One of the joys at work I get to do is listen to music and working in an environment where you’re processing foreclosure claims on a computer for eight to ten hours a day can be monotonous. However, listening to music provides a much-needed stress reliever from my job and makes my day a little more enjoyable.
This week I was listening to a CD that has 70’s and 80’s music on it. Well, I didn’t realize I had Christopher Cross’s Sailing on that CD. I have always liked that song growing up and heard it on the radio quite often. Furthermore, I realized that Cross’ biggest hit was one of the cheesiest song of the 70’s.
After listening to Sailing, I began thinking about all the cheesy songs I heard and there are quite a few that come to mind:
The Macarena by Los del Rio
Whoomp There It Is by Tag Team
Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice
Hello by Lionel Ritchie
U Can’t Touch This by MC Hammer
Shake, Shake, Shake Your Booty by KC & The Sunshine Band
Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus
I know there are numerous others I could add to that list. But, my question is why do we like cheesy songs? Is there a psychological or sociological need to have mindless entertainment a part of our lives?
I don’t know if that’s true, but there may be something to it though. Maybe it is due to our current lifestyle, where we work forty to sixty hours a week. Then we have to make room for family time, church, socializing with friends, and other extracurricular activities that we need some form of entertainment that doesn’t make us think or work hard to figure what kind of statement the artist or musician is trying to make.
To my readers, I would like to know what are some of your favorite cheesy songs and why do you like them?
Funnily enough, this evening I’ve been listening to various TV theme tunes from the 1980s…! I like singing to Denver the Last Dinosaur just as much now, as I did back then.
I think this question is a bit like asking why we like sugary/fatty foods. Or why bikini-clad bimbos are so appealing.
They hit just the right taste-buds for us to have a strong desire for them, though it often wears out quickly.
Good points, Michael! Maybe there is something basic we like about bad things and it’s just a part of our human nature.
Great post – just found it through Goodreads group post 🙂
I think the ‘history’ connection Michael mentions covers a lot of people’s reasons for liking something – I enjoy ‘cheesy’ songs from my younger days, but have less patience for ones that come out now. I think where they drag up nice memories, then you get that feeling.
But I’m also a proper cheesy music lover…perhaps the bouncy beats from other songs I like are recognisable from one to another and so I’m automatically drawn to things like ‘Call me Maybe’ the first time I hear it?
Mel,
You may have a point. Music is so powerful that a catchy beat can override the lyrics of a cheesy song. Also, there are some catchy lyrics that stay with us easier than other songs.
Thanks for posting.
Marion