I don't think this topic has been covered before but apologies if it has.

I want to know what 'shameful' but suprisingly playable music do you have in your collection? and do you dance round your living room to it with a 'hairbrush mike' when your other half's working late????

You know you'll feel better for fessin!!!!

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Answers

I hope that nobody decides to do a search in some kind of search engine for this e-mail address of mine because what I am about to admit could haunt me for the rest of my life...

N'Sync. I love that cute little song of theirs called "Bye-Bye-Bye." I swear to God -- I dance around the living room like some kind of lunatic singing into a hairbrush or something. And once I've been caught doing this little routine. My boyfriend walks in on me and he's all like "What are you doing? Did you forget to ask the doctor about Haldol to control those seizures of yours?"

Har-har, that was funny. Not! :o)

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

I don't have a collection of it or anything -- but club music/disco/ danceable music -- you know Depeche Mode stuff and the like -- synthesized beats and rhythms.

Oh, wait I'm not really ashamed of it or anything.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

It's shameful, so I'll start. I dance like a maniac to "The Thong Song," and try to sing along (in Japanese) to Pizzicato Five. Sometimes I'll pick my cat up and sing The Smiths' "This Charming Man" to my cat, but I change the word "man" to "cat." My cat gets very confused at this.

But only when no one's around, of course.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Last year I bought an Alvin & the Chipmunks CD, because it had a version of "Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. How could I resist? "Time is fleeting..."

And I have the Space Channel's CD "Spaced Out"-- a collection of songs by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy! I made a compilation tape for my friend Martin, and I put "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" by Shatner on it. Marty called and said "Great tape, but who's the guy who thinks he's William Shatner?" Ummm, Marty...

And I have one by a band from Europe called S.P.O.C.K. My favorite song from that is "Never Trust a Klingon". Really.

I never play these CDs, by the way. I don't know why I have them. Maybe one day I'll make a mix tape of Sci-Fi related stuff.

I am so sick.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

I'm confessing for my boyfriend before I start in on myself ... A couple of weeks ago, we went to Target and he made me buy him the new Hanson CD. He said if I told anyone, he would tell him that HE really bought it for ME.

I own a lot of old pop music that I am embarrassed about now, but it's all in a box in my closet and I'm not going to get it down just so y'all can make fun of me.

Not only do I _like_ "Bye Bye Bye" by *NSync, but I own and love the CD. I also own and love Britney Spears' "...Baby, One More Time". I have a Sergio Mendes & Brazil CD because it's got that song "Never Gonna Let You Go" (I know y'all know that song ... "Never gonna let you go / I'm gonna hold you in my arms forever / Gonna try to make up for the times I hurt you so"). I have an old Warren G CD from back in the days when for some weird reason, I was totally into rap music. I also have George Michael's "Best Of..." double-CD.

Okay, that's enough for now. =-)

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

OK, this is so bad but I love eighties rock music. You know those advertisements they play on cable for the "Monsters of Rock" compilation? I want that CD so bad.

I missed it the first time around. I was not born until 1982 and I listened to nothing but country music until I was about 12. Somehow, though, I managed to become addicted. Guns and Roses. Quiet Riot. Aerosmith (not the new stuff). Van Halen. Led Zepplin. And of course, AC/DC. I just love it. And it is horrible.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

I love 80s music and all of those things with a drum machine. But I don't think they're horrible, I think they're great!

However in the really shameful category, I admit I like this song in Dodge truck ads that they play during the baseball games. The one that goes:

I L-O-V-E my D-O-D-G-E T-R-U-C-K D-I-F-F-R Different by a country mile!

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Southern Rock.

Back in high school, I loved Lynyrd Skynyrd. Freebird was like my anthem. It's occured to me, this late in my life, that Lynyrd Skynyrd pretty well sucked, as did most southern rock, with the exception of the Allman Brothers. But whenever I'm driving around, and Skynyrd (or Molly Hatchett or Charlie Daniels) comes on the radio, I sing along really loud.

Another guilty pleasure is Michael Jackson, but only stuff off of the Thriller album.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Hmmf. I shouldn't have read this thread. My favorite band was mentioned! For shame! There is *nothing* awful about the Smiths.

