I finally got around to fixing my RSS feeds and have oh, a couple months worth of blogs to catch up on, but first I need to address something. See, last year I told Myrtlebeachbum I would post about the most embarrassing songs on my iPod and then I never did it. Actually, this particular topic has been raised several times among the BCP crew (mostly because Trixie has some bizarre love of Bryan Adams and thinks my listening to Norah Jones is a crime) and for one reason or another it just didn’t get done. Well, I’m doing it now and yes, I am sufficiently shamed of what I have spent $.99 on.
Now, because Apple and iTunes are fuckshit evil bastards, I have lost approx 60% of my digital music to an unseen hand. So, in the following lists I have marked those songs which technically cannot be counted against me because iTunes up and ate them so, no body, no crime*.
– Ashlee Simpson: Pieces of Me*
– Ashlee Simpson: La La*
– Britney Spears: In The Zone (album)
– Britney Spears: Blackout (album)
– Brooks & Dunn: Hard Workin’ Man
– Bubba Sparxxx: Ugly
– Carrie Underwood: Before He Cheats
– Chingy feat. Ludacris: Holidae Inn
– Christina Millian: Dip It Low
– Damien Rice: O (album)
– Dave Matthews Band: various*
– Def Leppard: Let’s Get Rocked
– Enrique Iglesias: Hero*
– Fergie: London Bridge
– Foreigner: Complete Greatest Hits (album) (whut? lookit, when you move to the Midwest you find out this and Journey are the official drunk singalong bands of Wisconsin.)
– Garth Brooks: various
– Ginuwine: Pony*
– God-des & She: Lick It
– Gretchen Wilson: Here For The Party
– Hilary Duff: Come Clean* (omg!!)
– Howie Day: Collide
– Ice-T: New Jack Hustler
– Jessica Simpson: Sweetest Sin* (clearly I downloaded these when Newlyweds was still on.)
– Kansas: Carry On Wayward Son*
– Kris Kross: Jump (aww, retro!)
– Maroon 5: The B Side Collection (album) (Trix, you should know I have not listened to any Adam Levine since Toronto, you win.)
– Mase: Been Around The World
– Master P: Them Jeans*
– Nick Lachey: This I Swear
– NSYNC: All of them, every single song. Don’t judge!
– Lisa Marie Presley: Lights Out*
– Shakespere’s Sister: Stay*
– Sisqo: Thong Song*
– Soulja Boy: Crank That
– Toby Keith: Beer For My Horses*
=================================================================
Jaysus. I’m torn between laughing and hiding after looking at this. Okay, your turn. Confess those shameful tunes you listen to when no-one is around. When you’re done, we’ll make a special mix tape for Trixie.
ButtercupPunch - "La clique, c’est chic!" 
February 3, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I have some old school Whitney that still make it onto various playlists. Also, Wilson Phillips (Impulsive is a really, really good song).
Also: I’m currently obsessed with Taylor Swift, and no, I am not 9.
February 3, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I haven’t listened to some of this stuff in some time, but I know I’ll never delete it or get rid of the CDs. I also know that when I finally get around to ripping my CDs onto my external HD I’ll rediscover my love for a lot of it.
Here goes:
-Dashboard Confessional, the Get Up Kids, Saves the Day, Ataris, assorted other emo stuff (this goes hand in hand with my large collection of band tees from Hot Topic that I had in high school)
-Reel Big Fish – probably every album they’ve put out
-Various Warped Tour compilations
-Dave Matthews Band – the earlier albums and some live stuff
-Pink – My Vietnam
I would almost certainly have more dance-y music by Britney, X-tina, and Beyonce, but most of my music is from CDs I ripped at my college radio station or albums that I buy, and I cannot bring myself to buy those. I won’t do iTunes, b/c as you pointed out, they can disappear.
I also have some random instrumental-type stuff, like the theme from The Hunt for Red October, the soundtrack from either Star Wars Episode 1 or 2 (hey, Darth Maul had some awesome background music), the Serenity soundtrack, and Gregorian chants.
I think some of my tapes and earlier CDs are much more interesting, but I don’t have most of them anymore. They included TLC, Spice Girls, Hanson, and things I taped off the radio. Oh, and the Titanic soundtrack.
February 3, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I too own London Bridge!
Yazz and the Plastic Population: The Only Way is Up
Aqua: Barbie Girl
Tammy Wynette: Stand By Your Man
Brigitte Bardot & Serge Gainsbourg: Je t’aime, moi non plus
Beyonce: Single Ladies
Solid Harmony: I’ll be there for you
Leslie Gore: It’s my party
Reba: All the duets
There’s a lot more, but I’m starting to get embarrassed.
