Greetings,
And now for the "fun" list. Well, not fun for me, because I had to suffer through listening to all of these songs. But Worst lists tend to get more views, which makes me think that people enjoy them. And I guess if I put ads on this site, yeah, it would be fun for me, too. Also, if you like any of these songs, fine. I'm not saying you can't. You do you. I'm just saying that I personally don't like them. Anyway, let's get this over with.
#10. "Thunder" Imagine Dragons - Hey, guys, you made the best AND worst list this year. Congratulations? This song . . . this song is weird. And not in a good way. The real reason why I put this on the bad list is because I can hear something in it that makes me think it could have been good. But overproduction and just not so great decision making turned it into whatever the heck it is. I just hate wasted potential.
#9. "Praying" Kesha - Oh, look. She dropped the dollar sign from her name, because marketing ploy. And she's doing this "personal" power pop ballad, because marketing ploy. And you're not allowed to say that her music is crap anymore, even retroactively, because . . . reasons. I know a lot of critics are praising this, but it just feels contrived to me. Maybe it's not. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope I am. I hope she's being sincere, but I'm feeling the opposite and that makes me feel nothing . . . but bored.
#8. "Bad Things" Machine Gun Kelly and Camilla Cabello - I have heard some bizarre instances of sampling in my day, but this might be the weirdest. Plus, I really don't know who these people are. I mean, I saw the guy on an episode of Ridiculousness and I think the girl is formerly one fifth of Fifth Harmony. Either way, not impressed
#7. "Attention" Charlie Puth/ "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" Shawn Mendes - I'm tying these songs because, frankly, I am about 97% convinced that the guys who made them are the same person. But I'm 100% convinced that both songs are awful.
#6. "Body Like a Back Road" Sam Hunt - I've heard people intentionally give backhanded compliments, but, clearly, this guy is doing it without knowing. I think he legit believes that this is a nice thing to say. It's not. It's weird. But congrats on pushing a metaphor so far that it slingshots back and smacks you right in the face.
#5. "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" ZAYN and Taylor Swift - Yeah, apparently this guy has an all caps name. Give me a massive break. Oh, and this song is a great example as to why, if I see anyone seeking out advice through example on how to do a falsetto, I point them in the direction of either Frankie Valli or every album that the Bee Gees made after 1975. A man doing falsetto is supposed to be impressive, not headache inducing. And don't even get me started on her. Mostly because we'll be discussing her later. Stick around.
#4. "Sorry, Not Sorry" Demi Lovato - Sorry, not sorry, but didn't you already record this song years ago and called it "I Really Don't Care"? And isn't the video you made for this song the same as the one for "Cool For the Summer"? If you're gonna be repetitive with something, at least, choose something good.
#3. "Side to Side" Ariana Grande - Ya know, I try not to let how people are IRL affect how I judge their "art", but it's so difficult with this woman. Don't get me wrong. I can't stand this song, but I also can't listen to her music without thinking of some of the . . . I'll be kind and say foolish things she has said and done. Funny how things change. I put her at the top of my Best Of list a mere four years ago. Crap! We've been dealing with her for that long. Yeesh. Look, Ariana, I know you look perpetually 15, but it is time to grow up.
#2. "Chained To The Rhythm" Katy Perry - Hey, remember that thing I said two seconds ago about not judging someone's work based on who they are? Well, yeah, I try and fail to do that with this person, too. That's why I hate the media these days. People used to just make their music and you might inadvertantly find out something about their personal lives, but now that is ALL we know anymore. That's how I know that the message of this song compared to how Katy Perry behaves makes her look like a total hypocrite.
#1. "Look What You Made Me Do" Taylor Swift - Believe it or not, there was a time when I would come to the defense of young Miss Swift. Anytime people criticized her for writing about her boyfriends, I would say, "Hey, she's young, she's dating, and she's writing about that. That's what writers do. They write about their lives. No problem putting that life drama to music". And, at the time, I think I was right. HOWEVER, whilst there is no shame in writing about your drama, I do have a big problem with people seeking out said drama so they'll have something to write about. Or getting into a "relationship" so contrived a two year old could see that. Something about her current process strikes me as a bit inauthentic. Look, I used to think Taylor Swift was an artist. Now I think she's a product. And her biggest marketing tool to sell herself is her own fabricated victimhood. Still, I have hope that she will return to some place of sincerity someday.
And there are the songs I consider the worst of the year. As I said, I was not too impressed with anything this year. I certainly wish that 2018 will be better, but my hopes aren't remarkably high. But, miracles happen.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
