The worst song in the world, according to Steve Coogan: “It’s what stupid people dance to at weddings”
Steve Coogan has managed to make a career out of voicing an opinion. Granted, some of those opinions might have been twisted and exaggerated for comedic purposes, but he has always said the line between himself and Alan Partridge is somewhat blurred. That seems to be reflected when Coogan gives his opinion on what he believes is the worst song in the world.
There is a hint of Partridge in how he simply doesn’t hold back when explaining why he doesn’t like this particular track. There is no politician’s answer or sitting on the fence here; he goes all in by explaining what song he likes the least, why he doesn’t like it, and what he makes of those who listen to it. PSA: Stop reading if you’re a fan of Chris de Burgh’s ‘Lady In Red’.
“There are others, but for someone who grew up in the late ‘70s listening to Siouxsie and the Banshees and a lot of post-punk like Joy Division and nihilistic electronic music, this was everything that I sort of railed against,” he said. “You know if it’s the sort of thing your grandmother would like, then it’s already holed below the waterline.”
He continued, “It’s the sort of bland, moribund, and profoundly dull lift music. It’s what stupid people dance to at weddings. There’s no substance to it. It doesn’t stay with you. It’s like woodchip wallpaper. I’m not sure you have that in the US It’s like magnolia paint in rented accommodations. The tune is turgid. It’s like someone going ‘la la la la la’ in the shower. You don’t feel there’s a strong voice, and when I say voice, I don’t mean Chris de Burgh’s voice. I mean something that’s been lived. It’s like a soup from Walmart.”
This clearly reflects how what we grow up listening to can have a massive impact on what we continue to enjoy. Whilst there will no doubt be a lot of people who agree with Coogan’s assessment of ‘Lady In Red’, the rest of the world has made their opinions clear on how the song was initially received.
The piece that was written for de Burgh’s wife, Diane, is easily the singer’s most popular track. It was well-received worldwide, reaching number one in Canada, the UK, Ireland, Norway and Belgium. Overnight, de Burgh’s career skyrocketed from being a cult performer to a global superstar. However, regardless of the song’s success, there is no escaping that it didn’t resonate with Coogan.
He concluded, “If it’s accidentally on the radio and I don’t have time to change it, I just feel like that’s three minutes of my life I’m never going to get back again.”