Also, Abba and musical soundtracks don’t count as embarrassing, right?
February 3, 2009 at 3:33 pm
@haguenite:
Oh, I at one time owned the album that Barbie Girl was on. Not sure if I still have it or not.
As far as musical soundtracks go, I’ve got Newsies.
February 3, 2009 at 3:44 pm
NEVER BE ASHAMED OF ABBA.
I am a Fernando Dancing Queen, ftw.
February 3, 2009 at 3:46 pm
@cate: omg, soundtracks and scores? so interesting that you brought that up because I was shamed for those very tracks last year, by my own hookers!
February 3, 2009 at 4:00 pm
cate: When I was in high school my brother in law’s brother won a KROCK contest in which he got a tackle box and Reel Big Fish performance live in his living room. At the time he had a small pad so they had it at my sister’s house, which was the house I grew up in til Junior High. I will always have a soft spot for them, they were reely (heh) cool. I think I smoked a joint with them, even. Plus, “Sell Out” is a good tune.
Kadinsky: Email Apple’s customer service and they should resend your iTunes songs. They have all your receipts on file and are pretty good about it. Also, use Amazon for mp3 purchases, it’s cheaper and has always been DRM free.
This post was timely, as I was just looking for some Total. Remember Total?!?!
February 3, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Cheesy pop music isn’t embarrassing. If anyone ever gets on my case about it, I just give them a withering look like there’s something terribly wrong with them for NOT listening to it. Embarrassing would be, say, Dave Matthews. I do have ‘Bodies’ by Drowning Pool on my ipod, though, so what do I know?
February 3, 2009 at 4:11 pm
@J.Gold: I have ‘Bodies’, too. And the embarrassing DMB. What can I say? I like the 90’s.
February 3, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I do or once had at least half of these. I am in no position to judge.
February 3, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Def Leppard and Van Halen pre-Sammy Hagar. I blame my older brothers. I easily know more words to songs on “Hysteria” than I do to the national anthem from hearing it through our shared wall for years.
I will also confess to T.I., all LL Cool J, Paperboy’s “Ditty”, Britney’s “Blackout” album, and all cheesy Arabic pop songs.
February 3, 2009 at 4:23 pm
As mentioned, among my Ryan Adams and Wilco and Tribe and Pharcyde and Aretha and New Order and The Cure and all sorts of other goodness, I will forever stand by the Bryan Adams duet with Sporty Spice, “Baby When You’re Gone.” A sweet pop confection.
Others that have horrified people:
“I’m Your Man” by Wham
“Say It Isn’t So” by Hall and Oates
“If I Can’t Have You” by Yvonne Elliman
All sorts of disco, the best being “Shame Shame Shame” by Shirley and Company
February 3, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Timely post K – I have been downloading some serious cheese lately (I’m blaming it on the baby! Pregnancy is turning me into a pop tart). But yes, my embarrassment would be:
Since you’ve been gone – Kelly Clarkson
Love Story – Taylor Swift
Good Girl Gone bad (the entire album!) – Rihanna
And all of the damn Beyonce I can’t seem to stop listening too. Who am I???
I also have a ton of Soca music which i love but my husband hates it when it pops up on shuffle and we have friends over.
February 3, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Oh snap, Pyromania, not Hysteria. Oooh I’m gonna get smacked for that one.
February 3, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Ooh! I just remembered that I used to have Dragostea Din Tei on there:
I’m not sure what happened to it. I guess Itunes ate it. Itunes must think cotton candy-style music fluff is delicious.
February 3, 2009 at 5:41 pm
“Cheesy pop music isn’t embarrassing. Embarrassing would be, say, Dave Matthews.”
Oh, no, no, no. We cannot be digging crap like Jessica Simpson and BROOKS AND DUNN, then hacking on DMB. DM and friends are a damned talented bunch of musicians, man.
I’m of the school of thought that if something was good, or fun, before, that very little but the sheep thing makes it bad or embarrassing now. It’s like fashion, esp. w/the young. Every year, there’s another cool freakin’ jacket or backpack to have. Are today’s North Face (or whatever) backpacks going to the same purgatory as yesterday’s Jansports? Since the answer’s obviously yes, er, why, exactly? I dunno. I mean, there are fashions that are, I think, empirically bad, as there are songs, but I think it’s way overblown on both counts.