And I like Skynyrd too.

Awful music I like... I spose if I like it, its not awful, eh?

I don't do the hairbrush thing, but I sing along in my office while I have my headphones on and everyone can hear me, but not the music. :)

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

I never said there was anything shameful about the Smiths. I was ashamed at singing The Smiths to my cat. Morrisey's voice makes him very docile, but I guess it has that effect on lots of people.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Oingo Boingo (and I'm listening to it right now)

Nuff said

Currently radiating from Iodine 131 at The Road Trip

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Rishara: The Monsters of Rock CD is _definitely_ worth owning. I didn't even want the thing, but it got shipped to me by accident with my Monster Ballads CD, and it just rocks!

Lizzie: Would it make you feel better to know you're not the only one who likes those Dodge commercials? They play 'em on the radio here and I always sing along. heheh

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

I could go on and on about how much I love Led Zep. That band changed my life - I don't think I would ever have become a drummer if it hadn't been for hearing Whole Lotta Love when I was about six. I didn't speak English yet, so I had no idea what the song was about, but that awesome wall of sound hit me like nothing else ever did.

Zep sparked a lot of imitators. Some of them were good, like Aerosmith and Van Halen, and most of them were just cheesy. Hearing some barechested creep screech his lungs out is NOT an adequate substitute for Robert Plant's vocals, and generic riffing does NOT compare to the organic rhythms Page, Jones and Bonham created. Aerosmith came close, at times even very close, and Van Halen - when I say Van Halen I mean David Lee Roth - even had an interesting jazzy approach which I've always found appealing. Just play their albums at a low volume and bring up the treble a notch or four, and you'll see what I mean. And then there's the Black Crowes - not the best songwriters in the world, but I can never get enough of those grooves.

My point is, I've always had a love-hate relationship with hardrock and metal. On the one hand, it's cheesy, macho, sexist, loudmouthed and altogether offensive. On the other, I just have to have a good dose of power chords from time to time.

On a different note - sometimes while watching tv I stumble across these Austrian 'schlager' shows (don't know an English term for it). Sheer torture, I tell you, but I always find myself strangely drawn to them. Imagine a modernized version of Sound of Music, only with infinitely worse music. It never ceases to make my jaw drop to the floor, and I just can't stop watching until it's all over.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2000

I adore boy bands, Kid Rock and Pink as of this moment...When I go into Sam Goody's to buy something, I use the excuse that it's for my kids. And can I just confess here and now, that Mark Macgrath from Sugar Ray is a mega-manly dream boat...tooo bad I am old enough to be his....really cute Aunt...

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2000

Pink is a woman.

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2000

Toto IV is a guilty pleasure. The critics hated it, but it's so unapologetically overwrought and I can smell the passion in songs like "Africa" and "I Won't Hold You Back." Those were written about real women, man.

Robyn is Here I bought two years ago. She was the proto-Britney Spears. The songwriters from that album abandoned Robyn in favor of Britney, I guess. But they can write infectious music, as Prince-inflected as it gets, but they have that certain way of finding just the right rhythm for a girl-singer to moan and coo in.

Paul McCartney's solo work also is fluffy as hell, and at times embarassing, but the guy has an ear for a melody. For every "Temporary Secretary" there's a "Let Em In."

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2000

I listen to the "old people station" on my way to and from work every day. At first it was merely better than my other AM option--talk radio--but now I really enjoy it!

Frank Sinatra, Engelbert Humperdink, Sammy Davis Jr. ("yay! It's the Candy Man!"--I never thought I'd hear myself say such a thing.) The cheez factor makes me giggle, which is helpful in the morning. And when they play the Peggy Lee version of Fever, it really makes my day.

Then I get to work and listen to my normal stuff: Old school punk and free jazz mostly.

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Count in another voice for the Dodge commercial. Only, I just, just, JUST recently found out what they were saying at the end of the song. The "different by a country mile" line... I used to think it was "Everybody.... (something)". It wasn't until Mar was over and the commercial came on that I found out... ah well. Now it's stuck in my head again.

