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Summary: One of Dave's funniest books.
Review: This book is an outgrowth of his "bad song survey", in which he asked readers of his column to write in with feedback as to what they considered the worst ever pop music songs. He received a flood of responses that easily enabled him to write two full columns on the subject, and still hadn't begun to scratch the surface. So he wrote this book, and almost the only drawback I find in this book is that it is too short; he STILL has barely begun to scratch the surface, but claims that immersing himself in thoughts of these bad songs was driving him insane and he needed to bring it to an end for the sake of his sanity.First, let's define "Bad song": according to Dave, novelty songs don't count, because they're not SUPPOSED to be good, they're supposed to be funny (and even if they fail in that, they don't count for our purposes). So, for instance, "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha Ha!" by Napoleon XIV doesn't count, nor does "Mr. Custer" by Larry Verne. For much the same reason, (and here I disagree with him) Dave discounts all country music on the grounds that historically, the genre has tended not to take itself too seriously, having songs such as "Drop Kick Me Jesus Through The Goalposts Of Life", and thus as far as he's considered, he's willing to give the entire genre some slack and assume that any song with really dumb lyrics must be kidding. (I maintain that "D.I.V.O.R.C.E." by Tammy Wynette, and "Your Cheatin' Heart" by, I think, Hank Williams, are examples of country songs that certainly take themselves overly seriously and which are also sufficiently appalling that I'd rather listen to fingernails on a blackboard than listen to them.) Another requirement for a song to qualify for the bad song survey & book is that it has to have had a LOT of airplay, and it also has to have that indescribable quality that forces your mind to remember it, against your every intention; it has to be the kind of song that if you had a lobotomy, or some other form of brain damage, sufficient that you could barely remember your own name, if this song came on the radio, you could still sing along with it, the kind of quality that causes you, if you hear it on the radio, to not be able to get it out of your head for WEEKS. Granted, as Dave is quick to point out, this is a very subjective subject; many songs that have a strong showing in the survey, he actually enjoys, and there are those that I like as well. Undoubtedly, there will be songs that you actually like that show up in this book. Sometimes, however, even for the songs you like, you'll be forced to admit that the comments are justified, and in other cases, you'll just have to decide that some of the respondants to the survey have no taste. But the book is still a scream, and an absolute must for any fan of either Dave Barry's writing, and any fan of pop music.
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Summary: I liked it so much, I was rolling on the floor laughing.
Review: This book really made my day. I enjoyed reading it so much, I told other people about it. Now that you mention it, Dave, the song "I am, I said" is pretty trite (and then some). And "Muskrat Love" and "MacArthur Park." Thanks for including "Copacabana." I never liked that one anyway (especially the line "Don't fall in love."). Might I add a few from the group Air Supply? "Lost in Love," "All out of love," "You're My Fantasy; you're my reality" and "Here I am, the one that you love." Sorry, but the lyrics in those songs suggest to me a "codependency" relationship ("addicted to love," to quote another title). This book struck a responsive chord, to say the least. Way to go, Barry!
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Summary: A slight, perfectly hilarious little work
Review: This tiny book has more good lines and can't-breathe-cuz-I'm-laughing-too-hard bits than any of his larger collections. It's a hoot!
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Summary: Dave Barry picks an easy target
Review: To review a Dave Barry book, one really only needs two words: Dave Barry. Those two words should convey to Barry fans that they are in for more hilarity and deep philosophical insights (such as that The Captain & Tennille's "Do That To Me One More Time" sounds an awful lot like a putdown), while those who dislike Barry are free to remain strapped into their beds at the asylum. "Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs" is an extension of his Miami Herald syndicated newspaper column, and as such it's tried-and-true material. And how could it miss? With songs like "MacArthur Park" lamenting the fate of cakes left out in the rain, the target is an easy one. The most serious shortcoming of this book is that it is far too short and not likely to last more than an hour. But where else can one have this much fun in an hour without actually listening to the "Teen Angel" tale of the girl who jumped in front of a train for a ring?
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Summary: My Side is killing me!
Review: When I tried to read this book while in bed, all I accomplished was keeping my husband awake and reading only a few pages. It took me forever (it seems) to read it because I had to stop and calm down my laughter before I could read another word! IT'S HILARIOUS! I especially loved Dave's comments about the legion of Neil Diamond fans who attacked him... GREAT STUFF! I hope he'll do another one!
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Summary: too tough of a subject
Review: Who can turn what is essentially a topic for a humor essay of anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 words into a full-length book? No one. Not even Barry, who is hilarious. It's as good as a book about bad songs can be, but the subject itself simply doesn't allow it to be a great book. Barry should probably have kept this to an essay in one of his collections, but every author is allowed a couple of less than fantastic books. When he sticks to subjects like turning 40 or cyberspace or Guys, no one is funnier.
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