Quirky top 10 hit songs that maybe wouldn't have been popular if people really listened

[LuvOrlando]

Personally I think there are songs out today that are way worse than some of the ones mentioned here. I mean what’s wrong with innuendos about mid day romps

Music is a reflection of the times so I’m sure in 20 years there will be people having the same conversation about current music that is loved and acceptable now.

Now it's much more out there so you really know what you are hearing. For me at least, I remember be around 8 years old and singing along with the song on AM radio, so it sticks out as particularly icky, probably because it was on family radio and all. When I listen to a song now everyone is on the same page, so maybe that's the biggest distinction - it's not prudishness that makes it icky, it's something else entirely.

 

[Sinder]

Now it's much more out there so you really know what you are hearing. For me at least, I remember be around 8 years old and singing along with the song on AM radio, so it sticks out as particularly icky, probably because it was on family radio and all. When I listen to a song now everyone is on the same page, so maybe that's the biggest distinction - it's not prudishness that makes it icky, it's something else entirely.

But like I said, music is a reflection of our time and it’s kind of sad to me that 8 year olds won’t get older and be shocked to learn what songs are about.It’s so blatant that they already know.
I find that disturbing and I’ll be proud to be labled a prudish pearl clutcher for that

I’m not talking about every song, just like back then there are some songs that are just
There’s still plenty of innocent innuendo out there too

 

[georgina]

More recent example - Blurred Lines

Miracles by Jefferson Starship always made me cringe when younger. "I had a taste of the real world...

 

[EMom]

Jessie is a friend,
Yeah, I know he's been a good friend of mine
But lately something's changed
It ain't hard to define
Jessie's got himself a girl and I want to make her mine

And she's watching him with those eyes
And she's lovin' him with that body, I just know it!
And he's holding her in his arms late, late at night

You know I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
Where can I find a woman like that?

I'll play along with the charade
That doesn't seem to be a reason to change
You know I feel so dirty when they start talking cute
I wanna tell her that I love her but the point is probably moot

What never made sense about this song (when you watched the video) is that Jessie was decent looking, but…. Jessie’s girl apparently failed to actually LOOK at Rick Springfield. None of us could believe he would ever lose out on a girl.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

A lot of the songs people have put up don't belong. People knew what they were about and liked em anyway.

Here's one that I think people would still like, but it certainly wouldn't be the most popular long distance dedication song ever.

This isn't a love song. It's about using people. Michael Stipe in an interview stated that it was probably a good thing people misunderstood it.

Another one.

A war protest song was misunderstood as a rah rah anthem. It wouldn't be as popular if people knew. But I like it better knowing. I think it more patriotic, not less.

And yet another one.

This was taken as an anthem for an apathetic latter half of Gen X. It was anything but apathetic. Cobain got the idea because his friend wrote Kurt smells like teen spirit on the wall. Kurt interpreted it as a revolutionary slogan. HAHAHA. Turns out his friend and Kurt's GF both were referring to the DO. Deodorant.
It might have been just as big a song but with a different audience.

 

[Dan Murphy]

A war protest song was misunderstood as a rah rah anthem.

I get a kick out of it when politicians use it as an entrance or exit song.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[prairie_girl]

A lot of the songs people have put up don't belong. People knew what they were about and liked em anyway.

Here's one that I think people would still like, but it certainly wouldn't be the most popular long distance dedication song ever.

This isn't a love song. It's about using people. Michael Stipe in an interview stated that it was probably a good thing people misunderstood it.

Another one.

A war protest song was misunderstood as a rah rah anthem. It wouldn't be as popular if people knew. But I like it better knowing. I think it more patriotic, not less.

And yet another one.

This was taken as an anthem for an apathetic latter half of Gen X. It was anything but apathetic. Cobain got the idea because his friend wrote Kurt smells like teen spirit on the wall. Kurt interpreted it as a revolutionary slogan. HAHAHA. Turns out his friend and Kurt's GF both were referring to the DO.
It might have been just as big a song but with a different audience.

What’s DO referring to?

 

[princesscinderella]

What’s DO referring to?