As for music that I'm ashamed of... Uh... yeah, that 'Nsync Bye Bye Bye song is from the devil... ditto for "Genie in a Bottle" and don't you know that I was kicking myself when I missed the Britney in Hawaii show that was Fox. Both times, I missed it, and both times I was disappointed. Damn, I should hang my head and shut up before I go any further, but WAIT, there's more.

That Faith Hill "Breathe" song? I love it.

Ditto with ... oh. My. Buddha. Did anyone else see Garth Brooks on the GQ Man of the Year awards? That rendition of "Come On People" that he did. Holy shit that was awesome.

And...

*Hanging Head*

I can't believe I'm going to publically announce this.

Shania Twain

Lord, help me, I'm going to music hell.

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

Don't worry, Shania Twain is all we play down here.

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

I have a weakness for country music - but Shania bothers the crap out of me. Only once in awhile will I listen to her. Some of her stuff defines cheez....

Love oldies - KLDE here in Houston. It is just happy music, like someone else said. You CAN'T be pissy and listen to "Going to chapel....," "Blue Suede (sp?) Shoes," etc.

Anyone else hooked on public radio - specifically NPR, MarketPlace, and AllThingsConsidered? I aged a million years the day I found it.... And then I leave the station on and end up listening to Mozart et.al and never change the station because I like the classical stuff too. You can just melt away in it - wonderful for clearing your mind and releasing tension. Too bad it ages me from mid-twenties to mid-fifties. Robert Segal's voice resonates so nicely... I'd take him over the boy bands anyday.

-- Anonymous, July 02, 2000

just let your hair down for a while and have great music going and NOT any old shit you know ROCK ON..........

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Shania Twain is hilarious but I'd never buy it ... I'll just sing along when it comes on the radio. I've developed a serious MTV problem recently, and bought a great CD called Street Vibes Vol 5 the other day. Destiny's Child are a current hot favourite. And I have a weakness for The Backstreet Boys 'I Want It That Way' (don't we all).

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Ha, I knew I wasn't the only one who likes to sing along with the Dodge truck song.

I liked Shania Twain's song "Feel like a Woman" or whatever it was called, but don't know any other songs by her. Probably just as well.

Stijn, do you ever see this guy Heino on German TV? Somebody showed us a video of him. He sings schmaltzy German folk songs and is apparently very big in some parts of the country. He always wears sunglasses and has strange blond hair.

I was recently able to find out who does a dance thing I heard a couple of years ago, and got the CD on Friday along with some other stuff. It's Technotronic doing "Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)" I played it & had fun dancing to it, much to my husband's disgust. Finally, something to get back at him for those Tom Waits records.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

AM Gold--it advertises late at night, I can't wait to actually get the cd's. I'm too nostalgic for my own good. This music was on all the time in the 70's when I was a child.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

I know that pink is white girl...I may be immature when it comes to my music library, but I'm not an idiot

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000

Errr, um, i find myself really enjoying listening to Britney Spears.

It disturbs me.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2000

Okay. Deep, deep breath. It's a hard, hard thing.

70's music. All of it. I have a bunch of CD compilations from Rhino records -- some of them even have a big happy face on the CD. Think the Pina Colada song.

I don't listen to "modern" music much -- my tastes run to classical and jazz -- so the music of my growing up years remains my secret love.

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Lessee...

In the category of "way too old": Phil Collins, Van Halen, Joan Baez, John Denver, Cat Stevens, Jefferson Starship.

In the category of "way too embarrassing": Air Supp... nah, can't do it.

The Semicolon; Confessions of a Grammar Queen

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Um.. this Russian dance song I heard on the plane but nobody else I know has heard. Got it stuck in my head for days, even if I couldn't understand the words.

I'm a little bit ashamed of owning _two_ copies of the Smashmouth Astro Lounge CD. I think there's just something about liking a song that they play over the sports scores on the news that just makes me hang my head.

Um.. most everything else I like and feel okay about. Or if I don't I'm not mentioning it here.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

When I was about 15, I listened to stuff like the Smiths, the Cure, and all other manner of Brit indie bands. Now I'm *proud*(umm?)to display my All Saints, Robbie Williams and Madonna CDs.

