Songs I Like By Artists I DON'T

I Totally Hate You Except for That One Song

This is a playlist I have wanted to make for ages. But I did not, for one big reason: I knew if I did, that Spotify would start suggesting and even playing songs from these artists that I actively dislike. Spotify’s most glaring flaw is the lack of a dislike or thumbs down button for songs. There’s almost nothing you can do to convince them you don’t like a song—even constantly skipping it won’t work—if their algorithm decides that you like it. YouTube Music, however does have such a thing, and I realized this earlier today out of the blue, as I was once again lamenting that I couldn’t make this particular playlist without completely screwing up my Spotify. It even gives me the chance to thumb up or down songs that it suggests whether it actually plays them or not. Well, I guess YouTube Music wins this round! But they only win this one, because unlike Spotify, Substack will not embed YouTube Music playlists directly into the blog. So I’ll give you a big button you can click or tap to take you to the playlist, and I’ll type out the list with my commentary so you can see what’s on it even if you don’t want to listen. So yeah, this is probably the only playlist I’ll ever share here from YouTube Music instead of Spotify.

Ok so the criteria for this list: It consists of songs I actually really do like, but the artist is someone I absolutely cannot stand otherwise. By that I mean I actively dislike them, they’re not just someone I am like meh, whatever about. Like, if any of their other songs come on the radio, I’m changing the channel without hesitation.

A lot of these are pop songs. Pop is not my favorite by any means, I prefer almost all categories of rock. But I can find something I like in practically any genre. Many of the artists, I probably hate them because of a different song of theirs that either lowered my IQ merely by playing in my presence, or was just generally awful. I’m not a fan of mindless drivel, loud for the sake of being loud, or low vibe subject matter like drunken party girl anthems. Some of them I just think are hugely overrated, straight up terrible singers and musicians, and/or just not talented enough to deserve fame.

Now for the playlist link!

And here are the songs!

I Love Me, by Demi Lovato: I dislike her because she is overrated and not that talented. Way too screamy. Like seriously, I have a much better voice than she does. I feel like if she hadn’t been a Disney Channel star first, she never could have landed a singing career. This song, though? Oh man, can I relate, and I think most people can. Learning to love yourself when most of the world bombards you with reasons you shouldn’t, well that’s no easy task. Oh, why do I compare myself to everyone?
And I always got my finger on the self-destruct
I wonder when I love me is enough (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
I wonder when I love me is enough (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Why am I always looking for a ride or die?
'Cause mine's the only heart I'm gonna have for life
After all the times I went and fucked it up (All the times I went and fucked it up) I wonder when I love me is enough, mmm (Yeah, yeah, yeah)

Wrecking Ball, by Miley Cyrus: Ugh I can’t freaking stand her. Hannah Montana was the most annoying thing ever, and then when she graduated from the Disney Channel (yup, another one), she had to go full-on shock value to prove she wasn’t a goody-goody. I also find her voice whiny and annoying. But Wrecking Ball? This is a fabulous song. This is what her voice is made for, and it’s perfect. Also one of my favorite karaoke jams. The video was gross, though.

Dream On, by Aerosmith: I might get hate for this one. I used to really like Aerosmith, up through even my teenage years. I think I was probably in college when I was just like, ew no. I guess cos so many of their songs are like hormonal teen boy levels of dirty, which would already be gross (but at least understandable) if they actually were hormonal teen boys. But alas, they are older than my parents. All kinds of EW. But Dream On is wonderful. Probably the absolute best use of Steven Tyler’s voice to date, and it’s one of their earliest songs. Those high note screams at the end are iconic, and I’m always impressed anytime I hear someone who is able to hit those. Not to mention the lyrics are positive and encouraging, so bonus points there.

Good Time, by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen: The dislike here is not for Owl City. I absolutely adore Adam Young, he is amazing. Carly Rae, however, is most known for her asinine hit Call Me Maybe. That song makes me want to punch kittens, and I love kittens. But she teamed up here with Owl City for the almost too happy Good Time, which is difficult not to dance along to even on a tough day. My daughter Miranda and I like to do this one at karaoke, and it’s always a good time (see what I did there?) And for real, what IS up with this Prince song inside my head?

Kings & Queens, by Ava Max: Another artist with an annoyingly catchy song I can’t stand, she got famous with the ridiculous Sweet But Psycho, and when that song comes on the radio, I can’t change the station fast enough. Kings & Queens surprised me, though. I love songs that empower women (and it is definitely possible to do so without tearing down men), and this one is a great example. “No damsel in distress, don't need to save me
Once I start breathing fire, you can't tame me
And you might think I'm weak without a sword
But if I had one, it'd be bigger than yours”

Kiss Me More, by Doja Cat (feat. SZA): Doja Cat, I just don’t understand how she’s famous. She sounds like an eight-year-old. But I always liked Kiss Me More cos it’s just so fun, and who doesn’t love making out?

Toxic, by Britney Spears: I’ve always found Britney to be ridiculous, cheesy, and disgusting. But Toxic is almost impossible to dislike. I’ve tried.