There was a line of deodorant in the 90s called teen spirit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teen_Spirit_(deodorant)

 

[_19disnA]

I think many songs become popular for the catchy/memorable music. I doubt most people even know the words to many popular songs. I can recall in the 70-80's when many songs had double meanings or something to do with drug use. The performer would often deny that was the case when asked. Some genre of music today use vulgar language as some sort of protest but I just don't get that either. Like being repulsive is somehow considered a good thing???

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I remember when the New Jersey State Assembly wanted to make Springsteen's (famous New Jerseyan) Born to Run the state's anthem in the 1980s. For the longest time they didn't bother to actually listen to the words, which is *hilarious.* Of course, once someone pointed out the lyrics the resolution was dropped.

 

[prairie_girl]

There was a line of deodorant in the 90s called teen spirit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teen_Spirit_(deodorant)

I knew that, I used to use it myself lol. I've just never seen deodorant abbriviated to DO.

 

[anniemae]

She Bop by Cindi Lauper

 

[kymom99]

I was an 8th grade catholic schoolgirl belting out “only the good die young”.

 

[Pirate1+Princess4]

Afternoon Delight by the Starland Vocal Band. It's all about having sex in the middle of the afternoon. Also Squeeze Box by the Who.

Clearly, mama is an accordion player.

 

[mmouse37]

Always thought this was a creepy song.....might not fit the OP's requirement but it's still creepy!!

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap Lyrics

"Young Girl"

Young girl
Get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You're much too young, girl

With all the charms of a woman
You've kept the secret of your youth
You led me to believe you're old enough
To give me Love
And now it hurts to know the truth

Whoa, oh, oh, young girl
Get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You're much too young, girl

Beneath your perfume and make-up
You're just a baby in disguise
And though you know that it's wrong to be
Alone with me
That come on look is in your eyes

Whoa, oh, oh, young girl
Get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You're much too young, girl

So hurry home to your mama
I'm sure she wonders where you are
Get out of here before I have the time
To change my mind
'Cause I'm afraid we'll go too far

Whoa, oh, oh, young girl
Get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You're much too young, girl

Young girl
Get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You're much too young, girl

Young girl
Get out of my mind
My love for you

 

[JoanneAZ]

I get a kick out of it when politicians use it as an entrance or exit song.

Along those same lines, there was a grocery store tv ad showing families (adults and kids) getting together for a bbq party in someone’s back yard and the song playing was Afternoon Delight. I was just .

 

[EMom]

Always thought this was a creepy song.....might not fit the OP's requirement but it's still creepy!!

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap Lyrics

"Young Girl"

Young girl
Get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You're much too young, girl

With all the charms of a woman
You've kept the secret of your youth
You led me to believe you're old enough
To give me Love
And now it hurts to know the truth

Whoa, oh, oh, young girl
Get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You're much too young, girl

Beneath your perfume and make-up
You're just a baby in disguise
And though you know that it's wrong to be
Alone with me
That come on look is in your eyes

Whoa, oh, oh, young girl
Get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You're much too young, girl

So hurry home to your mama
I'm sure she wonders where you are
Get out of here before I have the time
To change my mind
'Cause I'm afraid we'll go too far

Whoa, oh, oh, young girl
Get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You're much too young, girl

Young girl
Get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You're much too young, girl

Young girl
Get out of my mind
My love for you

I never saw it as creepy. She misled him about how old she was to make him think she was of legal age. When he discovers she’s actually underage, he stops their relationship. Nothing had happened. Yet. He acknowledges the temptation is there, but ends things based on now knowing she’s younger than he was led to believe. Once he realizes her true age, he’s out.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think many songs become popular for the catchy/memorable music. I doubt most people even know the words to many popular songs. I can recall in the 70-80's when many songs had double meanings or something to do with drug use. The performer would often deny that was the case when asked. Some genre of music today use vulgar language as some sort of protest but I just don't get that either. Like being repulsive is somehow considered a good thing???

One that was talked about a lot was The Beatles’ Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds being about LSD, the first letters of that title. I was watching the special about The Beatles on Netflix the other day and John Lennon addressed that. He said he got the idea for the song based upon a drawing that his young son Julian had drawn at school, not anything having to do with drugs! But when he heard that allegation he sort of started to panic a bit and began looking at all the other letters in the titles of his songs to make sure they didn’t spell out anything bad! Good documentary, btw, even if I did pretty much skip to the end, lol.

 

[ChrisFL]

Sheena Easton - Sugar Walls