Whatever happened to Morrissey, by the way? Does anyone know?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

well, yes... i do still play early Duran Duran and sing along...and I strike poses from the videos...

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Morrissey is quite active, putting out records and touring. He had a falling out with the original guitarist and has a new band.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Angie, as I type this I have the old fart station on my radio, but the office door is closed. Right now we're listening to "Take Good Care of My Baby."

My Lisa Stansfield/Toni Braxton CD ownership isn't exactly something I want to shout from the rooftops. Also, while I don't own any of his CDs, I luurve Ricky Martin. And I cannot make myself turn when I click on a Spice Girls video. I am in therapy.

As for singing to my cat, I sing any of the oddly numerous songs with the name Lola in them. Think about it: "What Ever Lola Wants"; the Kinks' "Lola"; "Copacabana."

I must go have anxiety attack from all this self-disclosure.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000

Mags-

Privacy is good when listening to old folks music! I often think my car is more private than it is.

So I'm groovin' along, singin' "VO-LAAAAR-AY! OHHH! OH!" or doing that sharkbitey hand motion to Mack the Knife, and I get a glimpse of the person in the car next to me staring...with their hand on their cell phone, like they're going to call the music police and report me.

If only I had tinted windows, I could indulge without shame.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

I find Britney annoying (I'm tired of hearing "I'm not selling sex" while running around in those outfits, etc). Some of her songs are really stupid ("E-mail my Heart?" What kind of a title is that? And ditto "Ooops, I Did It Again").

But I really like "Baby, One More Time." I like the "my loneliness is killing me" bit, even the hit me bit, which is downright weird. And I rather like "Sometimes", too.

Other bad ones: Phil Collins (some of it). Used to like Celine Dion pre-Titanic (I think that song is SO lame). I basically never had cool music taste as a kid, and was horrendously embarrassed if anyone asked what I was listening to on the headphones- I was the only one playing it so softly no one could hear it from across the room. I'm such a nerd.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2000

Y'know, the worst thing about this is, I've hung back answering this thread for weeks, and still no one else has confessed to my secret sin: Country. Music.

When I'm stuck in the car in an unfamiliar city -- yesterday it was on I-465 north of Indianapolis, waiting for a spilled produce truck to be cleared away -- I often let the scanner stop on a country station. In yesterday's traffic jam I heard "Kiss This" ("and I don't mean on my rosy red lips")and "Straight Tequila Night" (the lyric warns that you better not make a move on this woman on a straight tequila night). I'm not making it up. If I was, I would claim that I heard my favorite, "Old Dogs (and Children and Watermelon Wine)," or the evergeen "Poppa loved Momma, Momma loved men. Now Momma's pushin' up daisies; Poppa's in the pen." Or, "I'm pouring straight tequila over mixed emotions tonight." I love that sh*t. I just couldn't make up the soupy mix of drama and spoiled love that you hear on country radio. It's like opera in 3-minute bites.

Anyway, I am paying for my crimes today. My temples are pulsing in time with the endless internal playback of "A Woman Gets Lonely." I really need that Advil. It's not funny anymore.

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2000

Well now, Tom, I listen to country music all the time; it just hadn't occurred to me that it's something to be embarrassed about.

I am, however, embarrassed to admit that I like most everything by those BackStreet Boys, as well as several Britney Spears songs.

Did I say that out loud?...

-- Anonymous, July 12, 2000

This list could span a huge amount of musical genres.....
Stuff I usually don't fess up to: Metallica, Rush, The Police, Enya, Limp Bizkit-- the worse part is that I've made myself hoarse singing along with this stuff in the car.

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2000

i always play and sing any music that's got a beat..my dog curve hates it once i hold my guitar and start accompanying red hot chilli peppers(other side-californication,scar tissue-under the bridge),or metallica's(nothing else matters) or aerosmith's(jaded)..the poor thing keeps barking and pulling arm of the guitar as if pleading for me to stop playing and singing..i really aint bad but when i get into a song i play it over and over for a week or so..

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2001