrn
    nyadrnAuthor
    Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
    November 21, 2017

    Thank you for all the responses so far.  Really entertaining 

     

     @c875302b @ed28849526 @smetro @barbarae470981 @jsarnow 

    Life's a Journey, not a Destination" Aerosmith
    Contributor ⭐⭐
    November 22, 2017
    nyadrn: Fun topic! I've been checking for new replies a couple of times a day/evening. I'm loving the comments. Thanks for starting the thread! -- Patricia
    Contributor ⭐⭐
    November 21, 2017

    Any song ever performed by Kiss, the horrendous faux rock band we should all forget. 

    nyadrn
    nyadrnAuthor
    Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
    November 21, 2017

    @BOBinBR wrote:

    Any song ever performed by Kiss, the horrendous faux rock band we should all forget. 


    @BOBinBR  Oh no Bob.  Say it isn't so. LOL

     

     

    Life's a Journey, not a Destination" Aerosmith
    Contributor ⭐⭐
    November 21, 2017

    "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"

     

    Raindrops are falling on my head
    And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
    Nothing seems to fit
    Those raindrops are falling on my head, they keep falling

     

    For years, when I found a music box that I loved and wanted to buy, I'd wind it up and hear that lunatic song. Worse, when I hear it, I can't get it out of my head. Like now.

    Contributor ⭐⭐
    November 22, 2017

    This is one of the greatest pieces of music.