Every Other Time, by LFO: LFO stands for Lyte Funkie Ones (why the hell would anyone call themselves that?), and their breakout hit was that stupid-ass Summer Girls. “I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch,” I mean, really? That’s one of the dumbest song lyrics I’ve ever heard. Totally killed any chance of me ever being a fan. Every Other Time is a bop, though. It’s sweet, fun, and catchy.

Thunderstruck, by AC/DC: I know, I know, rock fans are supposed to like AC/DC, but I can’t stand them. His voice is like nails on a chalkboard and I just don’t think their songs are that great. Iconic maybe, but not necessarily great. Thunderstruck, however, has one of the best guitar riffs of all time. It’s so freaking good.

I Want it That Way, by Backstreet Boys: Yeah, I do love boy bands, but not Backstreet. I always loved ‘NSync. While it is possible to like both, I don’t, and the rivialry between fans is no joke. (Remember when that one BSB fan threatened to kill Carson Daly on TRL when she got a trivia question wrong? That was crazy.) Anyway, I Want it That Way is without a doubt their best song. You can’t not like it.

Go Your Own Way, by Fleetwood Mac: One of my previous posts, Musical Confessions, talked about this. I’ve always considered Fleetwood to be overrated and boring. Definitely an unpopular opinion, but I stand by it. However, I’ve always liked Go Your Own Way, and it was years before I even realized who sang it. It’s just a good song, and finding out it’s by an artist I don’t like doesn’t change that. A good song is a good song.

Fighter, by Christina Aguilera: I pretty much dislike her for the same reasons I don’t like Britney, although Christina is considerably more talented and way less ridiculous. (Come to think of it, she and Britney were on the Mickey Mouse Club together, weren’t they? Along with Timberlake and Ryan Gosling. Wow.) Fighter is such an empowering song, it just about makes you want to cheer. Having the strength to turn your pain into power and personal growth is definitely something to be proud of.

Back to You, by Selena Gomez: Another Disney channel alum with something to prove. I just don’t think she’s that great, and her music isn’t my style at all, anyway. I like this song cos it resonated with me at the time, I mean haven’t we all had that one person we have a hard time getting over (but then we eventually do)? I also super duper love the cover done by Our Last Night and some of their friends (I think they held a contest and picked other artists to join them). Come to think of it, it’s such a good cover that it made me like the original more than I already did. Here’s the video:

Paint It, Black, by The Rolling Stones: Never been a Stones fan. I don’t like Mick Jagger’s voice, and most of their songs I flat out don’t like, or they just don’t do anything for me, they’re like meh, at best. But Paint it, Black just rules. No explanation needed.

This is How We Roll, by Florida Georgia Line (feat. Luke Bryan): I’m completely fine with Florida Georgia Line, no problem with them. (Although I’m not really into country music at all, and this can hardly even be considered that, as it’s so pop-ified.) It is Luke Bryan that drives me nuts. I worked at a restaurant once where a few co-workers really liked him and would play several of his songs on the juke box every single day. And I can’t really ignore music when I hear it, and if I learn it, I know it forever and I especially can’t ignore music that I know the words to. Sadly I know most of the words to Strip it Down, and it’s hard not to hate myself for that. But—This is How We Roll is just a super fun song. I had a different job where this song got played regularly, and at first I hated that I liked it. But I got over it, because this song just makes you feel good.

For the record, I don’t actually enjoy seeing people get hurt, even if I don’t like them. This is just a funny meme. Can’t believe I’m even having to make that disclaimer.

You Make My Dreams (Come True), by Daryl Hall and John Oates: My parents made me listen to them as a kid and I never liked them. I talked about this in my Musical Confessions piece, as well. They always sounded like uncool guys trying too hard to sound cool. But this song I will forever associate with the Adam Sandler movie The Wedding Singer, which I obsessively loved as a teenager. This song is playing over a montage of Robbie and Julia planning her wedding together, and it suits the scene perfectly.

good 4 u, by Olivia Rodrigo: Did you ever write an entire album of pathetic songs whining about how your ex cheated on you and broke your heart and then didn’t even miss you, and then you released it for the whole free word to hear? Then you might be Olivia Rodrigo. In fact, she’s already released her second album and she’s still going on about this guy. (Don’t get me wrong, such feelings are valid. This level, however, is excessive. And I personally would absolutely never write that many songs about someone who hurt me or even let them hear a single one of them, because I wouldn’t want them to have the satisfaction of knowing how much they broke me. Much less a whole album for the whole world to hear.) Now I kinda hate that I like good 4 u, but it freaking slaps. The lyrics are just as pathetic as the rest of her songs, “I lost my mind, I spent the night crying on the floor of my bathroom,” but this one almost has an Alanis quality to it, and you kinda want to cheer for her. You definitely want to blast it full volume in the car when it comes on. Come to think of it, I actually do like one other song of hers, called Get Him Back! and it’s about an ex (same guy? I dunno) that she’s torn between wanting to exact revenge upon him and wanting to get back together with him. It’s kinda hilarious and super fun.

Well that’s it for this playlist! I realized reading through this that several of my lists lately have been rather cynical and more about what I don’t like than what I do—I promise, as snobby as I am, there is a LOT of music and artists out there that I love! I’ve got several other playlists in mind to share with you, but I am always open to suggestions. Feel free to leave a few in the comments! What about you, any artists you can’t stand who have that one song that you do like? Let’s hear about it!

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