30 Songs Artists Regret Recording

30 Songs Artists Regret Recording

When an artist records a song, it’s natural for the artist to fall in love with it and cherish it, right? Perhaps not quite. Several artists throughout the generations have expressed disappointment or dissatisfaction with at least one of their hits. No matter the genre or the age of the song, chances are that everyone’s favorite artist dislikes at least one song.

Songs can be disliked by their artists for a variety of reasons, including insensitive lyrics, mistakes, how rushed the song was, or simply that it’s overplayed. These 30 artists have had illustrious careers with numerous hit singles, but these are the ones they have grown to despise over the years.

 

Do What U Want by Lady Gaga ft. R. Kelly

Lady Gaga released a collaboration with R. Kelly on her album Artpop in 2013, which she later regretted. With 156,000 digital downloads in the first week, the hit song became Gaga’s 14th top ten single on the Hot Digital Songs chart. This song was a huge success all over the world, but it was also a major regret for Gaga. Lady Gaga issued an apology on Twitter in early January 2019 for the collaboration.

R. Kelly faced numerous sexual assault allegations from dozens of women. In her statement, Gaga stated that she would never work with him again, and that their song “Do What U Want” would be removed from all streaming services.

Come and Get It by Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez is a huge star now, but “Come and Get It” was the song that catapulted her to chart super-stardom. It was her first major hit, but it no longer represents her tastes. Gomez has been quoted as calling the song a “Rihanna reject.” Isn’t there a little tea spill in that comment?

While Selena Gomez is grateful for the song’s success, she admits that it wasn’t her best work. She went on to say that she was still figuring out who she wanted to sound like. That’s not surprising given Lady Gaga’s journey from “Poker Face” to “Million Reasons.”

Party in the U.S.A by Miley Cyrus

This 2009 hit “Party in the U.S.A.” is one of Cyrus’s most well-known early songs. When Cyrus was looking for a song to help promote her Hannah Montana clothing line, the song fell into her lap. She, on the other hand, isn’t a huge fan of this massive hit.

A straight-faced Miley can be seen saying, “I hate it, but for some reason, the people love it,” in an Instagram video of her husband, Liam Hemsworth, singing the song. Cyrus revealed in an interview with MileyWorld, “Honestly, I picked that song because I needed something to go with my clothing line.”

I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry

Okay, so Katy Perry doesn’t despise her 2008 smash, but she does regret a few lines. This song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven weeks in a row and sold over 4.7 million digital copies on its own. Katy Perry, on the other hand, stated in a 2018 interview with Glamour that she wishes she could change some of the lyrics and rework the song.

She explained in the same Glamour interview, “Lyrically, it contains a couple of stereotypes. Your mind changes and grows so much in ten years. What is true for you can change.”

 

Sometimes by Britney Spears

Britney Spears was the Pop princess in the 1990s, and she ruled the charts for a time. She didn’t seem to enjoy her songs as much as we did. Britney’s public persona may have been all smiles, but she allegedly couldn’t stand her 1999 hit “Sometimes.”

Backstage during a tour in the 2000s, a hot mic picked up Spears’ voice saying, “I never liked that song anyway,” in reference to “Sometimes.” However, that didn’t stop her from giving the people what they wanted. At the very least, she’s a trooper!

Let it Be by The Beatles

This may come as a surprise to Beatles fans, but John Lennon was not a fan of this 1968 hit song. “Let it Be” debuted at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time of its release. This was also the band’s final single before Paul McCartney announced his departure.
Paul McCartney wrote and sang the song “Let it Be,” which John Lennon despised. Indeed, in an interview with David Sheff in 1980, Lennon stated, “It has nothing to do with The Beatles” and “I don’t know what [Paul] is thinking when he’Let It Be,’ he writes.” According to John Lennon in a 1969 interview with Village Voice journalist Howard Smith, working on this song and its album was “hell” for The Beatles.

Beauty and a Beat by Justin Bieber ft. Nicki Minaj

You’ve probably heard of Justin Bieber, whether you like him or not. Bieber is currently one of the most successful pop music artists in the world, and he has legions of adoring fans. Even Justin Bieber isn’t a fan of all of his own songs.

