Okay, Tubthumping and indeed much of that album was bad, but earlier Chumbawamba is some of the best non-punk anarchist rock out there (I am less impressed with their more folk turn of late). Liberation, We Don't Go to God's House Anymore, Enough is Enough... great songs...

>> ^oritteropo:

Surely Ween's "Push th' Little Daisies" was the worst song from the 90s? Maybe this was the 2nd worst?


At least in the US, "Push th' Little Daisies" gets a break because, upon hearing it, everyone promptly recognized how horrible it was and never played it again.

"Tubthumping", on the other hand, enjoyed regular airtime for what seemed like an eternity and was touted by every drunken ass-clown in the country as a great song.

What always struck me about Chumbawamba was that they've got like 15 fucking members and, evidently, none of them can write a song. I'd expect better odds than that if I were just picking random people off the street.

They stole the chord progression from Chumbawamba in the song Ladies for Compassionate Lynching off the album WYSIWYG

i used my jukebox playlist here.
set to random, first song of each page.
and then * starred the ones i found amusing

SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
** where did you sleep last night?

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
drive

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
mercy, mercy, me

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
heaven is a halfpipe

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
listen to the music

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
** two out of three ain't bad

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
hey ya

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
* bring it on

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
* strawberry fields forever

WHAT IS 2+2?
bell bottom blues

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
how it ends

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
tubthumping

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
** time after time

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
solsbury hill

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
* hard to beat

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
* like a stone

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
*** stupid girl

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
new world

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
drumming

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
cocaine

WHATS THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
ms jackson

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
creep

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
walk away renee

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
spem in alium

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
island in the sun

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
in the mood

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
** tiger in your tank

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
* hips don't lie

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
*** mad world

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
* gimme' all your lovin'

>> ^spoco2:
That's what sent us all off... You did label those who enjoy it as brainless dipshits via that comment, and that's what gave us cause for some 'discussion'.
Later you honed that comment to be more along the lines of that you hate people who suggest that this is a great song, which I tend to agree with, but at the same time if said people also enjoyed a wide range of music with integrity and artistic value as well, are they not allowed to think a simplistic, catchy tune is also great?

Part of the problem was that I never thought anyone would pay serious attention to my initial comment, so I didn't spend the time editing or clarifying it that I normally might.

Thank you for at least acknowledging my follow-up statements, though I must object to the word "hate". I don't hate anyone for their love of this or any other song. If you think this song is a finely crafted piece of art, as so many people I've met seem to, then I think you need to reevaluate the definitions of "fine", "craft" and "art", and suspect you need to be exposed to more.

Kronos, for the record, this was never an argument and I harbor no hostility. Let's call it a "heated discussion" and move on.

Hugs and kisses,
Carl

>> ^kronosposeidon:
<deleted to end the argument>

Oh but... oh but...

xxovercastxx:
"I have not labeled anyone a "brainless dipshit" for liking this song. "
And
I specifically said I don't have any issue with people who like this song, so I'm starting to think you all just enjoy being offended and/or arguing.

Except that your original comment was You know how sometimes you have one of those moments where you just realize that you're surrounded by brainless dipshits? This song at the height of its success was the biggest such moment I can recall.

That's what sent us all off... You did label those who enjoy it as brainless dipshits via that comment, and that's what gave us cause for some 'discussion'.

Later you honed that comment to be more along the lines of that you hate people who suggest that this is a great song, which I tend to agree with, but at the same time if said people also enjoyed a wide range of music with integrity and artistic value as well, are they not allowed to think a simplistic, catchy tune is also great?

Still, I'll join in the lament of really great music not being appreciated by the masses, but enjoy listening to what I enjoy.

And to illustrate the point that I have no claim to 'great taste'... here is some of the artists on high rotation in my media player:
The Beatles, Metallica, VAST, The Waifs, Live, The Whitlams, Bryan Adams, Enigma, Chris Isaak, Barenaked Ladies, The Tea Party, David Gray, Green Day, Era, Bernard Fanning, Dave Matthews Band, Marcy Playground, Regina Spektor, INXS, Vivaldi, Pink, Missy Higgins, Meat Loaf, The Wallflowers.

