20 hated songs that were actually quite brilliant

When Britney Spears teamed up with rapper Iggy Azalea in 2015 for their single “Pretty Girls,” it was during a time when Spears wasn’t releasing a lot of music. Some publications labeled the song as one of the worst songs of the year. However, it’s one of those girl power anthems that fans love, and it made sense to add Azalea to the track since she was a buzzing artist at the time. 

Rihanna has always been the type of artist who takes risks, even if it comes with criticism. This was the case in 2011 when she released her single “S&M.” The track was heavily criticized for its lyrical content about sex and sadomasochism, and the music video was banned in eleven countries due to its sexual content. Even with all the criticism, “S&M” was still a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

In 2012, there was no way to escape hearing Psy’s hit song “Gangnam Style.” It was literally everywhere, from radio, award shows, and people parodying the song’s signature choreography. While the song and dance became a viral sensation, especially for K-pop culture, some people criticized it for not being innovative. 

Alicia Keys’ 2012 single “Girl on Fire” is one of those tracks that some fans wouldn’t mind not hearing for the foreseeable future. However, that criticism usually stems from the song being overplayed or feeling like Keys’ vocals are overbearing on the hook. But it’s easily one of Key’s most recognizable songs that gives fans a girl power anthem to sing along to. 

Pop singer Rebecca Black came onto the scene in 2011 with her debut single “Friday.” It’s one of those catchy songs in which the lyrics find Black reflecting on her weekend routine. While some people thought the song was fun, it was heavily criticized for its use of auto-tune and became one of YouTube’s most disliked videos. While the reception was negative, it sparked numerous comedic spoofs and parodies. 

Pop singer JoJo Siwa was ready to change up her artist image by the time she released her 2024 single “Karma.” There were plenty of critics who weren’t too fond of Siwa’s new rebrand, but the singer realizes that she’s growing up and has to elevate as an artist as well. 

Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)” was the lead single from her fourth solo album 4. When people typically name their favorite songs by Queen Bey, this isn’t usually one on top of their list. When the song was first released, some people criticized the song for Bey using familiar themes of female empowerment that she’s used in her music previously. Although the song didn’t received massive success compared to her previous singles, the song has become a favorite in her live sets on tours. 

Meghan Trainor’s 2014 debut single “All About That Bass” became the best-selling song of the 2010s by a female artist and went on to be certified Diamond. Although the song was widely successful, some people criticized it for being too cheesy and overhyped. However, it was Meghan’s breakthrough into the industry. 

“Who Let the Dogs Out” is one of those songs that some people found so ridiculous, but it actually worked with audiences — particularly younger audiences, because the catchy song was added to a scene in the animated film Rugrats In Paris: The Movie. “Who Let the Dogs Out” was on several “worst songs” lists, but it still became a Grammy Award-winning hit. 

Pitbull teamed up with pop singer Kesha on their 2013 single “Timber.” While the song was widely successful on the charts and radio airwaves, some fans believed it was overplayed. 

In 2014, pop singer Taylor Swift released her fifth album 1989, which featured her single “Shake It Off.” Although her fanbase — known as the Swifties — adored the song, many criticized the singer for lackluster lyrics. Even with the criticism, the song was a No. 1 hit and is always a strong performance on her tours. 

In the mid-2000s, Ne-Yo was one of the hottest singers in the R&B world. However, in 2010, he decided to switch up his sound just a bit with his single “Beautiful Monster,” which beamed heavily with pop and EDM elements. For his core R&B fans, they probably weren’t too pleased with the change. However, this new sound allowed Ne-Yo to gain new fans within the pop and electronic spaces, while also showcasing that he doesn’t need to box himself in. 

Sometimes artists make a song that defines a moment, that’s exactly what The Chainsmokers did with their 2014 single "#SELFIE." The catchy song is filled with monologue of girls taking selfies at a club, and it highlights how sometimes people want to capture themselves in the moment. A simple, yet catchy track that peaked in the top 20 on the Hot 100, even with many critics deeming the song as "annoying." 

There was a time when people weren’t always too kind to see celebrities venturing into different lanes. Lindsay Lohan was always known for her acting, but she dabbled with a singing career in 2004 with her single “Rumors.” Some people criticized Lohan for the song’s lyrical content about dealing with backlash from the media. But it’s one of those tracks that’s become an anthem for Lohan with the lyric,”I'm gonna do it my way / Take this for just what it is.”

“My Humps” was a huge hit single for Black Eyed Peas, peaking in the top three of the Billboard Hot 100 and winning a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group. Even with all of its success came many criticisms; some people felt that the lyrical content was laughable and cringey, while others criticized the group for completely changing their sound to appease more pop audiences. Even with all the criticisms, the song helped propel the group to another level of stardom. 

When people think of “Call Me Maybe,” they typically think of it as the song to help break Carly Rae Jepsen into the music world. This was a song that actually wasn’t widely hated, in fact, the song nabbed a few Grammy nominations, topped numerous charts, and was named on several “best songs” lists by publications. The only gripe that fans had with the song was growing tired of it due to being overplayed. 

In 2013, Kanye West released his sixth album Yeezus, which was a perfect title since the rapper often compared himself to a godlike figure. One of the standout tracks was “I Am a God,” which puts West’s arrogance on full display. West is heavily criticized for his ideals, but this song is very on-brand for his character. 

Sometimes the simplest songs make for a catchy tune, and that was the case for Afroman’s 2000 single “Because I Got High.” Lyrically, Afroman is talking about his daily plans that he ultimately fails to achieve because he was smoking marijuana. Is it a silly song? Yes. Did the song help land Afroman a record deal? Also yes.

In 2006, Jay Z released his ninth album Kingdom Come, which generally received mixed reviews from critics, with some people mentioning it might have been the weakest in his discography up until that point. Although the first single “Show Me What You Got” was a big hit, the album’s final single “Hollywood” didn’t live up to the same success. Some fans deemed “Hollywood” as a mediocre track, while others praised it for its lyrical content and Beyoncé’s vocals breezing effortlessly across it. 

Canadian band Magic! came onto the scene in 2013 with their debut single “Rude.” Although the song was an international success, topping several Billboard charts including the Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, and UK singles, many critics were not fans. Some critics deemed the lyrics as cheesy, while others couldn’t wrap their minds around a Canadian band attempting to make a reggae pop fusion song. To everyone else, the song is catchy enough to draw listeners in, and it’s one of the top-viewed videos on YouTube.