The Worst of the Worst
Everyone has songs they don't like. Songs that send them diving for that skip button the moment they start. But for this list we are looking for the worst of the worst. The songs that made worst of lists and have been panned by critics and fans.
So, with that in mind we present you with these 50 worst songs of all time. Check them out and let us know if you agree with the selections and/or if we have any glaring omissions that should've had a spot on the list.
(these 50 are not ranked in any particular order)...
"We Built This City" Starship (1985)
The song was a number one hit in 1985 so, at least for a while, it was pretty liked. But whatever adoration people had for it back then has disappeared leading to both Blender and GQ magazines calling it the "worst song of all time". And even Grace Slick, the band's co-lead singer, called it "awful" and "the worst song ever."
Starship - We Built This City (Official Music Video) [HD], RHINO
"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", the Beatles (1968)
The Beatles have so many songs on "best of all time" lists that having one on a "worst ever" list isn't too big a deal. but it might still surprise some to see anything by the Fab Four here. Although, it probably wouldn't surprise a couple of the members of the band itself—as both John Lennon and George Harrison were on record as hating this one.
The Beatles - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (1968), Canal RB
"(You're) Having My Baby" Paul Anka (1974)
Although Anka has pushed back on the criticism of the song's lyrics being about a pregnancy from a male point of view—the lyrics and the lame sentimentality have made this one a much hated track. In a 2006 CNN poll, users voted (You're) Having My Baby as the number one worst song.
(You're) Having My Baby - Paul Anka and Odia Coates, numberonesongs111
"Nookie" Limp Bizkit (1999)
Nookie was Limp Bizkit's first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and it elevated the band to new levels of fame. But while it did wonders for them back in 1999, it has since brought them much ridicule and derision. BuzzFeed called it the worst song ever written and Journalist Ryan Broderick wrote that "it should be against the law to be Fred Durst."
Limp Bizkit - Nookie (Official Music Video), limpbizkit
"What's Up?" 4 Non Blondes (1993)
This one is definitely going to be controversial. While it's been called "incredibly good" and an anthem for a generation by some critics—this massive 90s hit by 4 Non Blondes has also been called "without question, the worst song of the 1990s" and—to quote Dean Ween of the band Ween: The song is "as bad as music gets...Everything about the song is so awful that if I sat down and tried to write the worst song ever, I couldn't even make it 10 percent of the reality of how awful that song is"
4 Non Blondes - What's Up (Official Music Video), 4NonBlondesVEVO
"Ice Ice Baby" Vanilla Ice (1990)
Vanilla Ice's massive one-hit wonder took over the music world in 1990—but, word to your mother...the song isn't good. Spinner ranked it the 2nd worst song in history and a critic from the Houston Press said that it "set back the cause of white people in hip-hop [by] a decade."
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby (Official Music Video), Vanilla Ice
"True" Spandau Ballet (1983)
While for some of us this song will always bring to mind Steve Buscemi in The Wedding Singer and thus we can never hate on it. Those whose minds don't immediately jump to said classic rom-com, and can be more objective, are more likely to agree with The Guardian who called the song, "dreadful wine-bar soul."
Spandau Ballet - True (HD Remastered), Spandau Ballet (Official)
"Baby" Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris (2010)
Talk about love/hate. The official video for Baby by Justin Bieber is the 39th most-viewed video on YouTube. However, as of January 2025, it is also the fourth-most-disliked video on the platform.
Justin Bieber - Baby ft. Ludacris, Justin Bieber
"Yummy Yummy Yummy" Ohio Express (1968)
To quote Rolling Stone magazine in an article they wrote about the worst songs of the 60s...Yummy Yummy Yummy is "absolutely terrible."
Ohio Express - Yummy Yummy Yummy (Buddah Records 1968 HD 1080p), Charlie Perez
"Big Yellow Taxi" Counting Crows ft. Vanessa Carlton (2003)
Notice we're talking about the Counting Crows version and not the awesome Joni Mitchell track from her beautiful 1970 album, Ladies of the Canyon.
Counting Crows - Big Yellow Taxi ft. Vanessa Carlton (Official Video), Counting Crows
"Woman's World", Katy Perry (2024)
The song is so generic and uninteresting there were many who theorized that it was created by Artificial Intelligence.
Katy Perry - WOMAN’S WORLD (Official Video), Katy Perry
"Kokomo" the Beach Boys (1988)
There's no doubting how catchy the tune is—but that doesn't necessarily make it good. To quote the Rolling Stone album guide: Kokomo by the Beach Boys is a "joyless ditty." Although that is almost praise compared to what Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote:
"To this day, it serves as a textbook cautionary tale of a once-beloved group poisoning its own legacy and goodwill by making smarmy '80s yuppie pablum."