See... in that small sample of what I enjoy I'm sure most people would have some that they'd go 'Nice' to, some they'd go 'Oh my god, how embarrassing', some they go 'Who?' and so on... everyone has different tastes, different RANGE of tastes. I enjoy many, many other artists than those few I just grabbed off my media player, and within them there are sure to be more cringe worthy artists, more 'who's, more 'nice'... let everyone enjoy the full range of what they enjoy.

>> ^kronosposeidon:
^Voting down a song is fine, even saying something like "This song sucks" is fine. But calling people who are all enjoying a song that you don't like "brainless dipshits" is NOT fine, IMHO.
Of all the songs I really enjoy I don't think this a GREAT one, but I do think it's a REALLY FUN song, especially if you're drunk and singing along with your friends. However, if someone truly does believe this is a great song, so what? You say a person like this, just because he or she thinks this is an awesome song, is damaged goods?! Their lives are missing something?! I disagree wholeheartedly.
I'm not having a tantrum; I'm just pointing out that you are a music snob. I take exception to labeling persons as "brainless dipshits" because they happen to like one song. Am I supposed to take that lying down and say "Yeah, I guess I really am a brainless dipshit", or am I allowed a countering statement?
If you don't like your offensive critiques being critiqued, then don't offer them.


I'm one of the few people I know who asks for critique on a regular basis. I'm always looking to improve myself. Up until the comment quoted here, you haven't offered any critique. Spoco did, and I recognized him for it. I may not agree with him, but at least he gave me something I could think on. All you did was tell me I had a sad life because I don't enjoy shit music. Curious, did you tell dag and bamdrew how revolting they are for agreeing with me?

I've also said 3x now that I'm not criticizing people such as yourself who think this is a "really fun song". I have not labeled anyone a "brainless dipshit" for liking this song. You have built a straw man here; falsely representing my statements, playing the victim of a comment that never had anything to do with you.

It seems nobody is reading my half of this discussion which is a bit frustrating. Looking back, I can see the initial misunderstanding, but almost everything said since then has been based on what you claim I think or feel rather than what I've said I think or feel. You're all completely welcome to disagree with me. Quantumushroom I'm not, but it's no rare occurrence that my opinion clashes with the majority. It would be far more productive, however, if everyone based their understanding of my statements on my statements rather than what you say I said.

>> ^kronosposeidon:
^HIGHER standards!? Or maybe just DIFFERENT standards? Wow, you're just SO sure that YOUR standards are THE standards that ALL OTHER standards must standardize themselves to YOUR standards. Talk about being full of yourself.
I don't care that you voted against this video. That's fine; everyone has their own tastes. But your smug, superior attitude is sickening. Are we all "brainless dipshits" to you here at VS, or merely just the 25 of us who voted for this video? Have you come here to save us from ourselves; to rescue us from our own substandard tastes? How kind of you to condescend to even talk to us philistines!
Show us the way, Standards Messiah!


In this particular case, HIGHER. This has nothing to do with how I perceive myself so you'll have to find something else to be offended by. I simply expect more from music than a beat and 5-6 sentences repeated over and over.

This song is about drinking and being drunk. The music is mediocre at best. No depth, emotion, talent or creativity whatsoever. Many people are happy with a beat and some words they can sing along with, whether they mean anything or not; the popularity of this song proves that. I expect more.

If you fall into that category, that's fine. The "brainless dipshits" comment was referring to all the people proclaiming this "such a great song!" back in the day. It's not. It's cookie-cutter pop drivel that they play over and over on the radio stations you hear in the office.

Didn't even get through reading the article when writing the last comment - this tidbit from Wiki is so punk I love it: "General Motors paid Chumbawamba $100,000 to use the song "Pass It Along" for a Pontiac Vibe television advertisement in 2002. Chumbawamba gave the money to the anti-corporate activist groups Indymedia and CorpWatch[2]."

Upvote for anarchistic 25-year-old band, ironically defined by one hit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chumbawamba



This song was so popular, it becoming unpopular with the hipsters. Find the comic "Zits" which, sadly, I can recall to this day - the teenager throws his copy of the band's album out the window when he finds out his mom likes the song.

I think that's the crux of xxx's first comment - no kiss and make up, no reason to get heated over a drinking song.

>> ^kronosposeidon:
^What a sad life you must have.


What can I say? I like to have a connection to the music I listen to. Just because I have higher standards doesn't make my life sad.

>> ^rottenseed:
ahhhh...and what's a quality vid without the disapproval of one of our hardest critics

Pray tell, who would that be?