NEW YORK (Blender magazine) - "
We Built This City" is the single worst single ever constructed, according to Blender's ranking of reeking tunes.
The magazine's list of "The 50 Worst Songs Ever," which hits newsstands today in New York and Los Angeles and April 27 nationwide, distills the lamest popular rock-era records into one sonic landfill.
Starship's 1985 anthem, the runaway No. 1 stinker, "seems to inspire the most virulent feelings of outrage," editor Craig Marks says. "It purports to be anti-commercial but reeks of '80s corporate-rock commercialism. It's a real reflection of what practically killed rock music in the '80s."
The May issue, a sequel to the 2003 roundup of history's worst bands, coincides with a Blender/VH1 special, "The 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs Ever," which airs May 12. Harvesting clunkers that range from The Doors' "The End" to Aqua's "Barbie Girl" entailed more digging than expected.
Each dud had to be a hit to make the hit list. Though Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy" got in, such novelties as "Macarena" and "Who Let the Dogs Out," which by design are cheesy, were nixed.
Blender had no qualms about riding herd on sacred cows, inducting the Beatles' "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," R.E.M.'s "Shiny Happy People" and John Mayer's "Your Body Is a Wonderland." The entry most likely to peeve fans is Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sounds of Silence."
Blender: The 50 Worst Songs Ever
1. We Built This City - Starship (1985)
2. Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus (1992)
3. Everybody Have Fun Tonight - Wang Chung (1986)
4. Rollin' - Limp Bizkit (2000)
5. Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice (1990)
6. The Heart of Rock & Roll - Huey Lewis and the News (1984)
7. Don't Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin (1988)
8. Party All the Time - Eddie Murphy (1985)
9. American Life - Madonna (2003)
10. Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder (1982)
11. Invisible - Clay Aiken (2003)
12. Kokomo - Beach Boys (1988)
13. Illegal Alien - Genesis (1983)
14. From a Distance - Bette Midler (1990)
15. I'll Be There for You - Rembrandts (1995)
16. What's Up? - 4 Non Blondes (1993)
17. Pumps and a Bump - MC Hammer (1994)
18. You're The Inspiration - Chicago (1984)
19. Broken Wings - Mr. Mister (1985)
20. Dancing on the Ceiling - Lionel Richie (1986)
21. Two Princes - Spin Doctors (1992)
22. Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American) - Toby Keith (2002)
23. Sunglasses at Night - Corey Hart (1984)
24. Superman - Five for Fighting (2000)
25. I'll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy, Faith Evans & 112 (1997)
26. The End - Doors (1967)
27. The Final Countdown - Europe (1987)
28. Your Body Is a Wonderland - John Mayer (2001)
29. Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something (1995)
30. Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston (1986)
31. Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm - Crash Test Dummies (1994)
32. Will 2K - Will Smith (1999)
33. Barbie Girl - Aqua (1997)
34. Longer - Dan Fogelberg (1979)
35. Shiny Happy People - R.E.M. (1991)
36. Make Em Say Uhh! - Master P featuring Silkk, Fiend, Mia-X and Mystikal (1998)
37. Rico Suave - Gerardo (1991)
38. Cotton Eyed Joe - Rednex (1995)
39. She Bangs - Ricky Martin (2000)
40. I Wanna Sex You Up - Color Me Badd (1991)
41. We Didn't Start the Fire - Billy Joel (1989)
42. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel (1965)
43. Follow Me - Uncle Kracker (2000)
44. I'll Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) - Meat Loaf (1993)
45. Mesmerize - Ja Rule & Ashanti (2002)
46. Hangin' Tough - New Kids on the Block (1989)
47. The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You - Bryan Adams (1996)
48. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - Beatles (1968)
49. I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred (1992)
50. My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion (1998)