The Beach Boys - Kokomo (1988), ClassicVideos80s
"Who Let the Dogs Out?" Baha Men (2000)
More like: Who let this song out?...Are we right?
Baha Men - Who Let The Dogs Out (Official Video), Baha Men
"Ebony and Ivory" Paul McCartney ft. Stevie Wonder (1982)
In 2013, Billboard ranked Ebony and Ivory as the 69th-biggest hit of all-time on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. That's five years after a BBC 6 Music poll ranked it as the worst duet in history. Which side of that fence do you come down on?
Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, Santi Toselli
"Achy Breaky Heart" Billy Ray Cyrus (1992)
Blender called it the second worst song ever, a Sydney Morning Herald reader poll voted it the worst track of the 1990s and The Independent on Saturday named it the worst song of all time. Achy Breaky Heart was a mega-hit in 1992, but now most people turn it off before it hurts their Achy Breaky Ears.
Billy Ray Cyrus - Achy Breaky Heart (Official Music Video), Billy Ray Cyrus
"Barbie Girl" Aqua (1997)
We loved the Barbie movie and the Barbie doll is an iconic toy. However, not everything "Barbie" is good—ergo the1997 song by Danish-Norwegian eurodance band Aqua. A song that Rolling Stone called the worst song of the 90s.
Aqua - Barbie Girl (Official Music Video), Aqua
"Sussudio" Phil Collins (1985)
Another one that is sure to split people as it has critics. Are you on the side of Michael R. Smith of The Daily Vault who called it "pure magic", or do you agree with Michael Saunders of the Sun-Sentinel who called Collins' hit song, "indefensibly stupid."
Phil Collins - Sussudio (Official Music Video) [HD Upgrade], Phil Collins
"Rockstar" Nickelback (2006)
Yup, you can't have a list like this without finding Nickelback on it. One of the most hated bands of the century was also the most successful rock group of the 2000s according to Billboard. And one of the group's biggest hits was Rockstar. Although it was also the song that The Guardian called "the worst thing of all time."
Nickelback - Rockstar, Nickelback
"Life" Des'ree (1998)
While the entire song is pretty hard to listen to, there is one particular verse that has been voted as having the worst lyrics ever in polls by the BBC, The Independent, and the Herald Sun. And it goes like this:
"I don't want to see a ghost/It's the sight that I fear most/I'd rather have a piece of toast/Watch the evening news."
Des'ree - Life (Official Video), Des'ree
"Friday" Rebecca Black (2011)
You had to know we were going to get to this one eventually. Released in February of 2011, this highly-autotuned piece of teen pop caught fire and by June was sitting on over 167 million views—although, given all the negative comments most people were probably hate-watching it.
Rebecca Black - Friday, rebecca
"You're Beautiful" James Blunt (2005)
To be fair, the public's hatred of this song probably has quite a bit to do with how much it was played back in 2005. It was inescapable back then and this overexposure has led to a backlash from music fans. Blunt himself even issued an apology in 2014 for the overplaying of the track back in the day.
James Blunt - You're Beautiful (Official Music Video) [4K], James Blunt
"Cotton Eye Joe" Rednex (1994)
Cotton Eye Joe is the EDM-hillbilly country mashup no one asked for or really wanted. And yet it struck a popular chord at the time and hit number one in 11 countries. However, it can now be found on multiple "worst song ever" lists and Démar Grant of the Toronto Star called it "straight drivel with no chaser."
Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe (Official Music Video) [HD] - RednexMusic com, Rednex Videos
"Could It Be Magic" Take That (1992)
Could It Be Magic was a hit for Barry Manilow back in 1975—but the version of it that gets the most hate is the 1992 cover by Take That. Yes, it won a Brit Award—but it was also voted the worst song in history in a 2004 public poll organized by Diesel. And to quote NME's Anthony Thornton: "It is the kind of track that makes you wake up screaming."
Take That - Could It Be Magic, Take That
"My Humps" the Black Eyed Peas (2005)
This one was getting negative attention from critics back in 2005 while also rising up the billboard charts and selling millions of copies. The number of "worst of" lists My Humps has appeared on is almost too many to count. Critic Shaun Bruce has stated that the song "may actually represent the nadir of human achievement." Ouch!
