Janet D. Stemwedel (whose nom de blog is Dr. Free-Ride) is an associate professor of philosophy at San Jose State University. Before becoming a philosopher, she earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. Email her at dr.freeride@gmail.com.
PhysioProf tagged me using his Feministe guest blogger bully-pulpit. The idea is to identify the five most embarrassing tracks on your iPod. (Since I use the iTunes library on my iBook more than my iPod, that's what I used.)
This was harder than it might have been. It turns out, when it comes to my musical tastes, I have very little shame.
Sure, there's plenty of music in my collection that isn't in my computer (CDs and LPs), so I suppose there may be some real stinkers hiding on my shelves. But one of the most listened to albums on my computer is William Shatner's Has Been.
My music-related shame is on the nanoscale.
That said, here are the five songs in my iTunes library that elicit something approximating embarrassment:
1. Kim Wilde, "Kids In America" It seemed like a better song in 8th grade. Sadly, it hasn't held up well.
2. Tommy Tutone, "867-5309/Jenny" Pretty much just as good as it seemed in 7th grade. I don't know if the fact that I still like it means I've held up well, though.
3. Styx, "Mr. Roboto" I have this because it was the bonus track on the otherwise excellent As Seen On TV - Songs From Commercials. Unfortunately, I cannot help but sing along.
4. ABBA, "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" Cheesy even for an ABBA song.
5. Spice Girls, "Wannabe" Redeemed only by the fact that Bobby Hill sang it in an episode of King of the Hill. I loves me some Bobby Hill.
You're tagged if you want to be.
Comments
Are you nuts? That is one of the best tunes ever!
And at the beginning of the video, how she's all pensive and shit?: Classic cinematography!
Posted by: PhysioProf | July 25, 2008 6:53 AM
1. Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 24, K491
2. Dvorak's String Quartet No. 12, The American, Op. 96
3. Mendelssohn's String Quartet Op. 44, No. 1
4. Schubert's Octet D 803, Op. 166
5. Faure's Requiem Op. 48
Posted by: S. Rivlin | July 25, 2008 10:49 AM
1.Alicia Keys, No One (because she's really singing to me)
2.Glory of Love, Peter Cetera (because I'm not really a hopeless romantic stuck in the 80s)
3.Collin Raye, Love Remains (because all country music really should be banned)
4.Nat King Cole, Chestnuts Roasting on an open Fire (is it really Christmas without it?)
5.They'll know we are Christians, Carolyn Arends (ducks and runs)
Posted by: Tony Jeremiah | July 25, 2008 12:24 PM
No iPod (or iPhone or iAnything) here but snooping around the computer the only thing I see is the Smithsonian collection of 70 or 80 North American frog and toad calls, so in no particular order I'll say:
Mating call of the Pickerel Frog with territoriality call of the Green Frog in the background
The grunt-like sound produced by the Pig Frog
Warning croak accompanied by "warning vibration" of the Southern Toad
Winter mating chorus of the Patzcuaro Frog
"Rain Song" of the Squirrel Treefrog
Posted by: Uncle Fishy | July 25, 2008 12:25 PM
As with Fishy, I have no I-thingy, but going through my albums, I would guess that the most cringeworthy one I own is Neil Diamond's Jonathan Livingston Seagull in, oh, so many ways.
Posted by: freelunch | July 25, 2008 6:42 PM