Back in 2016, Bieber admitted that he didn’t like his 2012 hit “Beauty and a Beat,” which he co-wrote with rapper Nicki Minaj. It wasn’t Minaj’s fault that Bieber disliked the song; he simply didn’t like it. In an interview with The Bert Show, Bieber stated, “It was popular music at the time, but I was never a huge fan of that song.”

 

Picture to Burn by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift has had enormous success since her debut in 2004, and dozens of her songs have become international sensations. However, some of her early works (such as those on her self-titled debut album) have received criticism over the years. A section of her song “Picture to Burn,” in particular, has been labeled homophobic.

“So tell all your friends I’m obsessive and crazy /That’s fine, I’ll tell mine you’re gay, by the way,” the lyrics continued. Swift stated in a 2011 MTV interview, “Now, the way I would say that and the way I would feel that kind of pain is a lot different.”

Telephone by Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce

People adore Lady Gaga, who is known for her daring and controversial style as well as her catchy and entertaining hits. Beyonce is well-liked because, well, she’s Beyonce. Put those two things together, and you’d think their 2009 collaboration “Telephone” would be a smash. Well, it was to the fans, but Gaga couldn’t take it!
Gaga revealed in a 2011 interview with Pop Justice that she despises “Telephone.” She went on to say that it was primarily due to the memories and emotions associated with the song, rather than the song itself. “Ultimately, the mix and the process of finishing the production was very stressful for me,” Gaga said in an interview with Pop Justice. “So when I say it’s my worst song, it’s not because of the song itself, but because of my emotional attachment to it.” She has also expressed her dissatisfaction with the video., claiming that she despises it more than the song.

Misery Business by Paramore

Hayley Williams, the frontwoman for Paramore, has expressed her disdain for the band’s breakout hit, “Misery Business.” The song, which first played on the radio in 2007, peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band’s highest-rated single until their 2014 hit “Ain’t It Fun,” which peaked at number 10.

The lyrics of the song read, “Once a wh***, you’re nothing more /I’m sorry, that’ll never change,” and Williams expressed regret over them. Williams stated in a 2015 post, “As a 26-year-old woman, ‘Misery Business’ is not a set of lyrics to which I can relate. I haven’t thought about it in a long time.” The song has since been removed from the band’s live performances.

 

Gold Digger by Kanye West

Kanye West is now known for many things, including his marriage to Kim Kardashian, his political outspokenness and controversy, and his many great songs over his career. His 2005 hit “Gold Digger” could be considered his signature song. Even though the song reached number one in the United States and earned him a Grammy Award, it wasn’t enough to save him.

West revealed in a 2013 BBC Radio interview that he isn’t a huge fan of the song and never really liked it in the first place. The only reason he kept it was because he was confident it would be a success.

 

Put Your Hearts Up by Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande is one of the most successful pop stars of her generation. She’s come to terms with the fact that she’s in complete control of her image and music in recent years. However, that was not the case when she first appeared on the scene.

Grande’s first single, “Put Your Hearts Up,” was released in 2011; since then, she has stated that she despises the song. Grande told Rolling Stone in 2014, “It was geared toward kids and felt so inauthentic and fake.” She, too, despised the music video, declaring in the same interview that filming it was “the worst moment of my life.”

 

Royals by Lorde

Lorde, like a few others on this list, does not necessarily despise her hit single “Royals.” Lorde’s debut single, “Royals,” debuted on the radio in 2013 and became an almost instant hit. “Royals” debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States just a few months after its release. While she doesn’t dislike the song itself, she does dislike the way it sounds.
Lorde has complained that her hit song sounds terrible and that none of the melodies are “cool or good.” She’s even gone so far as to call it “disastrous!” “That may be a harsh assessment from her, but nothing beats her remark, “It sounds like a ringtone from a Nokia from 2006!”” Whether that’s true or not, her song was successful, and she’s gone on to release several songs that she actually enjoys.

Material Girl by Madonna

What woman doesn’t adore Madonna? She is a fashion icon and the Queen of Pop, as well as one of the biggest and oldest names in music. There aren’t many people who can lay claim to Madonna’s celebrity, but she earned it through a lot of hard work. Surprisingly, Madonna has a few hits that she just can’t seem to get behind.

