Coming up next week…. the selfie of them peeling.
It’s time to drop Thor’s hammer a day early on another shitty song that I’m about sick and tired of hearing. This is The Nest’s Top 30 Iconic Songs I Can’t Stand countdown, and we’re all the way up to number six! DJ Scratchy’s going totally alternative 80’s today with a song that wasn’t a hit the first time around, and for the good of all of us, should have stayed that way. Fucking college music…
#6. “Blister in the Sun” – Violent Femmes
While big name artists like Madonna, Duran Duran and Boy George were glamming up the 80’s and ruling the radio and MTV dials… there was a resistance movement bubbling underneath the entire time that was only accessible via your local niche record store or that really weird radio station on the AM dial that plays everything. One of the bands that was a part of the pre-90’s anti-pop culture was a Milwaukee based trio by the name of the Violent Femmes. They’re really only known for one song these days, and it’s one of their absolute worst.
Well, of course it is. I don’t play the very best on Wednesdays…
Even if you’re saying to yourself that this title and band doesn’t sound familiar, you’ve probably still heard that opening acoustic guitar riff and drum crack before. It is probably the most annoying line of music in the entire history of rock and roll…
Despite being a way, way underground track from 1983…. “Blister” trickled up to the top of the heap during the 90’s by being featured in the movie Grosse Pointe Blank… making this the second song just in the Top 10 that probably wouldn’t be in this countdown if it weren’t for a shitty John Cusack movie! It’s not only become a bonafide variety radio hit of the 21st century, but it’s seeped even deeper into current pop culture by way of those fucking opening notes! I’ve heard it played way too many times at the local ballpark in a lame attempt to fire up the crowd, and the Wiki article on the song backs that up by mentioning that this is a favorite of stadium organists everywhere…
This is a moment where it’s very appropriate for fans to litter the field with stray objects.
Add It Up, Gone Daddy Gone, and even Kiss Off are much better examples of the Femmes’ alt-80’s sound. Go listen to them instead, and try to avoid this piece of shit song if you can…
It beats staining the sheets…
Come back next Wednesday as we venture into the Top 5! And don’t forget to bring the earplugs…
Evil Squirrel's Nest 
I don’t like it… there should be a fine for playing bad muzak in da radio…. I hope this thing is forgotten soon…
Most radio stations would be fined into bankruptcy… especially all of the I Heart Radio stations.
Eh….. I don’t have a strong enough feeling either way on this one. It’s like the opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference. But I would never in a 6804089033 years call this iconic, niche at best.
This song’s high inclusion on this countdown is one of the reasons I specified that iconic in terms of this countdown didn’t just mean a song’s standing with people overall, but also songs that are among the most popular of their niche… and this one rules its niche. It’s one of the few non-hit songs of the 80’s that has become mainstream…
Maybe that’s where the disconnect comes in, I wouldn’t consider this near mainstream. I think I might have heard the beginning in a few adverts (I’ve never seen Grosse Pointe Blank, except for maybe little bits while changing channels), but that’s it. You must get out more than I do……ha!
I liked Grosse Pointe Blank, but I don’t remember that song. The movie was good, that song… not so much.
You must have tuned it out. And given that crappy guitar line, you have quite the power of tuning out the irritating…
Thank you. It’s a gift.
ody N biskit…honest lee…. never hurd thiz song ore bout de band…may bee we knead ta get out mor… wait……we iz knot a loud ta go out side…. 🙂 ♥♥
I think you’d be safer outside… though obviously the FSG doesn’t listen to such trash, so I think you’re OK either way.
Truly among the all time wastes of air time……they even sound like they don’t like their own song while they’re singing it (or is that really considered singing???). Yep – I guess you can tell I’m not a fan. NOT NOT NOT.
Pam
That’s actually kind of the style of their lead singer, and there’s few singers who can make deadpan vocals work (The lead singer of Cake is the only other one I can think of). Unfortunately, for my part, the music in this one is what really kills it for me… I can hardly hear the singer at all from the blood in my ears after that opening.
It is truly mind-bendingly painful.
I finally agree with you! Yay!! The song is like the 60’s on Acid!
It’s like something on acid…. maybe that’s why I don’t like it very much. Maybe it’s too psychedelic, and that kind of music just sounds bad regardless of what decade it’s from…
Never heard it, never heard the intro. I have led a very sheltered life.
I would not be surprised if this song is more of an American phenomenon. It definitely sounds nothing at all like European 80’s music…
You were right, the name of the band and song didn’t ring any bells but once I hit play it was all too familiar. It’s an annoying song. But, truth be told, I find about 95% of music annoying so I’m not the best judge!
It would be interesting to see your Top 500 countdown of Most Annoying songs! I know you could do it…. maybe that will be my next CoW challenge! Just kidding…
BTW, has the mug arrived yet?
Not yet. Packages often take strange routes to get to the west coast and usually take a few extra days. I’ve had packages from Germany and Japan get here faster than ones from US states east of the Mississippi!
Wow! I just looked at the shipping report, and it has taken a long and winding journey to the west coast! But it’s at your USPS now and is scheduled to be delivered today!
It arrived and Buster is so cute! Thank you so much – I love it!
Oh, yeah…I remember this one. Kinda weird sounding, and funny, but not that bad. Even though, I wouldn’t seek it out to hear again. 🙂
Very weird sounding and not in a good way. I wish the entire song was at the volume of the whispering part…
Good choice. I fucking hate that song.
Yes! And I don’t even think that’s a strong enough sentiment for this garbage….
Don’t know this song but really don’t like it. Feels really like something cobbled together by beginners.
It was a then-unknown band recording an album at a small record studio, so I imagine the production standards left a bit to be desired. And nobody was there to tell them not to include this garbage on the album…
Ba, it sucks!!
It’s crap! I will have to enjoy these agreements before I offend you with my Top 3…
Oh shit…
Horrible! I don’t remember that one but the opening is familiar. What’s with that awful whispered part? And, “Big hands. I know you’re the one”??!! Eek!!
I have no idea what’s going on with this song, or what the creepy lines are about. Nor, obviously, the fascination people have with this crap.
Wow, that singer is a real genius. There are only a very few people in the world who can sing in every key AT THE SAME TIME.
And for the record (if you’ll pardon the pun), I didn’t like it. I didn’t even finish listening to it as my ears had started bleeding. So this is a week that goes down in history – I enjoyed Monday’s song and didn’t enjoy this one. The world’s gone mad!
Argh….!!!!!!! I completely despise that song. It makes my head practically explode. To the ash heap with this one!