Says the girl who owns *mumble* Hanson albums, wears whatever the hell she wants, has the following in her iPod, and refuses to be ashamed about any of it:
Gordon Lightfoot
Spin Doctors
Moody Blues
Justin Timberlake
Ronnie Milsap
Ben Jelen
Bruce Hornsby
Death Cab
James Taylor
Enya
Carly Simon
Glass Tiger
Righteous Brothers
February 3, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Kadinsky, never apologize for soundtracks! I think they contain timeless music. A few of my favs:
The Big Chill
Legends of the Fall
The Matrix
O Brother Where Art Thou
Cold Mountain
February 3, 2009 at 6:47 pm
@ Shana
I remain unashamed about my love of Gordon Lightfoot.
Ace of Base anyone?
February 3, 2009 at 7:19 pm
John Mayer:Clarity
Spice Girls: Two Become 1
Faith Hill: There You’ll Be
Bow Wow feat Omarion: Let Me Hold You
Cassie: U & Me
PCD: Buttons
Snap:Rhythm Is a Dancer
Black Budafly feat Fabulous: Bad Girl
Wham:Careless Whisper
Pure Moods Album
Destiny’s Child: Bootylicious (original + Rockwilder remix)
N.E.R.D: Lapdance
Nu Shooz: I Can’t Wait
FunFun: Color My Love
Alice Deejay: Better Off Alone
Wham: Careless Whisper
February 3, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Oh, I have another awful confession, and it’s currently my favorite song on my ipod:
No Air by Jordan Sparks/Whateverhisname
February 3, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Let me add Shabba Ranks to the list. I joined Columbia House so I could procure every version of Mr. Loverman and Housecall on tape and CD.
My brother eventually jacked my Shabba Ranks CDs and traded them in at Wherehouse music.
February 3, 2009 at 7:55 pm
I have an itunes playlist titled “questionable.” It is mostly compromised of late 90’s–current rap songs and pop music from artists I can’t defend (Miley, Katharine Mc Phee, Backstreet Boys).
Examples:
Suga, Suga Baby Bash
anything by Pretty Ricky
Buy U a Drank Tpain
7 things Miley
Buttons PCD
Now some late 90s pop (N Sync, Britney, Christina) is not at all embarrassing to me, except maybe the number of songs, but not the songs themselves.
February 3, 2009 at 7:57 pm
*comprised of
February 3, 2009 at 8:37 pm
I am ashamed of nothing on my iPod/iTunes.
And Trix, I have no problem with any of those songs, especially Wham.
February 3, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Billy Joel — now that would be embarrassing.
February 3, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Sigh.
“See You Again”, Miley Cyrus
a disturbing number of Beyoncé songs (no, not Destiny’s Child, just Beyoncé)
a handful of Fantastic Plastic Machine songs that were clearly downloaded by the boyfriend
“Womanizer”, Britney
a fair amount of En Vogue, circa “Funky Divas”
“Weak”, SWV
“Let Me Blow Ya Mind”, Eve
the whole “Mechanical Animals” Marilyn Manson album, but dammit, I still love that disc.
three albums by Everclear (shut UP, it was the 90’s, and I was angsty!)
a half-dozen songs from Justin Timberlake
“After Party”, Koffee Brown. This HAS to be something the boyfriend downloaded, because when I found it on a scroll thru iTunes today, I immediately deleted it.
and good reasons not to just hit “shuffle” when having people over: the entire four-cd Jack Kerouac poetry readings discography, as well as many snippets of Eddie Izzard, neither of which is in any way embarrassing on its own, but does not mix well at a party with, say, The White Stripes.
February 3, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Huh. Other than Wham (Wham is fabulous…I love Wham – and I love George Michael even more)Foreigner I share no songs with y’all. Well, actually, I have no songs because my computer died and took a lot of my songs with it. For that matter, my iPod died, too. Here’s what I had:
Journey
Foreigner
REO Speedwagon
Queen
Yaz
New Order
Erasure
The Cure
etc 80’s.
February 3, 2009 at 9:49 pm
*and Foreigner
February 3, 2009 at 9:55 pm
“Thats All” by Genesis or Phil Collins. It was my favorite song when I was like 5 and I still stand by it.
February 3, 2009 at 10:12 pm
@Shana: I’m not saying that DMB aren’t good musicians, or saying J.Simpson’s music is better than theirs (objectively, it’s definitely not). I usually loathe people deciding something is uncool just because it garners a bunch of fans, but I’m currently in college and Dave Matthews is just so associated with frat boys it makes my skin crawl. Stating that you’re into DMB around these parts is like a secret code to fraternity assholes, saying “I am one of you.”
Also, there’s the song “Crash,” which makes me want to crawl into a hole.
February 3, 2009 at 10:41 pm
@Nadarine: Nothing wrong with En Vogue!