The Black Eyed Peas - My Humps, Black Eyed Peas
"Everybody Have Fun Tonight" Wang Chung (1986)
It might've been fun for a while, but it wasn't long before we wanted to do anything else but "wang chung" tonight (or any other night for that matter).
Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight (Official Music Video), WangChungTheBand
"Dancing on the Ceiling" Lionel Richie (1986)
Given its position at number 20 on Blender's "Worst Songs of All Time" list—most people would probably rather take their chances defying gravity, and actually try dancing on the ceiling, then listen to this 80s hit from Lionel Richie.
Lionel Richie - Dancing On The Ceiling, lionelrichie
"Swagger Jagger" Cher Lloyd (2011)
Singer/Rapper Cher Lloyd's debut single is still her biggest hit. Swagger Jagger took over the number one spot in the UK in the summer of 2011. But while The Guardian named the song the best number one single of the year, NME called it one of the "Very Worst UK Number One Singles of All Time." Where do you come down on this one?
Cher Lloyd - Swagger Jagger, Cher Lloyd
“Waiting on the World to Change” John Mayer (2006)
While the tune is catchy and there is no denying Mayer's talented musicianship, the main complaint with this song is the lyrics. To quote Houstonia Magazine in their review of the track for their "worst songs of the century" list: Waiting on the World to Change is "a protest song that doesn’t protest anything". Which ties in nicely to the Chicago Tribune's comments calling it "[perhaps] the most spineless social-justice song ever written."
John Mayer - Waiting On the World to Change (Official Video), John Mayer
"Rico Suave" Gerardo (1990)
This one-hit wonder from the 90s was just as hard to listen to back then as it is now. Although, one good thing about the track is that it gave us "Weird Al" Yankovic's 1992 parody song. Taco Grande. So...silver lining.
Gerardo - "Rico Suave" Live (1991), KlassicThrowbackTV
"American Life" Madonna (2003)
If you don't remember this one maybe reminding you that this is the song that Madonna raps in might jog your memory. A rap that Blender magazine called "the most embarrassing rap ever recorded." The A.V. Club called the entire song, "jittery, tuneless, and shallow to the point of self-parody."
Madonna - American Life - Director's Cut (Official Video) [4K], Madonna
"The Thong Song" Sisqo (2000)
A huge hit in 2000, The Thong Song definitely annoyed a lot of people with the misogynistic lyrics and the fact that it was so overplayed at the time. A St. Paul Pioneer Press reader poll called it the worst song in history.
Sisqo - Thong Song (Official Music Video), SisQó
"Hot Problems" Double Take (2012)
Double Take was Drew Garrett and Lauren Willey: two high school friends from San Luis Obispo whose song Hot Problems became a viral hit and meme back in 2012—despite audiences and critics hating on it and it being hailed as the worst song of all time by multiple outlets.
Double Take - "Hot Problems" (OFFICIAL VIDEO), DoubleTakeHotProblem
"Party All the Time" Eddie Murphy (1985)
Eddie Murphy could do almost no wrong in the 80s. From his star making debut on Saturday Night Live to his speedy rise to movie superstardom...but, then there was, Party All the Time. Some of you might've forgotten that Murphy put out an album in the 80s and actually had a number 2 hit on the Billboard charts with Party All the Time. However, even back then it had critics calling it, "Gumby goes disco." And these days it has found itself at number 8 on Blender's Worst Songs Ever list.
Eddie Murphy - Party All the Time, Eddie Murphy
"Crank That (Soulja Boy)" Soulja Boy (2007)
Soulja Boy's Crank That (Soulja Boy) and the dance that went with it were such a sensation in 2007 that an instructional YouTube video for the dance racked up almost 30 million views. However, the song itself—to quote British entertainment magazine, Digital Spy—is "a mind-numbingly tedious pop-rap single."
Soulja Boy Tell'em - Crank That (Soulja Boy) (Official Music Video), Soulja Boy
"The Heart of Rock & Roll" Huey Lewis & The News (1984)
The heart of rock and roll might still be beating, but there are many who wish the heart of this song had stopped beating long ago. A Rolling Stone review called the lyrics "moronic" and Blender ranked it as the 6th worst song of all time.
Huey Lewis & The News - The Heart Of Rock & Roll, hueylewisofficial
"Illegal Alien" Genesis (1984)
Although meant to be sympathetic towards immigrants, the song and the music video have both become rather infamous and has been called "one of the most racist songs of the '80s."
