Music is subjective, and what one person finds catchy, another might find grating. But there’s a special category of songs that seem universally designed to irritate. These are the earworms you can’t shake, the repetitive tunes that burrow into your brain and set up camp, and the songs that just make you want to change the station immediately. Dive into our list of some of the Most Annoying Songs ever to plague our airwaves.
20. “Hey Baby” – No Doubt
No Doubt, usually known for their ska-infused rock anthems, took a bizarre turn with “Hey Baby.” This track, supposedly about the band’s interactions with groupies, comes across as utterly tedious. Gwen Stefani seems less interested in rock and roll debauchery and more concerned with her herbal tea.
Low point: The relentless repetition of “Hey baby, hey baby, hey!” It’s less of a hook and more of a rusty, overused fishing line snagging on your sanity.
19. “We Like to Party!” – Vengaboys
The Vengaboys, masters of Eurodance cheese, gifted us “We Like to Party!” While it might have soundtracked a few questionable nights out, its legacy is largely cemented by a truly unsettling Six Flags commercial. The dancing “freaky man” was more likely to induce nausea than any thrill ride.
Low point: “The wheels of steel are turning/And traffic lights are burning/ So if you like to party/Get on and move your body.” Profound lyricism this is not.
18. “The Girl Is Mine” – Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney
Duets can be magical, but sometimes they produce… this. “The Girl Is Mine,” featuring the King of Pop and a Beatle, is marred by awkward spoken word sections. When Michael Jackson comes across as the more masculine and assertive one in a conversation with Paul McCartney about a girl, something has gone terribly wrong.
Low point: Paul’s meekly delivered, “Paul, I think I told you, I’m a lover not a fighter.” It’s less a declaration and more a whimper.
17. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” – The Proclaimers
Hailing from Scotland, The Proclaimers brought us golf, scotch, and… this song. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” combines an impenetrable Scottish dialect with a nasal whine that grates on the nerves. It’s arguably worse than haggis, and that’s saying something.
Low point: The “DA DA DA DA DA!/DA DA DA DA DA!/Lika lika lika lika la, la, la.” section. It’s less singing and more like a dial-up modem having a breakdown.
16. “This Kiss” – Faith Hill
“This Kiss” attempts to blend country and rock, but ends up a bland, saccharine mess. Faith Hill, usually known for her powerful vocals, delves into pseudo-scientific metaphors for love, and the result is cringeworthy. Leave the physics to Neil deGrasse Tyson, Faith.
Low point: “It’s centrifugal motion/It’s perpetual bliss/It’s that pivotal moment/It’s (ah) impossible/This kiss, this kiss—unstoppable.” Love as centrifugal motion? Someone failed high school physics.
15. “Who Let the Dogs Out” – Baha Men
The Baha Men, inexplicably the most famous musical act to emerge from the Bahamas, gave us “Who Let the Dogs Out.” The ear-splitting “woof woof woof woof” chant is somehow the least irritating aspect of this track. Consider this: Jamaica gave us Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. The Bahamas gave us this.
Low point: “Get back, Ruffy/Bye, Scruffy/Get back, you flea-infested mongrel.” Are these even dogs? Or just poorly named insults?
14. “It’s a Small World”
Disney magic is real, and sometimes it’s used for evil. “It’s a Small World” is proof that global unity exists, at least in shared musical loathing. No matter your origin, you likely despise this relentlessly repetitive tune. Thanks, Disney, for the auditory torture.
Low point: “It’s a small world, after all/It’s a small world, after all/It’s a small world, after all/It’s a small, small world.” Repeat ad nauseam. This is psychological warfare disguised as children’s entertainment.
13. “Secret Garden (Jerry Maguire version)” – Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen, the Boss, can write powerful and moving songs. Then there’s “Secret Garden (Jerry Maguire version).” If there’s a song that can be ruined by Cuba Gooding Jr. quoting movie lines over it, this is it.
Low point: Cuba Gooding Jr.’s interjection: “You’ve got to be fair to her! She loves you. If you don’t love her, you have got to tell her!” Less inspiring movie moment, more awkward karaoke night.
12. “Vertigo” – U2
U2, once purveyors of stadium-rock brilliance, descended to “Vertigo.” “Hello, hello (Hola!)” Bono’s foray into Spanish feels forced and unnecessary. The fact that U2 loved this song enough to open and close shows with it is truly baffling. Are they trying to follow R.E.M.’s path to musical self-destruction?
Low point: “Unos, dos, tres—catorce!” Since when does Bono count to fourteen in Spanish? It’s not edgy, it’s just weird.