February 3, 2009 at 11:49 pm
@kadinsky: why are you ashamed of let’s get rocked?! i love that song. uh doya wanna get rocked? (LETS GET, LETS GET, LETS GET…) come on, it’s golden!
February 3, 2009 at 11:56 pm
wait, we’re writing ones we’re embarrassed about, right?
mine are:
missy elliot: we run this
all saints: pure shores
army of lovers: viva la vogue
benzino: rock the party
britney spears: slave for you and overprotected
collective soul: run
destiny’s child: bills, bills, bills
dj quik: can you work wit dat
godspell soundtrack: by my side
jon secada: just another day (i love this song and i dont care)
marilyn manson: dope show
michael jackson: earth song, money, stranger in moscow
February 4, 2009 at 3:28 am
I’m with lipsticklibrarian here.
Never be ashamed. Don’t have guilty pleasures, just take pleasure in things without shame.
angieyounglover, don’t feel bad for ‘Pure Shores,’ but go get the All Saints “new” album. Studio 1. Came out in 2006. It’s pretty solid pop and most of the track were written by Shaznay Lewis.
February 4, 2009 at 3:43 am
Random thought: Ashlee Simpson went up in my eyes when I saw ‘Undiscovered.’ Not that it was a great movie, but she was probably the only way the movie got funding at all, and yet she took on a role that was far from the center. Not to mention she didn’t do too badly at it.
Also, War, Inc makes me not dismiss Hilary Duff out of hand.
as for my embarassing music, judge for yourself:
http://www.last.fm/user/janthony
February 4, 2009 at 9:13 am
@aspiringexpatriate: funny, when some teenybopper gets all up in my husband john cusack’s shit, i hate them.
different strokes…
February 4, 2009 at 9:34 am
I have wayyyyy too many Britney songs on my iPod. Sad.
Also, I made my dad a 70’s pop cd once, to make him laugh, and there are gems like Tony Orlando and Dawn on there that I can’t bring myself to erase, for some reason.
February 4, 2009 at 11:49 am
@Kadinsky: Stay by Shakespeare’s Sister… DAMN. I haven’t thought about that in years, but I remember being obsessed with the weird video one summer!
As for my embarrassing musical tastes… I owned the first John Mayer CD. That may be the only CD I’ve ever actually thrown out.
I wouldn’t say I’m ashamed, but I consider these something of a guilty pleasure. I like Fallout Boy and other catchy pop-punk bands like Yellowcard and New Found Glory. I love Kelly Clarkson and other “go-girl” style pop-rock.
I used to get really embarrassed about my musical tastes, but I’ve kind of given up on that. I know too many different kinds of music snobs, and it just got exhausting to try to impress them all. So finally I just kind of said fuck it, you know what? Sometimes I like the same music as a high school girl, so what?
(But I still keep the John Mayer thing to myself.)
February 4, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I have Mika’s album, which I used to listen to a lot but now I just don’t like at all. I think I got it because I need to feel like I have gay men around me.
I have Irreplaceable and Crazy in Love by Beyonce. The horn on the latter still gets me every time.
I used to have Liz Phair’s self-titled album, then got Exile in Guyville when it was re-issued and realized how much more I loved it. Funny how she’s now considered such a sell-out when Exile was so brilliant. Not saying I disagree with that assessment, though.
I had been thinking of downloading Taylor Swift stuff but was trying to resist. Now I just may say screw it and go ahead, even if I consider White Horse more realistic than Love Story. I feel like I should shout, “You don’t need your dad’s permission! You aren’t property!” and other feminist things during “Love Song,” but dang, it’s kind of catchy.
February 4, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Sorry, that’s “Love Story” not “Love Song.” Blurg.
And once as 14 or 15-year-old, I was so ashamed of having a Backstreet Boys cassette (my dad and brother gave me grief) I threw it in the yard. Later my brother found it while mowing the lawn.
February 4, 2009 at 4:38 pm
@lala: Did it still work after its time in the yard? I used to play the fuck out of a Spice Girls’ around the 12-13 mark. Yikes.
February 4, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Angie, you can’t possibly be embarrassed by New Order or The Cure. That’s half my iPod!
REO Speedwagon on the other hand ….
February 4, 2009 at 7:25 pm
the only thing i’ve ever been ashamed of is a 3rd Eye Blind song (Semi-Charmed Life), which i’ve never listened to and should delete.
songs that embarrass my girlfriend on my behalf:
avril lavigne – the best damn thing (album), i’m with you (love this song)
rod stewart (various)
maroon 5 (various)
kelly clarkson (various)
also, K! i have two full carrie underwood albums, and i like them both.
February 5, 2009 at 10:31 am
@inchworm: ha! I have that 3rd Eye Blind album and I lurve it. I used to crush on Stephen Jenkins madly.
