So many thoughts and anecdotes came to mind related to today's post on theFiver, that instead of writing a blog-post-length comment, I figured I'd just write a blog post!
Therefore, you'll need to do some background reading:
http://thefiver.net/2009/11/03/top-5-artists-everyone-likes-but-me/
Now that you've taken that in, here are my comments:
1.) As to Billy Joel, I can't say I'm a fan, but I do enjoy some of his older songs from the 80s that I used to hear growing up. The video for "Pressure" used to scare the living crap out of me; it may have even given me nightmares.
I can no longer listen to "We Didn't Start the Fire," not only because it is fundamentally infuriating ("We didn't start the fire. It's somebody else's fault. We bear no responsibility for what has happened here."), but because my junior year English class in high school was forced to dissect the lyrics to the song and each report on the section we were assigned. I believe I drew the "Begin, Reagan, Palestine, Terror on the airline/Ayatollah's in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan" bit. *shudder* I can't believe I remember that. The horror.
I have never liked "River of Dreams" either. The whiteness of this song reminds me of Dr. A's clapping of the rhythm to "The Storm is Passing Over" during a UMass Chorale concert. He claimed it was a "deep rhythm." No, I'm sorry, Dr. A, that was what you call a WHITE rhythm. (I have this captured on CD. Classic.)
Some of Billy Joel's hits have provided fodder for comedy. "Big Shot" was, of course, one of the Drunken Asses' Greatest Hits on SNL. I also particularly enjoy Dave Barry's take on "She's Always a Woman" from his Book of Bad Songs, in which he likens it to a really long Geritol commercial ("Ooooo, she takes care of herself...").
2.) John does make a valid point about Sting. During "Roxanne," Sting kind of sounds like something painful and inappropriate is being done to him. I've always wondered exactly how many times he repeats "sending out an SOS" during the course of "Message in a Bottle." Dude, you'll never be rescued if you don't shut up and send it already...
Basically, I just find it difficult to look at or listen to Sting, because we now all know far, far too much about his personal life.
3.) I'm definitely with John on the Steely Dan. My mom always had a violent hatred for the band, and instilled my own lifelong dislike. Every time one of their songs came on the radio, she would shout, "I hate Steely Dan!!" and lunge for the controls as if shot through by a jolt of electricity. I seem to have the same propensity for changing the channel immediately upon hearing those irritatingly mellow tones...
4.) I will admit, I find "25 Or 6 To 4" somewhat catchy. However, as Chicago progressed into the 80s, they apparently forgot how to drain the sap out. Then Peter Cetera saw fit to spread the sap further through solo efforts and by performing several duets.
5.) I also have to admit a certain soft spot for a couple of Journey tunes. "Don't Stop Believing" always makes me chuckle due to an interview a few years back on Hockey Night in Canada with Vinny LeCavalier and Marty St. Louis in which Marty referred to it as "their song." Vinny seemed somewhat unnerved by that phrasing. And come on, the video for "Separate Ways" is so terrifically bad... how can you not be entertained?
Thus (finally) endeth my thoughts on this topic. Thanks to John for giving me some great blog material! Anyone else out there have an artist whose popularity you just don't understand?
