Nine overplayed hit songs you probably don’t want to hear again

How many times have you heard Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” Nirvana’s “Smell’s Like Teen Spirit,” or Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody?” Probably a few hundred times, and if you (still) love them, you probably will not mind hearing them again.

Yet, surely, there are hit songs out there good or not-so-good, that you feel are used and abused, and when they get played again, your teeth cringe and you have to switch to something else.

There could be a million reasons for that and is certainly a matter of personal taste, but squeezing another few cents from another play just has to stop at some point, and any of these nine should definitely be on that “please, don’t play it again” list.

Nine overplayed hit songs that still aren't worth listening to

The Moody Blues - “Nights In White Satin” (1967)

This one could fall into that category Prince coined so nicely as ‘ a sign of the times.’ Mushy, too much mellotron (The Moody Blues loved that instrument), and at its prime played by radio stations incessantly. Hotel terraces all over the Mediterranean used and abused this one as the so-called ‘ladies' choice’ dance. Should rest firmly in the archives.

The Eagles - “Hotel California” (1977)

The Eagles going fancy and using a reggae rhythm for a backdrop. Maybe nice at the time, but probably only Big Lebowski taxi driver would like to hear this one again, as it was played so much that it could deserve the title of top ‘teeth grinder’ these days.

Paul McCartney - “Mull of Kintyre” (1977)

Every legendary artist is allowed to write a dud or two (remember Dylan’s “Sarah?” and so does Paul McCartney. Sure, the good sentiment is there, and McCartney threw in some good elements here, but come Christmas time, this one gets slotted in and simply jars.

Pink Floyd - “Another Brick In The Wall” (1979)

Why a song becomes a hit is still not a completely resolved mystery, and Pink Floyd certainly had their share of deserved hits. Well, maybe not this one that became so popular with high school kids at the end of the school year and with football/soccer crowds. Well, at some point you are not in the crowd and the match is over and you have to go home.

Vangelis - “Chariots of Fire” (1981)

This was cheesy and melodramatic even the first time around but ended up in so many ads and commercials that you wanted to get those synth lines out of your head as soon as they kick in. Lined Vangelis’ pockets for sure though.

Jefferson Starship - “We Built This City” (1985)

From a band that flew much better when it was just an airplane, a song that became all the rage when MTV was in full swing, even though neither the song nor the video were anything special. And it just kept on playing, without a (good) rhyme or reason.

Bon Jovi - “Livin’ on a prayer” (1986)

One of those that were just fine the first few times around, and also one of those that brought around the term "rock anthem." Yet, even an anthem, rock or otherwise, gets overplayed, and oh my, did this one get that treatment!

Guns ’n’ Roses - "Sweet Child of Mine" (1988)

This one came about close to the Bon Jovi one, bears quite similar characteristics, and got absolutely the same treatment. Quite a few listeners might not have a problem with that, but at some point, enough plays are enough plays.

Billy Ray Cyrus - "Achy Breaky Heart" (1992)

This one falls into the category of irritating even the first time around. Yet there were enough listeners around at the time who loved that squeaking vocal refrain. These days, Billy is mostly remembered as Miley’s father, and possibly for this one, if anybody wants to remember him for it.

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