Music fans often assume their favorite artists love performing their biggest hits. However, the reality can be quite different. Many famous musicians have complicated relationships with their most popular songs. Some even openly dislike or refuse to play the very tracks that made them household names. This blog explores 13 well-known musicians who, for various reasons, aren’t fans of their biggest hits.
Radiohead – Creep
Radiohead’s breakthrough hit Creep made them famous worldwide. However, the band quickly grew tired of the song. They felt it didn’t represent their evolving sound. For years, Radiohead refused to play Creep at concerts. Lead singer Thom Yorke even called fans who requested it “anally retarded.” The band has since made peace with the track but rarely performs it live.
Oasis – Wonderwall
Wonderwall is one of the most popular rock songs ever. Yet, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher dislikes it. He thinks the lyrics are nonsense and hates how overplayed it became. Gallagher has said he’s sick of hearing Wonderwall at parties and weddings. Despite this, he still performs it because he knows fans love it.
Beastie Boys – (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)
The Beastie Boys wrote (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!) as a joke. They were making fun of dumb party anthems. But many people didn’t get the satire. The song became a huge hit and made the band famous. The Beastie Boys grew to hate how it shaped people’s view of them. They stopped playing it live and tried to distance themselves from its frat-boy image.
Lorde – Royals
Lorde was just 16 when she wrote Royals. The song made her an international star. But as she grew older, Lorde started to dislike it. She felt the lyrics were “corny” and didn’t match her current views. Lorde has said listening to Royals is like hearing a stranger. She still performs it but has mixed feelings about its popularity.
Lady Gaga – Telephone
Lady Gaga’s duet with Beyoncé, Telephone, was a massive hit. But Gaga isn’t a fan of the song or its music video. She thinks the track is overproduced and the video is too busy. Gaga has said she can’t even watch the video without feeling upset. Despite this, she still performs Telephone Live because her fans enjoy it.
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
Smells Like Teen Spirit made Nirvana world-famous. But lead singer Kurt Cobain grew to dislike the song. He thought it was too simple and hated how popular it became. Cobain often refused to play it at concerts. He even told the crowd at one show, “Here’s our most famous song. I don’t like it much.” The song’s success bothered Cobain until his death.
Madonna – Like a Virgin
Like a Virgin was Madonna’s first number-one hit. It made her a superstar. But Madonna has said she’s sick of performing it. She thinks the song is silly and doesn’t fit her current image. Madonna has tried to update Like a Virgin with new arrangements. Still, she often seems bored when singing it at concerts.
Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven
Stairway to Heaven is one of the most famous rock songs ever. But Led Zeppelin’s lead singer, Robert Plant, dislikes it. He thinks the lyrics are too flowery and hard to relate to. Plant has refused to perform Stairway to Heaven at reunion shows. He once even donated money to a radio station that promised never to play it again.
Warrant – Cherry Pie
Cherry Pie was Warrant’s biggest hit. But lead singer Jani Lane hated it. He wrote the song quickly because the record label wanted a catchy single. Lane felt it didn’t represent the band’s real sound. He once said, “I could shoot myself in the head for writing that song.” Lane regretted how Cherry Pie defined Warrant’s image until his death.
Mandy Moore – Candy
Mandy Moore was a teen pop star when she released Candy. The song was a hit, but Moore soon outgrew its bubblegum sound. She has called Candy “abysmal” and apologized for subjecting people to it. Moore is embarrassed by the song’s lyrics and video. She refuses to perform it now that she’s known more as an actor and mature songwriter.
Céline Dion – My Heart Will Go On
My Heart Will Go On was a massive hit thanks to the movie Titanic. But Céline Dion didn’t want to record it at first. She thought it was too cheesy. Dion has said she’s tired of performing the song. She feels trapped by its popularity. Despite this, she knows fans expect to hear it and still includes it in her shows.
R.E.M. – Shiny Happy People
R.E.M.’s Shiny Happy People was a big hit, but the band hated it. Lead singer Michael Stipe has called it “a fruity pop song” that doesn’t fit their style. The band thinks the lyrics are too silly and upbeat. R.E.M. rarely played Shiny Happy People live. They even left it off their greatest hits album.
Miley Cyrus – Party in the U.S.A.
Party in the U.S.A. launched Miley Cyrus’s adult pop career. But she soon wanted to move away from its clean-cut image. Cyrus has said the song doesn’t represent who she is now. She thinks the lyrics are cheesy and fake. While Cyrus still performs Party in the U.S.A. sometimes, she often changes the words or style to make it edgier.
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