It’s a well-known fact that the appreciation of music is subjective: One man’s Beatles, for example, is another man’s dog playing the nose harp. Read the full post.
Aug 5
2009
02:04 PM ET
Who's the greatest guilty pleasure act of all time? We intend to find out!
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I second the nominations for Boy George and Culture Club and Ace of Base. Both artists have songs high on my iTunes most played list. “Karma Chameleon” and “Wheel of Fortune” both make me happy when I’m listening to them, but they are also songs that I would feel guilty about playing in front of others.
Bon Jovi–No matter how old I get or how crappy a mood I’m in, “Living on a Prayer” always brings a smile to my face.
Ace of Base. I lurve this Swedish pop outfit. Ulf and the Berggren sibs (Joker and Jenny)churned out some great ESL crossover synth-pop perfection!
Backstreet Boys. Definitely.
I second Backstreet Boys … they’re easy to dismiss, but I’d argue “I Want It That Way” is a mini pop song masterpiece.
Millenium is for sure in my Top 5 CD’s of all time! But am I willing to openly admit that? Mmmmm not so much.
REM. Mostly horrible. Some gems. Always embarrassing to admit having liked.
“REM. Mostly horrible.” Really?? I think they were one of the best American bands of the 80′s and early 90′s. Even though their output since then has been uneven, I wouldn’t consider them a ‘guilty’ pleasure.
Agreed. REM is one of the all-time greatest bands ever. How could anyone consider them a guilty pleasure?
I agree as well.
Spice Girls. Celine Dion.
I would definitely endorse the ABBA comments, but I would also add Hanson to the list. I spent an entire summer encouraging everyone I came into contact with to embrace the pop trio as a guilty pleasure-and when you get old and start losing your hair, can you tell me who will still care? At the end of the day, they can blast in the headphones- not over the loudspeaker.
Poison- Hands Down. They are the poster boys of the Glam Rock era. Cheesy songs with catchy beats plus one of the best Power Ballads of the 80s! Nothing But a Good Time!
I love the Carpenters and some may say they’re a guilty pleasure, but I think they can be defended on their merits. My true guilty please is Air Supply…not that I listen to them deliberately, but I always sing along when I hear them.
Garth Brooks…totally my generation and yes, he’s corny as hell, but whenever I hear him, I feel 16 again. (I even have a box set…scary, I know)
I don’t see how you can say Garth is a GUILTY pleasure? The man has sold over 100 million albums. Nobody’s trying to hide their love of him! When he comes out of retirement to do a couple of shows he immediantly sells them out. I’m personally not ashamed to admit that I love him. Now Ace of Base, that’s a guilty pleasure.
*NSYNC. Okay, they might have corny dance numbers and repeative chorus but the harmonies and fun fluffy dance song were and are more than I can say no to. Song: Digital Get Down (a far dirtier song than I should have been singing at such a young age).
I am completely unashamed to tell people of my love I still have to this day for *NSync! I actually stood next to Lance Bass today in the Coffee Bean and it took all my willpower NOT to tell him how awesome they were! I know, so sad!!
RIHANNA RIHANNA RIHANNA
Dave Mathews Band. I never considered them a guilty pleasure until the past couple of years, when suddenly everyone seemed to be bashing them. Then I was too embarrassed to admit my love for them. I love “Two Step,” which also emodies all their hippiness that they’re lambasted for.
I can’t really explain why I keep paying 99 cents for songs from Pitbull’s oeuvre, but I do. And then I’m overcome with the urge to flagellate myself in the corner (while listening to “Ay Chico” of course).
John Denver has to pretty high… dare I say “Rocky Mountain High” on the list.