February 4, 2009 at 8:59 pm
AngiesYoungLover: She played his daughter who was abducted when the powers that be killed his wife…
Cusack’s love interest was Marisa Tomei, and no one can get angry at that.
February 4, 2009 at 11:08 pm
A wide assortment of Robbie Williams, Peter Frampton, Andy Williams, The Association, Daniel Bedingfield, The Darkness and for some effed up reason there seems to be songs from Newsies… I HATED that movie. My mp3 player seems to be adding songs on its own.
February 5, 2009 at 10:50 am
There’s nothing on my iPod that is *that* embarrassing, although I’ve gotten rid of a lot of shit from CDs that one friend or another made, as I no longer feel obliged to have it on my iPod, lest she turn it on and look at it.
There is one song I’m ashamed that I have on there, but I love it and I’m not going to back down. I’m also too ashamed to admit it, because it’s really, really bad.
@K and inchworm: I loved Third Eye Blind back in the day. So, so, so much. I also unashamedly love Justin Timberlake and *NSync.
(OK, fine, the embarrassing song is “Better Life” by Keith Urban. I’m going to go hide now.)
February 5, 2009 at 4:15 pm
@aspiringexpatriate: WHAT WHAT WHAT? i specifically DIDNT see the movie because the trailer made it seem like she was seducing him. my bad? that’s weird. so i’m guessing he didn’t know? again, that’s weird.
February 5, 2009 at 5:04 pm
@J. Gold: I’m not sure if it worked, as I went all Blagojevich and denied having anything to do with the tape. I think I said it must have been the neighbor girl’s.
And I’m realizing my screenname is, in part, the Ashlee Simpson euphemism for sex. Hmm. Obviously, I missed out on my chance to be a slut.
February 5, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I AM ASHAMED OF NOTHING! NOTHING! AND YOU CAN’T MAKE ME!
Okay, I *was* a little disappointed in myself this morning when I heard Sting’s “Fields of Gold” and didn’t have an overwhelming urge to hurl or at least turn it off, and I’m not really sure why I have not 1 but *2* Matchbox 20 CD’s on my iPod, but whatever. I’m too old to feel embarrassment over it anymore.
And if you’re ever lucky enough to share a hotel room with me, I will subject your ass to non-stop “Toxic” baby!
February 5, 2009 at 6:19 pm
@amazon: I’m looking at my ‘Fields of Gold’ cover right now, come and Toxic me, baby.
February 5, 2009 at 6:30 pm
K, a girl like you should wear a warning.
You’re dangerous and I’m lovin’ it.
February 5, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Ugh I’m out and proud with my Britney love. I can’t hardly consider it some kind of dirty confession. HOWEVER, the inclusion of Big and Rich’s Jalapeno and Blink 182 on my Top 25 Most Played list? Beyond shameful.
February 5, 2009 at 7:46 pm
It’s interesting to read different people’s versions of “confessions”. I agree with Shana. There’s nothing like listening to some DMB on a lazy Sunday, sipping mojitos and shooting the shit, to kick off the summer.
February 5, 2009 at 10:05 pm
AYL, yeah, neither knew, and she was seducing him, but not because she liked him, just because she was a pop princess, and all they do is seduce older powerful men. Hence why the role kinda worked. Only the big baddie knew the truth, and they did the reveal really well.
February 8, 2009 at 11:59 am
Okay, so, I’d defend most of my music choices without any problem, and while breezing through my iTunes there was some bad stuff (Ricky Martin, “Shake Your Bon Bon” was present), but I don’t think it counts because I don’t actually LISTEN to it, it’s just a hold-over from the golden days of free Napster in college. As for stuff I DO actually listen to, this was the most cringe-worthy:
Avril Lavigne, “Girlfriend” (I don’t really have an excuse for this and my cool indie-hip friend practically disowned me over it)
Fergie, “London Bridge” (glad to see I am not alone on this one)
Bloodhound Gang, “The Bad Touch” (yah, I still dig that song, ten years later)
Jann Arden, “Insensitive” (my inner adolescent still wants to put it on a mix tape for my ex-boyfriend)
Katy Perry, “Hot and Cold” (I dislike her SO ACTIVELY, but, sigh, I couldn’t escape the catchiness)
Lifehouse, “Hanging By a Moment” (dear god, I really like this song and would sing it REALLY LOUDLY in the car if it came on the radio – oh, the shame)
Nelly, P. Diddy, Murphy Lee “Shake Ya Tailfeather” (obviously)
Shaggy, “It Wasn’t Me” (also reminds me of college)