Genesis - Illegal Alien (Official Music Video), Genesis
"Shiny Happy People" R.E.M. (1991)
To some, this catchy tune from R.E.M. is nothing more than mindless fun and a great summer track. To others, like British magazine Q—Shiny Happy People is deserving of a spot on a list of Ten Terrible Records by Great Artists.
R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People (Official Music Video), remhq
"I'll Be There for You" The Rembrandts (1995)
Is the track that became the theme song to Friends one of the best TV theme songs of all time (as Paste and Complex magazine have said) or is it one of the 50 worst songs of all time (as Blender has called it)? Or could it be both?
The Rembrandts- I'll be there for you (official video), alliemaster93
"Revolution 9" The Beatles (1968)
The 8 minute and 22 second soundscape on the White Album was voted the worst Beatles song in a 1971 poll conducted by WPLJ and The Village Voice.
The Beatles - Revolution 9 (Music Video), Kitsu Beatles
"Me!" Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie (2019)
Sorry Swifties, even Taylor drops a dud every now and then—and the song of hers that gets the most dud chatter is probably Me!. While some enjoy the campiness of this bubblegum pop, others wrote that the song "is a showcase for the worst and weakest aspects of Swift's work...it is not hard to write a better song than this."
And speaking of bubblegum pop....
Taylor Swift - ME! (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco) ft. Brendon Urie, Taylor Swift
"Sugar Sugar" The Archies (1969)
It might not get more bubblegum poppy than Sugar Sugar by The Archies—the most successful bubblegum pop song of all time. And Homer Simpson loves the song. So, can it be that bad?
Sugar, Sugar - The Archies (1969) HD, PS César
"Muskrat Love" the Captain and Tennille (1972)
It's literally a song about two muskrats falling in love. Need we say more?
Captain & Tennille MUSKRAT LOVE, Darren Q.
"Never Gonna Give You Up" Rick Astley (1987)
While the whole Rickroll meme phenomenon of 2007 brought this catchy song back into the public consciousness—it also went from fun to annoying by the one billionth time you had to hear it...which probably has to do with why Never Gonna Give You Up gets lumped in among the worst songs of all time.
Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Video) (4K Remaster), Rick Astley
"The Final Countdown" Europe (1986)
There are those who would love to countdown to the final time they ever have to hear this hard rock classic. Even many who dig Europe's 1986 track do so with an air of guilty-pleasureness. Which would explain it's position on Blender and VH!'s Most Awesomely Bad Songs...Ever lists.
Europe - The Final Countdown (Official Video), Europe
"Hangin' Tough" New Kids on the Block (1989)
One of the first hits that launched what would be the "boy band" era—there is nothing tough about Hangin' Tough (except for having to listen to the whole thing..now that's hard).
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK - Hangin' Tough (((Remastered Audio HQ))) 4K, Reynaldo Escalera Garcia
"Macarena" Los del Río (1993)
Of course we'll do the dance if the song starts playing. But that's neither here nor there.
Los Del Rio - Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix), LosDelRioVEVO
"Literally I Can't" Play-N-Skillz featuring Redfoo, Lil Jon and Enertia McFly (2014)
"Literally I can't" is what most people say when asked to listen to this song more than once. From the terrible musicality to the misogynistic lyrics and video, this track was disliked by most people right from the start. The Complex review called it, "everything wrong with EDM" and Billboard ranked it as the "Worst Song of the 2010s (So Far)."
"Agadoo" Black Lace (1984)
This one might be a little triggering for UK readers who grew up in the 80s and remember this novelty track being everywhere—so much so that it was the eighth best-selling single of 1984 in the country.
However, in 2003 a Q magazine poll of music writers saw Agadoo voted the worst song of all time. And a 2000 Dotmusic survey saw the song voted as the fourth most annoying song of all time.
Black Lace - Agadoo, congobeat
"Billy—Don't Be a Hero" Paper Lace (1974)
Although Billboard ranked it as the number 21 song for 1974—a Rolling Stone readers poll called Billy—Don't Be a Hero, the 8th worst song of the 1970s. What side of that fence do you come down on?
Paper Lace - Billy Don't Be A Hero (TOTP 1974 ), Classic Sounds 70s
"Bad Day" Daniel Powter (2005)
Powter's signature song topped the charts in 2005 and is still stuck in some of our heads all these years later. But for many, that isn't a good thing—given how some critics complained about the trite and saccharin lyrics. One even called it "a song so sweet it gave you a toothache."
Is it a bad day for you when you hear this one?
Daniel Powter - Bad Day (Official Music Video) [HD], Daniel Powter
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