Isolation has united us in embracing our guilty pleasure songs from Bon Jovi to Air Supply
The rise of personal playlists to soundtrack our coronavirus lockdowns, exercise and cleaning has unleashed the freedom to embrace our dorky musical delights.
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They are universally known as guilty pleasures, the songs we loved but critics and your mates deemed daggy, novelty or irredeemably sappy.
The rise of personal playlists to soundtrack not only our coronavirus shut-in but myriad activities from exercise to cleaning has unleashed the freedom to embrace our dorky musical delights.
Here’s a selection of songs you don’t have to hide behind your headphones to love. Go on, sing it out loud!
Teenage Dirtbag, Wheatus
The 2000 single from the American rockers was a huge hit in Australia, spending four weeks at No.1. It’s enjoyed a resurgence here in recent years thanks to covers by 5 Seconds of Summer and Amy Shark.
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Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Elton John and Kiki Dee
Everyone has been falling madly in love with everything about Elton again thanks to his heartwarming farewell concerts. The “ooh-oohs” in this chart-topping duet are purpose built to share with a guilty pleasure partner.
Don’t Stop Believin’, Journey
You can blame The Sopranos and then Glee for the elevation of this 1981 power anthem to ubiquitous karaoke king. It’s one of a handful of songs from the 20th century to enjoy even bigger popularity in the digital era.
Africa, Toto
You loved it in the 80s. Yes, you did! Gen Xers scored major validation for their secret worship of Toto when Africa scored a second life courtesy of Stranger Things, Family Guy, South Park and its meme-worthiness.
Happy, Pharrell Williams
The cat in the hat was robbed of Oscar glory for the sonic sunshine which soundtracked Despicable Me 2, losing out to that torturous showtune Let It Go. Anyone figure out what “Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof” means?
Never Gonna Give You Up, Rick Astley
The song which inspired the perennial RickRoll meme scored another charge of post-millennial respect when Foo Fighters brought Astley on stage at a Japanese festival to mash it with Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Rainbow Connection, Kermit The Frog
If you don’t get something in your eye as the diminutive green puppet sings wistfully about “the lovers, the dreamers and me”, you need to check your feelings. The original and best amphibian hit – forget that Crazy Frog dude.
All Out Of Love, Air Supply
If you needed any further proof soft rock is a dork’s nirvana, please revisit the supreme infomercial for the Time-Life ultimate collection of the genre, hosted by Air Supply’s Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell. Trust me, it’s gold.
Wannabe, Spice Girls
A 2014 study at the University of Amsterdam with the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, found Wannabe is the most recognisable and catchiest pop song of the last 60 years. Believe the science.
Livin’ On A Prayer, Bon Jovi
Perhaps the most iconic “Whoa whoas” of the past four decades, anyone who doesn’t love shout-singing about Tommy and Gina while punching the sky in the chorus truly hasn’t lived.
You’re The Voice, John Farnham.
The national anthem everyone in Australia actually enjoys singing.
Other candidates for your dag-worthy playlist include What Is Love, Haddaway; Ice Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice; Get Used To It, Roger Voudouris; Hold On, Wilson Phillips; U Can’t Touch This, MC Hammer; Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, Wham! The Safety Dance, Men Without Hats; Life In A Northern Town, The Dream Academy’ Private Eyes, Hall and Oates; Turning Japanese, The Vapors; Mambo No. 5, Lou Bega; Orinoco Flow, Enya; Here I Go Again, Whitesnake, I Think I Love You, David Cassidy; Sailing, Christopher Cross and Don’t Give Up On Us, David Soul.