Surprisingly, the song she dislikes the most is one of her best: “Material Girl.” This song is well-known, and it is frequently played (especially for anything 80s or 90s themed). Madonna stated in a 2015 interview with Us Weekly that she “never, ever wants to hear it again!”

 

What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction

You’ve probably heard of One Direction, the English-Irish boy band that swept the globe a few years ago. That completely world-dominating phase began with the release of their breakthrough single “What Makes You Beautiful” in late 2011. It was an instant hit, reaching number one in several countries around the world and being certified quadruple platinum in the United States. Despite their success, one member, Liam Payne, couldn’t take it anymore.
In a 2014 interview, Payne stated that he simply does not like their breakout song. “At the time, they were great songs,” Payne said in the interview, “but I think for me, I couldn’t listen to What Makes You Beautiful.” Only a few years later, One Direction announced an indefinite hiatus in 2016, and the majority of the boys have pursued solo careers since then.

 

Wonderwall by Oasis

Fans of the band or the song may be surprised by this one. After all, many people consider “Wonderwall” to be one of the greatest songs of all time! However, the band’s lead singer, Liam Gallagher, abhors it.

“Every time I have to sing it, I want to gag,” she admitted in a 2008 MTV interview. That wasn’t the only thing he said about his mega-hit song, but it’s probably one of the mildest things we can write.

 

Despite being one of the band’s most well-known songs, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain wasn’t a big fan of “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Cobain stated in an interview with Rolling Stone, “But I can barely get through ‘Teen Spirit,’ especially on a bad night like tonight. I want to throw down my guitar and walk away. I can’t pretend to enjoy myself while playing it.”

His opinion of the song stems primarily from its overexposure, as he stated, “The reason it gets a big reaction is people have seen it on MTV a million times.”

 

Creep by Radiohead

“Creep” is Radiohead’s signature song. It’s what got them into mainstream media, where it struck a chord with ’90s teenagers. “Creep” catapulted Radiohead to near-instant fame, and it was even named to VH1’s Top 100 Songs of the ’90s list (specifically, it was #31 on the list). This song was a hit with everyone, but that was exactly the problem for frontman Thom Yorke.
The worst part about “Creep” was how their fans reacted to it. People would come to Radiohead concerts just to hear “Creep” and then leave, which irritated both him and the other band members. Not to mention, Thom Yorke revealed in a 1995 interview with Vox magazine that “I’ve received letters from Death Row, men who have killed people, in response to the lyrics on ‘Creep.’ That f****** scared the crap out of me.”

You’re Beautiful by James Blunt

Most likely, you only know the name James Blunt because of his 2005 mega-hit song “You’re Beautiful.” The sweet and sappy breakup song went double platinum, and it’s the reason Blunt is so well-known worldwide. Blunt, on the other hand, has apologized for the song.

In a 2014 interview with Hello! magazine, he stated that the song was “force-fed down people’s throats… and it became irritating.” In the same interview, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the song’s marketing, claiming that it portrayed him in an unflattering light. Overall, he just can’t get into the song anymore.

 

Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus

If you had access to a radio or television, you most likely heard Miley Cyrus’ mega-hit song “Wrecking Ball.” After the controversial music video for the song aired, it became her first number-one single and a Billboard hit. Cyrus appears to be dissatisfied with one of her biggest hits.

Cyrus revealed that she was embarrassed about the song and music video during an interview with Zach Sang on the Zach Sang Show. “That’s something I’ll never forget. I’ll always be the naked woman on the wrecking ball “Cyrus later stated in the same interview.

 

Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin

If you’re a rock fan, you’ll recognize this song right away. Fans and rock enthusiasts of all ages have adored this song, but it is not frontman Robert Plant’s favorite.

Plant stated in an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 1988 that “”I’d break out in hives if I had to sing that song at every show,” and “I wrote those lyrics and found that song to be of some importance and consequence in 1971, but 17 years later, I’m not sure.” It’s simply not for me.”

 

Creep by TLC

TLC was one of the most popular girl groups of the 1990s, and everyone adored them. The band’s 1994 hit “Creep” was arguably one of their biggest commercial successes, and many people still enjoy it today. But one TLC member couldn’t get into the song.

“Creep” was a big hit, but Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes couldn’t get into it. Left Eye was completely opposed to the song’s message, which was about a woman cheating on her significant other in retaliation for him cheating on her. In fact, Left Eye was so opposed to the idea that she threatened to cover her mouth with black tape while they were filming the music video.