11. “Nookie” – Limp Bizkit
Fred Durst, the man who brought us Limp Bizkit, is a quadruple threat – he seemingly can’t sing, rap, write lyrics, or manage a decent fitness regime. “Nookie” wastes a decent opening riff on juvenile lyrics and Durst’s trademark whiny delivery.
Low point: “Stick it up your yeah!/Stick it up your yeah!/Stick it up your yeah!” Profound? Poetic? No. Just… yeah.
10. “Pray” – MC Hammer
MC Hammer, known for his parachute pants and questionable musical choices, decided to “improve” Prince’s masterpiece “When Doves Cry” with “Pray.” It’s musical sacrilege. Hammer essentially smeared musical feces on the Mona Lisa and called it art. Divine retribution in the form of bankruptcy soon followed.
Low point: “I tried and tried and tried and tried to make a way/But nothing happened till the day that I prayed.” The Lord works in mysterious ways, mostly involving terrible song remixes.
9. “Trapped in the Closet (Chapters 1–5)” – R. Kelly
R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the Closet” is an epic saga of infidelity and… questionable morals, especially coming from an artist with R. Kelly’s track record. This sprawling track series explores the dark side of adultery, but mostly showcases the dark side of musical excess.
Low point: “‘Oh, my goodness!/I’m about to climax’/ And I said, ‘Cool/ Climax/Just let go of my leg!'” Romance is dead. Thanks, R. Kelly.
8. “Tom’s Diner” – Suzanne Vega
Suzanne Vega’s “Tom’s Diner” is a masterclass in lyrical banality. Rhyming is clearly hard for Suzanne, but she doesn’t let that stop her from documenting the thrilling experience of… sitting in a diner.
Low point: “I am waiting/At the counter/For the man/To pour the coffee.” Riveting stuff. You can practically smell the lukewarm coffee and existential dread.
7. “With Arms Wide Open” – Creed
Creed, the band that gave us Scott Stapp’s overwrought vocals and pseudo-spiritual lyrics, delivered “With Arms Wide Open.” Apparently, Scott Stapp discovered the miracle of procreation and felt the need to inform the world as if he were the first man to ever knock someone up.
Low point: “We stand in awe/We’ve created life.” Yes, Scott, millions have done it before you. Calm down.
6. “Electric Boogie” – Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Griffiths’ “Electric Boogie” is… something. Let’s let Ms. Griffiths explain it herself: “It’s electric!/Boogie woogie woogie/ Diggita Mrs. Kelly with the bubbling electric belly/She’s moving along with the electric/ She sure got the boogie!” Indeed. She sure does. And we’re sure… something else.
Low point: The entire lyrical content. “Bubbling electric belly”? We’ll just leave that there.
5. “Wannabe” – Spice Girls
The Spice Girls spearheaded a second, far less welcome British Invasion in the 90s. “Wannabe” is their revenge for every bad British teeth joke ever told. This track is a sugar rush of pop nonsense that somehow conquered the world.
Low point: “I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really really really wanna zigazig ah!” Lyrical genius at its finest.
4. “Wonderful Christmas Time” – Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney, once a Beatle, gave us “Wonderful Christmas Time.” Say what you will about Ringo, but at least Ringo Starr never personally ruined Christmas. This song is a festive affront to good taste.
Low point: “The choir of children sing their song/Ding, dong, ding, dong.” It’s like a Christmas carol sung by malfunctioning robots.
3. “My Heart Will Go On” – Celine Dion
The sinking of the Titanic was a tragedy, claiming 1,500 lives. Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” the theme song from the movie, is a tragedy of a different sort. Canada’s loudest export assaults eardrums with a voice as powerful as a sonic boom, but far less pleasant.
Low point: “Love was when I loved you/One true time I hold to.” Deep thoughts by Celine Dion.
2. “Your Body Is a Wonderland” – John Mayer
John Mayer, rock’s resident smooth operator, delivered “Your Body Is a Wonderland.” It’s a potent mix of cheesy come-ons (“You want love?/We’ll make it”) and borderline stalker vibes (“I know you’re mine/All mine/All mine”).
Low point: “One thing I’ve left to do/Discover me/ Discovering you.” Self-discovery through… you? It’s confusing and creepy.
1. “HollaBack Girl” – Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani returns, this time with the number one spot for “HollaBack Girl.” The millennium is still young, but it’s hard to imagine a more grating song emerging in the next thousand years. What starts as a pathetic schoolyard fight song descends into pure auditory torture when Gwen decides to spell. Mrs. Rossdale, your song S-U-C-K-S.
Low point: “This shit is bananas…B-A-N-A-N-A-S.” Yes, Gwen, yes it is. Bananas and awful.
