Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs

Oh my gosh...this book is the funniest thing I've ever read. I'm a musician, and happen to know nearly all of the songs this book talks about. Needless to say, if you don't know the songs, it isn't nearly as funny. It doesn't matter if you actually like the bad songs in the book -- you can still laugh at yourself, because Dave is right; the songs ARE stupid or cheesy or terrible. I've read the book at least 10 times and it is still funny every time I read it. Screaming with laughter, I have attempted to read this book to my family and friends -- multiple times. It's hard for them to understand it because I giggle so much, but then, they're laughing so hard they are crying. However, please DO NOT buy the audio tape version. I bought it to listen to in the car (so that I wouldn't get into an accident reading the book myself while driving) and was SO DISAPPOINTED. I don't know who they have reading the book, but he obviously is not familiar with Dave Barry or with any of the songs he is discussing. He reads as if he's never heard of the music before, mispronouncing the lyrics, speaking them in an incorrect rhythm, etc. Why couldn't Barry have read it himself? Buy the book (and make sure you've gone to the bathroom first before reading it or you'll wet your pants); trash the audiotape.

Back in 1992, Dave Barry, in one of his syndicated newspaper columns, wondered why radio doesn't play more "good songs," and mentioned some of the songs he doesn't like, saying (among other things) that he wouldn't mind if radio stopped playing ballads by Neil Diamond. This column generated a heated response, with some readers defending Neil Diamond and some agreeing with Dave. Some readers also wrote to voice their opinions on artists and songs THEY didn't like. Realizing he'd struck a nerve, Dave announced the "Bad Song Survey," asking readers to write in and tell him which songs they really, REALLY hate. The response to this survey was so overwhelming, Dave compiled the top vote-getters as the achingly-funny "Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs". I haven't laughed so hard while reading a book in a VERY long time! In most cases, the comments by Dave, and numerous survey voters, are right on target.In addition to the expected, much-maligned vote-getters like "MacArthur Park," "Muskrat Love," "Feelings" and "I Write The Songs," this book takes on a diverse group of songs which includes "American Pie," "I'm Too Sexy," "In The Year 2525," "Achy, Breaky Heart," "I've Never Been To Me," "The Candy Man," "Dreams of The Everyday Housewife" (This song was a big vote-getter in a section called "Songs Women Really Hate"), and many more.No artist is impervious to this book's sword, not even Elvis ("Do The Clam") or The Beatles (the four-hour, er, minute "na-na-na-na" section of "Hey Jude".) Since so many songs are mentioned in this book, it's almost inevitable that a song or two which you happen to like, will be included here. For example, I like America's "A Horse With No Name," but even I have to admit that the lyrics quoted by Dave are pretty lame (I'd have included "Ventura Highway" instead, since it features the TRULY lame line about "Alligator lizards in the air".) I agree with other reviewers who have said that this book is too short. Many songs that richly deserve to be included here (Cher's "Half-Breed" immediately comes to mind), are absent. Perhaps Dave could give us a sequel (or two.)

...when you read this book. I first saw this book at a cousin's house where we'd gone after a family party. I picked it up to flip through while waiting for the coffee to brew and didn't put it down until I was finished. My family thought I was strange because I sat in the corner reading this book and laughing hysterically (OK they think I'm strange anyway but you get the point). I was not a Dave Barry fan and had never read anything of his until this book but now I'm hooked. If you are a music fan you will appreciate his views on the absurdity of many lyrics. This book grew out of a column he wrote about bad songs/lyrics which generated the biggest reader response ever. From the intro (where he warns you that if you keep reading you're likely to have bad songs running around your head endlessly) he'll have you laughing out loud. You'll never listen to Neil Diamond the same way again. Interestingly enough, he had as many responses for as against Neil Diamond, both sides adamant in their views. Some of the letters he received are just as hilarious as Dave's writings. Everyone is fair game from pop, rock, 50's, even Paul Anka. Even if you're a fan of some of the artists he lampoons you'll have to laugh at his take on the lyrics. A close analogy would be that he's almost "Seinfeldesque" in his commentary, making you think about the lyrics in a way you never did.

I'd never read a single Dave Barry book or column until I picked up this small, but ultimately powerful book. As a result, I'm a Dave Barry fan, and what's more, I now know that I am not the only person who thinks that "In the Year 2525" should be considered cruel and unusual punishment. Dave Barry didn't set out to write this book; it began as a column with reader participation for "Worst Songs." Dave's mailbag was flooded with replies, with people complaining about artists from many styles. Everyone from Neil Diamond to the Doobie Brothers gets it in this book...It's critical to know that if you truly want to appreciate this book, you must have been exposed not just to "light rock," but also to 50s teenage tragedy songs, classic rock station fodder (look out Iron Butterfly), and the triad of Anka-Diamond-Manilow. If you can actually SING part of the songs in the book, it'll add to the laugh factor by at least 150%. I couldn't agree more when Dave points out the utter silliness of the lyric: "Song she sang to me, Song she brang to me." (Thank you, Neil Diamond) I heard this playing while waiting for a table at a local restaurant, and people must've thought I'd hit my head because I broke out in hysterics when I heard it play over the speakers...Dave rips on everybody, so I don't recommend it if your loyalty to a group or singer is incredibly strong. Bear in mind that this isn't just Dave; it's leagues of hassled souls who will just go nuts if they even hear one note of "Muskrat Love."It's inexpensive, easy to carry, and hilarious. This book will make you want to try his other titles, and you won't be sorry when you do! Like another reviewer said, who needs an ab machine when you've got this book??

I bought this book on sight, and on the way home started reading it aloud for the benefit of the driver of the car. After a while, I was laughing so hard I could barely keep reading and my abdomen was aching from laughter. Not long after that, the driver pulled over because he was laughing, too.This book will do your heart good (well, unless you're a Neil Diamond fan); seeing all those wretched songs dealt with as they deserve is a joy; the anecdotes from survey respondents are great, too. This book also gives me hope for the future of America, in view of Dave Berry's report that the antiperistaltic "In the Year 2525" gave rise to the most intense hatred of any song in the Bad Song Survey.