30 Songs Artists Regret Recording:

 

Like a Virgin by Madonna

Many ’80s kids will be surprised to learn that the Queen of Pop despises the song that cemented her status as a pop culture icon. “Like a Virgin,” released in 1984, is easily one of Madonna’s most well-known songs, and it defined her image for her first several years in the pop world. Madonna, on the other hand, can’t take it anymore.
Madonna revealed in an interview with New York’s Z100 FM in 2008 that she’s “not sure I can sing ‘Holiday’ or ‘Like A Virgin’ ever again.” Later in the interview, she stated that she would only do it again if “someone paid me like $30 million or something.” She hasn’t completely retired the song, however, as she still performs it on her tours.

(Don’t You) Forget About Me by Simple Minds

When you hear this song, you can’t help but think of the cult classic The Breakfast Club. After all, it was The Breakfast Club that gave this song such a boost. The song was not written by Simple Minds, but they took it on after artists such as Billy Idol and The Fixx turned it down. When it was featured in the film, it quickly rose to the top of the charts in the United States.

Despite the song’s massive success, band members eventually came to dislike it. The band despised the fact that this was their only known song and eventually refused to play it at live shows.

 

Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding this song because it is known for ripping off Queen and David Bowie’s hit song “Under Pressure,” which is probably why he dislikes it. In fact, Vanilla Ice is said to despise this song so much that he went to MTV headquarters in an attempt to destroy their master copy.

It’s bizarre that Vanilla Ice despises the only song that made him famous, as well as the first rap song to reach number one on the pop singles chart. After all, since that song made him famous, all he’s really done is star in a slew of bizarre reality TV shows and make cameo appearances in movies.

 

Strangers in the Night by Frank Sinatra

No one can resist Frank Sinatra’s crooning voice and the beautifully enchanting ballads he sings, which capture listeners’ hearts. Many listeners adored Sinatra’s 1966 hit “Strangers in the Night,” which helped launch his early career. That ballad, however, failed to capture the heart of someone: Frank Sinatra himself.

Sinatra made no attempt to hide his disdain for the song, repeatedly calling it “a piece of s***” and “the worst f****** song I have ever heard.” He would grudgingly perform it at his concerts, and he was said to say “I hate that song” afterward.

 

Hello Goodbye by The Beatles

Okay, so John Lennon didn’t like many of The Beatles’ songs, but “Hello Goodbye” and “Let It Be” seemed to be two of his favorites. Paul McCartney wrote the song “Hello Goodbye,” which was released in 1967. It appears that Lennon simply did not like McCartney’s songs.

Lennon repeatedly denied any involvement and stated that the song “wasn’t a great piece.” He also mentioned McCartney’s “attempt to write a single.” To be honest, Lennon didn’t seem to have much positive to say about his bandmate’s compositions.

 

Fight for Your Right (To Party) by Beastie Boys

This Billboard hit from 1986 was intended to mock partygoers and their anthems. However, no one seemed to notice the irony as partygoers all over the world turned this song into a party anthem. This public reaction to the song turned the band against it, and they eventually came to despise it.
Mike D once stated in an interview that the partygoers they were mocking were “oblivious to the fact that it was a goof on their part.” The band even went so far as to say that the song “sucks” in their greatest hits album, entitled the Sounds of Silence. The Beastie Boys publicly condemned the song in 1987 and have refused to perform it live since.

Cherry Pie by Warrant

Let’s be honest: this is most likely the only Warrant song you’ve ever heard. While writing and producing their second album, executives told the band that there didn’t seem to be a clear hit single. So, in a frenzy, frontman Jani Lani sloppily wrote “Cherry Pie” in 15 minutes. The executives relished every minute of it.

Lani stated in an interview with MTV, “I despise that song… And my legacy is “Cherry Pie,” everything about me is “Cherry Pie,” I’m the “Cherry Pie” guy. I could f****** shoot myself in the head for writing that song.”

Heart of Gold by Neil Young

Neil Young’s 1972 release is his only number-one single in the United States, and it peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year. It even made it onto Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, ranking 297th. Regardless of how successful the song was, he wasn’t a big fan of it.
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